Síndrome de Boerhaave: manejo diagnóstico y terapéutico en el Hospital Regional de Talca / Boerhaave Syndrome: diagnostic and therapeutic management at the Hospital Regional de Talca

Introduction: Boerhaave syndrome is a spontaneous rupture of the esophageal wall caused by a sudden increase in intraesophageal pressure. It represents an incidence of approximately 15% of all esophageal perforations, which do not exceed 3.1 per 1 million inhabitants per year. Objectives: To communicate the clinical presentation and management of patients with this syndrome, as well as to reveal the different options available in our service for its treatment. Methods: Search in the statistical data of the regional Hospital of Talca for patients with a diagnosis of Boerhaave syndrome. Five patients were found. Information was obtained from their clinical records and is presented as a clinical case report with a descriptive analysis of their management. Results: Of the 5 clinical cases presented, a classic clinical presentation can be observed, most of the patients presented with vomiting that later evolved with thoracic and/or epigastric pain, associated with imaging studies suggesting esophageal perforation. Management was surgical in 100% of the cases, applying different techniques described in the literature. Discussion and Conclusion: Boerhaave syndrome is a medical-surgical emergency that requires timely management. In spite of the variety of management and the consequences of each one of them, all the patients had an evolution that allowed them to preserve their lives until nowadays. Keeping a high index of suspicion and choosing the best management will have an impact on morbidity and mortality.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration combined with either endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration or endoscopic ultrasound using the EBUS scope-guided fine-needle aspiration for diagnosing and staging mediastinal diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the available evidence base on endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) combined with either endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) or endoscopic ultrasound using the EBUS scope-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-B-FNA) for diagnosing and staging mediastinal diseases. PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched to identify suitable studies up to June 30, 2019. Two investigators independently reviewed articles and extracted relevant data. Data were pooled using random effect models to calculate diagnostic indices that included sensitivity and specificity. Summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves were used to summarize the overall test performance. Data pooled from up to 16 eligible studies (including 10 studies of 963 patients about EBUS-TBNA with EUS-FNA and six studies of 815 patients with EUS-B-FNA) indicated that combining EBUS-TBNA with EUS-FNA was associated with slightly better diagnostic accuracy than combining it with EUS-B-FNA, in terms of sensitivity (0.87, 95%CI 0.83 to 0.90 vs. 0.84, 95%CI 0.80 to 0.88), specificity (1.00, 95%CI 0.99 to 1.00 vs. 0.96, 95%CI 0.93 to 0.97), diagnostic odds ratio (413.39, 95%CI 179.99 to 949.48 vs. 256.38, 95%CI 45.48 to 1445.32), and area under the SROC curve (0.99, 95%CI 0.97 to 1.00 vs. 0.97, 95%CI 0.92 to 1.00). The current evidence suggests that the combination of EBUS-TBNA with either EUS-FNA or EUS-B-FNA provides relatively high accuracy for diagnosing mediastinal diseases. The combination with EUS-FNA may be slightly better.

Manejo terapéutico de hematoma mediastinal después de un acceso venoso central / Therapeutic management of mediastinal hematoma after a venous access

Introducción: el hematoma mediastinal es una causa rara de complicación en el abordaje de la vía venosa central (VVC). Estudio de Gupta 2011 reportó uno y revisó varios casos clínicos analizando la conducta terapéutica. Caso clínico: mujer de 51 años con ventilación mecánica invasiva en terapia intensiva por encefalitis viral, que después de la colocación de VVC subclavia presentó inestabilidad hemodinámica, dificultad para ventilar con resistencias elevadas y compliance disminuida, hace paro cardiaco que revierte con maniobras, se precisa diagnóstico de hematoma mediastinal y se indica manejo conservador con el que evoluciona satisfactoriamente. Discusión: el hematoma de mediastino siempre debe sospecharse y es evidente en radiografías de tórax en los casos graves, con ensanchamiento mediastinal. La ventilación mecánica establece una presión positiva intratorácica permitiendo contener el hematoma, el manejo conservador se reporta beneficioso. Conociendo que las complicaciones de colocación de VVC son mínimas pero con elevado riesgo de inestabilidad, prolongación de hospitalización y aumento de la mortalidad, se recomienda evitar abordajes innecesarios, en especial subclavios.

