• Korean Journal of Hospice Care
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.22-32
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• 2005

Purpose : The purpose of this study were to identify the relationship of depression and pain in patients with breast cancer. Method : The data was collected from 117 breast cancer patients who were admitted at K University hospital in Busan, from January 4, to January 31, 2003 using questionnaire method. Their depression was measured using depression scale developed by Zung(1965) and translated by Song(1977) and pain was measured using the Revised Melzack Pain Scale developed by Melzack(1975). The data were analysed by the SPSS WIN 11.0 PC program using frequency and percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Result : The results of this study were as follows: The mean and standard deviation of the total depression score were 48±7.89 in 20(lowest)-to-80(highest) scoring system. The analysis of the depression according to general characteristics of the breast cancer patients showed correlation at Age(F=5.81, p=.000), Education level (F=7.48, p=.000), Insurance for cancer(t=6.94, p=.010), Period after Dx(F=6.85, p=.001), Duration of pain experience(F=9.74, p=.000), Surgical method(F=3.87, p=.005), Stage(F=10.31, p=.000), and Lesion site(F=20.63, p=.000). The mean and standard deviation of the total pain score were .48± .40 in 0(lowest)-to-4(highest) scoring system. The analysis of the pain according to general characteristics of the breast cancer patients showed differentiation at Education level(F=3.75, p=.007), Income per mouth(F=3.77, p=.010), Period after Dx(F=3.77, p=.002), Duration of pain experience(F=5.48, p=.000), Stage(F=10.39, p=.000), and Lesion site(F=8.10, p=.000). There was a significant positive correlation between depression and pain(r=.37, p=.000) and between depression and discomfort(r=.37, p=.000). Conclusion : Patients with breast cancer experiencing depression and pain. Increase in depression was associated with increase in pain and discomfort. Nurses must provide patients with nursing care about the occurrence of depression and interventions to deal with pain control and prevent discomfort.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.265-272
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• 2021

Purpose: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) is the most common cause of gastric obstruction in newborns. Extra-mucosal pyloromyotomy can be performed through a small laparotomy or laparoscopy. The aim of this study was to compare the two surgical techniques. We also analyzed the incidence of HPS in infants in the last 10 years in relation to the demographic trend of our province. Methods: We analyzed all the cases of HPS treated at our Unit between January 2010 and December 2019. The data were obtained from operating systems. Data about the demographic trends, in particular, the number of births and the population residing in the province of Verona from 2010 to 2019, were also retrieved. Results: During the study period, 60 patients were treated for HPS and met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 56 males and 4 females with an average age of 38±14 days at surgery were included. No differences were found in terms of the duration of surgery, post-operative complications, duration of hospitalization, and weight at the time of surgery. The only statistically significant data was the chlorine level in cases with and without post-operative vomiting (97±3.5 vs. 102±3.3 mmol/L, p<0.05). There was a lower incidence of HPS from 2014 to 2019; however, there was no significant evidence regarding the correlation between this and the reduced birth rate recorded in the province of Verona during the same period. Conclusion: Although laparoscopic pyloromyotomy is a highly complex procedure, it is a feasible alternative to the classic open technique.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.42-54
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• 2024

Purpose : This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an advanced practice nurse (APN)-driven ventilator weaning protocol for patients undergoing cardiac surgeries. Methods : A retrospective analysis was conducted on 226 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary hospital between January and June 2020, following a cardiac surgery. Patients were divided into an APN protocol-applied group (experimental group, n=152) and a control group managed based on doctors' judgment (n=74). Ventilator weaning criteria and clinical outcomes, including duration of ventilation, length of ICU stay, and rate of reintubation, were compared between the two groups. Results : Patients in the control group were older and had a higher incidence of massive bleeding from chest tube drainage (>100 cc/hr) at baseline. The average duration of ventilation was significantly shorter in the experimental group compared to the control group (7.44 vs. 21.61 hours, p <.001). Furthermore, the mean length of ICU stay was shorter in the experimental group compared to the control group (47.96 vs. 77.97 hours, p <.001). There was no difference in the rate of reintubation between the two groups. Conclusion : These findings suggest that an APN-driven ventilator weaning protocol can improve clinical outcomes without significant complications. These results support the adoption of APN-driven mechanical ventilator weaning protocols in clinical practice.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.350-354
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• 2009

