Treatment of chronic mini-thoracotomy wound pain and lung herniation with intercostal cryoablation and surgical mesh repair: a case report.

Background: The incidence of minimally invasive heart surgery via mini-thoracotomy (MT; right anterior thoracotomy) is on the rise, accompanied by an increase in post-MT intercostal nerve neuralgia and the risk of lung herniation through the incision site. While various methods have been proposed to address these issues, none have been commonly effective. In this case report, we attempted to simultaneously address these problems by performing intercostal cryoablation (IC) and mesh repair.

Aortic valve replacement through right anterior mini-thoracotomy in patients with chronic severe aortic regurgitation: a retrospective single-center study.

Background: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) has recently been performed at many centers using a minimally invasive approach to reduce postoperative mortality, morbidity, and pain. Most previous reports on minimally invasive AVR (MiAVR) have mainly focused on aortic stenosis, and those exclusively dealing with aortic regurgitation (AR) are few. The purpose of this study was to investigate early surgical results and review our experience with patients with chronic severe AR who underwent AVR via right anterior mini-thoracotomy (RAT).

Endobronchial Ultrasound Using Guide Sheath-Guided Transbronchial Lung Biopsy in Ground-Glass Opacity Pulmonary Lesions without Fluoroscopic Guidance.

Diagnosing ground-glass opacity (GGO) pulmonary lesions poses challenges. This study evaluates the utility of radial probe endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial lung biopsy (RP-EBUS-TBLB) in diagnosing GGO pulmonary lesions. A total of 1651 RP-EBUS procedures were performed during the study period.

Right anterior mini-thoracotomy aortic valve replacement versus transcatheter aortic valve implantation in octogenarians: a single-center retrospective study.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the early outcomes of octogenarians undergoing minimally invasive right anterior mini-thoracotomy aortic valve replacement (RAT-AVR) with those undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for aortic valve disease.

Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, data were collected from octogenarians before and after RAT-AVR and TAVI between January 2021 and July 2022. Short-term outcomes, including the length of hospital stay, in-hospital mortality, all-cause mortality, and other major postoperative complications, were compared and analyzed.

Comparison of Predicted Postoperative Lung Function in Pneumonectomy Using Computed Tomography and Lung Perfusion Scans.

Background: Predicting postoperative lung function after pneumonectomy is essential. We retrospectively compared postoperative lung function to predicted postoperative lung function based on computed tomography (CT) volumetry and perfusion scintigraphy in patients who underwent pneumonectomy.

Methods: Predicted postoperative lung function was calculated based on perfusion scintigraphy and CT volumetry.

Radial Probe Endobronchial Ultrasound Using Guide Sheath-Guided Transbronchial Lung Biopsy in Peripheral Pulmonary Lesions without Fluoroscopy.

Background: Radial probe endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial lung biopsy (RP-EBUS-TBLB) has improved the diagnostic yield of bronchoscopic biopsy of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). The diagnostic yield and complications of RP-EBUS-TBLB for PPLs vary depending on the technique, such as using a guide sheath (GS) or fluoroscopy. In this study, we investigated the utility of RP-EBUS-TBLB using a GS without fluoroscopy for diagnosing PPLs.

Delayed onset of mediastinitis with tracheomediastinal fistula following endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration; A case report.

Infectious complications after endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) are rare but serious. Here, we report a very rare case of delayed onset of mediastinitis with tracheomediastinal fistula after EBUS-TBNA. Surgical debridement was performed, antibiotics were administered, and the postoperative course of the patient was good.

A rare case of primary solitary endobronchial plasmacytoma.

Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is a rare plasma cell tumor involving the organs but without bone marrow involvement or the characteristics of multiple myeloma. Primary solitary endobronchial plasmacytoma is extremely rare. Here we present the case of an 86-year-old male ex-smoker who visited our outpatient clinic for an endobronchial mass in the left upper lobe of the lung.

Surgical treatment of asymptomatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma originating from the superior vena cava: A case report.

Rationale: Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare endothelial tumor with a low-grade malignancy. This tumor can be treated with complete resection.

Patient Concerns: A 20-year-old Korean man visited our hospital due to an abnormal finding on standing chest PA X-ray.

Rectus abdominis muscle atrophy after thoracotomy.

Intercostal nerve injury is known to occur during thoracotomy; however, rectus abdominis muscle atrophy has rarely been reported. We describe a 52-year-old man who underwent primary closure of esophageal perforation and lung decortication via left thoracotomy. He was discharged 40 days postoperatively without any complications.

