Diverse clinical presentation of primary spontaneous pneumothorax in patients with pectus excavatum.

Objective: Patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) tend to be young, tall, and thin, as do those with pectus excavatum (PE). Notably, the Haller index, which measures the severity of PE, tends also to be higher in patients with PSP, further suggesting a potential predisposing factor for the development of PSP in individuals with PE. This study aimed to share clinical experiences with case series of concomitant PSP and PE and to emphasize the importance of evaluating these two conditions together.

Primary Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor of the Lung: A Case Report.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are very rare mesenchymal neoplasms, composed of histologically and immunohistochemically distinctive cells that form a sheet-like appearance around vessel lumens. Although most are benign, a malignant subset does exist, complicating clinical diagnostic efforts. Proper evaluation and management are thus essential for long-term patient survival.

Natural History of Contralateral Bullae/Blebs After Ipsilateral Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Contralateral bullae/blebs are frequently found in patients who are scheduled to undergo ipsilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP).

Research Question: Should visible contralateral bullae/blebs be simultaneously resected when ipsilateral VATS bullectomy is performed?

Study Design And Methods: In this single-center, retrospective cohort study, we included patients aged ≤ 30 years who underwent ipsilateral VATS for PSP from April 2009 to December 2019. Electronic medical records, radiograph images, and preoperative high-resolution CT images were reviewed.

Thoracoscopic sympathetic block to predict compensatory hyperhidrosis in primary hyperhidrosis.

Background: Compensatory hyperhidrosis is the main cause of patients' dissatisfaction following sympathectomy for primary hyperhidrosis. Therefore, thoracoscopic sympathetic nerve block before sympathectomy can be used to predict compensatory hyperhidrosis after sympathectomy. The objective of this study is to review our recent experience with the nerve block procedure, describing efficacy, safety and validity.

Bronchopleurobiliary fistula following right lower lobectomy in a patient with prior hepatic abscess: a case report.

In a 68-year-old male patient with cholangitis microabscess in the liver, cavitary lung cancer of the right lower lobe was incidentally diagnosed. The patient's medical history comprised totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) and cholecystectomy 9 years ago. Before TLDG, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed because of a common bile duct stone and cholangitis.

New bullae formation in the staple line increases the risk of recurrent pneumothorax following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery bullectomy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Background: The study aimed to investigate the association between the recurrence of pneumothorax following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) and the formation of new bullae.

Methods: This retrospective review examined patients who underwent VATS for PSP between April 2009 and December 2014. Of the 415 operated lungs, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans of 85 were analyzed.

Prognostic prediction of clinical stage IA lung cancer presenting as a pure solid nodule.

Background: Clinical stage IA lung cancer presenting as a ground glass opacity (GGO) on imaging is known to be associated with a good prognosis. Conversely, the prognosis of lung cancer presenting as a pure solid nodule is less favorable. The purpose of this study was to identify the predictive factors affecting prognosis in pure solid nodule lung cancer.

Right Main Bronchus Rupture Presenting with Pneumoperitoneum.

We report the case of a 16-year-old male patient who was involved in a traffic accident and transferred to the emergency department with mild chest pain. We initially did not find evidence of tracheal injury on computed tomography (CT). Within an hour after presentation, the patient developed severe dyspnea and newly developed subcutaneous emphysema and pneumoperitoneum were discovered.

Influence of lung resection volume on risk of primary spontaneous pneumothorax recurrence.

Background: Thoracoscopic stapled bullectomy is a popular procedure for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) that has a relatively high postoperative recurrence rate. One reason for PSP recurrence is the formation of a new bulla around the staple line. We hypothesized that different resected specimen volumes might cause differences in staple line tension.

Low grade myxofibrosarcoma in the right ventricle presenting as pulmonary thromboembolism.

We report an unusual malignant cardiac neoplasm that initially presented as pulmonary thromboembolism in a 78-year-old male. Despite anticoagulation, the pulmonary artery lesion progressed and a mass-like lesion developed in the right ventricular outflow tract. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was applied before surgery due to the presence of severe right-side heart failure with pulmonary hypertension.

Management of right main bronchial rupture with a double lumen endotracheal tube in a patient with blunt chest trauma.

Tracheobronchial disruption is one of the most severe injuries caused by blunt chest trauma. It may cause airway obstruction and resulting life-threatening respiratory deficiency. However, the clinical presentations are variable and frequently difficult to diagnose.

Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy caused by type II endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair in severe aortic stenosis.

