Penetrating Injury of Cervical Trachea: Two Case Reports

Penetrating neck trauma involving tracheobronchial tree is potentially fatal, especially in cases of gunshot injury, which are rare in Korea. A 28-year-old male presenting with an air-leaking gunshot wound in the left supraclavicular area and a 39-year-old female with a full depth penetrating laceration in her chest wall and a pin-point sized cervical wound on the midline below the cricoid cartilage presented with common symptoms of dyspnea and subcutaneous emphysema, and radiologic findings of pneumomediastinum, bilateral pneumothorax and hemothorax, which are key findings suggesting potential major airway injury. Urgent bronchosopic evalution was performed to confirm the suspected diagnosis of tracheobronchial injury, as well as the extent and the level of injury. To exclude associated injury of esophagus and major vascular structures prior to surgical exploration, esophagography and angiography had been carefully planned based on the principles, but were only performed for the second case. Through a low collar incision extending to an mid-thoracotomy incision, the damaged segment of tracheal rings of cervical trachea was resected out and an end-to-end anastomosis was performed for both cases. Extubation was done on the first postoperative day and the chin-to-chest sutures done to minimize the tension at the suture line were maintained until postoperative day 7. Both cases with penetrating injury of cervical trachea regardless of the mechanism of injury were successfully treated by early diagnosis and prompt surgical exploration.

Penetrating Injury of Cervical Trachea: Two Case Reports

Penetrating neck trauma involving tracheobronchial tree is potentially fatal, especially in cases of gunshot injury, which are rare in Korea. A 28-year-old male presenting with an air-leaking gunshot wound in the left supraclavicular area and a 39-year-old female with a full depth penetrating laceration in her chest wall and a pin-point sized cervical wound on the midline below the cricoid cartilage presented with common symptoms of dyspnea and subcutaneous emphysema, and radiologic findings of pneumomediastinum, bilateral pneumothorax and hemothorax, which are key findings suggesting potential major airway injury. Urgent bronchosopic evalution was performed to confirm the suspected diagnosis of tracheobronchial injury, as well as the extent and the level of injury. To exclude associated injury of esophagus and major vascular structures prior to surgical exploration, esophagography and angiography had been carefully planned based on the principles, but were only performed for the second case. Through a low collar incision extending to an mid-thoracotomy incision, the damaged segment of tracheal rings of cervical trachea was resected out and an end-to-end anastomosis was performed for both cases. Extubation was done on the first postoperative day and the chin-to-chest sutures done to minimize the tension at the suture line were maintained until postoperative day 7. Both cases with penetrating injury of cervical trachea regardless of the mechanism of injury were successfully treated by early diagnosis and prompt surgical exploration.

Underlying Etiologic Factor of Recurrent Pneumothorax after Bullectomy / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: The cause of spontaneous pneumothorax is not yet but it is certain that intrathoracic air comes from ruptured bulla. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) or open thoracotomy is recommended for thoracic incision in recurrent pneumothorax. However, recurrent rate after bullectomy with the VATS is very high compared to mini-thoracotomy, 3% to 20% and below 2%, respectively. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This retrospective analysis was performed on 16 re-operated cases among 446 surgically treated pneumothorax of the 737 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax diagnosed at Yongdong Severance Hospital from Nov. 1992 to June 1997. RESULT: Among the 446 surgically-treated patients in 737 case of spontaneous pneumothorax, 16 patients underwent re-operation, showing a 3.5% re-operation rate. Male-to-female ratio was 15 to 1 and mean age at initial attack was 20.2 years(ranging from 15 to 50). Mean hospital stay was 6.34 days(ranging from 2 to 20 days) and mean chest tube indwelling period was 4.2 days(ranging from 1-10 days). Median follow-up was 46 months(range 10-66 months). Three different surgical methods were applied : video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VAST) in 281 cases, of whom 2 underwent local anesthesia; subaxillary mini-thoracotomy in 159 cases and limited lateral thoracotomy in the remaining 6 cases. Three different re-operative surgical methods were applied ; video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VAST) in 6 cases, subaxillary mini-thoracotomy in 9 cases, and limited lateral thoracotomy in the remaining 1 case. The underlying etiological factors of the recurrent pneumothorax after bullectomy were o erlooking type(9) and new growing type(7). Mean recurrent period from previous operation was 1 month for overlooking type and 18 months for new growing type. CONCLUSION: The underlying etiological factors of recurrent pneumothorax lead to re-operation were new-growing and over-looking type. We need additional treatments besides resecting blebs of prevent the recurrence rate and more gentle handling with forceps due to less damage to the pleura.