Early Aggressive Surgical Treatment of Multiloculated Empyema.

Background: Empyema is the collection of purulent exudate within the pleural space. Overall, 36%-65% of patients with empyema cannot be treated by medical therapy alone and require surgery. Multiloculated empyema is particularly difficult to treat with percutaneous drainage.

Comparison of the Long-Term Results of R3 and R4 Sympathicotomy for Palmar Hyperhidrosis.

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathicotomy has been determined to be the best way to treat palmar hyperhidrosis. However, satisfaction with the surgical outcomes decreases with the onset of compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) over time. The ideal level of sympathicotomy is controversial.

Cycling Stability of a VO Nanotube Cathode in Mixture of Ethyl Acetate and Tetramethylsilane-Based Electrolytes for Rechargeable Mg-Ion Batteries.

The electrochemical cycling performance of vanadium oxide nanotubes (VO-NTs) for Mg-ion insertion/extraction was investigated in acetonitrile (AN) and tetramethylsilane (TMS)-ethyl acetate (EA) electrolytes with Mg(ClO) salt. When cycled in TMS-EA solution, the VO-NT exhibited a higher capacity retention than when cycled in AN solution. The significant degradation of capacity in AN solution resulted from increased charge-transfer resistance caused by the reaction products of the electrolyte during cycling.

The High Performance of Crystal Water Containing Manganese Birnessite Cathodes for Magnesium Batteries.

Rechargeable magnesium batteries have lately received great attention for large-scale energy storage systems due to their high volumetric capacities, low materials cost, and safe characteristic. However, the bivalency of Mg(2+) ions has made it challenging to find cathode materials operating at high voltages with decent (de)intercalation kinetics. In an effort to overcome this challenge, we adopt an unconventional approach of engaging crystal water in the layered structure of Birnessite MnO2 because the crystal water can effectively screen electrostatic interactions between Mg(2+) ions and the host anions.

Na insertion mechanisms in vanadium oxide nanotubes for Na-ion batteries.

In this study, we successfully synthesized lamellar-structured Ni0.1VOx NTs by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method and cation exchange reaction. High initial discharge capacity and 100% efficiency were obtained when the Ni0.

Effects of Ni doping on the initial electrochemical performance of vanadium oxide nanotubes for Na-ion batteries.

In this study, we demonstrated the intercalation of Na in hydrothermally synthesized VOx nanotubes (NTs) and Ni-doped VOx NTs. The changes induced in the structures of the two nanomaterials during the Na intercalation process were investigated through X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. It was observed that the initial capacity and rate performance of the Ni-doped VOx NTs were improved.

Operating mechanisms of electrolytes in magnesium ion batteries: chemical equilibrium, magnesium deposition, and electrolyte oxidation.

Since the early nineties there have been a number of reports on the experimental development of Mg electrolytes based on organo/amide-magnesium chlorides and their transmetalations. However, there are no theoretical papers describing the underlying operating mechanisms of Mg electrolytes, and there is no clear understanding of these mechanisms. We have therefore attempted to clarify the operating mechanisms of Mg electrolytes by studying the characteristics of Mg complexes, solvation, chemical equilibrium, Mg-deposition processes, electrolyte-oxidation processes, and oxidative degradation mechanism of RMgCl-based electrolytes, using ab initio calculations.

Aluminum manganese oxides with mixed crystal structure: high-energy-density cathodes for rechargeable sodium batteries.

We report a new discovery for enhancing the energy density of manganese oxide (Nax MnO2 ) cathode materials for sodium rechargeable batteries by incorporation of aluminum. The Al incorporation results in NaAl(0.1) Mn(0.

Functional mediastinal pheochromocytoma.

A 36-year-old man visited Yeungnam University Hospital with a sudden onset of palpitation, headache, and was found to be hypertensive. Chest radiography showed a 6 cm sized mass lesion on the posterior mediastinum. A biochemical study showed elevated levels of catecholamines.

Acute Type II Aortic Dissection with Severe Aortic Regurgitation and Chronic Descending Aortic Dissection in Pregnant Patient with Marfan Syndrome.

Aortic dilatation and dissection are severe complications during pregnancy that can be fatal to both the mother and the fetus. The risks of these complications are especially high in pregnant patients with Marfan syndrome; however, incidents of descending aortic dissection are very rare. This case report involves a successful Bentall procedure for and recovery from a rare aortic dissection in a pregnant Marfan patient who developed acute type II aortic dissection with severe aortic regurgitation and chronic descending aortic dissection immediately after Cesarean section.