No abstract available.
Esophageal Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Pneumothorax*

No abstract available.
Tracheal Stenosis*

No abstract available.
Paragonimiasis*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Heart Valves* ; Heart*

No abstract available.
Esophageal Achalasia* ; Leiomyoma*

No abstract available.
Diagnosis*

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis is a life-threatening infection originating in the head or the neck and descends into the mediastinum. Even in the era of antibiotics, mortality rate has been reported to be 25~40%. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is mandatory for delayed diagnosis and inappropriate drainage of the mediastinum are the main causes of high mortality. Surgical management ranges from cervical drainage to routine thoracotomy: however, the optimal management still needs to be defined particularly in respect to effective mediastinal drainage. Although posterolateral thoracotomy incision has been considered as a standard approach, potential disadvantages including postoperative pain, risk of wound complication and delayed recovery remain to be concerned. Thoracoscopic approach is an attractive treatment modality as it can provide an excellent exposure with minimal incision and can complete drainage from the mediastinum and the neck in one-staged manner. We describe here two cases of descending necrotizing mediastinitis successfully managed by thoracoscopic drainage.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Head ; Mediastinitis* ; Mediastinum ; Mortality ; Neck ; Pain, Postoperative ; Thoracoscopy* ; Thoracotomy ; Wounds and Injuries

In chest wall reconstruction after wide chest wall resection, the use of a musculocutaneous flap or prosthetic materials is inevitable for maintaining thoracic movement and a closed pleural cavity. We report a case of a 63-year-old male with a large invasive thymic carcinoma in the anterior mediastinum. The mass measured 6.8 cm and involved the sternum, left side of the parasternal area, ribs, and intercostal muscles. The patient underwent subtotal sternectomy, radical thymectomy, and reconstruction with biological mesh (Permacol). Successful chest wall reconstruction without any other complications was achieved, demonstrating the effectiveness of Permacol.
Collagen ; Humans ; Intercostal Muscles ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Pleural Cavity ; Ribs ; Sternum ; Thoracic Wall ; Thymectomy ; Thymoma