Background: Mediastinal hematoma is an uncommon complication from the central venous access. The Gupta's trial 2011 reported one case and a review of other similar cases, 3 cases were treated with coil embolisation by vascular lesion, another 3 cases who needs thoracotomy for hemothorax complication and just 2 cases was established a conservative management in which only one survived. Clinical case: 51-year-old female in invasive mechanical ventilation admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) due to viral encephalitis, present hemodynamic instability and difficulty to ventilate by high resistance and low compliance after of a subclavian venous access, then complicated with cardiac arrest that reverted in 5 min with resuscitation maneuvers, we made a conservative management with continuous infusion of norepinephrine and invasive mechanical ventilation with protective technique (PEEP 10, TV6cc/kg), the requirements of norepinephrine decrease progressively, then the patient was disconnected from mechanical ventilation and was discharged from the intensive care satisfactorily. Discussion: Mediastinal hematoma should always be suspected and is evident with chest X-rays just when it is a severe case and it is suspicioned with wide mediastinum. Conservative management to this case into intensive care unit could be beneficial. Mechanical ventilation establishes a positive intra-thoracic pressure allowing the hematoma to be contained. Knowing that the complications of central venous access are minimal but these complications have high risk of instability, prolonged hospitalization and increased mortality. It is recommended avoid unnecessary central venous access, mainly subclavian access

Endobronchial ultrasound: a minimally invasive technology to assist diagnosis of thoracic diseases / Ultrassonografia endobrônquica: tecnologia minimamente invasiva para auxiliar no diagnóstico de doenças torácicas

ABSTRACT The endobronchial ultrasound is a minimally invasive technique that simultaneously associates ultrasound and bronchoscopy, to visualize lung nodule or masses, airway wall, and structures adjacent to the tracheobronchial tree. Endobronchial ultrasound has been incorporated into clinical practice all over the world because of its low risk and high diagnostic yield in neoplastic and non-neoplastic disease.

RESUMO A ultrassonografia endobrônquica é uma técnica minimamente invasiva que associa simultaneamente broncoscopia à ultrassonografia, com a finalidade de visualizar nódulos ou massas pulmonares, paredes das vias aéreas, e estruturas ao redor de toda a árvore traqueobrônquica. A ultrassonografia endobrônquica foi incorporada à prática clínica em todo o mundo devido a seu baixo risco e elevado rendimento diagnóstico em doenças neoplásicas e não neoplásicas.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in diagnosis of mediastinal lesions / Punção aspirativa por agulha guiada por ultrassom endobrônquico (EBUS-TBNA) no diagnóstico de lesões do mediastino

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the results of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in making diagnosis of mediastinal injuries associated to different causes. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study of patients submitted to Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration at a private organization, between June 2013 and October 2016. All cases referred for collection of lymph nodes or peritracheal/peribronchial masses by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration, and evaluated through tomography or PET-CT were included. Interventional pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons with experience in the method did the procedures. Rapid on-site evaluation of fine needle aspiration was performed by an experienced pathologist. Material analysis included cytological smear and cytopathological analysis of paraffin-embedded cell blocks. Other specific analyses (immunocytochemistry, tests and cultures of infectious agents) were performed whenever necessary. Results We included 72 patients; 6 were excluded for presenting endobronchial lesions in which bronchoscopic biopsy could be performed, or intrathoracic lesions that were not accessible by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration. The mean age of 66 patients included for analysis was 61.17 years (±14.67 years), with a predominance of males (64%). Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration was definitive for diagnosis in 60 cases (91%). Three cases (4.5%) had inconclusive test results. There were no major complications related to the procedure. Conclusion Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration had a high diagnosis yield, with minimal morbidity, being an excellent option for diagnostic approach of patients with lymphadenopathy or intrathoracic lesions, and for neoplasm staging.

