The Effect of Thoracoscopic Sympathicotomy at the Fourth Rib (R4) for the Treatment of Palmar and Axillary Hyperhidrosis

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracic sympathicotomy plays an important for the treatment of essential hyperhidrosis. Patients are usually satisfied with the surgical outcome at the early post-operative period, but suffer recurrence and compensatory sweating in the late post-operative period. There are many sympathicotomy methods to minimize recurrence and compensatory sweating. We compared the outcome of sympathicotomy methods above the third rib (R3) and the fourth rib (R4) with regards to symptoms, satisfaction, recurrence, and compensatory palmar and axillary hyperhydrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1999 to April 2009, 39 cases of thoracoscopic sympathicotomy at the third rib (R3), and 94 cases of thoracoscopic sympathicotomy at the fourth rib (R4) for palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis were compared for early and late post-operative satisfaction, compensatory sweating and recurrence. RESULTS: There was no sex or age difference between groups. Early satisfaction was 94.9% and 98.9% in the R3 group and R4 group, respectively. There was no difference in early satisfaction (94.9% in R3 and 98.9% in R4), late satisfaction (84.6% in R3 and 89.4% in R4), or recurrence (17.9% in R3 and 17.0% in R4) between groups. There was significant difference in compensatory sweating (71.8% in R3 and 33% in R4, p=0.002). CONCLUSION: R4 sympathicotomy demonstrated superior efficacy in the treatment of compensatory sweating compared to R3 in palmar and/or axillary hyperhidrosis.

Bronchogenic Cyst of the Right Hemidiaphragm Presenting with Pleural Effusion

Bronchogenic cysts are developmental foregut anomalies usually located within the mediastinum or lung parenchyma. An isolated bronchogenic cyst of the diaphragm is very rare. Our case was a 56-year-old female patient who presented with pleuritic chest pain in her right chest. Chest and abdominal computed tomography revealed a large lobulated cystic mass that was accompanied with pleural effusion in the right lower hemithorax. The tumor showed focally calcified areas in the wall and abutted against the diaphragm. We performed complete excision of the cyst including a portion of the diaphragm attached to it. The pathological diagnosis was established as the bronchogenic cyst originating from the diaphragm. We report this case with a review of the literature.

Clinical Characteristics and Management of Intrathoracic Bronchogenic Cysts: A Single Center Experience

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics and management of intrathoracic bronchogenic cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four (n=24) patients with intrathoracic bronchogenic cysts were treated surgically between August 1990 and December 2009 at our institution. Patients were divided into two groups by bronchogenic cyst location: mediastinal or intrapulmonary. Symptoms at diagnosis, radiologic findings, locations, surgical methods, pathological findings, and surgical outcomes were investigated retrospectively from consecutive patient medical records. RESULTS: There were 12 females (50.0%). The mean age was 26.8 (range, 5 to 64) years. The mean follow-up period was 27.3 (range, 1 to 121) months. There were 15 (62.5%) mediastinal and 9 (37.5%) intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts. Symptoms occurred in 8 patients with mediastinal bronchogenic cysts (53.3%) and 5 patients with intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts (55.6%) (p=1.000). On computed tomography (CT), 7 patients (46.7%) showed homogenous solid masses in mediastinal bronchogenic cysts and five (55.6%) patients exhibited heterogeneous cystic masses with air-fluid levels in intrapulmonary bronchogenic cystic masses. Open thoracotomy was performed in 17 (70.8%) patients, and video-assisted thoracic surgery was performed in 7 (29.2%) patients. On pathological findings, there were 16 (66.7%) complicated cysts, and in 13 symptomatic patients, 11 (84.6%) patients had complicated cysts. There was no operative death in this study. During the follow-up period, no recurrence was detected. CONCLUSION: Intrathoracic bronchogenic cysts have a wide variety of clinical characteristics and radiologic findings. Even though some patients do not experience symptoms and signs caused by bronchogenic cysts, serious symptoms and complications may develop with the passage of time.

