A Clinical Evaluation of Esophageal Perforation / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Esophageal perforation is an extremely lethal injury that requires careful management for survival. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We performed a retrospective clinical review of 14 patients treated for esophageal perforation at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery hanyang University Hospital between July 1986 and August 1998. Cardiovascular Surgery Hanyang University Hospital between July 1986 and August 1998. RESULT: The ration between male and female patients was 12:2 and their ages ranged from 9 to 68 years( average: 446 years). Iatrogenic perforations were found in 6 patients(42.9%) spontaneous perforations in 3 patients(21.4%) traumatic perforations in 2 patients(14.3%) and caustic perforations foreign body origin and esophagel cancer in 1 patient (7.1%) each. Four of the patients(28.6%) had esophageal ruptures located cancer in 1 patient (7.1%) each. Four of the patients (28.6%) had esophageal ruptures located in the cervical esophagus and 10 patients (71.4%) in the thoracic esophagus, The most frequent location was in the mid third portion of the esophagus (35.7%) there were also 2 patients(14.3%) in the upper third portion and 3 patients(21.4%) in the lower third portion. Complications encountered included mediastinitis empyema or pleural effusion mediastinal or lung abscess sepsis and aspiration pneumonia. The most frequent complication that occurred was mediastinitis in 9 cases (57%) Three patients underwent conservative treatment. Among the patients who underwent surgical treatment 5 patients underwent primary closure 6 patients underwent open drainage and 2 patients underwent reconstrumction (1 patients had an initial primary closure and 1 patient had an initial open drainage procedure). The mortality rates for those with conservative and surgical treatment were 66.7% (2cases) and 9.1% (1 cases) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Perforation of the esophagus although very rare has a high mortality rate and thus aggressive operative therapy is necessary.

The Successfully Redoaugmentation of Budd-Chiari Syndrome with Using Gore-Tex Patch of the IVC Obstruction / 대한흉부외과학회지

Budd-Chiari syndrome is a state of hepatic failure caused by impairment of blood flow anywhere from the inferior vena cava to the right atrium. In this case, a 45 year old patient had undergone membranotomy and dilatation with autogenous pericardial graft due to obstruction of the inferior vena cava caused by a congenital membrane in 1987. Ten years after the operation, restenosis occurred. Although a noninvasive method with a Gianturco stent dilatation was performed, a satisfactory result was not obtained. A reoperation was performed. The stenotic segment of inferior vena cava was excised and after augmentation with a prepared pentagon shaped Gore-Tex artificial graft allowing passage of two fingers. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful without signs of rebleeding or any other complications and the patient was discharged at postoperative two weeks without the use of anticoagulants. An excellent result was obtainable after operation using a prepared Gore-Tex graft and such a result. Reoperational case of Budd-Chiari syndrome may require rapid and excellent the operative techenic by prevention of massive bleeding under use of extracorporeal circulation.

Successful Treatment of Prenatally Diagnosed Non-Chylous Primary Fetal Hydrethorax: A Case Report / 대한주산의학회잡지

Primary fetal hydrothorax presents a wide spectrum of severity ranging from small harmless effusions to life-threatening thoracic compression. Management of this condition is controversial. We experienced a case of non-chylous primary fetal hydrothorax not associated with hydrops or other malformations. A predominantly unilateral hydrothorax in a fetus was diagnosed by sonography at 31 weeks gestation. Repeated ultrasonographic examinations to detect development of hydrops or progression of intrapleural effusion were used to evaluate the need for intrauterine thoracentesis and to decide the optimal time for delivery. Two thoracenteses were performed. The baby was delivered at 34 weeks. Postnatal intubation was carried out in the baby, and then chest tube placement was performed and resulted in the collection of 805ml of serous fluid. Sustained intubation was necessary for 16 days because of developing respiratory distress as a result of prematurity and recurrent pleural fluid accumulation. The baby did well after postnatal evacuation of the intrapleural fluid. Pre and postnatal investigation to find the pathophysiological mechanism leading to hydrothorax were negative. We conclude that non-chylous primary fetal hydrothorax is generally associated with a favorable outcome.

Medistinal Teratoma with Pleural and Pericardial Effusion Teratoma with Pleural and Pericardial Effusion / 대한흉부외과학회지

Mediastinal teratoma is a tumor that thoracic surgeons made an operation much less commonly than other mediastinal masses and most of them are asymptomatic. But very rarely, this tumor invades the pleura and pericardium resulting in pleural effusion, pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade in severe cases. The mechanism of invasion and perforation of the tumor is unknown and tumor-consisting tissue factor is suspected of a cause. In this case, we operated on a patient whose anterior mediastinal teratoma invaded and perforated pericardium and pleura resulting in pericardial effusion and pleural effusion. The patient was improved and discharged with no problem after resection of mass and involved pericardium.

