• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3825-3828
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• 2014

Surgical outcomes of colorectal cancer treatment depend not only on good surgery and tumor biology but also on an optimal perioperative care. The enhanced recovery program (ERP) - a multidisciplinary and multimodal approach, or so called 'fast-track surgery' - has been designed to minimize perioperative and intraoperative stress responses, and to support the recovery of organ function aiming to help patients getting better sooner after surgery. Compared with conventional postoperative care, the enhanced recovery program results in quicker patient recovery, shorter length of hospital stay, faster recovery of gastrointestinal function, and a lower incidence of postoperative complications. Although not firmly established as yet, the enhanced recovery program after surgery could be of oncological benefit in colorectal cancer patients because it can enhance recovery, maintain integrity of the postoperative immune system, increase feasibility of postoperative chemotherapy, and shorten the time interval from surgery to chemotherapy. This commentary summarizes short-term outcomes and potential long-term benefits of enhanced recovery programs in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.248-255
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• 2020

Objectives: Fatigue, malnutrition, and weight loss are common complaints after undergoing surgery for cancer. These symptoms can be associated with Yin-Deficiency (陰虛) of Exhaustion syndrome (虛勞). Therefore, this study aimed to determine if it is possible to use Dokhwaljihwang-tang, which originates from Yukmijihwang-tang, for enhanced recovery after cancer surgery. Methods: After cancer surgery, Dokhwaljihwang-tang-gami was administered three times a day, in 80-120 ml doses at a time. Results: In four cases of gastric, colorectal, and thyroid cancer, enhanced recovery was achieved using Dokhwaljihwang-tang-gami to treat general weakness, fatigue, and pain in the surgical site after cancer surgery. Conclusions: Dokhwaljihwang-tang can be used for enhanced recovery after cancer surgery.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.261-263
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• 2022

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.222-228
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• 2020

As the elderly population increases, the incidence of lumbar fusion is increasing, and there has been increasing interest in rapid rehabilitation and functional recovery after surgery. Enhanced recovery after surgery program and multimodal pain control methods can reduce the complications and allow rapid recovery. Various methods have been used to increase the fusion.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.88-104
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the effectiveness and satisfaction of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) for enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) after gynecological surgery. Methods: The study is conducted by analyzing the medical records of hospitalized patients in a Korean medicine hospital. Sixty-five patients who received TKM for ERAS after gynecological surgery from May 2020 to July 2021 were included. We performed statistical analysis by using SPSS ver. 25.0. To verify the effect of TKM for ERAS, we analyzed improvement of symptoms. Also, we analyzed survey of patients' satisfaction to verify the satisfaction of TKM for ERAS. Results: Among the symptoms of pain, there was a statistically significant decrease in all types of pain on the questionnaire. Other systemic symptoms showed statistically significant improvement in all symptoms on the questionnaire. The satisfaction level questionnaires for TKM for ERAS showed a mean value of 4.37±0.63 out of 5-point scale. Especially, herbal medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion showed high satisfaction without dissatisfaction. Conclusions: The result has shown that TKM for ERAS after gynecological surgery is effective and the satisfaction of the patients is high. Further study on TKM for ERAS for quality of life assessment is needed.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.72-82
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• 2019

Purpose: Despite its clinical benefits, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is less widely implemented for gastric cancer surgery. This nationwide survey investigated the current status of the implementation of ERAS in perioperative care for gastric cancer surgery in South Korea. Materials and Methods: This survey enrolled 89 gastric surgeons from 52 institutions in South Korea. The questionnaire consisted of 24 questions about the implementation of the ERAS protocols in the management of gastric cancer surgery. The survey was carried out using an electronic form sent via email. Results: Of the 89 gastric surgeons, 58 (65.2%) answered that they have knowledge of the concept and details of ERAS, 45 (50.6%) of whom were currently applying ERAS for their patients. Of the ERAS protocols, preoperative education (91.0%), avoidance of preoperative fasting (68.5%), maintenance of intraoperative normothermia (79.8%), thromboprophylaxis (96.5%), early active ambulation (64.4%), and early removal of urinary catheter (68.5%) were relatively well adopted in perioperative care. However, other practices, such as avoidance of preoperative bowel preparation (41.6%), provision of preoperative carbohydrate-rich drink (10.1%), avoidance of routine abdominal drainage (31.4%), epidural anesthesia (15.9%), single-dose prophylactic antibiotics (19.3%), postoperative high oxygen therapy (36.8%), early postoperative diet (14.6%), restricted intravenous fluid administration (53.9%), and application of discharge criteria (57.3%) were not very well adopted for patients. Conclusions: Perioperative management of gastric cancer surgery is largely heterogeneous among gastric surgeons in South Korea. Standard perioperative care based on scientific evidence needs to be established to improve the quality of surgical care and patient outcomes.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.142-161
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the effect and safety of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) for enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) after gynecological surgery. Methods: The study is conducted by analyzing the medical records of the hospitalized patients in TKM hospital. Eighty-six patients were enrolled who received TKM for ERAS after gynecological surgery from January 2015 to April 2018. We performed statistical analysis by using SPSS ver. 25.0. To prove the effect and safety of TKM for ERAS, we analyzed symptoms and Hemoglobin (Hb), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and serum creatinine (Cr) with glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In addition, we checked other adverse reactions that the patients complained to prove the safety of TKM for ERAS. Results: Among symptoms of pain, there was a statistically significant decrease in abdominal pain, lower back pain, and shoulder pain. Other symptoms showed statistically significant improvement in fatigue, abdominal tympanosis, operation-site discomfort, dizziness, urinary discomfort, throat discomfort, constipation, dyspepsia and colporrhagia. Anemia in both ferritin combination treatment group and herbal medicine only group showed significant improvement. There was no liver damage or renal damage by TKM. Conclusions: The result has shown that TKM for ERAS after gynecological surgery is effective and safe. The further study of TKM for ERAS with more patients is needed.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.189-197
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• 2019

