• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.18-25
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The postoperative hospital stay after gastric cancer surgery is usually 8 to 14 days. The main reason for a prolonged hospital stay may be the 3 to 4 day period of postoperative starvation. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of a critical pathway for early recovery after gastric cancer surgery, and this pathway included early postoperative feeding. Materials and Methods: One hundred three consecutive patients who underwent gastric resection and reconstruction for gastric cancer from October 2007 to June 2008 at St. Mary's Hospital were prospectively enrolled in a fast-track critical pathway. The pathway included minimal preoperative procedures, optimal pain relief, proper fluid administration, early mobilization and early enteral nutrition at postoperative 1 day. The exclusion criteria were determined preoperatively, intraoperatively and postoperatively. Results: Of the 103 patients, 19 patients were excluded for preoperative (5), intraoperative (7) and postoperative (7) reasons. Eighty-four patients (81.6%) were included in the fast-track critical pathway. Sixty-eight (88.6%) of 84 patients were discharged at the planned 8 day after surgery during the initial period of the study, and the postoperative hospital stay was shortened up to 6 days during the more recent period. Postoperative complications occurred in 22 patients (26.2%), and these were gastrointestinal track-related complications in 6 cases (3 cases of ileus, 1 case of stasis and 2 cases of leakage) and infection-related complications in 8 cases. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of morbidity according to the clinic-operative features that included age, gender, stomach resection and lymphadenectomy. Conclusion: The fast-track critical pathway with using the available exclusion criteria was a valid option for patients who underwent gastric cancer surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.454-464
• /
• 2001

Background: It has been recognized that systemic inflammatory reaction and oxygen free radical formed by activated leukocyte in the procedure of cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) frequently produce postoperative cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of leukocyte-depleting filters in the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for patients undergoing open heart surgery(OHS). Material and method: The study involved 15 patients who underwent OHS with a Leukoguard-6 leukocyte filter placed in the arterial limbs of the bypass circuit(filter group, n=15) and 15 patients who did not have the filter(control group, n=15). We analyzed the differences between the groups in intraoperative changes of peripheral blood leukocyte and platelet counts, pre- and postbypass changes of malondialdehyde(MDA), troponin-T(TnT), 5'-nucleotidase(5'-NT) in coronary sinus blood, spontaneous recovery rate of heart beat after CPB, pre-and postoperative cardiac index(Cl) and pulmonary vascular resistance(PVR), and the amounts of postoperative bleeding and sternal wound complication. Result: During CPB, total leukocyte count of the filter group(9,567$\pm$ 842/㎣) was significantly less than that of the control group(13,573+1,167/㎣) (p<0.01), but there was no significant difference in platelet count between the groups. Postoperative levels of MDA(3.78+0.32 $\mu$mol/L vs 5.86+0.65 $\mu$mo1/L, p<0.01), TnT(0.40$\pm$0.04 ng/mL vs 0.59$\pm$0.08 ng/mL, p<0.05) and 5'-NT(3.88$\pm$0.61 U/L vs 5.80$\pm$0.90 U/L, p<0.05) were all significantly lower in the filter group than the control group. Postoperative Cl was higher in the filter group than the control group(3.26$\pm$0.18 L/$m^2$min vs 2.75$\pm$0.17 L/$m^2$/min, p=0.05). PVR of the filter group was lower than that of the control group(65.87$\pm$7.59 dyne/sec/cm$^{5}$ vs 110.80+12.22 dyne/sec/cm$^{5}$ , p<0.01). Spontaneous recovery rate of heart beat in the filter group was higher than that in the control group(12 patients vs 8 patients, p<0.05). Postoperative wound infection occurred in one case in the filter group and 4 case in the control group(p<0.05). Postoperative 24 hour blood loss of the filter group was more than that of the control group (614$\pm$107 mL vs 380+71 mL, p=0.05).

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.70-79
• /
• 2024

Backgrounds/Aims: After pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), an early oral diet is recommended; however, the postoperative nutritional management of PD patients is known to be highly variable, with some centers still routinely providing parenteral nutrition (PN). Some patients who receive PN experience clinically significant complications, underscoring its judicious use. Using a large cohort, this study aimed to determine the proportion of PD patients who received postoperative nutritional support (NS), describe the nature of this support, and investigate whether receiving PN correlated with adverse perioperative outcomes. Methods: Data were extracted from the Recurrence After Whipple's study, a retrospective multicenter study of PD outcomes. Results: In total, 1,323 patients (89%) had data on their postoperative NS status available. Of these, 45% received postoperative NS, which was "enteral only," "parenteral only," and "enteral and parenteral" in 44%, 35%, and 21% of cases, respectively. Body mass index < 18.5 kg/m² (p = 0.03), absence of preoperative biliary stenting (p = 0.009), and serum albumin < 36 g/L (p = 0.009) all correlated with receiving postoperative NS. Among those who did not develop a serious postoperative complication, i.e., those who had a relatively uneventful recovery, 20% received PN. Conclusions: A considerable number of patients who had an uneventful recovery received PN. PN is not without risk, and should be reserved for those who are unable to take an oral diet. PD patients should undergo pre- and postoperative assessment by nutrition professionals to ensure they are managed appropriately, and to optimize perioperative outcomes.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.11
• /
• pp.1493-1498
• /
• 2008