Review of Primary Chest wall Tumors / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Chest wall tumors can classified into soft tissue tumors and bone tissue tumors and can be subclassified into benign and malignant tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report an analysis of 68 patients with primary chest wall tumors treated at the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at Hanyang University Hospital from January, 1973 to September 1997. RESULTS: Among a total of 68 patients 33 (48.5%) were males and 35 (51.5%) were females. The ages of the patients ranged from 10 to 79 years with a mean age of 39.3 years. According to the age distribution, 23 patients (33.8%) were from the 4th decade, 12 patients (17.6%) were from the 6th decade, and 10 patients (14.7%) were from the 5th decade. Among the primary chest wall tumors, 53 cases were benign and 15 cases were malignant. Among the benign tumors, 17 cases (32.1%) were in the 4th decade and among the malignant tumors, 6 cases (40%) were in the 4th decade. In both malignant and benign tumors the most common ages were in the 4th decade. The most common tumors were fibrous dysplasia and chondroma, each with a total of 14 cases (26.4%). Osteochondroma and lipoma each had 8 cases (15.1%). Among malignant tumors, osteosarcoma was most common with 8 cases (53.3%). According to location, 49 cases occured in both bone and cartilage tissue, 19 cases occurred in cartilage. Among the presenting symptoms, palpable mass was present in all cases. Fifty-one patients complained of tenderness and among cases with involvement of the lung, 3 patients had complained of respiratory distress. Among the malignant tumors 6 cases underwent a radical operation and 4 cases of benign tumors underwent a radical operation. Postoperativly, there was one case with recurrence from a desmoid tumor. There were no deaths postoperativly and no deaths due to complications (and their postoperative courses were uneventful). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with primary chest wall tumors initially present with mass at admission. Resection is sufficient treatment for benign tumors but in malignant tumors wide resection of the chest wall is needed and mchest wall reconstruction.

Mesothelial Cyst of the Middle and Anterior-Superior Mediastinum: One Case Report / 대한흉부외과학회지

Mesothelial cysts have many other names, such as pericardial celomic cyst, pleura-diaphragmatic cyst, simple cyst of the mediastinum, springwater cyst, serosal cyst, etc. (Petereit 1972, Drash 1950). Most mesothelial cysts are believed to originate from malformations of the pericardium, but some, like the one in this case, are believed to result from a pleural malformation. (Ochsner 1966, Lambert 1940). Mesothelial cysts are extremely rare and can be confirmed histologically by special stains. A 64 year old woman was admitted due to a painless bulging mass in her right neck. The operation was performed with the initial diagnosis of cystic lymphangioma confirmed by computer tomography and total excision was possible. The diagnosis of mesothelial cyst of the mediastinum was confirmed by histologic examinations (stainings) and the patient was discharged from the hospital without any significant complications.

Poland Syndrome: One Case Report / 대한흉부외과학회지

The chest wall deformity associated with Poland's syndrome is a very rare anomaly which consists of congenital unilateral absence of the sternal head of the pectoralis major muscle and various abnormalities of the upper extremity. Other clinical features associated with Poland's syndrome include deficiency or absence of the breast and nipple, deficiency of subcutaneous fat and axillary hair, and abnormalities of costal cartilages and anterior ends of ribs. The origin remains uncertain, but is considered not to be hereditary. Poland's syndrome may pose a serious psychologic and cosmetic problem, early recognition and surgical correction may prove beneficial. A 37 year old patient with Poland's syndrome was encountered and underwent satisfactory surgical correction.

Heterotopic Heart Transplantation in the Rat Model / 대한흉부외과학회지

In 1964, Abbott and Colleagues published the world's first heterotopic heart transplantation technique in the rat. Their method established circulation by end-to-end anastomoses of the graft's aorta and pulmonary artery to the recipient's abdominal aorta and Inferior Vena Cava (IVC), respectively. In 1966, Tomita et al altered Abbott's technique by employing end-to-side rather than end-to-end anastomoses, thus eliminating the hind leg paralysis that sometimes resulted from Abbott's technique. In order to prevent postsuture hemorrhage (since 7-0 silk suture was the finest available at that time), Tomita's aortic anastomosis was done with double up-and-down continuous suture technique. A single layer continuous anstomosis effected the pulmonary artery-IVC anastomosis. The availability of Nylon monofilament suture made it possible for Ono and Lindsey to use a single layer suture technique for the aortic end-to-side anastomosis in their modified rat heart transplantation. We observed survival time between control group and Immunosuppression (Cyclosporine administration, 10mg/Kgx4 times postoperatively) group after heterotopic heart transplantation in the rat model. The cyclosporine adminstration group survived longer than the control group, thus we concluded that cyclosporine was based on Immunosuppressive drugs.

Transsternal Approach for BPF closure: A Case Report / 대한흉부외과학회지

A patient with post-pneumonectomy empyema was treated sucessfully by modification of Clagett's operation after closure of bronchopleural fistula using a transsternal, transpericardial approach. His primary disease was pulmonary tuberculosis, and he had a past history of left upper lobe lobectomy 34 year ago. Recently recurred pulmonary tuberculosis with aspergilloma in the remaining left lung, empyema with bronchopleural fistula had developed on the post-operative 4th day after completion pneumonectomy. Closed thoracostomy was done at the lowest point of the left pleural cavity immediately. The pleural cavity was irrigated with small amount of normal saline through pigtail catheter. The 2nd operation was done by closure of bronchopleural fistula using a stapler through transsternal, transpericardial approach, and then the pleural space was irrigated with normal saline with Tobramycin which shows sensitivity to isolated organism from pleural cavity. After negative conversion of pleural fluid culture, we performed modified Clagett's operation under local anesthesia. The patient had no evidence of recurrence of empyema and discharged from hospital after 10 days of the 3rd procedure.

Primary Malignant Pericardial Mesothelioma (PMPM): A case Report / 대한흉부외과학회지

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma(PMPM) is more rare than heart tumor, and the term of mcsothelioma was first used by Adami in 1910, although the lesion was Hrst descripted by Wagner in 1870. Most of 1:le reported 40 cascs have becn diagnosed on autopsy. Antemortem diagnosis are rarely reported with only 40 cases in the world. According to Cohen, its incidence in 500,000 autopsies were 2.2. An analysis of the recent review shows that an antemortem diagnosis was made in only 19~25% of total cases. This report co sist of a case of our experience of PMPM.