Sung Ho Shinn

Primary peripheral pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinoma: Report of a case diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) arising from anatomic sites other than the salivary gland is rare and those occurring in the lung are extremely rare. When arising from the lung, the tumor generally arises from extrapulmonary bronchi, originating from bronchial glands. Primary ACC of the lung located peripherally within lung parenchyme is an even rarer event. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of primary peripheral pulmonary ACC preoperatively diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). We report a case of primary peripheral ACC of the anterior segment of the right upper lobe in a 46‐year‐old woman diagnosed by FNAC and a brief review of the literature. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2011;39:283–287.

Short- and Long-Term Results of Triple Valve Surgery: A Single Center Experience

Triple valve surgery is usually complex and carries a reported operative mortality of 13% and 10-yr survival of 61%. We examined surgical results based on our hospitals experience. A total of 160 consecutive patients underwent triple valve surgery from 1990 to 2006. The most common aortic and mitral valve disease was rheumatic disease (82%). The most common tricuspid valve disease was functional regurgitation (80%). Seventy-four percent of the patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III and IV. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify predictors of early and late survival. Operative mortality was 6.9% (n=11). Univariate factors associated with mortality included old age, preoperative renal failure, postoperative renal failure, pulmonary complications, and stroke. Of them, postoperative renal failure and stroke were associated with mortality on multivariable analysis. Otherwise, neither tricuspid valve replacement nor reoperation were statistically associated with late mortality. Survival at 5 and 10 yr was 87% and 84%, respectively. Ninety-two percent of the patients were in NYHA class I and II at their most recent follow-up. Ten-year freedom from prosthetic valve endocarditis was 97%; from anticoagulation-related hemorrhage, 82%; from thromboembolism, 89%; and from reoperation, 84%. Postoperative renal failure and stroke were significantly related with operative mortality. Triple valve surgery, regardless of reoperation and tricuspid valve replacement, results in acceptable long-term survival.

Efficacy of emergent percutaneous cardiopulmonary support in cardiac or respiratory failure: fight or flight?

We retrospectively evaluated early outcome and conducted this study to determine the predictive factors for percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) weaning and hospital discharge. From January 2004 to December 2006, 92 patients diagnosed as cardiac or respiratory failure underwent PCPS using the Capiox emergent bypass system (Terumo, Tokyo, Japan). The mean+/-S.D. age was 56+/-18 (range, 14-85) years and 59 (64%) were male. The mean duration of PCPS was 90.9+/-126.0 h and that of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was 51.1+/-27.8 min. The rate of weaning was 59/92 (64%) and the rate of survival to discharge was 39/92 (42%). The results indicated that the etiologic disease (myocarditis) and the cause of PCPS (cardiopulmonary arrest) are significantly correlated with weaning, whereas cardiopulmonary arrest and a shorter CPR duration (<60 min) are considerably correlated with survival. On the contrary, elderly patients (>75 years) have similar rates of weaning and survival compared with younger patients. PCPS provides an acceptable survival rate and outcome in patients with cardiac or respiratory failure. Prompt application and selection of patients with a specific disease (myocarditis) provides good results. It is also effective in elderly patients, providing hospital survival similar to that for younger patients.

A simple method of substernal bar removal after the Nuss procedure

The Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum is a well-known technique. Although there are numerous reports on the Nuss procedure, the reports on its removal are few. Removal has been done with many variations in the supine position, which involves bending the bar or bringing the bar beneath the operating table, which can prove to be troublesome and dangerous. Our simple technique allows easy removal of the substernal bar without bar bending. This technique was used in 21 patients without complication.

Double primary tumor, thymic mass and posterior mediastinal neurogenic tumor, in a patient with acute pancreatitis performed with single-staged robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Finding 2 primary benign lesions at 2 extremes of the mediastinum is a rare event. A minimal invasive operation performed in a single-staged procedure can prove to be difficult, especially when the procedure is performed with a robot. We discuss the positioning and details of the procedure carried out in a 52-year-old woman with acute pancreatitis.

Rib xanthoma resected by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery using a bone punch.

Xanthomas of the rib are extremely rare benign neoplasms, most commonly reported in soft tissue, but rarely in bone. We report a case of a 4-cm xanthoma of the rib resected by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and pulled through a 2-cm port incision around the patients areola. To the best of our knowledge, there are only 8 other such cases, and none of which were removed by thoracoscopic surgery.

Guidelines for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Korea: Past Obstacles and Future Perspectives

Background Analyses of the efficacy and safety of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in most countries have been based on outcomes obtained in accordance with national practice guidelines and monitoring protocols. The purpose of this study is to share our experience regarding the process for establishing guidelines and monitoring protocols for the use of TAVR in Korea, in the hopes that it may be helpful to others undergoing a similar process in their own country. Methods The Korean guidelines for TAVR were established on June 1, 2015 in through a tri-party agreement involving the Department of Health and Welfare, the Korean Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and the Korean Society of Cardiology. We agreed to monitor the guidelines transparently and to exchange opinions regarding amendments or continuation of its contents after 3 years of monitoring. Results The monitoring meetings were not held as regularly as agreed, and monitoring was also made difficult by insufficient and incomplete data. Nevertheless, during the meetings, measures to improve the monitoring process were discussed, and accordingly, an agreement was made to continue the monitoring process, with the aim of completing data collection by 2018. Conclusion Compliance with guidelines is critical for assessing the efficacy and safety of TAVR. Moreover, the TAVR monitoring process must be properly conducted for an accurate evaluation to be made. Any country planning to introduce TAVR may encounter difficulties with regards to the optimal initiation strategy and subsequent monitoring. Nevertheless, continued efforts should be made to persuade the government and the corresponding medical societies to facilitate the optimal application of TAVR.