RESUMO Objetivo Descrever os resultados da utilização de punção aspirativa por agulha guiada por ultrassom endobrônquico na definição do diagnóstico em casos de lesões mediastinais por diferentes causas. Métodos Estudo transversal retrospectivo de pacientes submetidos à punção aspirativa por agulha guiada por ultrassom endobrônquico em instituição privada, entre junho de 2013 e outubro de 2016. Foram incluídos todos os casos referenciados para coleta de materiais de linfonodos ou massas peritraqueais/peribrônquicas por punção aspirativa por agulha guiada por ultrassom endobrônquico, estudados com tomografia ou PET-CT. Os procedimentos foram realizados por pneumologistas intervencionistas e cirurgiões torácicos com experiência no método. Rapid on-site evaluation da punção aspirativa por agulha fina foi realizada por patologista experiente. A análise do material incluiu citologia dos esfregaços em lâminas e análise citopatológica do emblocado celular. Outras análises específicas (imunocitoquímica, pesquisas e culturas de agentes infecciosos) foram realizadas se necessárias. Resultados Foram incluídos 72 pacientes; destes, 6 foram excluídos por apresentarem lesões endobrônquicas passíveis de biópsia broncoscópica convencional ou lesões intratorácicas não acessíveis a punção aspirativa por agulha guiada por ultrassom endobrônquico. Assim, a média de idade dos 66 pacientes incluídos para análise foi 61,17 anos (±14,67 anos), com predomínio do sexo masculino (64%). A punção aspirativa por agulha guiada por ultrassom endobrônquico foi definitivo para o diagnóstico em 60 casos (91%). Três casos (4,5%) foram inconclusivos. Não houve complicações maiores relacionadas ao procedimento. Conclusão A punção aspirativa por agulha guiada por ultrassom endobrônquico teve elevado rendimento diagnóstico, com mínima morbidade, constituindo excelente opção na abordagem diagnóstica de pacientes com linfadenopatia ou lesões intratorácicas e no estadiamento de neoplasias.

Treatment Experience of Continuous Negative Pressure Drainage in the Acute Anterior Mediastinal Infection of Oropharyngeal Origined / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#Mediastinal infection is a serious infection of mediastinal connective tissue, with more complications and higher mortality. Application of broad-spectrum antibiotics and nutritional support, early sufficient drainage is the key to successful treatment. In the mode of drainage, this paper discusses the application of continuous negative pressure drainage technique to treat acute anterior mediastinal infection of severe mouth pharynx source, and the good results are summarized and shared.@*METHODS@#In January to December in 2017, a total of 17 cases treated acute mediastinal infection is derived from the throat, has formed a mediastinal abscess, surgery adopts retrosternal counterpart negative pressure drainage way, namely the sternum nest and free sternum xiphoid process under the incision on the first mediastinal clearance, make breakthrough and placed drainage device, suture closed wound, continuous negative pressure drainage, negative pressure using 3 cm-5 cm water column.@*RESULTS@#Among the 17 patients, 14 patients were relieved by continuous negative pressure drainage, and then the drainage tube was removed. In 2 cases, the infection broke into the right thoracic cavity, and the closed drainage caused the negative pressure to disappear, and the negative pressure drainage was replaced by the conventional drainage, and the drainage tube was removed after the drainage tube was clear. One patient had formed a mediastinal abscess incision drainage time later, complicated with septic shock and sepsis, resulting in the death of multiple organ failure.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The traditional treatment of severe acute mediastinal infection is sternal incision and drainage. Continuous negative pressure drainage adequate drainage of mediastinal can relieve patients' pain, effusion, and avoid the dressing out repeatedly. It is an effective method. However, there are limitations in this method, which need to be further optimized.

Spontaneous Disappearance of a Pericardial Cyst: Case Report and Literature Review / 대한흉부외과학회지

Pericardial cysts are rare benign anomalies generally discovered as incidental findings on radiographic images. Rarely, pericardial cysts cause symptoms and may lead to complications. A 56-year-old woman presented to the emergency department for mild chest pain. A cardiovascular and respiratory examination revealed no abnormalities, while a chest X-ray and subsequent thoracic computed tomography (CT) showed a pericardial cyst. The patient refused both percutaneous treatment and thoracic surgery. Three years later, a thoracic CT scan showed that the pericardial cyst had disappeared. Although the spontaneous resolution of these lesions is rare, this article highlights the possibility of conservative management in select cases.