A case of parenchymal pulmonary endometriosis

Pulmonary Endometriosis is a rare disease entity and we report a 23-year-old single woman with a history of hemoptysis in association with menstruation. She was previously treated effectively with hormone therapy for 3 months, but decided to undergo surgical resection because of the high cost of hormone therapy. Radiographic finding of the chest showed haziness in the right lower lung field, and chest CT showed a ground-glass appearance in the posterobasal and laterobasal segment. The patient underwent basal segmentectomy of the right lower lobe. There was no incidence of hemoptysis during her menstruation following the operation.

Pulmonary Infarction of Left Lower Lobe after Left Upper Lobe Lobectomy: 1 case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

The remaining lung infarction is a rare but life-threatening complication after a thoracic operation and trauma. We report a case of this rare complication after the left upper lobectomy due to pulmonary aspergilloma. The infarction of the remaining left lower lobe occurred due to kinking of the pulmonary vessels after the left upper lobectomy and the completion pneumonectomy was performed in the post-operative second day. Therefore, prompt diagnosis and treatment may be necessary to prevent morbidity and mortality associated with pulmonary infarction from torsion of pulmonary artery and vein.

Thoracoscopic Sympathetic Surgery for Axillary Hyperhidrosis / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Recent development of endoscopic devices and surgical techniques enabled the video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathetic surgery to be reliable, safe and minimally invasive for the treatment of hyperhidrosis. People with axillary hyperhidrosis, however, were not as satisfied as those with palmar or craniofacial hyperhidrosis due to more frequent and severe compensatory sweating and lack of effect on concomitant osmidrosis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From March 1997 through April 1999, 45 cases of axillary hyperhidrosis underwent T3,4 sympathectomy(21 patients), T2,4 sympathicotomy(20 patients) or T4 sympathectomy(4 patients). We evaluated and analyzed the early effect of symptomatic relief, compensatory hyperhidrosis and the level of long term satisfaction. The sex ratio was 28 males: 17 females with an average age of 28 years, ranging from 13 to 46 years. Two patients had concomitant osmidrosis and one patient who underwent T3,4 sympathectomy experienced profuse compensatory sweating on face and scalp for which he underwent a reoperation of T2 sympathicotomy 93 days later. All the procedures were performed under general anesthesia in semifowler's position with 30 elevation of the upper body. A 2mm needle thoracoscope was used except in 2 cases with moderate to severe pleural adhesions where a 5mm thoracoscope was used. RESULT: Average operation time was 46.2+/-11 minutes for T3,4 sympathectomy; 32.5+/-23 minutes for T2,4 sympathicotomy; and 53.8+/-18 minutes for T4 sympathectomy. Every patient who underwent T3,4 sympathectomy and T2,4 sympathicotomy showed satisfaction 17 cases(81%) and 12 cases(60%) had absolutely no sweating after T3,4 sympathectomy and T2,4 sympathicotomy, respectively and the remaining 4 cases(19%) and 8 cases(40%) experienced 'decreased amount of sweating with slightly moist armpits'. Compensatory hyperhidrosis was present in 67% and 60% of the cases after T3,4 sympathectomy and T2,4 sympathicotomy, but only 10% and 5 %, were severe enough to be embarrassing or disabling. The level of satisfaction was high in both groups, with 86% after T3,4 sympathectomy and 89% after T2,4 sympathicotomy. CONCLUSION: Both T3,4 sympathectomy and T2,4 sympathicotomy were effective means of treating axillary hyperhidrosis. T3,4 sympathectomy had superior symptomatic relief although T2,4 sympathicotomy was favored because of shorter operation time, easier surgical technique and milder compensatory sweating. Long term satisfaction level, however, was similar in both groups.

Thoracoscopic sympathetic surgery for hyperhidrosis

Resectional surgery of sympathetic nerves has been known to be the most effective treatment for essential hyperhidrosis and the application of thoracoscopic electrocauterization has provided a minimally-invasive procedure with the least morbidity and a resultant higher satisfaction rate. This paper describes our experience on the 1,167 cases of thoracoscopic sympathetic surgery for the treatment of essential hyperhidrosis. A total of 1,167 patients (674 males (58%) and 493 females (42%), mean age of 26.4 years with palmar (930), craniofacial (190) or axillary (47) hyperhidrosis underwent thoracoscopic sympathetic surgery from July 1992 to March 1999. Since the T2-4 sympathectomy, first performed in July 1992 for a patient of palmar hyperhidrosis, the operative methods have been altered to achieve a higher satisfaction level with the least complication by adopting less invasive procedures. Our current standard procedures being performed are T3 and T2 clipping for palmar and craniofacial hyperhidrosis and T3,4 sympathicotomy for axillary hyperhidrosis, all using a 2 mm needle thoracoscope. As the surgical procedures have been transited to a less invasive method with limited resection using the newest endoscopic devices, the average operation time and complications such as Horner's syndrome and compensatory hyperhidrosis have gradually decreased and thus the long-term satisfaction rate has been raised up to 98% for palmar hyperhidrosis, 92% for craniofacial hyperhidrosis and 89% for axillary hyperhidrosis. The recurrent cases (14/1167) were treated successfully with reoperations of thoracoscopic sympathetic surgery. The optimal goal of therapy could be achieved by complete elimination of the hyperhidrotic symptom, by decreasing the incidence and degree of compensatory hyperhidrosis through a selective and limited resection, and by adopting the least invasive procedures. Sympathicotomy has provided the advantages of a limited extent of denervation and the resultant decrease of compensatory hyperhidrosis compared to sympathectomy. The reversible method of clipping may be an effective, provisionary means for cases of severe, intractable compensatory sweating. For craniofacial hyperhidrosis, T2 sympathicotomy or clipping has been proven to be superior to the T1 sympathectomy due to the decreased occurrence of Horner's syndrome and T3,4 sympathicotomy providing a satisfactory outcome with less compensatory hyperhidrosis for axillary hyperhidrosis.

