We analysed the results of the 521 bronchofiberscopies which was carried out at the Severance Hospital during 1977-1980. The purpose of the bronchofiberscopic procedures were diagnostic in 488 cases (93.8%), therapeutic in 18 cases (3.4%) and follow up observation in 15 cases (2.8%). It's major role is in the diagnosis of lung cancer and the tuberculosis in our hospital. In 190 patients of lung cancer confirmed positive typing was possible in 72.9% by bronchial biopsy, 52.6% by washing cytology. In 48 patient with tuberculosis who was not diagnosed before bronchofiberscopy, tubercle bacilli were found in 20% by AFB smear, 51% by AFB culture and 68.4% by bronchoscopic biopsy. Complications were minimal(1.9%).
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bronchoscopy/methods ; Female ; Fiber Optics ; Human ; Lung Diseases/diagnosis* ; Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Age

Twenty-five patients underwent flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination under fluoroscopic guidance. All patients had an endoscopically invisible pulmonary lesion suggestive of malignancy. A diagnostic specimen was obtained in 23 of the 25 patients (92%). A pathological finding of lung cancer was obtained in 14 patient (56%) through the transbronchial lung biopsy (12 cases) and by washing cytology (2 cases). Remaining 11 patients who were undiagnosed for pulmonary malignancy were followed by clinically had roentgenographically over 6 months. We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the TBLB procedures including brushing cytology and noted an 82.4% in sensitivity and 100% in specificity.
Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy/methods ; Bronchoscopy ; Female ; Fiber Optics ; Human ; Lung/pathology* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Male ; Middle Age

A 47-year-old maIe, who had been treated under the diagnosis of bronchial asthma, was admitted to this department with the complaints of progressive dyspnea of 3 years duration and upper air way obstruction causing unique stridor. Through roentgenography and bronchoscopy, lower tracheal hamartoma was confirmed, but a pulmonary function test precipitated acute hypoxia with mental somnolence. The tumor was removed as quickly as possible by multiple punch biopsy, through a rigid bronchoscope, for life saving air way maintenance.
Biopsy ; Bronchoscopy ; Fiber Optics ; Hamartoma/diagnosis* ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Respiratory Sounds/etiology* ; Trachea/pathology ; Tracheal Neoplasms/diagnosis*

Seventy-nine fiberoptic bronchoscopies were performed in 46 Patients during 2 years in the Intensive Care Unit of Severance Hospital, Yonsei Medical Center. Bronchoscopies were done more than twice in 13 patients. Forty-three bronchoscopies were done through the orotracheal tube in 27 patients, and narcotics and sedatives such as morphine sulfate, diazepam and lorazepam were added with pancuronium bromide during 52 bronchoscopy procedures in 21 patients. Ventilatory support was accomplished by control mode ventilation for 63 bronchoscopies in 37 patients. Twenty-four patients were from the surgical department, and 37 bronchoscopies were performed in 18 patients in a post-thoracotomy state. Twenty-two patients were nonsurgical patients. We performed 48 bronchoscopies in 26 patients to treat lung haziness, 14 bronchoscopies in 3 patients to confirm the operative anastomosis after pneumonectomy or tracheoplasty, and 11 bronchoscopies to confirm the airway patency and vocal cord movement. We obtained good results from 41 bronchoscopies performed for therapeutic purposes and 28 bronchoscopies done for diagnostic purposes. But in 4 patients with pleural effusion and pneumonia, we could not get any improvement in chest X-ray taken after bronchoscopy. We suggested other procedures in 6 patients for diagnosis or treatment, such as suspension laryngoscopy, thoracentesis, ultrasonogram and laser surgery.
Airway Obstruction/diagnosis ; *Bronchoscopes ; Critical Care ; Evaluation Studies ; Female ; *Fiber Optics ; Human ; Male ; Respiratory Insufficiency/*diagnosis/therapy

A stable dark variant separated from photobacterium phosphoreum (A2) was fixed in agar-gel membrane and immobilized onto an exposed end of a fiber-optic linked with bioluminometer. The variant could emit a luminescent signal in the presence of genotoxic agents, such as Mitomycin C (MC). The performance of this whole-cell optical fiber sensor system was examined as a function of several parameters, including gel probe thickness, bacterial cell density, and diameter of the fiber-optic core and working temperature. An optimal response to a model genotoxicant, Mitomycin C, was achieved with agar-bacterial gel membrane: the thickness of gel membrane was about 5 mm; the cell density of bacteria in gel membrane was about 2.0 x 10(7)/ml; the diameter of fiber-optic core was 5.0 mm; the working temperature was 25 degrees C. Under these optimized conditions, the response time was less than 10 h to Mitomycin C, with a lower detection threshold of 0.1 mg/L.
Biosensing Techniques ; Chemiluminescent Measurements ; Fiber Optics ; Luminescent Proteins/*genetics ; Mitomycin/*pharmacology ; Mitomycin/toxicity ; Photobacterium/*genetics ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; Variation (Genetics)

Pulmonary aspergillosis may be classified under three categories, depending upon whether the host is atopic or immunocompromised: invasive aspergillosis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) or aspergilloma. However, it is not always possible to effectively categorize this disease. We experienced a case of endobronchial aspergilloma, which was difficult to categorize, in a healthy male patient. The chest X-ray and computed tomography showed an ill-defined nodule mimicking lung cancer. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed an aspergilloma without cavity formation in the left lower laterobasal segmental bronchial orifice. The aspergilloma was removed and the patient's symptoms were relieved. We present this unusual case with a review of the literature.
Adult ; Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary/pathology ; Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary/diagnosis* ; Bronchi/pathology ; Bronchoscopy ; Case Report ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fiber Optics ; Human ; Lung Neoplasms/radiography ; Male ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed