• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2014

Background: Implanted venous access devices or permanent central venous access systems (PCVASs) are routinely used in oncologic patients. Complications can occur during the implantation or use of such devices. We describe such complications of the PCVAS and their management. Methods: Our retrospective study included 1,460 cases in which PCVAS was implanted in the 11 years between January 2002 and January 2013, including 810 women and 650 men with an average age of 45.2 years. We used polyurethane or silicone catheters. The site of insertion and the surgical or percutaneous procedure were selected on the basis of clinical data and disease information. The subclavian and cephalic veins were our most common sites of insertion. Results: About 1,100 cases (75%) underwent surgery by training surgeons and 360 patients by expert surgeons. Perioperative incidents occurred in 33% and 12% of these patients, respectively. Incidents (28%) included technical difficulties (n=64), a subcutaneous hematoma (n=37), pneumothoraces (n=15), and an intrapleural catheter (n=1). Complications in the short and medium term were present in 14.2% of the cases. Distortion and rupture of the catheter (n=5) were noted in the costoclavicular area (pinch-off syndrome). There were 5 cases of catheter migration into the jugular vein (n=1), superior vena cava (n=1), and heart cavities (n=3). No patient died of PCVAS insertion or complication. Conclusion: PCVAS complications should be diagnosed early and treated with probable removal of this material for preventing any life-threatening outcome associated with complicated PVCAS.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.669-674
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• 2010

Background: Spontaneous hemopneumothorax is characterized by the accumulation of air and more than 400 mL of blood in pleural cavity without any apparent cause. It is a rare disease and can cause life-threatening situation. We analyzed clinical reviews of two medical centers to aid in optimal management. Material and Method: Retrospective review between March 2003 and August 2010 with 18 spontaneous hemopneumothorax patients was made. Result: These 18 patients were comprised of 15 male and 3 female with average 24.6 years (range 15~46 years). Almost patients (16) underwent a closed thoracostomy initially and 15 patients received video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Mean postoperative chest tube removal was 2.9 days and one complication was post-removal pneumothorax. During the follow-up periods there were no other complications and recurrence. Conclusion: Proper initial diagnosis and management of spontaneous hemopneumothorax prevent significant hypovolemic shock. Video-assisted thoracic surgery should be considered an early surgical management in spontaneous hemopneumothorax. However conservative manage without bleb excision may be effective in selected patients.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.445-448
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• 2011

Mortality associated with maxillofacial infection is relatively low due to the development of antibiotics, and improved oral care. However, inappropriate treatment, delayed treatment, old age, underlying systemic disease, and drug-resistant microorganisms can potentially result in life threatening situations such as cavernous sinus thrombosis, mediastinitis, and sepsis. Sepsis is the most dangerous state with high mortality, ranging from 20~60%. The treatment of sepsis involves properly monitoring vital functions, fluid resuscitation, surgical drainage, and empirical use of high doses of antibiotics until culture results are available. Ventilatory support maybe be required as well. We encountered a 64-year-old patient who died from sepsis that developed as the result of an odontogenic infection. The initial diagnosis was right temporal, infraorbital, buccal, pterygomandibular space abscess. Despite surgical and medical supportive care, the condition progressed to sepsis and after four days the patient died due to multiple organ failure.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.49-61
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• 2015

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that usually occurs after suffering from a psychological trauma that can not threatening events, which is one of the individual's subjective pain and their families and the larger society due to the chronic disease burden results. Treatment with a medication, as well as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, prolonged exposure therapy (PE), eye-movement desensitizing, and reprocessing (EMDR) are preferentially performed, including psychotherapy. Korean medical psychotherapy consists of a wide range of manual therapy, but it does not have systematically screening limits. This study was developed by Korean medical psychotherapy program for PTSD, and it was carried out as a preliminary clinical trial for validity. The Korean medical psychotherapy program for PTSD consists of four stages as follows: building chapter of safety, flow and send, accept, and integration. Based on this preliminary clinical study of PTSD, seven patients were treated for 2 hours per week for 5 weeks. We report the meaningful results gained by observing the changes in IES-RK points, questionnaire on five-faceted mindfulness, quality of life, anxiety, depression, insomnia, hwabyung scale, HRV, and EEG, before and after the Korean medical psychotherapy program.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.936-940
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• 1997