Comparative Analysis of T2 Sympaticotomy to T1 Sympathectomy in Treatment of Craniofacial Hyperhidrosis / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: In 1992, we first developed the technique for video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy to treat palmar hyperhidrosis. It was soon proven to be a simple and effective therapy for essential hyperhidrosis. Clinically, patients suffereing from distressing hyperhidrosis in their heads and faces were observed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 1997 to March 1998, the vidio-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy and sympathicotomy were performed in 60 patients suffering from craniofacial hyperhidrosis in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in the Respiratory Center of Yongdong Severance Hospital Seoul, Korea. Thirty-nine patients underwent a conventional sympathectomy (T1 sympathectomy group), and twenty-one patients underwent division of the sympathetic nerve trunk above the T2 sympathetic ganglion (T2 sympathicotomy). The median follow up was 9 months. RESULTS: All of the treated patients obtained satisfactory alleviation of craniofacial hyperhidrosis. No recurrence was observed in group T1 sympathectomy whereas one occurred in sympathicotomy. The global rate of compensatory sweating was about the same in both groups ; 76.9% in T1 sympathectomy and 76.2% in T2 sympathicotomy. The rate of embarrassing and disabling compensatory sweating was 38.5% in T1 sympathectomy and 38.1% in T2 sympathicotomy with no significant in the statistic analysis (p> 0.05). No transient Horner's syndrome was observed in group T2 sympathicotomy whereas seven occurred in T1 sympathectomy with improvement in follow-up. Only an overnight hospital stay was required in both group. CONCLUSIONS: The video-assist thoracoscopic sympathicotomy is minimally invasive and effective. Video-assisted thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy has proven to be effective method and less complicated in treating patients with distressing craniofacial hyperhidrosis and consistent in obtaining the same results as T1 sympathectomy.

The changes in main pulmonary artery pressure after bilateral lung autotransplantation in dogs

In the Respiratory Center, Yongdong Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, we performed 10 cases of bilateral lung autotransplantation in mongrel dogs from July 1994 to June 1996, and we have analyzed the hemodynamic changes. Autotransplantation was performed in order to avoid postoperative rejection. The lung was flushed with an Euro-Collins(E-C) solution containing PGE1 which passed through a 10 French catheter inserted into an incision on the anterior half of the pulmonary artery to pulmonary parenchyme, and the vertical incision was made on the anterior half of the left atrium near the proximal part of the pulmonary vein. However, the bronchus was totally divided after clamping both sides. The lung was kept cold (4 degrees C) in the thoracic cavity for an hour by using slushed ice made from an E-C solution. After an hour of cold ischemia, the pulmonary artery was sutured with Prolene 5-0. The pulmonary vein was sutured with Prolene 6-0 by using the continuous everting mattress method. The main bronchus was anastomosed using the telescope method. The arterial oxygen concentration and the pressures in the femoral and pulmonary arteries were measured both preoperatively and postoperatively. There were no significant hemodynamic differences between the preoperative and postoperative mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) (paired t-test, P = 0.05). Lung preservation using a cold (4 degrees C) E-C solution containing PGE1 may be an acceptable method for short-term storage of a lung (for about an hour) in bilateral lung autotransplantation in dogs.

