The Role of Adjuvant Therapy Following Surgical Resection of Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Multi-Center Study / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#This multi-center, retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the long-term survival in patients who underwent surgical resection for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and to identify the benefit of adjuvant therapy following surgery. @*Materials and Methods@#The data of 213 patients who underwent surgical resection for SCLC at four institutions were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who received neoadjuvant therapy or an incomplete resection were excluded. @*Results@#The mean patient age was 65.29±8.93 years, and 184 patients (86.4%) were male. Lobectomies and pneumonectomies were performed in 173 patients (81.2%), and 198 (93%) underwent systematic mediastinal lymph node dissections. Overall, 170 patients (79.8%) underwent adjuvant chemotherapy, 42 (19.7%) underwent radiotherapy to the mediastinum, and 23 (10.8%) underwent prophylactic cranial irradiation. The median follow-up period was 31.08 months (interquartile range, 13.79 to 64.52 months). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival were 53.4% and 46.9%, respectively. The 5-year OS significantly improved after adjuvant chemotherapy in all patients (57.4% vs. 40.3%, p=0.007), and the survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy was significant in patients with negative node pathology (70.8% vs. 39.7%, p=0.004). Adjuvant radiotherapy did not affect the 5-year OS (54.6% vs. 48.5%, p=0.458). Age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.032; p=0.017), node metastasis (HR, 2.190; p < 0.001), and adjuvant chemotherapy (HR, 0.558; p=0.019) were associated with OS. @*Conclusion@#Adjuvant chemotherapy after surgical resection in patients with SCLC improved the OS, though adjuvant radiotherapy to the mediastinum did not improve the survival or decrease the locoregional recurrence rate.

Isolated Tricuspid Regurgitation: Initial Manifestation of Cardiac Amyloidosis

Amyloid deposits in the heart are not exceptional in systemic amyloidosis. The clinical manifestations of cardiac amyloidosis may include restrictive cardiomyopathy, characterized by progressive diastolic and eventually systolic bi-ventricular dysfunction; arrhythmia; and conduction defects. To the best of our knowledge, no previous cases of isolated tricuspid regurgitation as the initial manifestation of cardiac amyloidosis have been reported. We describe a rare case of cardiac amyloidosis that initially presented with severe tricuspid regurgitation in a 42-year-old woman who was successfully treated with tricuspid valve replacement. Unusual surgical findings prompted additional evaluation that established a diagnosis of plasma cell myeloma.

Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Related to a Congenital Pericardial Defect and Left Atrial Appendage Herniation

Congenital pericardial defects (CPDs) are infrequent anomalies that are usually asymptomatic and are discovered incidentally during unrelated interventions. Here we report the case of a CPD with herniation of an enlarged left atrial appendage identified during total thoracoscopic ablation (TTA) for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). The persistent AF was successfully treated with a hybrid procedure, in which TTA was followed by an electrophysiological study.

Tracheal Agenesis Reconstruction with External Esophageal Stenting: Postoperative Results and Complications

Tracheal agenesis is an extremely rare and typically lethal congenital disorder. Approximately 150 cases have been described since 1900, and very few cases of survival have been reported. We describe tracheal reconstruction with external esophageal stenting in a patient with Floyd's type II tracheal agenesis. Neither long-term survival nor survival without mechanical ventilation for even a single day has previously been reported in patients with Floyd's type II tracheal agenesis. The infant in the present case survived for almost a year and breathed without a ventilator for approximately 50 days after airway reconstruction using external supportive stents.

