• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.97-115
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• 2023

In South Korea, chronic kidney disease(CKD) impacts around 4.6 million adults, leading to a high reliance on hemodialysis. For effective dialysis, vascular access is crucial, with decisions about vascular surgeries often made during dialysis sessions. Anticipating these needs could improve dialysis quality and patient comfort. This study investigates the use of Artificial Intelligence(AI) to predict the timing of surgeries for dialysis vessels, an area not extensively researched. We've developed an AI algorithm using predictive maintenance methods, transitioning from machine learning to a more advanced deep learning approach with Long Short-Term Memory(LSTM) models. The algorithm processes variables such as venous pressure, blood flow, and patient age, demonstrating high effectiveness with metrics exceeding 0.91. By shortening the data collection intervals, a more refined model can be obtained. Implementing this AI in clinical practice could notably enhance patient experience and the quality of medical services in dialysis, marking a significant advancement in the treatment of CKD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.417-419
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• 2020

Surgeons avoid creating arteriovenous fistulae in obese patients owing to deep vessels, cannulation complications, and inconsistent outcomes. We describe placing an arteriovenous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft between the brachial artery and axillary vein to avoid these complications. A 39-year-old super-obese woman with end-stage renal disease had undergone several hemodialysis access procedures on both arms. We traced the course of the arteriovenous graft course with the patient sitting and lying down. The ideal course was more accurate with the patient sitting; thus, the patient sat when the course was drawn, before lying on the operating bed. The PTFE graft was placed between the right brachial artery and axillary vein, according to the course in the opposite arm. No anastomotic dehiscence or pseudoaneurysm has taken place during 2 years of follow-up. In super-obese patients, the ideal course for arteriovenous grafts should be drawn while they are sitting, avoiding skin folds. This tip could avoid anastomotic dehiscence and pseudoaneurysm between the axillary vein and a PTFE graft.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.500-508
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• 2021

Background: The major limitation of arteriovenous graft access is the high incidence of thrombotic occlusion. This study investigated the outcomes of our salvage strategy for thrombosed hemodialysis arteriovenous grafts (including surgical thrombectomy with balloon angioplasty) and evaluated the efficacy of intragraft curettage. Methods: Salvage operations were performed for 290 thrombotic occluded arteriovenous grafts with clinical stenotic lesions from 2010 to 2018. Of these, 117 grafts received surgical thrombectomy and balloon angioplasty from 2010 to 2012 (group A), and 173 grafts received surgical thrombectomy and balloon angioplasty, with an additional salvage procedure using a curette and a graft thrombectomy catheter, from 2013 to 2018 (group B). Outcomes were described in terms of post-intervention primary patency and secondary patency rates. Results: The post-intervention primary patency rates in groups A and B were 44.2% and 66.1% at 6 months and 23.0% and 38.3% at 12 months, respectively (p=0.003). The post-intervention secondary patency rates were 87.6% and 92.6% at 6 months and 79.7% and 85.0% at 12 months, respectively (p=0.623). Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that intragraft curettage was a positive predictor of post-intervention primary patency (hazard ratio, 0.700; 95% confidence interval, 0.519-0.943; p=0.019). Conclusion: Surgical thrombectomy and balloon angioplasty showed acceptable outcomes concerning post-intervention primary and secondary patency rates. Additionally, intragraft curettage may offer better patency to salvage thrombotic occluded arteriovenous grafts with intragraft stenosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.4
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• pp.746-753
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• 2024