We defined factors affecting the postoperative outcome in adult cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Thirty-two adult patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery participated in this study. Levels of leukocyte, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), troponin-I (cTNI), interleukin-6 (IL-6), D-dimer and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were significantly elevated, whereas platelet count declined in cardiac surgery with CPB. GOT and D-dimer levels at CPB-off each had a positive significant correlation significantly with 24 hrs-bleeding, total bleeding, mechanical ventilatory assist time, ICU stay time and length of hospitalization. BUN levels at CPB-off were directly related to total bleeding, mechanical ventilatory assist time, ICU stay time and length of hospitalization. Platelet count at CPB-off was inversely related to mechanical ventilatory assist time, ICU stay time and length of hospitalization. Creatinine concentration at CPB-off interrelated positively with mechanical ventilatory assist time and ICU stay time. NSE levels at CPB-off had a positive relationship with postoperative 24 hrs-bleeding. The length of hospitalization was prolonged proportionally to the elevation of cTNI levels in cardiac surgery. Aortic cross-clamping and total CPB times also related with increase of 24 hrs and total bleeding volumes and the length of hospitalization. IL-6 and ET-1 had no mutual relation with any postoperative outcome. These data suggest that GOT, BUN, creatinine, D-dimer and platelet levels are the most important factors affecting postoperative outcomes and patient's recovery in adult cardiac surgery with CPB.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.288-299
• /
• 2002

The patients with abdominal surgery usually have acute pain. It is important for a patient's qualify of life and for good recovery after surgery to control the postoperative pain. The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between emotional state of preoperative patients and postoperative pain. The participants in this study were the 100 patients receiving abdominal surgery who received Intravenous Patient Controlled Analgesia (IV-PCA) at the end of the operation. The data were collected using questionnaires and the period of the data collection was from March to August, 2001. The instruments used for this study were The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Developed by Spielberger (1972), The Center for Epidemeologic Studies-Depression (CESD) scale and Visual Analog scale (VAS). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. t-test, ANOVA and Pearson Correlation coefficient with the SPSS program. The results are as follows. 1. For general characteristics there were significant differences in the degree of trait anxiety according to gender (p= 0.0010), marital status (p=0.0122), religion (p=0.0040), education (p=0.0001), occupation (p=0.0002). monthly income (p=0.0001), diagnosis (p=0.0001), and operation title (p = 0.0001). 2. For general characteristics there were significant differences in the degree of state anxiety according to gender (p= 0.0023), education (P=0.0073), monthly income (p=0.0001), diagnosis (p=0.0005), and operation title (P =0.0063). 3. For general characteristics there were significant differences in the degree of depression according to gender (p= 0.0073), occupation (p=0.0469), monthly income (p=0.0001), diagnosis (p=0.012). and operation title (p =0.0033). 4. For general characteristics there were significant differences in the degree of postoperative pain according to gender (p=0.0213), marital status (p=0.0082), education (p=0.0016), occupation (p =0.0128). monthly income (p=0.0008), diagnosis (p =0.0007), and operation title (p =0.0008). 5. The relationship between trait anxiety and postoperative pain revealed a significant positive correlation (r =0.51, p =0.0001), and the relationship between state anxiety and postoperative pain revealed a significant positive correlation (r=0.50. p=0.0001) and the relationship between Depression and pain revealed a significant positive correlation (r =0.49. p =0.0001).

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.39-46
• /
• 2021

Background: To determine the benefit of pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) with visual biofeedback on promoting patient recovery from incontinence, we investigated variables associated with the early restoration of continence for patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Methods: Of the 83 patients enrolled, 41 consecutive patients completed PFME (the exercise group), and the other 42 consecutive patients just before the PFME program commenced (the control group). The primary outcome was whether PFME engagement was associated with zero pad continence restoration within 3 months of surgery. Results: Continence restoration percentages (defined as zero pads used per day) at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery were 49.4%, 77.1%, and 94.0%, respectively. The exercise group achieved significantly higher recovery rates at 1 month (p=0.037), 3 months (p<0.001), and 6 months (p=023). Cox regression analysis demonstrated that a lower Gleason score (<8; hazard ratio [HR], 2.167), lower prostate specific antigen (<20 ng/dL; HR, 2.909), and engagement in PFME (HR, 3.731) were independent predictors of early recovery from postprostatectomy incontinence. Stratification by age showed that those younger than 65 years did not benefit significantly from exercise (log-rank test, p=0.08), but that their elderly counterparts, aged 65-70 years (p=0.007) and >70 years old (p=0.002) benefited significantly. Conclusion: This study suggests that postoperative engagement in PFME with biofeedback speeds up the recovery of continence in elderly patients (≥65 years old) that undergo RARP.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.128-138
• /
• 1987

