Young Woo Do

Transition to routine use of venoarterial extracorporeal oxygenation during lung transplantation could improve early outcomes.

BACKGROUND The study objective was to compare the outcomes of intraoperative routine use of venoarterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) versus selective use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS Between January 2010 and February 2013, 41 lung transplantations (LTx) were performed, and CPB was used as a primary cardiopulmonary support modality by selective basis (group A). Between March 2013 and December 2014, 41 LTx were performed, and ECMO was used routinely (group B). The two groups were compared retrospectively. RESULTS The operative time was significantly longer in group A (group A, 458 min; group B, 420 min; P=0.041). Postoperatively, patients in group B had less fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusion (P=0.030). Complications were not different between the two groups. The 30- and 90-day survival rates were better in group B (30-day survival: group A, 75.6%; group B, 95.1%, P=0.012; 90-day survival: group A, 68.3%; group B, 87.8%, P=0.033). The 1-year survival showed better trends in group B, but it was not significant. Forced vital capacity (FVC) at 1, 3, and 6 months after LTx was better in group B than in group A (1 month: group A, 43.8%; group B, 52.9%, P=0.043; 3 months: group A, 45.5%; group B, 59.0%, P=0.005; 6 months: group A, 51.5%; group B, 65.2%, P=0.020). Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) at 3 months after LTx was better in patients in group B than that in patient in group A (group A, 53.3%; group B, 67.5%, P=0.017). CONCLUSIONS Routine use of ECMO during LTx could improve early outcome and postoperative lung function without increased extracorporeal-related complication such as vascular and neurologic complications.

Sarcopenia of thoracic muscle mass is not a risk factor for survival in lung transplant recipients

BACKGROUND In lung transplantation (LTx), patients with thoracic muscle sarcopenia may have to require longer to recovery. We measured thoracic muscle volume by using the cross sectional area (CSA) and assessed its effect on early outcomes after LTx. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of thoracic sarcopenia in patients undergoing LTx between January 2010 and July 2015. The lowest CSA quartile (Q1) was defined as sarcopenia. RESULTS In total, 109 patients were enrolled. The mean CSA was 58.24±15.82 cm(2). Patients in the highest CSA quartile were more likely to be male (92.6% vs. 17.9%, P<0.001), older (55.2±10.1 vs. 43.2±14.9 years, P=0.001), to have a higher body mass index (BMI) (22.3±4.0 vs. 19.4±3.7 kg/m(2), P=0.007), and to have pulmonary fibrosis (85.2% vs. 35.7%, P=0.003) compared with the lowest CSA quartile. Early outcomes including ventilator support duration [32.9±49.2 vs. 24.5±39.9 days, P= not significant (ns)], intensive care unit (ICU) stay duration (28.4±43.7 vs. 24.4±35.9 days, P= ns) and hospital stay duration (61.4±48.2 vs. 50.8±37.2 days, P= ns) tended to be longer in Q1 than Q4, but the difference was not significant. However, the 1-year survival rate was better in Q1 compared with Q4 (66.6% vs. 46.0%, P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS Although patients with thoracic sarcopenia seem to require a longer post-operative recovery time after LTx, this does not compromise their early outcomes. By contrast, patients with larger thoracic muscle volume (Q4) showed poorer survival times.

Limited thymectomy as a potential alternative treatment option for early-stage thymoma: A multi-institutional propensity-matched study

OBJECTIVES For early-stage thymoma, complete thymectomy has classically been regarded as the standard treatment protocol. However, several studies have shown that limited thymectomy may be an alternative treatment option for thymoma. This study compared perioperative outcomes, survival, and recurrence rates between patients undergoing limited thymectomy and complete thymectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between January 2000 and December 2013, a total of 762 patients underwent thymectomy for stage I or II thymomas at four institutions participating in the Korean Association for Research on the Thymus. Patients were divided into two groups: limited thymectomy group (n=295) and complete thymectomy group (n=467). Comparative clinicopathological, surgical, and oncological features were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS The median follow-up time was 49 months (range: 0.2-189 months). A propensity score-matching analysis, based on seven variables (age, sex, surgical approach, tumor size, WHO histological type, Masaoka-Koga stage, and adjuvant radiotherapy), was performed using 141 patients selected from each group. The 5- and 10-year freedom-from-recurrence rates in the limited thymectomy group were 96.3% and 89.7%, respectively, and those in the complete thymectomy group were 97.0% and 85.0%, respectively. No significant differences in these rates were observed between groups (p=0.86). A multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that overall survival and freedom-from-recurrence rates did not significantly differ by surgery extent (p=0.27, 0.66, respectively). Perioperative outcomes were better in the limited thymectomy group. CONCLUSION Limited thymectomy was not inferior to complete thymectomy with respect to recurrence, and had better perioperative outcomes. Limited thymectomy may be a viable treatment option for early-stage thymoma.

