Mixed Infection of Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. abscessus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the Lung

A mixed infection of Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. abscessus (Mab) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in the lung is an unusual clinical manifestation and has not yet been reported. A 61-year-old woman had been treated for Mab lung disease and concomitant pneumonia, and was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Despite both anti-PTB and anti-Mab therapy, her entire left lung was destroyed and collapsed. She underwent left pneumonectomy and received medical therapy. We were able to successfully treat her mixed infection by pneumonectomy followed by inhaled amikacin therapy. To the best of our knowledge, thus far, this is the first description of a mixed Mab and MTB lung infection.

usefulness of two-port video-assisted thoracosopic surgery in low-risk patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax compared with open thoracotomy

Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax is difficult to treat and has been thought to have high morbidity and mortality rate due to the underlying diseases and presence of comorbidities in the patients. However, early surgical intervention will be beneficial if it is tolerable by the patient. In the surgical approach for treating pneumothorax, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery [VATS] may reduce the postoperative drainage period and hospital stay compared with open thoracotomy. A retrospective review of the clinical data of 40 patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax who underwent open thoracotomy [n = 20] or two-port VATS [n = 20] between January 2008 and December 2012 was erformed. Postoperative drainage period of open thoracotomy group and two-port VATS group was 9.85 +/- 5.28 and 6.75 +/- 2.45, respectively, with a significant inter-group difference. Postoperative hospital stay was 11.8 +/- 5.12 in the open thoracotomy group and 8.25 +/- 2.88 in the two-port VATS group, with a significant inter-group difference. Recurrence rate and postoperative complication rate were not significant between the two groups. In selected patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax treated with surgical approach, two-port VATS resulted in shorter postoperative drainage period and hospital stay compared with open thoracotomy

Pulmonary Metastasectomy for Colorectal Carcinoma

PURPOSE: Surgical resection is an important curative treatment for pulmonary metastases from colorectal adenocarcinoma. We analyzed the outcomes and the prognostic factors related to the post operative mortality after surgical resection for pulmonary metastases from colorectal adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1994 and December 2009, 28 patients underwent complete pulmonary resection of metastatic colorectal carcinoma. We performed a retrospective review of the patient's characteristics and the factors affecting survival. Survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and comparison between groups was performed by a log-rank analysis. RESULTS: The median survival was 53.07 months (Kaplan-Meier method). The number of pulmonary metastases (p=0.0151) and a prethoracotomy carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level over 5 ng/mL (p=0.0217) were significantly related with survival. CONCLUSION: The prethoracotomy CEA level and the number of metastases were significantly related with the survival rate. Resection of pulmonary metastatic lung lesion from colorectal cancer may improve the survival rate in a selected group of patients.

Early Results of the Nuss Procedure / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgery of pectus excavatum by Dr. Nuss is a new technique that allows the repair of this deformity without any cartilage resection or sternal osteotomy. We describe the early experiences with Nuss procedure. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From December 1999 to January 2001, twenty patients with pectus excavatum underwent repair by Nuss procedure. There were 14 males and 6 females whose mean age was 10.1 +/- 7.7 years, ranging from 1 to 33 years. Most patients(N=19) were below 20 years, except 33 years old female patient(N=1). RESULT: The severity of depression was assessed by computed tomography(CT). CT index was mean 4.9 +/- 5.7(ranged from 3.3 to 8). The average operating time was 85.8 +/- 23.7 minutes. The used metal bars were ranged in length from 8 inches to 16 inches(average 11.8 +/- 14.4 inches). Early postoperative complications were pneumothorax in three patients, paralytic ileus in one, and postoperative chest pain requiring analgesics in all patients. Epidural analgesia was used in one adult patient for control of postoperative pain. In our experiences, there were no serious complications posteoperatively. CONCLUSION: There were good early results with the Nuss procedure that we performed for repairing of pectus excavatum. However, we believe the procedure needs to be observed for the long term results for it to be broadly accepted.