The Hippocratic aphorism, "the spitting of pur follows the spitting of blood, consumption follows the spitting of this, and death follows consumption," gives ancient documentation to the significance of hemoptysis in the intrathoracic disease. Hemoptysis is still one of the most alarming and startling of all symptoms. For most patients and not a few doctors, the expectoration of blood signals either pulmonary tuberculosis or cancer. But with the advent of modern thoracic surgical methods, differential diagnosis has become doubly important and appropriate treatment has provided the patients with full recovery or improvement of hemoptysis. Author reviewed 72 cases of patients with a chief complaint of hemoptysis, who were performed open thoracotomies in the Dept. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Pusan National University Hospital for 5 years from April 1980 to March 1985. The results were as follows: 1. The mean age of hemoptysis patients was 35.1 year old with a range from 16 to 64, and hemoptysis was most prevalent in the twenties and male dominant. 2. The most common underlying lung disease of hemoptysis was bronchiectasis [37.5%]. 3. The monthly peak frequency of hemoptysis was in the February [25.[%]. 4. Left lower lobe was the most common site of developing hemoptysis. 5. Lobectomy was the most frequent operative method of all open thoracotomies. 6. The hemoptysis caused by lung cancer recurred most frequently [21.4%], and the prognosis of operation was desperate. 7. The common postoperative complications of hemoptysis patient were re-hemoptysis [24%], bleeding [20%], and atelectasis [16%], and immediate postoperative mortality rate was 2.8%. was 2.8%.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.329-332
• /
• 2007

This study compared and evaluated the variation of patients' symptoms depending on whether or not antibiotics had been used in the recovery period after the orthognathic surgery. 28 patients, with no particular medical history, were divided into two groups on the basis of whether antibiotics had been applied after the orthognathic surgery. All patients had been operated on maxilla and mandible simultaneously and were investigated with any symptom changes within the postoperative 4 days. Among the symptoms that could follow after the orthognathic surgery, 6 symptoms were checked every 24 hours on 5 points basis. Phases of each symptom improvements were checked and analyzed by ANOVA statistical method. Aspects of symptom changes according to application of antibiotics showed no statistical significance. Symptoms, except for swelling, showed continuous improvements after the surgery. Swelling increased until postoperative $2^{nd}\;day$, and then started to decrease. This study shows that post-surgical use of antibiotics has no significance provided that post-surgical infection had not occurred.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.355-360
• /
• 1979

Mitral and aortic valve replacement with tricuspid annuloplasty was undertaken in 5 patients out of 38 valvular surgery between the period from Jan. 1977 to May 1979 in the Dept. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Korea University Hospital. All were male patients with age ranging from 18 to 42 years, and preoperative evaluation revealed one case in Class IV, and four cases in Class III according to the classification of NYHA. Preoperative diagnosis was confirmed by routine cardiac study including retrograde aorto- and left ventriculography, and there were two cases with MSi+ASi+Ti, two cases with MSi+Ai+Ti, and one case with Mi+Ai+Ti. Double valve replacement was performed under the hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass with total pump time of 247 min. in average ranging from 206 min. to 268 min. During aortic valve replacement, left coronary perfusion was done in the first two cases, and cardiac arrest with cardioplegic solution proposed by Bretschneider was applied in the remained three cases. Starr-Edwards, Bjork-Shiley prosthetic valves and Carpentier-Edwards tissue valve were replaced in the aortic area, and Carpentier-Edwards and Angell-Shiley tissue valves were replaced in the mitral area with each individual combination [three prosthetic and two tissue valves in the aortic, and five tissue valves in the mitral area respectively]. Postoperative recovery was uneventful in all cases except one case with hemopericardium, which was managed with pericardiectomy on the postoperative 10th day in good result. Follow-up after double valve replacement of the all five cases for the period from 6 months to 33 months revealed satisfactory adaptation in social activity and occupation with cardiac function of Class I according to the classification of NYHA In all five cases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.796-803
• /
• 1984

Pure Red-Cell Aplasia [P.R.C.A.] is rare disease characterized by absence of erythroid precursors in the bone marrow, normocytic normochromic anemia with profound reticulocytopenia in the peripheral blood, and relatively or completely spared granulopoiesis and thrombopoiesis. The association rates of P.R.C.A. with Thymoma is approximately 50%, but only 5-10% of all patients with a Thymoma have a P.R.C.A.. P.R.C.A. is thought to be a variety of autoimmune disease, and humoral inhibitor, i.e. IgG, has been demonstrated experimentally. Its treatments such as thymectomy, immunosuppressants, steroid, androgenic hormone, and splenectomy have been tried but the result is not satisfactory and the prognosis is poor. We experienced a case of P.R.C.A. with Thymoma treated with thymectomy and postoperative steroid therapy, and which showed good postoperative recovery clinically and hematologically.