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the incidence and management of venous ruptures after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for dysfunctional arteriovenous (AV) access. Materials and Methods From January 1998 to December 2015, 13506 PTA, mechanical thrombectomy, and thrombolysis procedures were performed in 6732 patients. The venous rupture rate following PTA was obtained, and access circuit primary patency (ACPP) was compared according to the etiology (PTA, thrombotic occlusion, and treatment type) of the venous rupture present. Results Venous rupture developed in 604 of the 13506 procedures. Venous ruptures were more frequent in female, AV graft cases, and in cases accompanied by thrombosis. Balloon tamponade was performed in 604 rupture cases, and stents were deployed in 119 cases where contrast extravasation and flow stasis persisted. ACPP was significantly better in the non-ruptured AV access circuits than in the ruptured group. However, AV access type and thrombosis was not associated with primary patency. In ruptured cases, ACPP is 8.4 months for prolonged balloon tamponade and 11.2 months for bare-metal stent insertion, showing statistically significant difference. Conclusion Balloon tamponade and bare-metal stent placement are effective treatment for PTA-induced venous ruptures. In particular, stent placement showed a similar ACPP to that of non-ruptured AV access circuits.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.342-348
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• 2004

It is very important for hemodialysis in patients with end stage renal disease to obtain vascular access that resists repeated punctures and maintains adequate blood flow. This study was designed to indentify factors that may influence early patency rate of autogenous arteriovenous fistula. Material and Method: 49 cases in 47 patients who underwent radiocephalic fistula formation in our hospital from June 2002 through May 2003 were reviewed and analyzed. Result: The early patency rate was 79.6%. Age, sex, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were not significant factors for patency. Body mass index and duration of hypertension and diabetes did not influence the early results either. Cephalic vein diameter measured preoperatively and blood flow at radio-cephalic fistula were significantly positive correlative factors. Groups with the vein diameter less than 2.7mm, or with the blood flow less than 100 mL/min had significantly lower early patency rate than the other groups. Conclusion: To improve early patency rate of radiocephalic fistula, large sized cephalic vein should be selected and if the intraoperative flow at radiocephalic fistula is less than 100 mL/min, another arteriovenous fistula formation should be considered.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2011

Background: Mature autogenous arteriovenous fistulas have better long term patency and require fewer secondary interventions compared to arteriovenous prosthetic graft. Our Study evaluated vascular patency rates and incidence of interventions in autogenous arteriovenous fistulas and grafts. Material and Methods: A total of 166 vascular access operations were performed in 153 patients between December 2002 and November 2009. Thirty seven caeses were excluded due to primary access failure and loss of follow-up. One group of 92 autogenous arterioveous fistulas and the other group of 37 arteriovenous prosthetic grafts were evaluated retrospectively. Primary and secondary patency rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: The primary patency rate (84%, 67%, 51% vs. 51%, 22%, 9% at 1, 3, 5 year; p=0.0000) and secondary patency rate (96%, 88%, 68% vs. 88%, 65%, 16% at 1, 3, 5 year; p=0.0009) were better in autogenous fistula group than prosthetic graft group. Interventions to maintain secondary patency were required in 23% of the autogenous fistula group (average 0.06 procedures/patient/year) and 65% of prosthetic graft group (average 0.21 procedures/patient/year). So the autogenous fistula group had fewer intervention rate than prosthetic graft group (p=0.01) The risk factor of primary patency was diabetus combined with ischemic heart disease and the secondary patency's risk factor was age. Conclusion: Autogenous arteriovenous fistulas showed better performance compared to prosthetic grafts in terms of primary & secondary patency and incidence of interventions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.642-647
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• 2010

Background: It is very important to obtain vascular access that resists repeated punctures and maintains an adequate blood flow for performing hemodialysis in patients with ESRD. This study was designed to identify the risk factors that may influence the patency rate of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) using perforating vein on antecubital fossa. Material and Method: We analyzed 205 cases of AVF in 195 patients who underwent hemodialysis access surgery on antecubital fossa in our hospital from May 2006 to December 2009. Result: The patency rate of AVF from 6 months after surgery using perforating vein was 75.91%. The risk factors that influence the patency rate was age. There was no statistic difference between used vessels. Conclusion: The patency of the AVF using perforating vein on antecubital fossa was comparable. The condition of sex and location and presence or absence of diabetes and hypertension and other cardio-neurovascular disease did not make statistically significant effect on the AVF patency rate. The age was an independent risk factor for patency rate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2020

