• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.190-199
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• 2022

Ultrasound-guided injection is useful for managing thoracic spine and chest wall pain. With ultrasound, pain physicians perform the injection with real-time viewing of major structures, such as the pleura, vasculature, and nerves. Therefore, the ultrasound-guided injection procedure not only prevents procedure-related adverse events but also increases the accuracy of the procedure. Here, ultrasound-guided interventions that could be applied for thoracic spine and chest wall pain were described. We presented ultrasound-guided thoracic facet joint and costotransverse joint injections and thoracic paravertebral, intercostal nerve, erector spinae plane, and pectoralis and serratus plane blocks. The indication, anatomy, Sonoanatomy, and technique for each procedure were also described. We believe that our article is helpful for clinicians to conduct ultrasound-guided injections for controlling thoracic spine and chest wall pain precisely and safely.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.246-249
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• 1997

Hiccup is defined as an abrupt involuntary contraction of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles with sudden closure of the glottis 35 msec after onset. The term "intractable" is given to those hiccups with a duration ranging from 24 hours to more than 25 years. Short hiccup bouts are mostly associated with gastric distention or alcohol intake, resolved spontaneously or with simple remedies. In contrast, intractable hiccup is a rare but disabling condition which can induce depression, weight loss and sleep deprivation. Although the pathophysiologic mechanisms of hiccup are still poorly understood, wide variety of pathological conditions such as: brain tumor, abdominal tumor, myocardial infarction, renal failure, abdominal surgery etc., can cause intractable hiccup. A 58-year-old male who had suffered from hepatocellular cancer was consulted from medical department due to intractable hiccup. Initial treatment modalities with administrations of metoclopramide and chlorpromazine and nerve block including phrenic nerve block, cervical epidural block and glossopharyngeal nerve block were not effective. Administration of midazolam and baclofen however achieved desirable effect.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.483-493
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• 2020

Objective: To evaluate the distribution and characteristics of peripheral nerve abnormalities in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) using magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) and to examine the diagnostic efficiency. Materials and Methods: Thirty-one CIDP patients and 21 controls underwent MR scans. Three-dimensional sampling perfections with application-optimized contrasts using different flip-angle evolutions and T1-/T2- weighted turbo spin-echo sequences were performed for neurography of the brachial and lumbosacral (LS) plexus and cauda equina, respectively. Clinical data and scores of the inflammatory Rasch-built overall disability scale (I-RODS) in CIDP were obtained. Results: The bilateral extracranial vagus (n = 11), trigeminal (n = 12), and intercostal nerves (n = 10) were hypertrophic. Plexus hypertrophies were observed in the brachial plexus of 19 patients (61.3%) and in the LS plexus of 25 patients (80.6%). Patterns of hypertrophy included uniform hypertrophy (17 [54.8%] brachial plexuses and 21 [67.7%] LS plexuses), and multifocal fusiform hypertrophy (2 [6.5%] brachial plexuses and 4 [12.9%] LS plexuses) was present. Enlarged and/or contrast-enhanced cauda equina was found in 3 (9.7%) and 13 (41.9%) patients, respectively. Diameters of the brachial and LS nerve roots were significantly larger in CIDP than in controls (p < 0.001). The largest AUC was obtained for the L5 nerve. There were no significant differences in the course duration, I-RODS score, or diameter between patients with and without hypertrophy. Conclusion: MRN is useful for the assessment of distribution and characteristics of the peripheral nerves in CIDP. Compared to other regions, LS plexus neurography is more sensitive for CIDP.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.359-366
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• 2013

Background Pedicled transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps typically sacrifice the entire muscle. In our experience, the lateral strip of the rectus abdominis muscle can be spared in an attempt to maintain function and reduce morbidity. When the intercostal nerves are injured, muscle atrophy appears with time. The severed intercostal nerve was reinserted into the remnant lateral strip of the rectus abdominis muscle to reduce muscle atrophy. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed 9 neurotized cases and 10 non-neurotized cases. Abdominal computed tomography was performed to determine the area of the rectus muscles. Electromyography (EMG) was performed to check contractile function of the remnant muscle. A single investigator measured the mean areas of randomly selected locations (second lumbar spine) using ImageJ software in a series of 10 cross-sectional slices. We compared the Hounsfield unit (HU) pre- and postoperatively to evaluate regeneration quality. Results In the neurotization group, 7 of 9 cases maintained the mass of remnant muscle. However, in the non-neurotization group, 8 of 10 lost their mass. The number of totally atrophied muscles in each of the two groups was significantly different (P=0.027). All of the remnant muscles showed contractile function on EMG. The 9 remaining remnant rectus abdominis muscles showed declined the HU value after surgery but also within a normal range of muscle. Conclusions Neurotization was found to be effective in maintaining the mass of remnant muscle. Neurotized remnant muscle had contractile function on EMG and no fatty degeneration by HU value.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.318-322
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• 2008