Clinical Characteristics and Management of Intrathoracic Bronchogenic Cysts: A Single Center Experience

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics and management of intrathoracic bronchogenic cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four (n=24) patients with intrathoracic bronchogenic cysts were treated surgically between August 1990 and December 2009 at our institution. Patients were divided into two groups by bronchogenic cyst location: mediastinal or intrapulmonary. Symptoms at diagnosis, radiologic findings, locations, surgical methods, pathological findings, and surgical outcomes were investigated retrospectively from consecutive patient medical records. RESULTS: There were 12 females (50.0%). The mean age was 26.8 (range, 5 to 64) years. The mean follow-up period was 27.3 (range, 1 to 121) months. There were 15 (62.5%) mediastinal and 9 (37.5%) intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts. Symptoms occurred in 8 patients with mediastinal bronchogenic cysts (53.3%) and 5 patients with intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts (55.6%) (p=1.000). On computed tomography (CT), 7 patients (46.7%) showed homogenous solid masses in mediastinal bronchogenic cysts and five (55.6%) patients exhibited heterogeneous cystic masses with air-fluid levels in intrapulmonary bronchogenic cystic masses. Open thoracotomy was performed in 17 (70.8%) patients, and video-assisted thoracic surgery was performed in 7 (29.2%) patients. On pathological findings, there were 16 (66.7%) complicated cysts, and in 13 symptomatic patients, 11 (84.6%) patients had complicated cysts. There was no operative death in this study. During the follow-up period, no recurrence was detected. CONCLUSION: Intrathoracic bronchogenic cysts have a wide variety of clinical characteristics and radiologic findings. Even though some patients do not experience symptoms and signs caused by bronchogenic cysts, serious symptoms and complications may develop with the passage of time.

Intracardiac Migration of a Renal Stent from the Left Renal Vein to the Right Ventricle during the Treatment of Nutcracker Syndrome: A case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

We report her on a rare case of a renal stent that migrated into the right ventricle in a patient with nutcracker syndrome. A 29-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital and she was suffering from flank pain. The computed tomography of the abdomen demonstrated that the left renal vein was compressed between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery (nutcracker syndrome). A self expandable stent was placed across the left renal vein for treating her nutcracker syndrome. The next day after the procedure, the follow up chest radiograph showed that the displaced stent had migrated into the right ventricle. After percutanous endovascular stent removal had failed, the stent was ultimately removed by performing cardiac surgery. At the 6th postoperative month, there have been no abdominal or cardiac symptoms.

The Effect of Thoracoscopic Sympathicotomy at the 4th Rib (R4) for Treating Palmar Hyperhidrosis / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND:Thoracoscpic sympathicotomy is an effective treatment for essential hyperhidrosis. Patients are generally satisfied with the surgery at the early post operative period, but they suffer from recurrence and compensatory sweating at the late post operative period. There are many sympathicotomy methods for minimizing recurrence and the compensatory sweating. We compared the outcome from between the R3 and R4 sympathicotomy methods for the symptoms, satisfaction, recurrence and compensatory sweating. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From January 1999 to July 2007, 39 cases of thoracoscopic sympathicotomy at the 3rd rib (R3) and 72 cases of thoracoscopic sympathicotomy at the 4th rib (R4) for treating palmar hyperhidrosis were compared for the early and late satisfaction, the compensatory sweating and recurrence. RESULT: There is no difference of gender and age for the 2 groups. Early satisfaction was reported by 94.9% of the R3 patients and by 98.7% of the R4 patients. 84.6% of the R3 patients reported late satisfaction and 87.5% of the R4 patients reported late satisfaction. There were no significant differences between the groups for the early and late satisfaction. But there was a difference between the groups for compensatory sweating (23.1% in the R3 group and 9.7% in the R4 group (p=0.020)). The reoperation rate due to recurrence was 5.1% in the R3 group and 4.2% in the R4 group. There was no significant difference between the groups for recurrence. CONCLUSION: R4 sympathicotomy has excellent therapeutic results for compensatory sweating as compared to R3 sympathicotomy for treating palmar hyperhidrosis.

