Subphrenic Abscess Due to Retained Gauze / 대한흉부외과학회지

Eighty-four-year old man who had lapalotomy for stomach ulcer perforation 35 years ago was admitted for left lower chest discomfort. Chest X-ray and CT showed a large mass with air fluid level in left lower lung field. The tentative diagnosis was infected bronchogenic cyst. After a thoracotomy, the mass was confirmed as elevated diaphragm and subphrenic abscess with a foreign body, retained surgical gauze. The pus and gauze were located between stomach and diaphragm. His hospital course was smooth and uneventful, he was discharged with good outcome on postoperative day 9.

Evaluation on the Extended Transseptal Approachin Mitral Valvular Operations / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Adequate exposure of the mitral valve is a prerequisite for mitral procedures including the repair. An extended transseptal approach in mitral valvular operations is known to have certain technical advantages in recent years because of the anatomic posterior location of the mitral valve, especially in reoperations and in the presence of the small atrium in spite of the possibility of arrhythmia due to injury of sinus nodal artery. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We compared the preoperative status, operative, and postoperative factors among patients in two study groups, transseptal only (Group I, n=10) and extended transseptal approach (Group II, n=25). RESULT: There were no differences in age, sex, NYHA functional class, left atrial size, and left ventricular function. The incidence of the redo-operation was high and early postoperative arrhythmia, which was improved later, appeared in 3 patients in Group II, but not in Group I. CONCLUSION: We believe that atrial septal incision could be extended up to the atrial roof whenever exposure of the mitral valve during a transseptal approach is inadequate because the late results were similar.

Perforation of Intrathoracic Stomach after Ivor Lewis Operation for Esophageal Cancer: 2 cases report / 대한흉부외과학회지

We report our experience with 2 cases of perforation of intrathoracic stomach after Ivor Lewis operation for esophageal cancer. There was no problem in the anastomotic site, but the drainage from pleural cavity increased after oral intake. The stomach perforation was proved by rethoracotomy. The perforation site was repaired by sutures with pedicled intercostal muscle.

Delayed Presentation of Traumatic Diaphragmatic Hernia / 대한흉부외과학회지

Between January 1976 and March 1997, six patients with delayed presentation of traumatic diaphragmatic hernia occured among the 52 patients of traumatic diaphragm rupture, of whom four males and two females, five by blunt trauma and one by stab wound, one was right side and the rest were left side. In all patients, reduction of herniated organs was accomplished by thoracotomy or thoracotomy with extension to abdomen. Suspicion of the diaphragmatic ruture from the acute traumatic chest injured patient is important and we can use the videothoracoscopy for evaluation and treatment of the traumatic diaphragm rupture.

Malignant Schwannoma on the Right Chest Wall: 1 Case Report / 대한흉부외과학회지

Malignant schwannoma is rare tumor which is derived from schwan cells or nerve sheath cells, and it is frequently associated with Von Rechlinghausen's disease. We experienced one case of malignant schwannoma on the right chest wall without Von Rechlinghausen's disease. Patient was 64-year-old man who presented painless palpable mass on the right lower chest wall for about 2 months. On chest computed tomography, the mass which was 6 X 6 cm in size and had central necrosis, involved 11th rib with destruction, invaded the diaphragm and displaced the kidney anteriorlly. He underwent en-bloc resection of the tumor and discharged without any problem after 20 days.

A Surgical Treatment of the Esophageal Foreign Body: 10 cases report / 대한흉부외과학회지

Ten cases with esophageal foreign body were treated surgically from July 1980 to October 1995 at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital. The mean age was 45.3 years, with a range from 25 to 71. Out of ten cases, 6 were female and four were male. Common symptoms were dysphagia, fever, foreign body sensation and neck pain. Three cases of foreign bodies were of fish bones, two of bubble package of drugs, one case of a beer bottle cap, one of a piece glass, one of a bathtub plug, one of chicken and one of a bean. The diagnosis was established by esophagography using a water soluble contrast material and esophagoscopy. Among of ten cases, two had esophageal stricture due to the ingestion of lye at a young age. One case had experienced psychological problems. All foreign bodies were removed by surgical procedures. Five cases were treated by cervical esophagostomy, one case by right thoracotomy, one case by retrograde bougienation through gastrostomy and two cases by cervical incision and drainage for cervical abscess. Three cases developed post operative esophageal leaks which healed spontaneously and transient hoarseness developed in one case. One case developed traumatic pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema which was treated by closed thoracostomy. There were no operative deaths.