Neurilemmomas are benign nerve sheath tumors derived from Schwann cells that rarely occur in the chest wall. Neurilemmomas of the chest wall are usually solitary lesions that bulge toward the pleural cavity. Neurilemmomas are confirmed histologically based on the presence of Verocay bodies, Antoni A and Antoni B tissue patterns and S-100 protein. Bilateral neurilemmomas in the chest wall are extremely rare, as are those that grow in the subcutaneous tissue but not the pleural area. We report here a case of bilateral chest wall neurilemmomas in which the tumors bulged out to the skin and were palpable.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 1976

This is a report on the cases of benign mediastinal tumors in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chonnam University Hospital during the period from 1961 to 1975. Age distribution was from 18 to 62 years old with the highest incidence in the 3rd decade, and sex ratio of male to female was 7 : 8. The tumor were classified as follows; 6 cases of teratoma 5 cases of neurogenic tumor one case of pericardial cyst one case of cystic hygroma one case of dermoid cyst one case of bronchogenic cyst. The symptomatic patients were 10 cases (66.7%) and asymptomatic patients were 5 cases (33.3%), who were found incidentally by routine chest n-ray. The symptoms occurred by compression to the adjacent nerve system in 7 cases, by perforation into the lung with infection in one case of teratoma and by infection of bronchogenic cyst in one case and of teratoma in one case. Complications were Pancoast's syndrome including Horner's syndrome 2 cases, middle lobe syndrome 2 cases, intercostal neuralgia 1 case and bronchitis 1 case. All tumors were surgically resectable with good recovery. In all 10 cases of symptomatic patients, their symptoms disappeared dramatically after operation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.123-125
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• 2000

Rectus abdominis syndrome is the abdominal pain which occurs in the distribution of the medial or lateral cutaneous branch of the 7~12th intercostal nerves. It is frequently cause that results in unnecessary pain and expense to patient. The physical examination is difficult because of severe abdominal pain. We must have attention to the possibility that patients with abdominal pain, in whom no intra- abdominal cause is founded, may suffer from this presumed nerve entrapment syndrome. If we can find the cause of pain in the abdominal rectus muscle, no evaluation and surgery are required and therapy can be simple.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.144-150
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• 2003

Back pains include pain in one or both side costa portion and lateral abdomen. There are different kinds of flank-related disease such as intercostal nerve pain, chronic gastritis, duodenitis, herpes zoster, pepticulcer, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis and so on. Back pain arises from pathological abnormal activities. On the other hand psychogenic pains are caused by psychogenic factors without pathological abnormal activities. This is similar to KiWol back pain, which resulted from psychogenic factors like stress, anxiety, anger and etc. In oriental medicine, KiWol is the state of depression of Ki, and Shihosogansan used to treat the back pain diagnosed as stagnation of the liver Ki. So, we decided to apply Shihosogansan to a patient who suffered from back pain diagnosed as stagnation of the liver Ki. Therefore the patient treated with Shihosogansan and improved in consciousness symptoms, so we report it for the better treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 1970

This is a report on a total of 8 cases of benign mediastinal tumors and cysts in Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chonnam University Hospital during the period from 1961 to 1969. The patients age was distributed between 18 and 38 year old with the highest incidence in the age group of second decade. Sex ratio of male to female was 3: 5. The tumors were classificed as follow; 3 case:, of neurogenic tumors, 2 cases of teratomas, one case of pericardial cyst, one case of cystic hygroma, and one case of brochogenic cyst. The symptomatic patients were 5 cases(62. 6%) and asymptomatic patients were 3 cases(37.5%). The symptomatic patients had the symptoms not referable to their lesion and the mediastinal tumors of asymptomatic patients were incidently found by routine chest X-ray. The Symptoms occurred by compression to adjacent nerve system in 3 cases. by perforation into the lung with infection in one case and by infection of bronchial cyst in one case. The complications were Pancoast's syndrome including Horner's syndrome(2 cases), middle lobe syndrome (one case), bro:1chial infection(one case) and intercostal neuralgia(one case). All tbe tumors were surgicai[y resectable with good recovery postoperatively. In 5 cases of the symptomatic patents, their symptoms were disappeared dramatically after operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.344-349
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• 2018

Background: We report our surgical technique for nonintubated uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) pulmonary resection and early postoperative outcomes at a single center. Methods: Between January and July 2017, 40 consecutive patients underwent nonintubated uniportal VATS pulmonary resection. Multilevel intercostal nerve block was performed using local anesthesia in all patients, and an intrathoracic vagal blockade was performed in 35 patients (87.5%). Results: Twenty-nine procedures (72.5%) were performed in patients with lung cancer (21 lobectomies, 6 segmentectomies, and 2 wedge resections), and 11 (27.5%) in patients with pulmonary metastases, benign lung disease, or pleural disease. The mean anesthesia time was 166.8 minutes, and the mean operative duration was 125.9 minutes. The mean postoperative chest tube duration was 3.2 days, and the mean hospital stay was 5.8 days. There were 3 conversions (7.5%) to intubation due to intraoperative hypoxemia and 1 conversion (2.5%) to multiportal VATS due to injury of the segmental artery. There were 7 complications (17.5%), including 3 cases of prolonged air leak, 2 cases of chylothorax, 1 case of pleural effusion, and 1 case of pneumonia. There was no in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: Nonintubated uniportal VATS appears to be a feasible and valid surgical option, depending on the surgeon's experience, for appropriately selected patients.