• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2007

Purpose: Organophosphate (OP) compounds insecticides are the most commonly associated with serious human toxicity all over the world. The aim of this study was to identify sociocultural factors that contribute to high incidence of pure OP poisoning and prevent OP poisoning in order to reduce the factors responsible for deaths in South Korea. Methods: This is the 38 multi-centers survey and prospective study of pure OP poisoning by structural reporting system and hospital records from August 2005 to July 2006. 238 patients with acute pure OP poisoning were enrolled. We collected patient information regarding poisoning, clinical, and demographic features. Results: The mean age was $55.32{\pm}17.3$ years old. The most frequent site of exposure was their own residence(85.7%). Frequent compounds involving pure OP poisoning were dichlorvos(22.7%), methidathion(8.4%), and phosphamidon(6.7%). Intentional poisoning was 77.9%. The most frequently route of exposure was ingestion(94.5%). The mean arrival time to hospital after poisoning was 12.7 hours and mean hospitalization duration was 12.9 days. 2-PAM was administered to 101 patients in mean doses of 6.3 g/day intravenously. Atropine was administered to 81 patients in mean doses of 74.6 mg/day (maximal 910 mg/day). The presence of lower level of GCS score, respiratory complications, hypotension, acute renal failure, and serious dysrhythmia was associated with serious and fatal poisoning. Overall final mortality in pure OP poisoning was 9.7%(23/238). Conclusion: This study highlights the problem of pure OP poisoning in South Korea as a basic national survey. Futhermore this might help the establishment of strict policies availability of OP and the statistics of OP poison exposure in South Korea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.158-163
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• 1997

From July 1994 to August 1995, 32 patients underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. There were 14 men and 18 women. The mean age was 59 years (range from 37 to 81 years). Preoperatively 26 patients had unstable angina pectoris and 6 patients had stable angina pectoris. Nine patients had previous myocardial infarction hi tory. Five patients had preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction of 40% or less, The involved risk factors were as follows ; smoking 19 cases, hypertension 16 cases, hypercholesterolemia 14 cases, diabetes mellitus 6 cases, and obesity 3 cases.21 patients had three-vessel disease, 7 patients had two-vessel disease, 2 patients had one-vessel disease and 2 patients had left main coronary artery disease. We performed 103 distal bypasses out of 32 cases, and the mean number of grafts per patients is 3.22. We used arterial grafts (left internal mammary artery,)1, radial artery; 2) in 32% of total grafts. Postoperative complications were low cardiac output, perioperative myocardial infarction, respiratory failure and atrial fibrillation, etc. Early mortality was 6.25% (2/32). The causes of deaths were low cardiac output (1), and perioperative myocardial infarction(1).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.123-134
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• 1991

Twenty eight patients had undergone repair of an isolated complete atrioventricular septal defect between April 1986 and September 1990 in Seoul National University Children`s Hospital. The group comprised 13 male and 15 female patients. They ranged in age from 2 months to 8 years[mean 18.6months] and in weight from 3. 4kg to 23kg[mean 9.0$\pm$4.6kg]. They were analysed as Rastelli type A in 17 patients, Rastelli type B in 2 patients, and Rastelli type C in 9 patients. Seven patients had concomitant Down`s syndrome. All patients had large left-to-right shunt[mean pulmonary to systemic flow ratio 3.5 $\pm$2.2 ranging from 0.68 to 10.0] and high pulmonary systolic pressure[mean 74$\pm$18.8mmHg, ranging from 35 to 110]. In 11 patients, one patch technique was used to close the atrial and ventricular septal defect and 16 patients were undergone by two patch technique. We urgently managed only one patient by pulmonary artery banding whose anatomy was Rastelli type C and severe mitral regurgitation was identified. Postoperative complete A - V block was noted in 3 patients, two of whom were dead in operating room due to combined LVOTO and myocardial failure, and one patient with Rastelli type C was undergone by VVI type permanent pacemaker insertion 1wk later after two patch technique, but we had to manage him by modified Konno operation and total correction due to LVOTO and VSD leakage and severe mitral regurgitation 3 years later. Another two reoperation cases due to severe mitral regurgitation after two patch technique were undergone, one of whom we managed by mitral annuloplasty 3 months later but aggravated mitral regurgitation made us to control him by MVR 3 months later. Another one case of VSD leakage and tricuspid regurgitation was managed by total correction but she died of respiratory insufficiency 14 days later. We experienced pulmonary hypertensive crisis in 3 patients, who were dead in two cases comparing with one control case. So operative mortality is 9/27[33.6%], in one patch group of 3/11[29.2%] comparing with two patch group of 6/16[37.5%]. In summary, causes of death were pump weaning failure, myocardial failure and low cardiac output syndrome and pulmonary hypertensive crisis, resp. failure, complete AV block. Mean follow up period is 15.8$\pm$10.7 months[ranging from 3months to 37 months]

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.112-127
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• 1987

Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular transmission function disorder characterized by fatigue and weakness of voluntary muscles. This muscular weakness is intensified by activity and stress, and improved by the use of anticholinesterase compounds. It was initially described by Erb in 1879 and later named myasthenia gravis by Jolly in 1895. Although the pathogenesis is Known to be an autoimmune related reduction in the number of available acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular junctions, the role of thymus in myasthenia gravis is still unclear and under investigation. Thymectomy in the management of myasthenia gravis has become increasingly important since Dr. Blalock observed in 1939 that some patients with thymic tumors and myasthenia gravis improved following thymectomy. A clinical study of 102 cases of myasthenia gravis was performed at Yonsei University College of Medicine. Seoul, Korea from Jan. 1976 to Jun. 1986. In order to determine which factors are of prognostic significance, attention is focused upon pre-operative patient evaluation, problems in operative and post-operative care, and long-term follow-up observations. The results were as follows: 1. The sex distribution was 67 females and 35 males, the mean age of onset was 28.95*1.69 years, and the maximal incidence occurred between 21 and 40 years of age [56 cases: 54.9%]. 2. Clinical manifestations of ocular symptoms were seen to 70 patients [68.6%] extremities weakness in 33 [32.3%], bulbar weakness in 29 [28.4%], and dyspnea in 13 [12.7%]. 3. Study cases more than two thirds were classified as mild types [MG 1 and MG 11A] and 6 cases as grave [MG 1V] based on the modified Osserman`s classification system, 4. Thymectomy was performed in 19 cases which presented in severe myasthenia symptoms and showed no improvement with cholinergic drugs. Histologic examination of the excised thymus glands revealed no abnormalities in 4 cases, thymic hyperplasia in 5, benign thymoma in 5, and malignant thymoma in 5. 5. Immediate post-operative complications included 2 cases of pneumothorax which were treated by tube thoracostomies, there was no operative mortality. 6. The response to cholinergic drugs in 36 cases younger than 20 years old and in 27 cases older than 40 years was relatively poor, while that in 35 cases between the ages of 21 and 40 years old was good. 7. Thirty of 39 cases in groups IIB, III & IV improved markedly with medical or surgical management while only 16 of 59 cases in the mild groups [I and IIA] improved, almost all surgical cases improved in all categories. 8. There were 5 deaths. occurring between 7 months and 3 years 3 months of treatment of myasthenia gravis. The causes of death were myasthenic crisis in 2 cases, respiratory failure due to candidiasis & radiation pneumonitis in one case, cerebral hemorrhage due to high blood pressure in two case.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.9 s.254
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• pp.622-626
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• 2005

Background: Non-invasive interventional therapy has been performed for main bronchial obstruction by endobronchial tuberculosis because of the risk of main bronchial reconstruction regardless of the pulmonary function. But, effects of the inteeventional therapy are attacked by arguments. This study was aimed at interpreting the risk and effectiveness of bronchoplasty for benign bronchial stenosis over the last ten years in our hospital by reviewing the results based on clinical progression. Material and Method: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and out-patient medical records including 2f consecutive patients who underwent main bronchial reconstruction for obstruction by endobronchial tuberculosis. All of them had past medical history of anti-tuberculosis medication. They were preoperatively evaluated by bronchoscopy and chest computed tomography. Result: There were no incidences of postoperative mortality and signifcant morbidity. There were 2 cases of retained secretions but these problems were resolved by therapeutic bronchoscopy or intubation. All of the patients are still alive without obstructive airway problem. Conclusion: Bronchoplasty should be considered as one of the primary treatment modalities, if it is anatomically feasible.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.9 s.254
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• pp.595-600
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• 2005

Background: Colchicine with its immunosupressive properties has been used with benefcial effects in autoimmune disease, such as Gout, etc. Whether colchicine, by virtue of the above property, could attenuate the process of cardiac allograft rejection in the rats is investigated in this report. Material and Method: We compared the untreated group (Control, n=6), Cyclosporin A group (10 mg/kg, daily, n=20), and Colchicine derivative group (Colchicine 40 ${\mu}g$/kg, n=20) of cardiac allografts in the rats. Result: In the untreated control group (n=6), all of 6 rats showed rejection within 3 weeks after cardiac allograft. In the cyclosporin A group (n=20), cyclosporin A (10 mg daily oral dose) was administered at a 10 mg daily oral dose and promoted long-term survival (over 100 days). The cyclosporin A group had one mortality at the 18th post-operative day due to infection. Furthermore, in the Colchicine derivatives group (n=20) with a daily IP (Intra Peritoneum) dose (40 ug/kg/day), we observed long-term survival.(> 100 days), except for one rat that died of an anesthetic problem (respiratory failure) at the 9th post-operative day. Conclusion: Experiments have also been performed to evaluate whether the effect of colchicine derivatives allowed prolonged survival of cardiac allografts compared with the cyclosporin A administration group in the rats.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.804-810
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• 1998

