• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.839-846
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• 1987

The records of 10 patients with traumatic diaphragmatic hernia seen from November 1977 through July 1987 were reviewed. All the patients had a transdiaphragmatic evisceration of abdominal contents into the thorax. We treated 7 male and 3 female patients ranging in age from 3 to 62 years. In 8 patients, diaphragmatic hernia followed blunt trauma and in 2 patients, stab wounds to the chest. The herniation occurred on the right side in 3 patients and on the left side in 7. All the patients sustained additional injuries: rib fractures [7 patients], additional limb, pelvic and vertebral fractures [6], closed head injury [2], lung laceration [1], liver laceration [1], renal contusion [1], ureteral rupture [1], and splenic rupture [1]. Organs herniated through the diaphragmatic rent included the omentum [6 patients], stomach [4], liver [4], colon [3], small intestine [1], and spleen [1]. For right-sided injuries, the liver was herniated in all 3 patients and the colon, in 1. in the initial or latent phase, dyspnea, diminished breath sounds, bowel sounds in the chest were noted in 4 patients, and in the obstructive phase, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain were found in all 3 patients. Two patients had a diagnostic chest radiograph with findings of bowel gas patterns, and an additional 8 had abnormal but nondiagnostic studies. Hemothorax, pleural effusion or abnormal diaphragmatic contour were common abnormal findings. Three patients were operated on during the initial or acute phase [immediately after injury], 4 patients were operated on during the latent or intermediate phase [3 to 210 days], and 3 patients were operated on during the obstructive phase [10 to 290 days]. Six patients underwent thoracotomy, 2 required thoracoabdominal incision, and 2 had combined thoracotomy and laparotomy. Primary suture was used to repair the diaphragmatic hernia in 9 cases. One patient required plastic repair by a Teflon felt. Empyema was the main complication in 2 patients. In 1 patient, the empyema was treated by closed thoracostomy and in 1, by decortication and open drainage. There were no deaths.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.291-296
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• 2022

The therapeutic approach for colon injury has changed continuously with the evolution of management strategies for trauma patients. In general, immediate laparotomy can be considered in hemodynamically unstable patients with positive findings on extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma. However, in the case of hemodynamically stable patients, an additional evaluation like computed tomography (CT) is required. Surgical treatment is often required if prominent mesenteric extravasation, free fluid, bowel infarction, and/or colon wall perforation are observed. However, immediate intervention in hemodynamically stable patients without indications for surgical treatment remains questionable. Three patients with colon and mesocolon injuries caused by blunt trauma were treated by nonoperative management. At the time of admission, they were alert and their vital signs were stable. Colon and mesocolon injuries, large hematoma, colon wall edema, and/or ischemia were revealed on CT. However, no prominent mesenteric extravasation, free fluid, bowel infarction, and/or colon wall perforation were observed. In two cases, conservative treatment was performed without worsening abdominal pain or laboratory tests. Follow-up CT showed improvement without additional treatment. In the third case, follow-up CT and percutaneous drainage were performed in considering the persistent left abdominal discomfort, fever, and elevated inflammatory markers of the patient. After that, outpatient CT showed improvement of the hematoma. In conclusion, nonoperative management can be considered as a therapeutic option for mesocolon and colon injuries caused by blunt trauma of selected cases, despite the presence of large hematoma and ischemia, if there are no clear indications for immediate intervention.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2021

The gut is a complex organ that has played an important role in digestion, absorption, endocrine functions, and immunity. The gut mucosal barriers consist of the immunologic barrier and nonimmunologic barrier. During critical illnesses, the gut is susceptible to injury due to the induction of intestinal hyperpermeability. Gut hyperpermeability and barrier dysfunction may lead to systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Additionally, gut microbiota are altered during critical illnesses. The etiology of such microbiome alterations in critical illnesses is multifactorial. The interaction or systemic host defense modulation between distant organs and the gut microbiome is increasingly studied in disease research. No treatment modality exists to significantly enhance the gut epithelial integrity, permeability, or mucus layer in critically ill patients. However, multiple helpful approaches including clinical and preclinical strategies exist. Enteral nutrition is associated with an increased mucosal barrier in animal and human studies. The trophic effects of enteral nutrition might help to maintain the intestinal physiology, prevent atrophy of gut villi, reduce intestinal permeability, and protect against ischemia-reperfusion injury. The microbiome approach such as the use of probiotics, fecal microbial transplantation, and selective decontamination of the digestive tract has been suggested. However, its evidence does not have a high quality. To promote rapid hypertrophy of the small bowel, various factors have been reported, including the epidermal growth factor, membrane permeant inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase, mucus surrogate, pharmacologic vagus nerve agonist, immune-enhancing diet, and glucagon-like peptide-2 as preclinical strategies. However, the evidence remains unclear.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 2022