Background: When an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is created using the basilic or deep cephalic vein, it is additionally necessary to transfer the vessels to a position where needling is easy; however, many patients develop wound-related postsurgical complications due to the long surgical wounds resulting from conventional superficialization of a deep AVF or basilic vein transposition. Thus, to address this problem, we performed videoscopic surgery with small surgical incisions. Methods: Data from 16 patients who underwent additional videoscopic radiocephalic superficialization, brachiocephalic superficialization, and brachiobasilic transposition after AVF formation at our institution in 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Needling was successful in all patients. No wound-related complications occurred. The mean vessel size and blood flow of the AVF just before the first needling were 0.73±0.16 mm and 1,516.25±791.26 mL/min, respectively. The mean vessel depth after surgery was 0.26±0.10 cm. Percutaneous angioplasty was additionally performed in 25% of the patients. Primary patency was observed in 100% of patients during the follow-up period (262.44±73.49 days). Conclusion: Videoscopic surgery for AVF dramatically reduced the incidence of postoperative complications without interrupting patency; moreover, such procedures may increase the use of native vessels for vascular access. In addition, dissection using a videoscope compared to blind dissection using only a skip incision dramatically increased the success rate of displacement by reducing damage to the dissected vessels.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.31-38
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• 2022

Purpose: This study presents the results of the analysis on space utilization of kidney dialysis units in regional public hospitals, which plays a key role in local public medical services. The result aims to achieve safety from infection, allow comfort for the dialysis environment, and stability for medical support. The purpose of this study is to present fundamental data for architectural plans for the kidney dialysis unit, as well as to alleviate potential infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Methods: For research purposes, the investigation and analysis of space utilization were based on architectural floor plans, research papers and literature, related legal systems, and public statistics. Of the main 35 regional public hospitals, in regards to data accessibility, 15 facilities were selected to conduct the survey and analysis for the objective. Results: The space composition by area research results of kidney dialysis units in public hospitals are as follows: Firstly, most targets do not have required rooms in the access and support area, except for the hemodialysis beds in the treatment section. Secondly, the access area requires necessary room and space design that took into consideration of convenience and accessibility for patients. Thirdly, in regards to infection prevention and control, proper circulation and room plan is essential for storage and disposal of contaminated products and linen after use. For the treatment area, the arrangement plan needs to establish a visual connection between the isolation room, the nursing station, and the bed area. Additionally, consideration of circulation in the preparation, treatment, observation, examination, and all other rooms in the facility is required. Lastly, for the support area, the room is designed to consider adequate working and meeting spaces for the medical staff, consultation space for patients or guardians, separate storage and disposal of clean and contaminated items, and the storage of various equipment for dialysis. Implications: In preparation for the increase in chronic kidney failure patients and the spread of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, the researched data demonstrates the basic guidelines for space composition of kidney dialysis units and the significant role of regional public hospitals.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2016

Radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula(RC-AVF) is the most recommended operation of achieving access for hemodialysis. However, it has high rates of early failure depending on the many haemodynamic conditions. To increase RC-AVF patency rate, many researches were performed by in-vitro experiment via artificial vessel and blood analogue fluid, and there were conflicting opinions about whether the non-Newtonian properties of blood have an influence on the flow in large arteries. To investigate the influence of viscoelasticity of blood within the RC-AVF, we fabricated three dimensional artificial RC-AVF and two kinds of blood analogue fluid. The velocity field of two fluids within the vessel were measured by micro-particle velocimetry(m-PIV) and compared with each other. The velocity profiles of both fluids for systolic phase were matched well while those for diastolic phase did not correspond. Therefore, it is desired to use non-newtonian fluid for in-vitro experiment of RC-AVF.