Direct Axillary Arterial Cannulation Using Seldinger's Technique in Aortic Dissection

Background The axillary artery is frequently used for cardiopulmonary bypass, especially in acute aortic dissection. We have cannulated the axillary artery using a side graft or by directly using Seldingers technique. The purpose of this study was to assess the technical problems and complications of both cannulation techniques. Materials and Methods From January 2003 to December 2009, 53 patients underwent operations using the axillary artery for arterial cannulation. The axillary artery was cannulated with a side graft in 35 patients (side graft group) and directly using Seldingers technique in 18 patients (direct group). Results The results were compared between two groups, focusing on cannulation-related morbidities including neurologic morbidity. Arterial damage or dissection of the axillary artery occurred in 1 (2.9%) patient in the side graft group and in 1 (5.6%) patient in the direct group. Malperfusion and insufficient flow did not occur in either group. There were no postoperative complications related to axillary cannulation, such as brachial plexus injury, compartment syndrome, or local wound infection, in either group. Conclusion Technical problems and complications of the axillary arterial cannulation in both techniques were rare. Direct arterial cannulation using Seldingers technique was done safely and more simply than the previous technique. It was concluded that both axillary arterial cannulation techniques are acceptable and it remains the surgeons preference which technique should be used.

Successful Management of Delayed Esophageal Rupture with T-Tube Drainage Using Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

Spontaneous perforation of the esophagus after forceful vomiting is known as Boerhaave syndrome, a rare and life-threatening condition associated with a high rate of mortality. The management of Boerhaave syndrome is challenging, especially when diagnosed late. Herein, we report the successful management of late-diagnosed Boerhaave syndrome with T-tube drainage in a 55-year-old man. The patient was transferred to our institution 8 days after the onset of symptoms, successfully managed by placing a T-tube, and was discharged on postoperative day 46 without complications.

Tumor perimeter and lobulation as predictors of pleural recurrence in patients with resected thymoma

OBJECTIVES Recurrence of resected thymoma frequently occurs during follow-up, with pleural recurrence as the most common type. The aim of our study was to identify risk factors for pleural recurrence after complete resection of thymoma by investigating clinical, radiological, surgical, and pathological findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective study was performed with 309 patients who had undergone complete resection of thymoma between January 2000 and December 2013. Among these cases, the patients were divided into the no pleural recurrence group (n=285) and the pleural recurrence group (n=24). Radiologic parameters such as maximum tumor diameter, tumor perimeter that contacted the lung (TPCL) and lobulated tumor contour were measured based on computed tomography. A multivariate analysis was performed to estimate risk factors for pleural recurrence including maximum tumor diameter, TPCL, lobulated tumor contour, World Health Organization (WHO) histologic classification, and Masaoka-Koga (M-K) stage. RESULTS The median follow-up period was 62 months. The pleural recurrence rate was 7.8% (24/309). After univariate analysis, longer maximum tumor diameter (p<0.001), longer TPCL (p<0.001), lobulated tumor contour (p=0.001), WHO histologic type B2, B3 (p=0.002), and M-K stage III/IV (p<0.001) demonstrated significant differences with risk factors of pleural recurrence. Multivariate analysis revealed that TPCL (per 1cm increase: hazard ratio [HR]: 1.040, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.019-1.061, p<0.001), lobulated tumor contour (HR: 5.883, CI: 1.201-28.824, p=0.029), WHO histologic classification B2/B3 (HR: 5.331, CI: 1.453-19.558, p=0.012) and advanced M-K stage (HR: 3.900, CI: 1.579-9.632, p=0.003) were significantly associated with pleural recurrence. CONCLUSION TPCL and lobulated tumor contour as well as WHO histologic classification and M-K stage were independent predictors of pleural recurrence after thymoma resection. Our study demonstrated that radiologic parameters could be useful predictor of pleural recurrence in patients with resected thymoma.

Phlegmonous Esophagitis Treated with Internal Drainage and Feeding Jejunostomy

We report the case of a 67-year-old woman presenting with epigastric pain. Computed tomography identified diffuse phlegmonous esophagitis. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed multiple perforations in the mucosal layer of the esophagus. A large amount of pus was drained internally through the gut. The patient was treated with antibiotics and early jejunostomy feeding. Although phlegmonous esophagitis is a potentially fatal disease, the patient was successfully treated medically with only a minor complication (esophageal stricture).

Combined Bilateral Lung Transplantation and Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass

Coronary artery disease has historically been a contraindication to lung transplantation. We report a successful combined bilateral lung transplantation and off-pump coronary artery bypass in a 62-year-old man. The patient had a progressive decline in lung function due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and a history of severe occlusive coronary artery disease.