Traumatic abdominal wall hernia is a very rare clinical entity. Herein, we report the case of a patient who was transferred from a local clinic to the emergency department because of left lower abdominal pain. Initially, an intra-abdominal hematoma was observed on computed tomography and no extravasation was noted. Conservative treatment was initiated, and the patient's symptoms were slightly relieved. However, though abdominal pain was relieved during the hospital stay, bowel herniation was suspected in the left periumbilical area. Follow-up computed tomography showed traumatic abdominal wall hernia with hemoperitoneum in the abdomen. We performed a laparoscopic exploration of the injury site and hernia lesion. The anterior abdominal wall hernia was successfully closed.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2005

Background: This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical pattern of the patients with penetrating torso injury. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical symptoms, mechanism of injury, injury type including injured organ, and ultimate outcome of treatment. Our purpose of the study was to establish guideline of management in penetrating torso injury. Methods: This study consists of an analysis of a consecutive series of 94 patients with penetrating injury of trunk treated at one general hospital during 7year period (from January 1995 to April 2003) who was admitted through in our emergency department. All data were collected from the medical records and entered in a database for analysis on the following: age, sex, mechanism of injury, vital sign at admission, clinical outcome including hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, length of intensive care unit stay, requirement of crystalloid fluid and blood product. Results: Among 94 patients, there were 68 men and 26 women, with ages ranging from 19 to 82 years (average 38.2 years). The most frequent mechanism of injury was violence by others including rob (n=54, 57.4%) followed by suicidal attempt (n=24, 25.5%) and accidental injury (n=16, 17.0%). No injury was inflicted from gun. In 37 patients, systolic blood pressure at admission was under 90mmHg. The time interval from injury to admission, and from admission to operation was 57.8minutes and 4hour 12minutes each. Laparotomy was required in 70 patients, thoracotomy in 5 patients, and 3 patients required thoracotomy and laparotomy. Among 94 patients, an average of 1.7 organs were injured. The small bowel and colon were the organs most commonly wounded followed by liver, mesentery, pleura. Of the 94 patients, 6 died for an overall mortality rate of 6.4%, and two of them were not related with hemorrhage. The average length of hospital stay was 18.1 days, and 40 patients required ICU care. Conclusion: Of the 94 patients who were admitted from penetrating torso injury, no patient was injured from firearm. Overall mortality rate was 6.4%. In our hospital, firearm injury was relative rare.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.77-86
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• 2009

Purpose: The appropriate management of traumatic truncal arterial injury is often difficult to determine, particularly if the injury is associated with severe additional truncal lesions. The timing of repair is controversial when patients arrive alive at the hospital. Also, there is an argument about surgery versus stent-graft repair. This study's objective was to evaluate the appropriate method and the timing for treatment in cases of truncal abdominal injury associated with other abdominal lesions. Methods: The medical records at Ajou University Medical Center were reviewed for an 8-year period from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2008. Twelve consecutive patients, who were diagnosed as having had a traumatic truncal arterial injury, were enrolled in our study. Patients who were dead before arriving at the hospital or were not associated with abdominal organ injury, were excluded. All patients involved were managed by using the ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support) guideline. Data on injury site, the timing and treatment method of repair, the overall complications, and the survival rate were collected and analyzed. Results: Every case showed a severe injury of more than 15 point on the ISS (injury severity score) scale. The male-to-female ratio was 9:3, and patients were 41 years old on the average. Sites of associated organ injury were the lung, spleen, bowel, liver, pelvic bone, kidney, heart, vertebra, pancreas, and diaphragm ordered from high frequency to lower frequency. There were 11 cases of surgery, and one case of conservative treatment. Two of the patients died after surgery for truncal organ injury: one from excessive bleeding after surgery and the other from multiple organ failure. Arterial injuries were diagnosed by using computed tomography in every case and 9 patients were treated by using an angiographic stent-graft repair. There were 3 patients whose vessels were normal on admission. Several weeks later, they were diagnosed as having a truncal arterial injury. Conclusion: In stable rupture of the truncal artery, initial conservative management is safe and allows management of the major associated lesions. Stent grafting of the truncal artery is a valuable therapeutic alternative to surgical repair, especially in patients considered to be a high risk for a conventional thoracotomy.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.203-208
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence of acalculous cholecystitis after multiple trauma with fractures and to analyze the characteristics of cholecystitis. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of multiple trauma patients with fractures between April 2010 and April 2012. Sixty- nine patients were identified, and the average age was 46.8(range: 15-74) years. Data were collected regarding associated injury, injury severity score (ISS), the diagnosis time after trauma, diagnostic tool, and management Results: There were three cases(4.3%) of cholecystitis among the 69 cases, and cholecystitis was diagnosed an average of 20.7(range: 8-33) days after injury. Two patients complained of abdominal pain at diagnosis, but the other patient who had undergone surgery for small bowel perforation at the time of the injury had no abdominal pain. All three patients had abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) at diagnosis. The cholecystitis was confirmed with ultrasonography or computed tomography, and all cases were acalculous cholecystitis. At first, percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage was performed; then, laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) was tried an average of 12(range: 11-13) days later. An laparoscopic cholecystectomy was successfully done in only one case, the other cases being converted to an open cholecystectomy due to severe inflammation. Conclusion: The incidence of acaculous cholecystitis was 4.3% after multiple trauma with fractures. We should consider cholecystitis in patients with abdominal pain, fever and elevated LFTs after multiple trauma.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 2013

