• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제60권6호
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• pp.717-722
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• 2017

Objective : To evaluate the effectiveness and efficacy of delayed burr hole surgery in relation to the reduction of postoperative subdural hematoma (SDH) volume in patients with acute SDH. Methods : We retrospectively analyzed patients with acute SDH who received delayed burr hole surgery at our institute. Age, sex, Glasgow coma scale, maximal SDH thickness, volume of SDH, midline shifts, hounsfield unit (HU), and medical history of anticoagulant agent usage were recorded. Outcome measures were delayed operation day, reduction of SDH volume after operation, and the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) score at discharge. The patients were divided two groups according to the postoperative reduction of volume of SDH (${\geq}50%$, group A; <50%, group B). We also analyzed variables and differences between two groups. Results : Eighteen patients were available for this analysis. The mean delayed of surgery was $13.9{\pm}7.5$ days. Maximal thickness of SDH was changed from $10.0{\pm}3.5mm$ to $12.2{\pm}3.7mm$. Volume of SDH was changed from $38.7{\pm}28.0mL$ to $42.6{\pm}29.6mL$. Midline shifts were changed from $5.8{\pm}3.3mm$ to $6.6{\pm}3.3mm$. HU were changed from $66.4{\pm}11.2$ to $53.2{\pm}20.6$. Post-operative reduction of SDH volume was $52.1{\pm}21.1%$. Eleven patients (61%) had a discharge GOS score of 1 (good recovery). Ten patients (56%) were enrolled in group A. Midline shifting was greater in group A than in group B ($7.4{\pm}3.3$ vs. $3.0{\pm}2.4mm$; p<0.02). The delay of surgery was shorter for group A than group B ($9.2{\pm}2.3$ vs. $19.8{\pm}7.7$ days; p<0.0008). Conclusion : Among well selected patients, delayed burr hole surgery in patients with acute SDH may be effective for reduction of SDH volume. Further studies will be necessary to establish the effectiveness and safety of delayed burr hole surgery in patients with acute SDH.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.370-376
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• 2011

Objective : Posttraumatic cerebral infarction (PTCI), an infarction in well-defined arterial distributions after head trauma, is a known complication in patients with severe head trauma. The primary aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical and radiographic characteristics of PTCI, and to assess the effect on outcome of decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) in patients with PTCI. Methods : We present a retrospective analysis of 20 patients with PTCI who were treated between January 2003 and August 2005. Twelve patients among them showed malignant PTCI, which is defined as PTCI including the territory of Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA). Medical records and radiologic imaging studies of patients were reviewed. Results : Infarction of posterior cerebral artery distribution was the most common site of PTCI. Fourteen patients underwent DHC an average of 16 hours after trauma. The overall mortality rate was 75%. Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) of survivors showed that one patient was remained in a persistent vegetative state, two patients were severely disabled and only two patients were moderately disabled at the time of discharge. Despite aggressive treatments, all patients with malignant PTCI had died. Malignant PTCI was the indicator of poor clinical outcome. Furthermore, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) at the admission was the most valuable prognostic factor. Significant correlation was observed between a GCS less than 5 on admission and high mortality (p<0.05). Conclusion : In patients who developed non-malignant PTCI and GCS higher than 5 after head injury, early DHC and duroplasty should be considered, before occurrence of irreversible ischemic brain damage. High mortality rate was observed in patients with malignant PTCI or PTCI with a GCS of 3-5 at the admission. A large prospective randomized controlled study will be required to justify for aggressive treatments including DHC and medical treatment in these patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.207-210
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• 2001

Objective : The prognosis of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage often depends on initial neurologic condition, size and location of hemorrhage and associated intraventricular hemorrhage. However, age of patient, coagulation state and other associated vascular diseases may also play a role when present. In recent years, the geriatric population has been increasing. The age distribution of the patients with intracerebral hemorrhages also has been increased, accordingly. However, such patients, especially when associated with poor initial conditions often tend to be managed rather conservatively. The authors analyzed retrospectively on forty-five patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage over the seventies with poor initial condition to find out whether there exists a difference of outcome between surgery and non-surgery group. Material and Method : A total of 45 patients over seventies with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage with Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) 4-8 treated over last six years were included. The validity of surgical management for these patients as well as clinical variables which might have been operated on the outcome of these patients were evaluated. The Glasgow Outcome Scale(GOS) after three months was used for comparison of outcome. Results : In surgical group(19 cases), mean age was 74.5 years old, mean hematoma volume 67.2ml and mean GCS score 5.7 points. In nonsurgical group(26 cases), mean age was 79.3 years old, mean hematoma volume 32.1ml, and mean GCS score 6.8 points. Mortality rate in surgical group was 47.4%(9 patients), including 2 cases of post-operative rebleeding, while that in nonsurgical group was 46.2%. However, when patients with initial GCS 4-6 points and over 30ml in hematoma volume were regrouped, mortality rate in surgical group was 46.2%, whereas mortality rate in nonsurgical group was 66.7%. Conclusion : It is concluded that the mortality rate is much low in surgery group with initial GCS less than 6 points and hematoma volume over 30cc. There was no significant difference of outcome in patients with basal ganglia and thalamic hemorrhage. However, surgical treatment lowered the mortality and morbidity rate in patients with subcortical and cerebellar hemorrhage.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제66권5호
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• pp.543-551
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• 2023