Pulmonary aspergilloma is potentially a life threatening disease resulting from the colonization of lung cavities by Aspergillus fumigatus. A case is reported: a 43-year-old man with symtomatic cavitary aspergilloma presenting with severe productive coughing, hemopt sis, occasional fever, and chilling. On preoperative plain chest radiograph and CT scan, we could find a rounded irregular opacity in a large pulmonary cavity. He received 2 separate operations for therapeutic need. At the first opertion, we performed cavernostomy and thoracoplasty because of severe pleural adhesions, tearing of cavity wall, and high risk of respiratory insufficiency. At the second operation, we performed myoplasty and omentoplasty for closure of remaining air space and complete wrapping of the BPF site. All symptoms of dyspnea and hemoptysis have since resolved. We believed that in the high risk patients who have severe respiratory symptoms, such as in aspergilloma and open cavity with a risk of respiratory insufficiency, cavernostomy followed by myoplasty or omentoplasty should be recommended.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.275-281
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• 2005

Parvovirus B19(PV B19) is a nonenveloped single-stranded DNA virus that causes a wide variety of diseases ranging from benign childhood infection such as slapped-cheek rash(fifth disease) to life threatening diseases such as hydrous fetalis in fetuses or aplastic anemic crises in patients with hemolytic anemia. In immunocompromised hosts including organ transplant recipients, this infection can cause chronic anemia. Recently, the reports of cases of PV B19 infection have been increasing in transplant recipients and most reported cases of PV B19 infection-associated anemia in renal transplant recipients were successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulin infusion. We experienced two cases of aplastic anemia caused by PV B19 infection in pediatric renal transplant recipients. The patients were an 8 year-old boy and 12-year-old boy who received allograft kidneys from their mothers. Anemia developed 2 weeks after transplantation and their serum was positive for PV B19 PCR. They were treated with 400 mg/kg of intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) for 5 consecutive days. In one of the case, anemia was corrected promptly after the first 5-day course of IVIG therapy but in the other, anemia persisted but responded to the second course of IVIG therapy. One year later, the patients have normal hematocrit levels and stable renal function These are the first cases of PV B19 infection treated successfully with IVIG in pediatric renal transplant recipients in Korea. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2005;9:275-281)

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2005

Background: Traumatic rupture of the aorta is a life-threatening injury that must be diagnosed as rapidly as possible and treated immediately. The chest X-ray is a valuable tool for screening traumatic rupture of the aorta in blunt chest trauma. And various chest radiologic parameters are being used as diagnostic tools for aortic injury. The purpose of this study is to identify chest radiographic parameters that may assist in the detection of traumatic rupture of the aorta and to compare these findings with those of other reports. Methods: This study involved 30 adult patients with traumatic rupture of the aorta seen at the emergency department of the Asan Medical Center from 1997 to 2004. The control subjects were 30 healthy patients with neither lung nor cardiovascular disease. We retrospectively assessed over 14 parameters on chest X-rays. Results: In 11 of the 14 parameters, there were significant differences between the study group and the control group. There was no significant difference in the M/C ratio (mediastinumto-chest width ratio) between the two groups, and neither the left nor the right paraspinal interface was statistically significant (p value>0.05). Our study indicates that new criteria for the MC ratio and for the paraspinal interfaces are needed for screening traumatic aorta injury. The other radiographic parameters for traumatic rupture of the aorta need to be further assessed through a prospective study.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.10
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• pp.380-385
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• 2015

