Pure lipoma, originating from the trachea is a very rara disease entity A-37-ycar-old-male patient had suf'leered from intermittent episodes of dyspnea and has been treated under the diagnosis of bronchial asthma for 6 months. On chest CT scan and bronchofiberscopic examination, a round mass with the pedunculated neck was found in the mid-portion of the membranous portion of the intrathoracic trachea. Under the guide of fiberoptic bronchoscope, the mass was extirpated using polypectomy w re loop and eletrocauterization. He was discharged without any events on third postoperative day of operation and has been well without recurrence for 6 months.
Asthma ; Bronchoscopes ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Lipoma* ; Neck ; Recurrence ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Trachea

The surgical closure of VSD in patient with severe pulmonary hypertension has been considered a difficult problem for surgeons, because sudden hemodynamic change after closure of the defect could bring on high perioperative mortality. Recently, it was reported that UVP (unidirectional valve patch), which allows some blood to flow from right to left in case of acute right heart failure, is effective in improving the postoperative hemodynamics after closing septal defects. This 42-year old woman had suffered from VSD for 20 years and recently complained of worsening exertional dyspnea for three months, and was diagnosed of a large VSD (2.0 cm in diameter) with severe pulmonary hypertension (116/38 mm Hg), equal to systemic arterial pressure. We could successfully close VSD with severe pulmonary hypertension using one UVP and the other UVP for the creative ASD to be prepared against possible acute right heart failure. She was discharged on the fourteenth postoperative day and has been well for twelve months with spontanenous closure of UVP patch at the ninth postopeative month.
Adult ; Arterial Pressure ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Heart Septal Defects ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Mortality

BACKGROUND: Thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis has been recognized as an effective treatment using thoracoscopic devices and operative techniques, but the satisfaction has decreased due to a compensatory hyperhidrosis. Therefore, the postoperative results and compensatory hyperhidrosis were analyzed. We also measured the temperature differences in the hand and foot during the preoperative and postoperative periods and measured the blood flow of upper and lower extremities. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From December 1995 to July 1998, total of 47 patients with hyperhidrosis underwent sympathectomy via VATS at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital. The patients were evaluated for preoperative and postoperative temperature changes on the finger and toe, and preoperative and postoperative blood flows were measured by the Doppler examination on the digital artery, radial artery and dorsalis pedis artery. RESULT: There were no operative deaths but some complications existed: 7 pneumothorax, 3 recurrence and 1 Honor syndrome. Ninety-five percent of the patients also had compensatory sweating especially in the trunk. There were 5 patients who regretted recurring the operation because of the compensatory sweating. Sweating decreased in 46% of the sole hyperhidrosis patients. The temperature difference between preoperation and postoperation was 1degree C on the right hand side and 1.9degree C on the left hand side(p<0.05). There was no significant temperature difference on the sole. Blood flow increased significantly in the palm, but no difference in the sole. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis is a safe and effective treatment but satisfaction has been decreased by the compensatory sweating; therefore, it is important to thoroughly explain the compensatory sweating prior to surgery. Improvement of the plantar hyperhidrosis is not due to a physiological change, but to a psychological stability.
Arteries ; Fingers ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Lower Extremity* ; Pneumothorax ; Postoperative Period ; Radial Artery ; Recurrence ; Regional Blood Flow ; Sweat* ; Sweating* ; Sympathectomy ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Toes

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypases grafting in the old aged is associated with high mortality and morbidity, and it is difficult to perform if the coronary artery is diffusely disease. Recently it has been known that platelet derived growth factor(PDGF), especially PDGF-BB, stimulates angiogenesis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: New Zealand white rabbit were used. In an attempt to achieve effevtive cardiac revasculatrization without vascular anastmosis, we divided into three groups(group I : Left anterior descending artery(LAD) was occluded by ligature, group II : Bilateral internal mammary vascular pedicles were dissected and implanted into myocardium, group III : The vascular pedicles were implanted into myocardium and PDGF-BB was injected into the myocardial tissue). Two weeks after IMA implantation, the proximal region of implanted LAD was ligated. Four days after LAD ligation angiogram, triphenyl tetrazolium chloride(TTD) staining and hematoxylin eosin staining were performed. RESULT: 1. Survival rate in group II was significantly higher than that in group I (P<0.05), and survival rate in group III was signficantly higher than that in group II(53% vs 93%, P<0.01). 2. There were significant differences in the ratio of area of necrosis to area at risk between group I and group II, and between group II and group III (P<0.01). 3. Microangiogram for angiogenic response revealed wide area of extensive revascularization with patent vessels in group III. 4. Histologic findings of three groups showed that polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration was minimal in group II and none in group III. CONCLUSIONS: PDGF-BB can establish functinal cardiac revasculatization through systemic vessels implanted directly into the myocardium.
Blood Platelets* ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Vessels ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Hematoxylin ; Ligation ; Mammary Arteries* ; Mortality ; Myocardial Revascularization* ; Myocardium ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils ; New Zealand ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor* ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Tumors of the trachea are rare despite their histologic similarity to tumors of the main stem bronchus and lung. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with tracheal tumor underwent surgical, radiational, or laser photocoagulation therapy from March 1981 to July 1996. Nine patients were malignant and five patients were benign. The most common malignant tumor was adenoid cystic carcinoma. RESULTS: Age ranged from 10 to 65 years with mean age of 45.9 years. Most tumors were located middle and lower one-third of trachea. Surgery was done through collar incision, or collar incision with vertical partial sternal division, or left posterolateral thoracotomy, or sternal division with laryngeal release. Two patients died after operation, because of the disruption of anastomosis and airway obstruction,and laryngeal edema after suprahyoid release. Only one patient died after 8 month of diagnosis. The other patients were doing well during the follow-up period.
Bronchi ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laryngeal Edema ; Light Coagulation ; Lung ; Thoracotomy ; Trachea ; Tracheal Neoplasms

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1979 and 1996, 27 patients with primary cardiac tumor underwent surgery at Catholic University Medical College. Mean age of patient was 45.1+/-3.03 ranging from 21 to 67 years old. Twenty-four cases were myxomas, 2 cases were chondrosarcoma, and remained case was angiosarcoma. Diagnosis was confirmed by echocardiography, cardiac angiography, CT scan, and MRI. The most common site of tumor origin was fossa ovalis limbus area (17cases:63%). A biatrial operative approach was commonly used in 15 cases and the tumor was removed through left atriotomy site. Complete excision of the tumor with a cuff of normal tissue was performed. All heart chambers were carefully explored for evidence of multicentric myxomas or other tumor debris. Most of the patients were improved on postoperative period compared to preoperative NYHA functional class. RESULTS: There was one operative death due to low cardiac output syndrome. Follow up period was 3 months to 17 years. There was 2 late deaths due to local recurrences. CONCLUSION: complete surgical excion is important for increasing cure rate. Malignancy cannot be ruled out even though preoperative echocardiography suggests benign nature. Chest CT or MRI is effective for further evalution in addition to echocardiography. In suspicious of malignancy, more extensive resection is essential and postoperative chemotheraphy or radiotherapy is useful.
Aged ; Angiography ; Cardiac Output, Low ; Chondrosarcoma ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Neoplasms* ; Hemangiosarcoma ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myxoma ; Postoperative Period ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed