Metastatic Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma in Lung: One Case Report / 대한흉부외과학회지

At OPD follow-up in December 1998, chest x-ray of a 42-year-old female showed a solit ary pulmonary nodule at a superior basal segment in the right lower lobe. After percut aneous transthoracic needle aspiration failure, wedge resection of the superior basal segment of lower lobe in right lung was performed for diagnosis and therapy. Three years ago, she had received surgery to remove a mass in the left buttock. The mass was pathologically diagnosed as malignant fibrous histiocytoma. She subsequently received 4500 rad radiotherapy for 35 days. Pathology confirmed metastatic malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the lung.

Central Vein Occlusion Secondary to Hemodialysis Catheterization in Chronic Renal Failure Patient: One Case Report / 대한흉부외과학회지

A 51-year-old male with chronic renal failure had marked swelling and tenderness of the right arm. Venography revealed central vein occlusion involving stenosis of right proximal subclavian vein, right internal jugular vein, and left distal innominate vein, and obstruction of right brachiocephalic vein. Multiple obstruction of these veins was thought to have resulted from repeated subclavian catheterization. Right subclavian-superior vena cava was bypassed with 10 mm Gore-tex vascular graft and then left subclavian vein with 8 mm Gore-tex vascular graft was bypassed to the 10 mm Gore-tex vascular graft. The results were excellent.

The Influence of Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery on Hospital Course of Spontaneous Pneumothorax / 대한흉부외과학회지

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is emerging as a viable alternative to thoracotomy when surgical treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax is required. 20 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax underwent bullectomy between July 1995 and May 1996. The patients were divided into two groups : Control group ; the patients who received with mid-axillary approach (n=10), Experimental group ; the patients who received with VATS (n=10). The results were as follows ; 1. The total sex distribution was male predominance (male:female=17:3). Mean age of control group was 29.6+/-9.8 years and experimental group was 27.2+/-11.9 years. 2. The mean period of postoperative chest tube indwelling duration and hospital stay were 3.3+/-0.8 days and 7.9+/-1.2 days in control group and 2.1+/-0.9 days and 5.2+/-3.1 days in experimental group (p=0.005 and p=0.02). 3. The mean time of operation, vital signs and arterial blood gas analysis did not showed any statistical differences between the groups. 4. Percent recovery of tidal volume and forced vital capacity were significantly improved in experimental group comparing with control group (p<0.05). 5. The patients undergoing VATS experienced significantly less postoperative pain and limitation of motion. In conclusion, VATS is safe and offers the potential benefits of shorter postoperative hospital stays and less pain with cosmetic benefits.

Comparison of Continuous Mechanical Ventilation and Internal Fixation in Flail Chest Injuries / 대한흉부외과학회지

From January, 1992 to June, 1996, )7 patients with flail chest were treated at Sonnchunhyang university hospital. 15 patients were managed by internal fixation of fractured ribs, whereas the remaining 22 patients were managed by endotracheal intubation and intermittent positive-pressure ventilation alone. There were no difference between two groups in age, sex, the severity of injury to the chest wall and the nature of associated injuries. Average dur'Btion of assisted ventilation was 5.7 +/-1.7 days in the patients treated by internal fixation versus 8.7 +/-3.3 days In the patients treated by continuous me hanical ventilation. Average stay in the intensive care unit was 8.3 +/-3.9 days for the patients treated by internal fixation, whereas it was 13.2+/-4.1 days in the group treated by continuous mechanical ventilation alone. In the group treated by internal fixation, complications were 3 atelectases(20.0%), 1 pneumonia(6.7%), 2 operative wound problems(12.3%) and 1 barotrauma(6.7%). In the other group, 7 atelectases(31.8%), 4 pneumonitis(18.2%), 2 empyemas(9.1%) and 3 barotraumas(1).6%). The mortality rate was 13.3%(2/15) in the surgically treated patients, whereas it was 22.7%(5122) in the other group. The treatment of flail chest by internal fixation resulted in speedy recovery, decreased complications and mortalities, and better ultimatc cosmetic and functional results.