Clinical Analysis of Primary Malignant Lymphoma of the Lung / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Primary malignant lymphoma of the lung is a very rare neoplasm. Although the prognosis of lymphoma is favorable, the clinical features, prognostic factors and management have not been clearly defined. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 8 patients we managed between 1994 and 2006. They all had malignant lymphoma on the pathologic examination of the lung with no evidence of mediastinal adenopathy and extrathoracic disease, and no past history of lymphoma. RESULT: The study group consisted of 3 males and 5 female patients with a mean age of 53.9 years. Three patients were asymtomatic and 5 patients were seen with pulmonary or systemic symptoms. The diagnostic methods were 3 CT needle aspiration biopsies, 1 bronchoscopic biopsy and 4 surgical methods (wedge resection, lobectomy). There were 3 patients with MALT lymphoma, two with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, two with small lymphocytic lymphom, and one with follicular lymphoma. The 8 patients were treated with a variety of modalities, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and combination therapy. The 8 patients have survived for a median follow-up of 38 months. CONCLUSION: Although this entity of lymphoma appears to have a good prognosis, further clinical experience and long-term follow-up are needed to identify its clinical features, prognostic factors and management.

Repair of Left Ventricular Free Wall Rupture after Acute Myocardial Infarction: Application of Pericardial Patch Covering and Fibrin Glue Compression: A case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

Left ventricular rupture after acute myocardial infarction is a serious complication with high mortality. Emergency operation is usually the only available treatment. A 76-year-old female with persistent chest pain and syncopal attacks was admitted. Transthoracic echocardiography showed the pericardial effusion and generalized hypokinesia of the inferolateral wall of left ventricle. Coronary angiography revealed a total occlusion of the first diagonal branch. After percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with coronary stent and insertion of intraaortic balloon pump, emergency operation was performed. Under cardiopulmonary bypass and cardiac arrest with cold blood cardioplegia, coronary artery bypass graft with saphenous vein, pericardial patch covering on the rupture area with 6-0 polypropylene running sutures, and fibrin glue compression under the patch were performed. We present a case of left ventricular (free wall) rupture after acute myocardial infarction.

Transhiatal versus Transthoracic Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: The classic approach for esophagectomy is via the combined thoracic and abdominal approach. Controversy exists whether patients with esophageal carcinoma are best managed with Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy(ILO) as combined thoracic and abdominal approach or transhiatal esophagectomy(THO). The THO approach is known to be superior with respect to operative time, severity of leak, morbidity/mortality, and length of stay, but may represent an inferior cancer operation as a result of survival disadvantage due to inadequate mediastinal clearance compared with ILO. Accordingly, we reviewed the results of our esophageal resections to compare these outcome parameters for each operative approach. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From January 1993 to July 2001, We performed a retrospective review of all esophagectomies performed at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center; 27 underwent THO, and 45 underwent ILO RESULT: The two groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, and stage of the disease. Mean tumor length and mean operative time were 3.81cm and 354 minutes for THO versus 5.31cm and 453 minutes for ILO, respectively (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001). Respiratory complications were 11.1% for THO versus 35.6% for ILO(p < 0.05). Hospital mortality was 11.1% for THO versus 22.2% for ILO. There were no significant differences between THO and ILO with respect to other types of complications, amount of blood transfusion, leak and stricture rates, and hospital stay. Overall long-term survival at 5 years was 37%, respectively. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in long-term survival of patients of both operative approach. ILO had significantdifference in respiratory complications associated with hospital mortality. Hence, THO is a valid alternative to ILO for well selected patients. And either approach appears to be acceptable depending on the surgeons, preferences and experiences.

Treatment of Esophageal Stenosis by Idiopathic Mediastinal Fibrosis: A case Report / 대한흉부외과학회지

Mediastinal fibrosis is uncommon but may result in entrapment and erosion of vital mediastinal structures by fibrous tissues. Idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis involved esophagus is very rare, and only a few cases have ever been reported. Such idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis involved esophagus is an enigmatic inflammatory fibrous tissue proliferation, but the treatment has not yet been clearly defined. We had successfully treated in such a case with partial esophagolysis and esophagomyotomy.