Purpose: Croup is a common pediatric respiratory illness with symptoms of varying severity. Moreover, epiglottitis is a rare disease that can rapidly progress to life-threatening airway obstruction. Although the clinical course and treatments differ between croup and epiglottitis, they are difficult to differentiate on presentation. We aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of croup and epiglottitis in Emergency Department patients. Methods: The 2012 National Emergency Department Information System database of 146 Korean Emergency Departments was used to investigate patients aged ${\leq}18years$ presenting with croup or epiglottitis. Results: We analyzed 19,374 croup patients and 236 epiglottitis patients. The male:female sex ratios were 1.9:1 and 2.3:1 and mean ages were $2.2{\pm}2.0$ and $5.6{\pm}5.8years$, respectively. The peak incidence of croup was observed in July and that of epiglottitis was observed in May. The hospitalization rate was lower in croup than in epiglottitis patients, and the proportion of patients treated in the intensive care unit was lower among croup patients. The 3 most common chief complaints in both croup and epiglottitis patients were cough, fever, and dyspnea. Epiglottitis patients experienced dyspnea, sore throat, and vomiting more often than croup patients (P<0.05). Conclusion: Both groups had similar sex ratios, arrival times, 3 most common chief complaints, and 5 most common comorbidities. Epiglottitis patients had a lower incidence rate, higher mean age of onset, and higher hospitalization rate and experienced dyspnea, sore throat, and vomiting more often than croup patients. Our results may help in the differential diagnosis of croup and epiglottitis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.326-330
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• 2007

Objective : Stroke is the most prevalent disease involving the central nervous system. Since medical modalities are sometimes ineffective for the acute edema following massive infarction, surgical decompression may be an effective option when medical treatments fail. The present study was undertaken to assess the outcome and prognostic factors of decompressive surgery in life threatening acute, severe, brain infarction. Methods : We retrospectively analyzed twenty-six patients (17 males and 9 females; average age, 49.7yrs) who underwent decompressive surgery for severe cerebral or cerebellar infarction from January 2003 to December 2006. Surgical indication was based on the clinical signs such as neurological deterioration, pupillary reflex, and radiological findings. Clinical outcome was assessed by Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Results : Of the 26 patients, 5 (19.2%) showed good recovery, 5 (19.2%) showed moderate disability, 2 (7.7%) severe disability, 6 (23.1%) persistent experienced vegetative state, and 8 (30.8%) death. In this study, the surgical decompression improved outcome for cerebellar infarction, but decompressive surgery did not show a good result for MCA infarction (30.8% overall mortality vs 100% mortality). The dominant-hemisphere infarcts showed worse prognosis, compared with nondominant-hemisphere infarcts (54.5% vs 70%). Poor prognostic factors were diabetes mellitus, dominant-hemisphere infarcts and low preoperative Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score. Conclusion : The patients who exhibit clinical deterioration despite aggressive medical management following severe cerebral infarction should be considered for decompressive surgery. For better outcome, prompt surgical treatment is mandatory. We recommend that patients with severe cerebral infarction should be referred to neurosurgical department primarily in emergency setting or as early as possible for such prompt surgical treatment.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.178-183
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• 2018

The object of this study was to compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and neurological signs in canine brain diseases. Brain diseases can cause severe neurological deficits and may be life-threatening. The antemortem diagnosis of the brain diseases is difficult for the clinician, since definitive diagnosis is based upon histopathological confirmation. Brain diseases are often associated with specific clinical signs, signalment, progression, and location. Accurate lesion localization through neurological examination and MRI findings is helpful for developing a differential diagnosis. A retrospective study was performed to compare the neurological examination of dogs with suspected brain disease to the MRI findings. Based on this study, neurological examination is a reliable way to localize most brain lesions. Postural reaction deficits do not provide sufficient information to localize lesions. Additionally, not all brain lesions present clinical signs and inflammatory lesions may cause no detectable abnormalities on MRI. Therefore, in clinical practice, a combination of neurological examination and MRI findings recommended for accurate brain lesion localization.