Teratoma mediastinal grande asociado a derrame pleuropericárdico severo por perforación de ambas estructuras / Large mediastinal teratoma associated with severe pleural pericardial stroke due to perforation of both structures

Se presenta el caso clínico de un paciente de 21 años de edad, quien ingresa en el Servicio de Cardiología del Hospital Provincial Docente Clinicoquirúrgico Saturnino Lora Torres por presentar pericarditis aguda de evolución tórpida. Al realizarle la tomografía axial computarizada del mediastino se diagnosticó un teratoma asociado a derrame pleuropericárdico severo por ruptura de ambas estructuras. Fue intervenido con circulación extracorpórea y se confirmó el diagnóstico histológico

The case report of a 21 years patient is presented who is admitted in the Cardiology Service of Saturnino Lora Torres Teaching Clinical Surgical Provincial Hospital due to acute pericarditis of torpid course. When the computerized axial tomography of the mediastinal cavity was carried out, a teratoma associated with severe pleural pericardial stroke due to rupture of both structures was diagnosed. He was treated with extracorporeal circulation and the histologic diagnosis was confirmed

Boerhaave syndrome - case report / Síndrome de Boerhaave - relato de caso

ABSTRACT CONTEXT: Boerhaave syndrome consists of spontaneous longitudinal transmural rupture of the esophagus, usually in its distal part. It generally develops during or after persistent vomiting as a consequence of a sudden increase in intraluminal pressure in the esophagus. It is extremely rare in clinical practice. In 50% of the cases, it is manifested by Mackler's triad: vomiting, lower thoracic pain and subcutaneous emphysema. Hematemesis is an uncommon yet challenging presentation of Boerhaave's syndrome. Compared with ruptures of other parts of the digestive tract, spontaneous rupture is characterized by a higher mortality rate. CASE REPORT: This paper presents a 64-year-old female patient whose vomit was black four days before examination and became bloody on the day of the examination. Her symptoms included epigastric pain and suffocation. Physical examination showed hypotension, tachycardia, dyspnea and a swollen and painful abdomen. Auscultation showed lateral crackling sounds on inspiration. Ultrasound examination showed a distended stomach filled with fluid. Over 1000 ml of fresh blood was extracted by means of nasogastric suction. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was discontinued immediately upon entering the proximal esophagus, where a large amount of fresh blood was observed. The patient was sent for emergency abdominal surgery, during which she died. An autopsy established a diagnosis of Boerhaave syndrome and ulceration in the duodenal bulb. CONCLUSION: Boerhaave syndrome should be considered in all cases with a combination of gastrointestinal symptoms (especially epigastric pain and vomiting) and pulmonary signs and symptoms (especially suffocation).

RESUMO CONTEXTO: A síndrome de Boerhaave é uma ruptura longitudinal transmural espontânea do esôfago, normalmente da parte distal. Ela geralmente se desenvolve durante ou após vômitos persistentes como consequência do aumento repentino da pressão intraluminal no esôfago. É extremamente rara na prática clínica. Em 50% dos casos, manifesta-se pela tríade de Mackler: vômitos, dor torácica inferior, enfisema subcutâneo. Hematêmese é uma apresentação incomum porém desafiadora da síndrome de Boerhaave. Em comparação com rupturas de outras partes do tubo digestivo, a ruptura espontânea é caracterizada pela taxa de mortalidade mais elevada. RELATO DO CASO: O artigo apresenta uma paciente do sexo feminino de 64 anos de idade, cujo vômito era preto, quatro dias antes do exame, e continha sangue no dia do exame. Os sintomas incluíam dor epigástrica e sufocação. No exame físico, foi verificada hipotensão, taquicardia, dispneia e abdômen inchado e doloroso. Ausculta revelou estertores laterais na inspiração. A ultrassonografia mostrou estômago dilatado, preenchido com conteúdo líquido. Sucção nasogástrica evacuou mais de 1.000 ml de sangue fresco. Esofagogastroduodenoscopia foi abortada imediatamente ao se entrar no esôfago proximal, onde foi observada grande quantidade de sangue fresco. A paciente foi encaminhada com urgência para cirurgia abdominal, durante a qual faleceu. Autópsia estabeleceu diagnóstico de síndrome de Boerhaave e úlcera no bulbo-duodenal. CONCLUSÃO: A síndrome Boerhaave deve ser considerada em todos os casos com uma combinação de sintomas gastrointestinais (especialmente dor epigástrica e vómitos) e sintomas e sinais pulmonares (especialmente sufocação).