Needle Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy for Essential Hyperhidrosis / 대한흉부외과학회지

Excessive sweating of the palms, axillae, and face has a strong negative impact on the quality of life for many people. The existing non-operative therapeutic options seldom give sufficient relief and have a transient effect. But a definitive cure can be obtained by upper thoracic sympathectomy. From June 1997 to October 1997, 117 cases of the needle (2 mm) thoracoscopic thoracic sympathectomies were performed in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in the Respiratory Center Yong-dong Severance Hospital in Seoul, Korea. We have followed up on 94 cases which include palmar hyperhidrosis (n=85), facial hyperhidrosis (n=5) and axillary hyperhidrosis (n=4). There were 42 males and 52 females whose ages ranged from 14 to 63 years (median:23 years). The T2 ganglia and T3-4 ganglia were excised by electrocuting with a hook and endoscissors and were removed for histologic examination. There have been no mortalities or life-threatening complications. The surgical results were classified as excellent (much improvement,very dry) in 93.6%, good (some improvement, minimally wet) in 2.1%, and fair (slight improvement, still wet) in 4.2%. Five patients (5.3%) required closed thoracostomy drainage because of pneumothorax in the immediate postoperative day. Horner's syndrome occurred in one case. The compensatory sweating occurred in 67 cases (71.2%) and was embarrassing in 21 cases (22.3%) and disabling in 9 cases (9.6%) of these cases. Primary failure occurred in one case. The patient with primary failure underwent successful operation. Fifty-one patients had concomitant hyperhidrosis. Our experiences indicate needle thoracoscopic sympathectomy is a very effective, safe, and time-saving procedure for essential hyperhidrosis.

Bilateral Sequential Lung Transplantation in Dogs / 대한흉부외과학회지

Experimental trials of unilateral lung transplantation in dogs have been attempted and satisfactory results were obtained without any noticeable difficulty in surgical techniques. Fourteen dogs with the body weight of around 25 kg were anesthesized by 20~30 mg/kg of intravenous Entobar,; one was sacrificed to make available blood for use during transplantation for the recipient dog. A mid-sternotomy incision was performed and 20 mg/kg of Prostaglandin E1 was infused through the pulmonary artery and Euro-Collin's (E-C) preservation solution, cooled down to 4degree C, was perfused at the rate of 70cc/kg by a pressure of 30 cmH2O. The heart-lung block was then resected out and promptly immersed in the prepared preservation solution at 4degree C. One lung preserved in the EC solution at 4degree C was anastomosed to the recipient dog in the order of the pulmonary vein, bronchus then pulmomary artery and the thoracotomy incision was closed after the bleeding control and tube thoracostomy. Then the pneumonectomy in the opposite side was perfomed in the same manner and the tailored lung was transplanted in the order of the pulmonary vein, bronchus, then pulmonary artery. We conclude that in the bilateral sequential lung transplantation, the right lung transplantation should precede to better expose the operative field and to prevent reperfusion injury; also, the cardiopulmonary bypass should be consider for certain appropriate cases.

Surgical Treatment of Peripheral Artery Occlusive Disease / 대한흉부외과학회지

A retrospective analysis was performed on the 72 cases of peripheral artery occlusive disease treated at Yonsei Medical School Yongdong Severance Hospital, from March 1, 1990, through July 31, 1992, focusing on the operative procedures, surgical results and perioperative complications. The etiologic causes of vascular obstruction were atherosclerosis in 28 cases, Buerger's disease in 31, traumatic orgin in 7, operative complications in 4, and malignancy and arteritis in one case each. Treatment modalities, actually performed include bypass graft. (27), infusion of PGE1 (23), Embolectomy (16), Sympathectomy (4) and end-to-end anastomosis (2). There were 21 satisfactory cases and 9 unsatisfactory cases of atherosclerotive occlusive disease, defining the operative outcome as "satisfactory" if the obstructive symptoms disappeared completely and "unsatisfactory" if they did not. The patients of TAO induced Buerger's disease with preoperative Foutain class III or IV were surgically converted to class 0 in 14 cases, class I in 12 and class II in 3.

Animal Model for Sequential Bilateral Reimplantation of the Lung in Dog / 대한흉부외과학회지

Sequential bilateral lung transplantation may result in a variety of perioperative and postoperative complications, showing high perioperative morbidity and mortality rates. This research was performed to investigate the hemodynamic changes in adult mongrel dogs after bilateral reimplantation, two methods preferred for avoiding or minimizing graft rejection. The anterior portion of the pulmonary artery and the left atrium proximal to the superior and the inferior pulmonary veins were resected out and then re-anastomosed one hour later to prevent torsion or stenosis of the anastomotic site and the formation of a thrombosis in the left atrium. An everted suture technique was employed for the left atrium; An hour after the division, however, the main bronchus was tightly anastomosed by interrupted sutures of No. 4-0 prolene in a telescope method. A modified E-C solution mixed with PGE1 was infused into the cut portion of the pulmonary artery at the rate of 15 ml/kg/min and at a pressure of 40 cmH2O for a total dosage of 70 ml/kg in order to preserve the transected lung. Topical cooling using wet gauzes soaked with cold E-C solution was performed for one hour to prevent ischemic lung injury. The above procedures are considered to be beneficial for achieving a satisfactory outcome for bilateral lung reimplantation.