2mm Video Thoracoscopic Examination for Primary Spontaneous Peumothorax / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evalute the diagnostic value of 2mm video thoracoscopy for primary spontaneous penumothorax. MATERIAL AND METHOD: During the period of March to June 1999, we prospectively analyzed 33 consecutive patients suffering from primary spontaneous pneumothorax. 2mm video-assisted thoracoscopy was compared with the operative finding. We observed recurrence during the mean follow-up of 3months. RESULT: Blebs were present in 24 patient(73%: 24/33). These were treated by 10mm video-assised thoracoscopic stapling. Nine pateints with no bleb were treated with pleural drainage. There were no significant differences in the bleb finding. No recurrence occurred during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: A 2mm video thoracoscopic examination for primary spontaneous pnumothorax is a useful alternative in deciding the operative indication.

Retrievable Nitinol Stent for Treatment of Tuberculous Tracheobronchial Stenosis: A case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

Although a tracheal stent can be an option for inoperable tracheal stenoses there still are some troublesome side effects including overgranulation from foreign body irritation restenosis and patient's discomfort associated with the procedure. We report a successful case of a retrievable stent made of self-expandable 'shape memory' metal and polyurethane in a 24 year old female patient with respiratory distress and tight stenosis in the trachea and left main bronchus, The stent was inserted following a balloon dilatation and was successfully removed on the 7th days after the procedure. She regained a normal active life without any repiratory symptoms and a follow-up of 8 months showed satisfactory results.

Botulinum A toxin for the treatment of focal hyperhidrosis: 5 cases / 대한흉부외과학회지

Thoracic sympathicotomy has been used safely and successfully to treat essential hyperhidrosis. However, it has been difficult to treat compansatory hyperhidrosis after thoracic sympathicotomy and focal hyperhidrosis. The sweat glands were innervated by post-ganglionic sympathetic fibers with acetylcholic serving as the transmitter. Botulinum A toxin has been reported to block neuro-transmission at the cholinergic autonomic nerve terminals. Prospecting its effect for the sweat gland, we treated 5 patients with focal hyperhidrosis with botulinum A toxin. Three patients received bilateral thoracic sympathectomy (1 case) and sympathicotomy(2 case) via VAT. The hyperhidrosis area was marked with betadine and was subdivided into squares of 2x2 cm(4cm(2)) each. Botulinum A toxin was injected intracutaneously in a dosage of 2.5U/0.1ml(100U/4ml) /4cm(2). A total dose of 100U of Botulinum A toxin was injected into the affected sites. Subjective assessment of sweat production by the patients using a visual analogue scale showed a 20~70% improvement. During the follow-up period, no toxic effects were observed.