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the current status of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) in Korea and the association between ICP monitoring and prognosis. In addition, a survey was administered to Korean neurosurgeons to investigate the perception of ICP monitoring in patients with sTBI. Methods : This study used data from the second Korea Neurotrauma Databank. Among the enrolled patients with sTBI, the following available clinical data were analyzed in 912 patients : Glasgow coma scale score on admission, ICP monitoring, mortality, and extended Glasgow outcome scale score at 6 months. In addition, we administered a survey, entitled "current status and perception of ICP monitoring in Korean patients with sTBI" to 399 neurosurgeons who were interested in traumatic brain injury. Results : Among the 912 patients, 79 patients (8.7%) underwent ICP monitoring. The mortality and favorable outcome were compared between the groups with and without ICP monitoring, and no statistically significant results were found. Regarding the survey, there were 61 respondents. Among them, 70.4% of neurosurgeons responded negatively to performing ICP monitoring after craniectomy/craniotomy, while 96.7% of neurosurgeons responded negatively to performing ICP monitoring when craniectomy/craniotomy was not conducted. The reasons why ICP monitoring was not performed were investigated, and most respondents answered that there were no actual guidelines or experiences with post-operative ICP monitoring for craniectomy/craniotomy. However, in cases wherein craniectomy/craniotomy was not performed, most respondents answered that ICP monitoring was not helpful, as other signs were comparatively more important. Conclusion : The proportion of performing ICP monitoring in patients with sTBI was low in Korea. The outcome and mortality were compared between the patient groups with and without ICP monitoring, and no statistically significant differences were noted in prognosis between these groups. Further, the survey showed that ICP monitoring in patients with sTBI was somewhat negatively recognized in Korea.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.113-120
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• 2006

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of classic heat stroke in Korea and to identify factors of prognosis for heat stroke by comparing a survival group with a non-survival group. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 27 patients with heat stroke who visited the Emergency Department of Kyungpook National University Hospital from March 2001 to February 2005. First, we divided the patients into two groups, the classic heat stroke group and the exertional heat stroke group, and compared them. Second, we compared the survival group with the non-survival group. Age, sex, cause, place where patients were found, underlying diseases, cooling time, performance of endotracheal intubation, initial Glasgow Coma Scale, initial vital sign, and laboratory findings were reviewed. Results: Five of 27 patients in heat stroke died. The classic heat stroke group had 20 patients. They were old and had more patients in the bathroom than the exertional heat stroke group had. The non-survival group showed lower blood pressure, lower initial GCS score, and higher respiratory rate than the survival group. In laboratory findings, the non-survival group also showed lower$HCO_3-$ level, lower albumin level, lower glucose level, more prolonged PT, and higher CK-MB level than the survival group. Delay in recognition of heat stroke and cooling were poor prognostic factors in heat stroke. Conclusion: The classic heat stroke group had patients who were old and found in the bathroom. Early recognition and treatment of heat stroke is important to reduce mortality. Cooling time, initial GCS score, mean arterial pressure, resipratory rate, $HCO_3-$, PT, CK-MB, and albumin seem to be meaningful when forming a prognosis for heat stroke patients.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.667-672
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• 2007

This report describes the use of conventional computed tomography(CT) for the diagnosis of head trauma in three canine patients. According to physical and neurologic examinations, survey radiography and computed tomography, these patients were diagnosed as traumatic brain injury. Especially, CT is the imaging modality of first choice for head trauma patients. It provides rapid acquisition of images, superior bone detail, and better visualization of acute hemorrhage than magnetic resonance imaging. It is also less expensive and more readily available. Pre-contrast computed tomography was used to image the head. Then, post-contrast CT was performed using the same technique. The Modified Glasgow Coma Scale(MGCS) score was used to predict their probability of survival rate after head trauma in these dogs. Computed tomogram showed fluid filled tympanic bulla, fracture of the left temporal bone and cerebral parenchymal hemorrhage with post contrast ring enhancement. However, in one case, computed tomographic examination didn't delineate cerebellar parenchymal hemorrhage, which was found at postmortem examination. Treatments for patients placed in intensive care were focused to maintain cerebral perfusion pressure and to normalize intracranial pressure. In these cases, diagnostic computed tomography was a useful procedure. It revealed accurate location of the hemorrhage lesion.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.249-259
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• 2020