Background: Multiple trauma patients have rapidly increased due to traffic accidents, industrial disasters, incidental accidents, and violence. Multiple trauma can involve injuries to the heart, lung, and great vessels and influence the lives, necessitate prompt diagnosis and treatment. Most of the thoracic injuries can be managed with conservative method and simple surgical procedures, such as closed thoracostomy, but in certain cases open thoracotomy is necessary. Materials and methods: The author analyzed the surgical result of 70 cases of open thoracotomy after multiple organ injury including thoracic organ. Results: The most common type of thoracic lesion was hemothorax with or without pneumothorax and diaphragmatic rupture was the second. Sixty percent of the patients were associated with bone fractures, 42.9% with abdominal injuries, and 37.1% with head injuries. The modes of operation were ligations of torn vessels for bleeding control(48.6%), repair of diaphragm(35.7%), and repair of lung laceration(25.7%) in this order of frequency and additional procedures were splenectomy(14.3%), hepatic lobectomy (8.6%) and repair of liver lacerations(5.7%). Postoperative complications were atelectasis (8.6%), wound infection (8.6%), and pneumonia(4.3%). Postoperatively six patients died(The mortality rate was 8.6%) and the causes of death were respiratory failure(2), acute renal failure(2), sepsis(1), and hypovolemic shock(1).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 1996

A clinical evaluation was performed on 305 cases of chest trauma experienced at the department of the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Dae Jeon Eul Ji Hospital, during the period from March 1991 to November 1994. Age distribution was from 4 to 85 years, the mosts common age groups were 4-th, 5th and 6th decades. The ratio of male to female was 229:76(3:1), the ratio showed male predominance, the most common cause of trauma was traffic accidents in nonpenetrating trauma and stab wounds in penetrating trauma. Hemothorax, pneumothorax, and hemopneumothorax were observed in 159 cases (52.1 %) of total cases, Rib fracture was observed in 236 cases (77.4%) of total cases, location distribution was right : left : Both (102 : 142 : 45), with left predominant, rib fracture commonly involved from the 3th to 8th rib. Lag period from accident to admission was 155 cases (50.8%) under 6hr The principles of therapy for early complications of chest trauma were rapid r expansion of the lungs by thoracentesis 5 cases(1.6%) and closed thoracostomy 1-42 cases(46.6%), but open thoracotomy had to be done on 17 cases (5.6%) because of massive bleeding 13 cases or ruptured diaphragm, foreign body. Conservative nonoperative treatment was 140 cases (45.9%). Overall mortality rate was Bcases (2.6%) and common causes of the death were respiratory insufficiency and shock.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.315-321
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• 1997

A clinical analysis was performed on 326 cases of the non-penetrating rib fractures experienced in the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, Chosun University Hospital and 102 cases of the non-penetrating rib fractures those has been admitted and treated in the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, Jeonnam Hwasoon lung-ang Hospital during a period from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 1995. 1. Sex ratio was 3.4:1 in urban and 3.6:1 in rural communities with male predominance. 2. Most· common cause were traffic accident in both communities. 3. Hemothorax, pneumothorax and hemopneumothorax which needed thoracostomy were observed iii 146 cases(44.7%) in the urban and 12 cases(11.7%) in the rural communities. 4. Left thorax was the spell site of rib fractures in both communiti s. 5. Rib fracture was prevalent from 3rd to 6th rib in both communities. 6. Open thoracotomy was performed in 37 cases(11.3%) in urban and 3 cases(2.9%) in rural communities. 7. Overall mortality was 4.29%(14 cases) in urban area and, 1.96%(2 cases) in rural communities, and cause of death were hypovolemic shock, brain edema, sepsis, respiratory failure, asphyxia, and cardiogenic shock.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.225-233
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• 1996

From August 1992 to July 1996, 63 consecutive patients underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. The mean age of these patient was 57 years(range form 30 to 71years). There were 44 men and 19 women. Preoperative 12 patients had stable angina pectoris and 23 patients were unstable angina pectoris. 8 patients had previous myocardial infarctation history and emergency or urgent myocardial revascularization were performed in 9 cases. In the risk factors of coronary atherosclerosis, 25 patients(40%) were hypercholesterolemia, 38 patients(60%) have smoking history and 19 patients(30%) have hypertension history. In the patterns of disease, 9 patients were single vessel disease, 18 patients were two vessele disease and 33 patients were three vessel disease. We performed total 284 distal anastomosis(mean 3.5 anastomosis per patient) and performed one case of ascending aorta graft interposition, two cases of mitral valve replacement, one case of aortic valve replacement, one case of ventricular septal defect repair and one case of atrial septal defect repair and the mean aortic cross clamp time was 115.3 minutes. The common complications were arrhythmia(7cases), wound infection(5cases), perioperative myocardial infarction(4cases), reoperation for bleeding control(4cases) and stroke(4cases). There were six hospital deaths due to low cardiac output syndrome, ventricular arrhythmia and respiratory failure. In the evaluation of operative risk factors, preoperative intravenous nitroglycerin requirement and prolonged aortic cross clamp tirne(>2hours) were found to be predective factor of morbidity and old age(>65years) was found to be predective factor of mortality.