There has been an exponential increase in plastic surgery cases over the last 20 years, surging from 2.8 million to 17.5 million cases per year. Seventy-two percent of these cases are being performed in the office-based or ambulatory setting. There are certain advantages to performing aesthetic procedures in the office, but several widely publicized fatalities and malpractice claims has put the spotlight on patient safety and the lack of uniform regulation of office-based practices. While 33 states currently have legislation for office-based surgery and anesthesia, 17 states have no mandate to report patient deaths or adverse outcomes. The literature on office-base surgery and anesthesia has demonstrated significant improvements in patient safety over the last 20 years. In the following review of the proceedings from the PRS Korea 2018 meeting, we discuss several key concepts regarding safe anesthesia for office-based cosmetic surgery. These include the safe delivery of oxygen, appropriate local anesthetic usage and the avoidance of local anesthetic toxicity, the implementation of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery protocols, multimodal analgesic techniques with less reliance on narcotic pain medications, the use of surgical safety checklists, and incorporating "the patient" into the surgical decision-making process through decision aids.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2022

Background: A time course analysis was undertaken to evaluate how perioperative process-of-care and outcome measures evolved after implementation of an enhanced recovery after thoracic surgery (ERATS) program. Methods: Outcome and process-of-care measures were compared between patients undergoing major elective thoracic surgery during a 9-month pre-ERATS implementation period to those at 1-3, 4-6, and 7-9 months post-ERATS implementation. Outcome measures included length of stay, the 30-day readmission rate, 30-day emergency department visits, and minor and major adverse events. Process measures included first time to activity, out-of-bed, ambulation, fluid diet, diet as tolerated, as well as removal of the first and last chest tube, epidural, patient-controlled analgesia, and Foley and intravenous catheters. Results: In total, 704 patients (352 pre-ERATS, 352 post-ERATS) were included. Mobilization-related process measures, including time to first activity (16.5 vs. 6.8 hours, p<0.001), out-of-bed (17.6 vs. 8.9 hours, p<0.001), and ambulation (32.4 vs. 25.4 hours, p=0.04) saw statistically significant improvements by 1-3 months post-ERATS implementation compared to pre-ERATS. Time to Foley removal improved by 4-6 months post-ERATS (19.5 vs. 18.2 hours, p=0.003). Outcome measures, including the 30-day readmission rate and emergency department visits, steadily decreased post-ERATS. By 7-9 months post-ERATS, both minor (18.2% vs. 7.9%, p=0.009) and major (13.6% vs. 4.4%, p=0.007) adverse events demonstrated statistically significant improvements. Length of stay trended towards improvement from 6.2 days pre-ERATS to 4.8 days by 7-9 months post-ERATS (p=0.06). Conclusion: The adoption of ERATS led to improvements in multiple process-of-care measures, which may collectively and gradually achieve optimization of clinical outcomes.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.398-408
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• 2023

Background Carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated with corticosteroid injections (CIs) and surgery. In this systematic review, the influence of previous CI on different postoperative outcomes after carpal tunnel release is evaluated. Methods A systematic literature search using several databases was performed to include studies that examined patients diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome who received preoperative or intraoperative CIs. Results Of 2,459 articles, 9 were eligible for inclusion. Four papers reported outcomes of preoperative and four outcomes of intraoperative CIs. One study evaluated patients who received both intraoperative and preoperative corticosteroids. Conclusion Intraoperative CIs are associated with reduced postoperative pain after carpal tunnel release and support earlier recovery of the hand function that can be objectified in a faster median nerve conduction speed recovery and lower Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) scores. Using preoperative CIs did not lead to enhanced recovery after carpal tunnel release, and both preoperative and intraoperative CIs might be predisposing factors for infections.