Background: Complicated pleural space occupying lesions (SOL) have been treated by thoracentesis, closed thoracotomy drainage (CTD) or surgical intervention with using a video thoracosocpe or open thoracotomy depending on the extent of the disease. With the development of video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), VATS pleural adhesiolysis and decortication have revealed good results as compared to those for open thorcotomy. To assess the effectiveness of VATS pleural adhesiolysis and decortication, we retrospectively analyzed the medical record and radiologic findings of the patients with complicated pleural SOL and who were treated by this surgery. Material and Method: From May 1996 to April 2006, 64 patients (mean age: 41.8 years) with complicated pleural SOL underwent 65 VATS. To analyze the surgical outcome, we classified the postoperative findings on the simple chest X-rays into 4 classes as Class I: no or minimal pleural lesion, Class II: blunting of the cardiophrenic angle and mild pleural thickening, Class III: an elevated diaphgram or persistent lung collapse and Class IV: complicated or recurrent effusion. Result: Before VATS, the patients underwent the diagnostic or therapeutic procedures: single or repeat diagnostic tapping for 41, thoracoscotomy drainage for 11, pigtail catheter drainage for 10 and intrapleural fibrinolytics for 10. The mean duration between the onset of symptom and surgery was 18.4 days. There was neither mortality nor severe complications. The surgical outcomes were class 1 for 28, class 2 for 13, class 3 for 19 and class 4 for 5. There were statistically significant differences between the symptom duration and the classes, and between the operation time and the classes. Conclusion: VATS pleural adhesiolysis and decortication are effective, safe treatments for managing complicated pleural SOL, and an earlier operation is needed for obtaining a better surgical outcome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2002

Background: To evaluate the efficiency of surgical treatment in patients with cardiac valvular and arterial involvement of Behcet's syndrome. Material and Method: 12 patients underwent surgical treatment due to the valvular heart diseases and the various arterial diseases associated with Behest's syndrome over 7 years; 6 with valvular heart disease, 1 with annuloaortic ectasia, 1 with ascending aortic aneurysm, 4 with pseudoaneurysms in abdominal aorta(n=2), carotid artery(n=1), and popliteal artery(n=1). All 12 patients had received valvular replacement(n=6) and the artificial(n=5) or autologous(n=1) graft interposition. We followed the results of these surgical treatments. Result: Operations were technically successful in all 12 patients and peri-operative complication was not demonstrated. However, 10 patients had recurrences; 6 with valvular dehiscence, 3 with pseudoaneurysm at anastostomosis site, and 1 with aorto-duodenal fistula. The duration of recurrence was 1 to 55 months(mean: 15.7$\pm$ 16.2 months). 7 patients underwent the second operation and among them, 4 patients showed repeated recurrences. Overall, 5 patients died 2 to 25 months after the operation(mean: 13.6 months), because of the bleeding at the anastomosis site Five patients did not present recurrence after the first(n=2) or the second operation(n=3) and their follow up duration was 5 to 60 months(mean: 45.8$\pm$41.7 months). Five patients received immune-suppressive therapy after the first(n=2) and second operation(n=3). Three did not shown recurrence for the 13, 29 and 33 months. Conclusion: Post-operative prognosis of arterial manifestation of Behcet's syndrome was not encouraging and if possible, other treatment strategy should be considered.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.154-159
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• 2008

Purpose: Although most surgeons generally administer prophylactic antibiotics for more than three days, the optimal duration of antimicrobial prophylaxis in elective gastric surgery is still open to debate. The aim of this study was to determine if the duration of prophylactic antibiotic use can affect the recovery of patients after elective gastric surgery. Materials and Methods: A total of 93 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled in this study, between January 2007 and December 2007. Patients were excluded if they had an infection at the time of surgery or they underwent an emergency operation. The first antibiotics were commonly given from just prior to the operation. The patients were divided into three groups according to the operation periods: those who received antibiotics only on the day of operation (arm A), those who received antibiotics for up to 3 days (arm B), and those who received antibiotics for more than 5 days postoperatively (arm C). The antibiotic that was used was second generation cephalosporin. Results: The rate of surgical site infection was 12.9% (n=4) in arm A, 16.1% (n=5) in arm B and 19.4% (n=6) in arm C, respectively (P=0.788). No relationship was observed between the duration of prophylaxis and the rate of fever or the neutrophil counts during postoperative 7 days (P=0.119, P=0.855). Conclusion: The prophylactic effect of antibiotics on recovery, with the antibiotics being received only on the day of the operation, is as effective as receiving antibiotics for a longer duration after gastric cancer surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.391-397
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• 2000