Purpose: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are associated with considerable mortality. This study was aimed to identify survival factors among medical care unit patients with CPE. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort; data were collected from September 2017 to June 2019 through electronic medical records. The data collected were general characteristics, disease-related characteristics, severity-related characteristics, and treatment-related characteristics. Data were analyzed based on frequency, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and Cox proportional hazard model using SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. Results: Seventy-seven patients were included (59 survivors and 18 deceased) in the study. Univariate analysis identified factors for survival associated with acquired CPE as age (t= -1.56, p= .037), simplified acute physiology 3 (SAPS3) score of admission date (t= -2.85, p= .006), Glasgow coma scale (GCS) of CPE acquisition date (t= 2.38, p= .020), artery catheter at CPE acquisition date (χ²= 4.58, p= .032), vasoconstrictor agents use at CPE acquisition date (χ²= 6.81, p= .009), platelet at CPE acquisition date (t= 2.27, p= .025), lymphocyte at CPE acquisition date (t= 2.01, p= .048), calcium at CPE acquisition date (t= 2.68, p= .009), albumin at CPE acquisition date (t= 2.29, p= .025), and creatinine at CPE acquisition date (t= 2.24, p= .028). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard model showed that GCS at CPE acquisition date (HR= 1.14, 95% CI= 1.05-1.22), lymphocyte at CPE acquisition date (HR= 1.05, 95% CI= 1.00-1.10), and creatinine at CPE acquisition date (HR= 1.25, 95% CI= 1.04-1.49) were independent survival factors among medical intensive care unit patients with CPE. Conclusion: Based on the study results, it is necessary to develop nursing interventions that can aid in the management of patients with CPE and identify their effects.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.99-104
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• 2016

Purpose: There are many patients visited to ED in an alcohol intoxicated state. For these patients, it is difficult to predict by only clinical examination whether he/she would have brain lesion. The purpose of this study is to research whether it is possible to predict brain lesion by only clinical examination findings, with comparing patients with/without actual brain lesions. Methods: A retrospective study was performed at a university hospital for the period 11 months with the medical records. As for the inclusion group, head trauma patients with objectively proved drunk, judging by their blood ethanol concentration, and performed the brain CT were selected. In terms of medical record, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), the presence of neurologic abnormalities, the presence of lesion on brain CT of the patients, were examined. From laboratory results, blood ethanol concentration, platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and glucose concentration were identified. Results: For this study, there were total 80 patients of inclusion group. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of GCS score and neurological examination abnormalities, between the group with brain lesion and the group without brain lesion on brain CT. Conclusion: Alcohol intoxicated patient with head trauma visits the ED, it is not possible to distinguish or determine whether brain lesion exists or not by only clinical findings. In order to check the lesion existence, the image examination, therefore, should be considered and performed.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.151-154
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• 2016

Increased plasma insulin levels are often observed in exogenous insulin overdose patients. However, plasma insulin level may decrease with time. We report a case of low plasma insulin level hypoglycemia after insulin lispro overdose. The patient was a 37-year-old man with no previous medical history who suspected insulin lispro overdose. Upon arrival, his Glasgow coma scale was 3 points and his blood sugar level (BSL) was 24 mg/dl. We found five humalog-quick-pen (insulin lispro) in his bag. There was no elevation of glucose level, despite an initial 50 ml bolus of 50% glucose and 150 cc/hr of 10% dextrose continuous intravenous infusion. He also suffered from generalized tonic-clonic seizure, which was treated with lorazepam and phenytoin. We conducted endotracheal intubation, after which he was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). There were recurrent events of hypoglycemia below BSL<50 mg/dl after admission. We repeatedly infused 50 ml 50% glucose 10 times and administered 1 mg of glucagon two times. The plasma insulin level was 0.2 uU/ml on initial blood sampling and 0.2 uU/ml after 5 hours. After 13 hours, his BSL stabilized but his mental status had not recovered. Diffuse brain injury was observed upon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and severe diffuse cerebral dysfunction was found on electroencephalography (EEG). Despite 35 days of ICU care, he died from ventilator associated pneumonia.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.82-87
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• 2007

Objective : Pontine hemorrhages usually result in a much higher morbidity and mortality than any other intracranial vascular lesion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate survival and the contributing factors for patients with pontine hemorrhage. Methods : Of the 41 patients who were admitted to our hospital with their first acute pontine hemorrhage from 1997 to 2005, 35 patients were included in this study. Medical records were reviewed to confirm the accuracy of diagnosis and collect demographic, clinical and radiological data. The patients were divided into two groups, survivors and deceased patients; then the survivors were divided again into a group of patient with good results and those with poor results. The location of the hematoma, maximum anteroposterior [AP] diameter, maximum transverse diameter, hematoma volume, ventricular extension, extension into the midbrain, hydrocephalus and initial Glasgow coma scale [GCS] were evaluated. Results : The two year survival rate was 58.5%. The survival of patients with pontine hemorrhage was affected by initial GCS score and transverse hematoma dimeter. Functional outcome of patients who survived was affected by initial GCS, maximum transverse diameter, maximum AP diameter and hematoma volume. Conclusion : The rate of survival after pontine hemorrhage is associated with the transverse diameter of the hematoma and more importantly the initial GCS. Long-term outcome of survivors is influenced by the initial GCS, transverse diameter, AP diameter and volume. Through the multivariate analysis, initial GCS is the only significant factor on survival. Strictly speaking, initial GCS is not modifiable. However, surgical reduction may be considered to amend theses decisive factors. Additional study for indication, timing and method of surgical management is needed.