Comparison of Repair and Replacement for Mitral / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve repair has been suggested to provide better postoperative outcome than valve replacement for mitral regurgita tion. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From Janu ary 1996 to May 2000, 87 patients had mitral valve repair(59 patients) or replac ement(28 patients) for mitral regurgitation. RESULT: The two groups were si milar in age, sex, and functional class. The cause of mitral regurgitation in th e repair group was degenerative in 45 patients, rheumatic in 12 patients, endoca rditis in 1, and ischemic in 1, and in the replacement group was degenerative in 12 patients, rheumatic in 11 patients, endocarditis in 4 and traumatic in 1 pat ient. A Carpentier ring was used in 51 patients and the most common size was 30 mm. The aortic cross-clamp time was 88.3+/-24.7 minutes in the repair group and 7 0.3+/-23.8 minutes in the replacement group(p<0.05), and total pump time was 13 9.6+/-30.5 minutes and 110.4+/-34.3 minutes(p<0.05) respectively. There was no hos pital death in both groups. Four-year actuarial survival was 97.9% for the repai r group and 100% for the replacement group(p = not significant). Postoperative c ardiothoracic ratio and ejection fraction decreased, and postoperative functiona l class improved in both groups(p = not significant). CONCLUSION: Mitral valve repai r for patients with mitral regurgitation can be performed with the satisfactory results as valve replacement.

Clinical Evaluation of Esophageal Cancer / 대한흉부외과학회지

We retrospectively analyzed 54 patients with esophageal cancer treated surgically between 1992 and 1996. They composed of 51(94.4%)men, 3(5.6%)women, and the age ranged from 42 to 78, the mean was 58.7+/-8.37. Symptoms were varied with dysphagia(72.2%), epigastric discomfort(16.6%), chest pain (5.6%), and so on(5.6%). Transthoracic esophagectomy(TTE) with esophagogastrostomy was done in 36 case, TTE with esophagocologastrostomy in 4 case, and transhiatal esophagectomy(THE) with esophagogastrostomy in 14 case. The operative mortality was 12.9%(7/54); 6 underwent TTE with esophagogastrostomy, and 1 underwent TTE with esophagocologastrostomy. Postoperative complications were of anastomotic leakage in 7 case, wound infection in 10 case, anastomotic stricture in 9 case, vocal cord paralysis in 2 case, bronchial tearing in 1 case, and pneumothorax in 3 case. Locations of esophageal cancer were upper thoracic esophagus in 4 case, middle thoracic esophagus in 34 case and lower thoracic esophagus in 16 case. Histological types were adenocarcinoma in 1 case and squamous cell carcinoma in 53 case. During the follow-up period, 25 cases died. Cumulative survival rate was 52.7% in 1 year, 45.5% in 2 year, 45.5% in 3 year, 45.5% in 4 year, 45.5% in 5 year.

Assessment of Allograft Function in Dog Single Lung Transplantation on CT / 대한흉부외과학회지

In the field of the experimental lung transplantation, we analyzed the CT findings of acute rejection, infection in the left single allotransplanted lung of adult mongrel dogs, and the CT findings were compared with the histological findings obtained by the lung biopsy. Twenty two adult mongrel dogs were divided into two groups(Donor and recipient group). Donor lungs were flushed with LPDG(low potassium dextran glucose) solution(n=4) or modified Euro-collins solution(n=7) and preserved over 20 hours with 10degrees C(1 case preservation for 4hours). After left single lung transplantation, the chest X-ray and sequential computed tomogram were performed with concomitant hemodynamic study and arterial blood gas analysis on immediate postoperative period, postoperative 3rd day and postoperative 7th day. Two of eleven transplanted lungs had acute rejection which was represented as moderate infiltration at immediate or 1st postoperative day but became extensive infiltration at postoperative 3rd day on CT. There were showed one case of bronchopleural fistula, six cases of pneumonia and two cases of pulmonary infarction. In one rejection cases, the opacity of transplanted lung was improved by injection of methylprednisolone 500mg daily during 3 days. We concluded that CT was a useful noninvasive evaluation parameter after lung trans- plantation and the serial CT scan enabled early detection of acute rejection.