Surgical Treatment for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Patients on Hemodialysis due to Chronic Kidney Disease: Clinical Outcome and Intermediate-Term Results

BACKGROUND: Patients on dialysis undergoing surgery belong to a high-risk group. Only a few studies have evaluated the outcome of major thoracic surgical procedures in dialysis patients. We evaluated the outcomes of pulmonary resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients on hemodialysis (HD). METHODS: Between 2008 and 2013, seven patients on HD underwent pulmonary resection for NSCLC at our institution. We retrospectively reviewed their surgical outcomes and prognoses. RESULTS: The median duration of HD before surgery was 55.0 months. Five patients underwent lobectomy and two patients underwent wedge resection. Postoperative morbidity occurred in three patients, including pulmonary edema combined with pneumonia, cerebral infarction, and delirium. There were no instances of in-hospital mortality, although one patient died of intracranial bleeding 15 days after discharge. During follow-up, three patients (one patient with pathologic stage IIB NSCLC and two patients with pathologic stage IIIA NSCLC) experienced recurrence and died as a result of the progression of the cancer, while the remaining three patients (with pathologic stage I NSCLC) are alive with no evidence of disease. CONCLUSION: Surgery for NSCLC in HD patients can be performed with acceptable perioperative morbidity. Good medium-term survival in patients with pathologic stage I NSCLC can also be expected. Pulmonary resection seems to be the proper treatment option for dialysis patients with stage I NSCLC.

Pulmonary Vein to Esophageal Fistula after Staged Hybrid Totally Thoracoscopic Surgical and Percutaneous Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation: A Case Report

A case of a fistula running from the pulmonary vein to the esophagus after a staged hybrid procedure combining total thoracoscopic ablation and percutaneous radiofrequency catheter ablation has not been reported previously. We describe such a case in a 37-year-old man who was successfully treated by surgery.

A Case Report of a Successful Bypass Operation for Peripheral Venous Hypertension with Digital Pigmentation and Ulcer with Crust in Hemodialysis Patient / 대한혈관외과학회지

Peripheral venous hypertension is a rare complication in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Primarily, it is secondary to frequent venous accesses, thrombosis, and to other causes. Venous hypertension may cause pain and edema of the ipsilateral arm; increased venous pressure can prevent acceptable flow rates during dialysis. In this case report, we describe our experience using a Gore-Tex tube graft to treat a venous bypass complicated by peripheral venous hypertension with digital pigmentation and an ulcer with crust. Based on our experience, this technique is as an effective and low-risk surgical option to treat this condition.

Risk Factors for Early Access Failure of Arteriovenous Fistula in Hemodialysis Patients / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: Early failure of vascular access for hemodialysis is not uncommon. It has been known that DM, hypertension, age, sex and some abnormal laboratory findings at the surgery are the risk factors. We designed this study to analyze the risk factors for the early access failure of arteriovenous fistula (AVF). METHODS: Among 111 patients who underwent vascular access surgery and hemodialysis at KHMC from 2000 to 2004, 106 patients with AVF were enrolled. The rate of early access failure of AVF was evaluated. Histories of DM, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and ipsilateral central venous catheterization, medication and laboratory findings were investigated through the medical records, retrospectively and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The rate of early access failure of AVF was 21.3%, higher than that of AV grafts. The number of patients older than 50 years of age was greater in early access failure group. Early access failure group showed higher incidence of cardiovascular disease. Early access failure group showed higher incidence of ipsilateral central venous catheterization. Early access failure group also showed higher level of hemoglobin and hematocrit. Logistic regression analysis showed that higher hemoglobin and history of ipsilateral central venous catheterization are independent risk factors for early access failure of AVF. CONCLUSION: Older age at the time of surgery, history of ipsilateral central venous catheterization or cardiovascular disease and higher level of hemoglobin were associated with early access failure of AVF. History of ipsilateral central venous catheterization and higher level of hemoglobin are independent risk factors.

Two Cases of Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia treated with Steroid and Cyclosporine therapy / 결핵및호흡기질환

A rapid response to corticosteroid treatment and a generally favourable outcome are characteristic features of BOOP (Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia). However, with increasing experience of the clinical spectrum of this disease, it is now recognized that some patients are refractory to steroid, which is associated with a poor prognosis. Here, two cases of BOOP initially treated with predinisone and antibiotics without effects, but subsequently responded to secondary cyclosporine treatment, are reported.