Multidisciplinary team approach for the management of patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer: searching the evidence to guide the decision

Locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) is composed of heterogeneous subgroups that require a multidisciplinary team approach in order to ensure optimal therapy for each patient. Since 2010, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network has recommended chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for bulky mediastinal disease and surgical combination for those patients with single-station N2 involvement who respond to neoadjuvant therapy. According to lung cancer tumor boards, thoracic surgeons make a decision on the resectability of the tumor, if it is determined to be unresectable, concurrent CRT (CCRT) is considered the next choice. However, the survival benefit of CCRT over sequential CRT or radiotherapy alone carries the risk of additional toxicity. Considering severe adverse events that may lead to death, fit patients who are able to tolerate CCRT must be identified by multidisciplinary tumor board. Decelerated approaches, such as sequential CRT or high-dose radiation alone may be a valuable alternative for patients who are not eligible for CCRT. As a new treatment strategy, investigators are interested in the application of the innovative radiation techniques, trimodality therapy combining surgery after high-dose definitive CCRT, and the combination of radiation with targeted or immunotherapy agents. The updated results and on-going studies are thoroughly reviewed in this article.

Complicated Azygos Vein Aneurysm in an Infant Presenting with Acute Pulmonary Thromboembolism

Azygos vein aneurysm is a rare cause of mediastinal mass. Most cases present as an incidental finding on imaging modalities, but in few cases the thrombosis in the aneurysm leads to pulmonary thromboembolism, which may require surgical resection. We present a case where, for the first time, a case of a complicated azygos vein aneurysm was diagnosed in infancy, which required surgical resection.

Treatment of thoracic hemorrhage due to rupture of traumatic mediastinal hematoma / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Patients in traffic accidents are usually presented with pain and bleeding due to fractures or soft tissue injury. On some occasions, more severe complications may be triggered by the trauma. A review of the published English language literature reveals no survival case once the traumatic mediastinal hematoma is ruptured. In our case, a 54-year-old man suffering motorcycle accident was admitted to emergency department. Computed tomography scan revealed subdural hematoma combined with posterior mediastinal hematoma. The patient was saved and discharged with a satisfactory outcome. Here we hope to share our treatment experience in dealing with the patient with severe multiple trauma.

A case of autologous pericardium patch in treatment of aortoesophageal fistula / 中南大学学报(医学版)

Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare but fatal complication caused by foreign body ingestion. Aortic replacement and endovascular stent graft are the common repair surgeries. The materials to repair an aortic defect in AEF are typically homograft or allograft, but the use of an autologous pericardium patch is rarely reported. Here we reported a patient with AEF and severe mediastinal infection induced by chicken bone ingestion. In this case, the autologous pericardium patch was used as the repair material.

Features of Computed Tomography Perfusion of Mediastinal Lymphadenopathies: a Pathology-based Retrospective Study / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the features of various mediastinal lymphadenopathies using computed tomography perfusion (CTP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CTP parameters (CTPs) of the selected mediastinal nodes from 59 patients with pathology-proven malignant lymph nodes and of those from 29 patients with clinically diagnosed or pathology-proven inflammatory lymphadenopathies were collected. Patients were divided into subgroups by etiology and phase of primary disease, including different pathological malignant nodes and diverse inflammatory nodes. CTPs were defined as blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT), permeability (PMB), and time to peak (TTP). Differences of CTPs were compared between malignant and benign nodes, and among subgroups, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the mediastinum, no significant differences of CTPs were found between malignant and benign groups (all P>0.05), the same for subgroups of malignant nodes (all P>0.05). Acute lymphadenitis had higher BF and BV than chronic inflammatory, lymphoid tuberculosis, sarcoidosis and malignant nodes. The BF of malignant nodes was markedly slower than that of acute lymphadenitis (P=0.01), but faster than chronic inflammatory nodes (P=0.04) and sarcoidosis (P=0.03), with no significant difference compared with lymphoid tuberculosis. Pneumonia-complicated lymphoid tuberculosis showed the longest MTT while sarcoidosis displayed the shortest MTT, and inflammatory nodes, lymphoid tuberculosis without complicated pneumonia and malignant nodes had moderate MTT.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CTPs show promising potential in distinguishing various lymphadenopathies in the mediastinum, but more studies are needed to improve their specificity.</p>