Background: Cardiac involvement of Behcets disease is very rate, however, the prognosis of Behcet disease depends on cardiovascular complications. In this article, we described surgical treatment of aortic insufficiency with Behcets disease. Material and Method: From March 1986 to February 1998, we operated on 10 patients of aortic insufficiency with Behcets disease. Male to female ratio was 8 to 2, and age ranged from 21 to 40 years(mean 32.8 years). There were 8 patients with evidence of Behcets disease and another 2 patients had some suspicious findings of Behcets disease(i.e., prosthetic value dehiscence, hypertrophied aortic wall). Adequate preoperative medical treatment for Behcets disease was done in 3 patients. Result: We performed 24 open heart surgeries in 10 patients. Redo value replacements using prosthetic valves were done in 4 patients. Among them, 2 patients were operated on for a second redo valve replacement and one of them operated on for a 4th and 5th operation because of recurrent paravalvular leakage. These 4 patients expired. 1 patient who had undergons tissue value replacement is alive. 1 patient who underwent Cabrol operation expired dut to rupture of graft anastomosis site. We used homografts in 3 patients. In 2 of them, we performed aortic root replacement and subcoronary valve replacement in another patient. The patient who underwent subcoronary valve insertion had remnant aortic insufficiency, so we are closely observing him. We also performed Ross operation in a 24 year old female who suffered severs aortic insufficiency and endocarditis after aortic valvuloplasty. 5 patients are alive and mean follow up duration is 49.0 months. Among them, we used homografts or sutografts in 4 patients. We could observe excellent clinical results in the patients who underwent aortic root replacement using homograft and they were treated medically for Behcets disease. Conclusion: We concluded that adequate preporative diagnosis, clinical suspicion, and periopertive medical treatment for Behcets disease are very important for the result of surgical management of aortic insufficiency with Behcets disease. The use of homograft or autograft was helpful for the healing of anastomosis site and we should carefully observe the long term follow up results.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.910-917
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• 2000

Introduction : The management of chordomas and chondrosarcomas in the skull base is difficult due to the critical location, locally aggressive nature, and high recurrence rate. The authors present the effectiveness of surgical removal and radiation therapy on survival and tumor recurrence. Material and Methods : Thirty cranial base chordomas and chondrosarcomas from 23 patients(14 patients with chordomas and 9 patients with chondrosarcomas) were operated in our institution between 1985 and 1998. There were 15 men and 8 women, with a mean age of 40.7 years. The largest diameter of tumors ranged from 15 to 70mm (mean 41.5). The extent of surgical removal was subtotal or total in a half(15 operations). In nineteen operations, tumors were removed by conventional approaches and skull base approaches were applied in 11 operations. Postoperative radiation therapy was performed in 16(70%) patients. The mean duration of follow up is 50 months(1- 156 months). Results : The 3- and 5-year survival rates(YSR) of overall patient are 75% and 67%, respectively. The analysis showed that 1) skull base approach to chordomas and chondrosarcomas showed a tendency to remove more portion of the tumors(p＝0.058) but leave more frequent incidence of new deficits(p＝0.047) : 2) larger tumor diameter af-fected the extent of removal(p＝0.028) : 3) the extent of removal seemed to be the determining factor for overall survival and recurrence-free survival(the 5-YSR and RFSR of subtotal or total removal group are 92% and 80% vs. 40% of partial removal or biopsy group) : 4) conventional radiation therapy improved patient survival(5-YSR of patients who received RT is 76% whereas 5-YSR of those who didn't receive RT is 43%) but failed to prolong long-term recurrence-free survival. Conclusion : The extent of removal and postoperative radiation therapy are determining factors of patients' survival in skull base chordomas and chondrosarcomas. However, none of these factors significantly influenced the survival in multivariate analysis. Aggressive surgical removal of more than subtotal resection combined with postoperative radiation therapy seems to be the choice of therapy in the management of these tumors.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.532-537
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• 2009