Case of ischemic colitis after enema for bowel cleansing have been rarely reported, but there has been no case report of a patient on modiefied fasting therapy. A 26-year old male patient with obesity admitted Korean medical hospital of Kyung Hee university for losing weight. He is on a special diet called modiefied fasting therapy, only took the fermented herbal drink. At 2nd day, he received an enema for bowel cleansing. A few hours after enema, he had a bloody diarrhea with lower abdominal pain. His colonoscopic and histologic findings presented ischemic colitis. He was advised to fast for two days and couldn't complete his diet program. We suggest 4 possible reasons : Increased intraluminal pressure by enema, vascular spasm caused by room-temperature glycerin solution colder than intraluminal temperature, predisposition to bleeding disturbances by taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor(SSRI) for depression history and mucosal injury by osmotic effect of glycerin solution itself. For reducing the risk of bowel cleansing, glycerin enema should be carefully prescribed and practiced concerning the condition of each patient.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.531-536
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• 1998

We had previously reported that the protective effect of taurine against indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal injury was due to its antioxidant effects, which inhibited lipid peroxidation and neutrophil activation. In this study, we examined the effect of taurine on reducing the inflammatory parameters of trintrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in rats. In order to induce IBD, ethanolic TNBS was given to rats intracolonically. Then they received 500 mg/kg.day of taurine orally and were sacrificed one week after IBD induction. While ulceration and inflammation of distal colon with formation of granuloma in the vehicle-treated IBD rats two days after administration of TNBS were observed, treatment with taurine ameliorated colonic damage and decreased the incidence of diarrhea and adhesion. also, colon weight as an index of tissue edema, which was mardedly increased in the IBD rats, became significantly lower after administration of TNBS were observed, treatment with taurine ameliorated colonic damage and decreased the incidence of diarrhea and adhesion. Also colon weitht as an index of tissue edema, which was markedly increased in the IBD rats, became significantly lower after taruine treatment. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the vehicle-treated IBD rats was substantially increased, compared with that of normal control. the taurine-treated animals significantly reduced MPO activity (35% lower) when compared with that of the vehicle-treated animals. Taurine treatment decreased both basal and formyl-methionyl leucyl phenylalanine-stimulated reactive oxygen generation from colonic tissue in the IBD rats. These results suggest that the administration of taurine reduce the inflammatory parameters in this IBD rat model by increasing defending capacity against oxidative damage.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.68-74
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• 2011

Purpose: Although pancreas injury is rare in abdominal trauma, it poses a challenge to the surgeon because its clinical features are not prominent and the presence of main duct injury cannot be easily identified by imaging studies. Furthermore, severe pancreas injuries require a distal pancreatectomy or a pancreaticoduodnectomy which are associated considerable morbidity and mortality. We reviewed the clinical features of and outcomes for patients with pancreas injury. Methods: For 10 years from Jan. 2001 to Dec. 2010, thirty-four patients were diagnosed as having pancreas injury by using an explo-laparotomy. Patients successfully treated by non-operative management were excluded. Patients were divided into early (n=18) and delayed surgery groups (n=11) based on an interval of 24hours between injury and surgery. The clinical features of and the outcomes for the patients in both groups were compared. Results: Males were more commonly injured (82.4% vs.17.6%). The mean age was 37.2 years. The injury mechanisms included vehicle accidents (62.9%, 22/34), assaults (20%, 7/34), and falls (11.4%, 3/34). The head and neck of the pancreas was most commonly injured, followed by the body and the tail (16, 12, and 6 cases).Of the 34 patients, 26 (76.5%) patients had accompanying injuries. Grade 1 and 2 occurred in 14 (5 and 9) patients, and grade 3, 4, and 5 occurred in 20 (16, 3, and 1) patients. The early and delayed surgery groups showed no difference in surgical outcomes. Two patients with grade 3 in the early surgery group died after surgery,one due to massive hemorrhage and the other due to septic shock. Of the five patients initially managed non-operatively, three developed peripancreatic necrosis and two developed pseudocyst. All five patients were successfully cured by surgery. Conclusion: All cases of pancreas injury in this study involved blunt injury, and accompanying injury to major vessels or the bowel was the major cause of mortality. Surgery delayed for longer than 24 hours after was not associated with adverse outcomes.