A 72-year-old man with severe aortic stenosis (AS) presented with a type II endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Laboratory findings were consistent with disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) with thrombocytopenia. The platelet count increased slightly after aortic valve replacement but fully recovered with the reversal of DIC after surgical repair of the type II endoleak.

A chest tube misplaced in the heart?

A 69-year-old patient with a malignant right pleural effusion experienced an inadvertent chest tube insertion through the hepatic vein, which ended up in the right ventricle. This rare complication occurred using a 14-Fr Thal-Quick chest tube (Seldinger method). The chest tube was successfully removed in a non-operative approach.

Costal exostoses as an unusual cause of spontaneous hemothorax.

A 20-year-old male presented with chest pain lasting several days. A radiologic examination revealed pleural effusion in the right hemithorax. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery demonstrated a bleeding focus at the diaphragm caused by injury due to a costal exostosis.

Anemia resolved by thoracoscopic resection of a mediastinal mass: a case report of unicentric Castleman's disease.

Castleman's disease (CD) is an uncommon benign lymphoproliferative disorder that usually presents as a single or multiple mediastinal mass. In unicentric CD, constitutional symptoms are rare, but are curable with surgical resection. However, serious intraoperative bleeding often requires conversion to thoracotomy.

Congenital tracheobiliary fistula in an adolescent patient.

Congenital tracheobiliary fistula is a rare malformation that allows communication between the respiratory system and hepatobiliary tract. We describe a male adolescent patient who was admitted with a destroyed lung caused by repetitive bile pneumonitis with a congenital tracheobiliary fistula. Left pneumonectomy was performed, and the fistula tract was successfully divided.

Calcified amorphous tumor in left atrium presenting with cerebral infarction.

Calcified amorphous tumor (CAT) of the heart is an extremely rare cardiac mass. We describe a case of cardiac CAT in a 70-year-old Korean female who presented with acute onset dysarthria and right side weakness. Echocardiography and chest computed tomography revealed a left atrial mass that originated from the interatrial septum.

Prognostic factors affecting survival of patients with cancer-related pericardial effusion managed by surgery.

Background: Although pericardial effusion (PE) is not uncommon in patients with cancer, it may lead to cardiac tamponade, a life-threatening condition. Prompt life-saving treatment is essential, and also allows the continuation of the cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic factors for survival in patients with cancer who were treated surgically for PE.

Nodular fasciitis on chest wall in a teenager: a case report and review of the literature.

We report the case of a 16-year-old boy with a rapid growing mass on his left anterior chest wall. The mass was completely resected, and pathological examination confirmed nodular fasciitis. Benign chest tumors rarely occur in childhood.

Delayed-onset hypovolemic shock after the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum.

The Nuss procedure, which is a minimally invasive approach for treating pectus excavatum, has better functional and cosmetic outcomes than other invasive procedures. Cardiac perforation is the most serious complication and several methods for the prevention of intraoperative events has been developed. Although most cardiac injuries are detected in the operating room, in the case described herein the patient experienced sudden hypovolemic shock during the postoperative recovery period.

Tension pneumothorax, is it a really life-threatening condition?

Background: Tension pneumothorax is a life-threatening occurrence that is infrequently the consequence of spontaneous pneumothorax. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for the development of tension pneumothorax and its effect on clinical outcomes.

Methods: We reviewed patients who were admitted with spontaneous pneumothorax between August 1, 2003 and December 31, 2011.

Risk factors for the development of reexpansion pulmonary edema in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax.

Background: Reexpansion pulmonary edema (REPE) is known as a rare and fatal complication after tube thoracostomy.

Objectives: We investigated the risk factors for the development of REPE in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax.

Methods: We selected patients who were diagnosed with spontaneous pneumothorax and were initially treated with tube thoracostomy between August 1, 2003 and December 31, 2011.

Robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with simple laparoscopy for diaphragm eventration.

Robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has been applied for general thoracic operations. Its advantages include not only those of minimally invasive surgery but also those of magnified three-dimensional vision and angulation of the robotic arm. However, there are no direct tactile sensation and force feedback, which can cause unwanted organ damage.

Up-regulation of miR-26a promotes apoptosis of hypoxic rat neonatal cardiomyocytes by repressing GSK-3β protein expression.

Myocardial ischemia is the major cause of morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases. This disease is a severe stress condition that causes extensive biochemical changes which trigger cardiac cell death. Stress conditions such as deprivation of glucose and oxygen activate the endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm of cells, including cardiomyocytes, to generate and propagate apoptotic signals in response to these conditions.