Anterior mediastinal abscess diagnosed in a young sumo wrestler after closed blunt chest trauma / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Most mediastinal abscesses result from infections after thoracotomy, esophageal perforation or pene- trating chest trauma. This disease is rarely caused by closed blunt chest trauma. All previously reported such cases after closed blunt chest trauma presented with hematoma and sternal osteomyelitis resulting from sternal fracture. Here we report a 15-year-old sumo wrestler who presented with an anterior mediastinal abscess without any mediastinal fracture. The mediastinal abscess resulted from the hematogenous spread of Staphylococcus aureus to a hematoma that might have been caused by a closed blunt chest trauma incurred during sumo wrestling exercises.

Prognostic factors in children with extracranial germ cell tumors treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy / 소아과

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes and prognostic factors in children with extracranial germ cell tumors (GCTs) treated at a single institution. METHODS: Sixty-six children diagnosed with extracranial GCTs between 1996 and 2012 were included in the study. Primary treatment was surgical excision, followed by six cycles of cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The survival rates were compared according to the International Germ Cell Cancer Cooperative Group classification used for GCTs in adults to validate the classification guidelines for GCTs in children. RESULTS: The median patient age was 4.4 years. In 34 patients (51.5%), the primary tumor site was the gonad. Extragonadal GCTs were detected in 32 patients. The 5-year overall survival and event-free survival (EFS) were 92.0%+/-3.5% and 90.4%+/-3.7%, respectively. In univariate analysis, tumor histology, metastasis, and elevated alpha-fetoprotein were not prognostic factors in children with extracranial GCTs. However, EFS was poorer in patients with mediastinal disease (n=12, 66.7%+/-13.6 %) than in those with nonmediastinal disease (n=54, 96.0%+/-2.8%) (P=0.001). The 5-year EFS was lower in patients older than 10 years, (n=21, 80.0%+/-8.9%) compared with those younger than 10 years (n=45, 95.2%+/-3.3%) (P=0.04). Multivariate analysis identified the mediastinal tumor site as the only independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of children with extracranial GCTs was favorable. However, nongerminomatous mediastinal tumors were associated with poor survival in children. Further research is needed to improve the prognosis of children with malignant mediastinal GCTs.

Current Trend of Robotic Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeries in Korea: Analysis of Seven-Year National Data

BACKGROUND: Robotic surgery is an alternative to minimally invasive surgery. The aim of this study was to report on current trends in robotic thoracic and cardiovascular surgical techniques in Korea. METHODS: Data from the National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA) between January 2006 and June 2012 were used in this study, including a total of 932 cases of robotic surgeries reported to NECA. The annual trends in the case volume, indications for robotic surgery, and distribution by hospitals and surgeons were analyzed in this study. RESULTS: Of the 932 cases, 591 (63%) were thoracic operations and 340 (37%) were cardiac operations. The case number increased explosively in 2007 and 2008. However, the rate of increase regained a steady state after 2011. The main indications for robotic thoracic surgery were pulmonary disease (n=271, 46%), esophageal disease (n=199, 34%), and mediastinal disease (n=117, 20%). The main indications for robotic cardiac surgery were valvular heart disease (n=228, 67%), atrial septal defect (n=79, 23%), and cardiac myxoma (n=27, 8%). Robotic thoracic and cardiovascular surgeries were performed in 19 hospitals. Three large volume hospitals performed 94% of the case volume of robotic cardiac surgery and 74% of robotic thoracic surgery. Centralization of robotic operation was significantly (p<0.0001) more common in cardiac surgery than in thoracic surgery. A total of 39 surgeons performed robotic surgeries. However, only 27% of cardiac surgeons and 23% of thoracic surgeons performed more than 10 cases of robotic surgery. CONCLUSION: Trend analysis of robotic and cardiovascular operations demonstrated a gradual increase in the surgical volume in Korea. Meanwhile, centralization of surgical cases toward specific surgeons in specific hospitals was observed.