Objective : Recently, motion preservation has come to the forefront of emerging technologies in spine surgery. This is the important background information of the emergence of cervical arthroplasty as an alternative to arthrodesis that offers the promise of restoring normal spinal movement and reduces a kinematic strain on adjacent segments. The study was designed to evaluate early surgical outcome and radiological effects of $Bryan^{(R)}$ cervical disc prosthesis. Methods : The authors retrospectively reviewed radiographic and clinical outcomes in 52 patients who received the $Bryan^{(R)}$ Cervical Disc prosthesis, for whom follow-up data were available. Static and dynamic radiographs were measured by computer to determine the angles formed by the endplates of the natural disc preoperatively, those formed by the shells of the implanted prosthesis, the angle of functional spine unit (FSU), and the C2-7 Cobb angle. The range of motion (ROM) was also determined radiographically, whereas clinical outcomes were assessed using Odom's criteria, visual analogue pain scale (VAS) and neck disability index (NDI). Results : A total of 71 $Bryan^{(R)}$ disc were placed in 52 patients. A single-level procedure was performed in 36 patients, a two-level procedure in 13 patients, and a three-level procedure in 3. Radiographic and clinical assessments were made preoperatively. Mean follow-up duration was 29.2 months, ranging from 6 to 36 months. All of the patients were satisfied with the surgical results by Odom's criteria, and showed significant improvement by VAS and NDI score (p < 0.05). The postoperative ROM of the implanted level was preserved without significant difference from preoperative ROM of the operated level (p < 0.05). 97% of patients with a preoperative lordotic sagittal orientation of the FSU were able to maintain lordosis. The overall sagittal alignment of the cervical spine was preserved in 88.5% of cases at the final follow up. Interestingly, preoperatively kyphotic FSU resulted in lordotic FSU in 70% of patients during the late follow up, and preoperatively kyphotic overall cervical alignment resulted in lordosis in 66.6% of the patients postoperatively. Conclusion : Arthroplasty using the $Bryan^{(R)}$ disc seemed to be safe and provided encouraging clinical and radiologic outcome in our study. Although the early results are promising, this is a relatively new approach, therefore long-term follow up studies are required to prove its efficacy and its ability to prevent adjacent segment disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.255-262
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• 2017

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been suggested as a less invasive treatment for high-risk patients with aortic valve disease. I n this study, we compared the outcomes of conventional surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) and TAVR in elderly patients aged over 80. Methods: A total of 108 patients aged 80 years or older who underwent isolated AVR (n=35) or TAVR (n=73) from 2010 through 2015 at Asan Medical Center were identified. Early and late clinical outcomes, including echocardiographic findings, were evaluated in both groups. The mean follow-up duration was $766.4{\pm}528.7days$ in the AVR group and $755.2{\pm}546.6days$ in the TAVR group, and the average timing of the last follow-up echocardiography was at $492.6{\pm}512.5days$ in the AVR group and $515.7{\pm}526.8days$ in the TAVR group. Results: The overall early mortality was 2.8% (0 of 35, 0% in the AVR group vs. 3 of 73, 4.1% in the TAVR group). Permanent pacemaker insertion was significantly more common in the TAVR group (p=0.010). Renal failure requiring dialysis and new-onset atrial fibrillation was more frequent and the length of hospital stay was longer in the AVR group; however, this difference did not reach statistical significance. In the TAVR group, 14 patients (19.2%) were rehospitalized due to cardiac problems, and 13 patients (17.8%) had developed significant paravalvular leakage by the time of the last follow-up echocardiography. Conclusion: TAVR could be a good alternative to conventional surgical AVR in elderly patients. However, TAVR has several shortcomings, such as frequent significant paravalvular leakage or readmission, which should be considered in decision-making.