• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.111-138
• /
• 2021

'Unlicensed medical practice by a non-medical practitioner' often represented by surrogate surgery or so-called 'ghost surgery,' causes irreparable damage to life or body, and therefore calls for very strict and effective controls. The 'bill on installment of CCTVs in an operating room' to prevent unlicensed surrogate surgery has been discussed for a long time, but due to numerous issues and heated confrontations, it has been pending in the National Assembly. Nevertheless, it is expected that the bill will be discussed again in earnest in the National Assembly because surrogate surgery and factory-type cosmetic surgery, which has been performed mainly in the field of cosmetic surgery, has also been occurring in the field of therapeutic surgery. In general, an operating room is considered as being locked or closed, as well as disallowing implicit complicity among insiders. Hence, if the insiders conspire to commit or cover up an illegal act, or if a surgeon performs rapid cosmetic surgery and then leaves the recipient (or medical institution) so as to perform more operations for profit - even if it is legitimate practice - it may result in serious consequences in terms of the recovery of a patient. In this case, installation of CCTVs can be of great help in identifying an illegal act and assessing any occurrence of negligence. On the other hand, while the fundamental purpose of therapeutic surgery is to restore a patient's life or body - that is, lifesaving - installation of CCTVs may base the relationship between a surgeon and a patient on distrust and surveillance, so it may increase the number of requests for CCTV footage or lead to more disputes, as well as placing a burden on the surgeon when best results are not achieved for a patient. As a result, the surgeon may choose non-invasive treatment contrary to conscience instead of risky but necessary surgery, or he/she may have significant difficulty in determining the timing of surgery, which may limit the provision of effective surgical medical care. Then, in terms of the relationship between a surgeon and patient, and in the long run, there could be significant disadvantages for the public and patients if CCTV footage is allowed. In this paper, we review domestic and overseas cases and issues regarding installation of CCTVs in an operating room, and present various viewpoints and suggestions to promote legislation with minimized legal problems and side effects, thereby contributing to protection of the lives and health of the public, patients, and recipients of surgery.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.98-103
• /
• 2012

The repair technique of rotator cuff tear has been markedly developed in recent years. When the natural history of rotator cuff tear was followed, the size of rotator cuff tear increased with time. The fatty infiltration which would come at the later period of rotator cuff tear and the rotator cuff tear arthropathy which would be occurred after massive rotator cuff tear may be the important factors in predicting the prognosis of rotator cuff tear or determining the timing of surgery. Because moderate supraspinatus fatty infiltration appeared an average of 3 years after onset of symptoms, the repair of rotator cuff tear was recommended to be performed before that. And if there was massive rotator cuff tear with cuff tear arthropathy, it was recommended that the rotator cuff repair should be performed before the occurrence of the narrowing of acromiohumeral interval. The techniques of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were mainly the single row repair and the double row repair. The former is good in view of time consuming and cost, but the latter is superior in view of biomechanics. To maintain the benefit in biomechanics of double row technique and reduce the time of surgery, the suture-bridge technique was invented and widely used recently. There are several modified techniques in arthroscopic suture-bridge technique according to the characteristics of rotator cuff tear.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.7
• /
• pp.2939-2943
• /
• 2014

Background: While many studies have shown that hormones can influence background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) in breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), only few have directly address the effect of radiotherapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of radiotherapy on BPE in breast MRI. Materials and Methods: A retrospective search identified 62 women with unilateral breast cancer who had a breast MRI both before and after radiotherapy following breast-conserving surgery. In our study, we assumed that systemic therapy affected both breasts equivalently. We rated the level of BPE of both breasts using a four-point categorical scale. A change in the level of BPE prior to and after treatment was compared in the diseased and contralateral breasts. Results: All patients received a 4256 to 6480 cGy dose of whole breast radiotherapy over 3-7 weeks. The mean timing of the follow-up study was 6.6 months after completion of radiotherapy. Although the BPE showed a decrease in both breasts after treatment, there was a significant reduction of BPE in the irradiated breast compared with the contralateral breast (1.18 versus 0.98 average reduction in BPE level, p=0.042). Conclusions: Radiotherapy is associated with decrease in BPE with MRI.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.12
• /
• pp.1375-1380
• /
• 2001

Objective : The authors analyzed the incidence, the cause and the prognosis of hydrocephalus following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage to evaluate the risk factors of hydrocephalus and to provide the proper treatment method for hydrocephalus following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Methods : The 505 cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage followed by aneurysmal surgery from January 1990 to May 1999, were divided into shunt group and shunt-free group and we were reviewed for the clinical status, Fisher's grade, brain CT findings and prognosis. Results : The incidence of acute hydrocephalus was 37.2% of patients and 18.9% to developed chronic hydrocephalus. Shunt surgery due to chronic hydrocephalus was required in 6.5% of patients. We found following variables were significantly related to shunt-dependent hydrocephalus : high Hunt-Hess and Fisher grade, initial CT findings of intraventricular hemorrahge, posterior circulation aneurysm, preoperative rebleeding, delayed ischemic deficits, and initial high ventricular size index. There were no statistically significant relationships between shunt-dependent hydrocephalus and patient age or sex, timing of operation. The previous hypertension was not related to shunt dependent hydrocephalus. Prognosis in shunt group showed poor result. Conclusion : The risk factors of hydrocephalus following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage are high Hunt-Hess grade, high Fisher's grade, aneurysms of posterior circulations, preoperative aneurysmal rebleeding, delayed ischemic deficits, initial CT findings of intraventricular hemorrahge and initially increased ventricular size. The patients with these factors should the carefully observed and managed accordingly due to poor prognosis related to hydrocephalus requiring shunt operation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.29 no.10
• /
• pp.1322-1327
• /
• 2000

Objectives : To assess the surgical results for patients with multiple intracranial aneurysms and factors related to prognosis of patients. Materials and Methods : We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of 47 patients with multiple intracranial aneurysms and assessed the types of surgical treatment and prognosis of 44 patients who received surgical treatment from January 1986 to March 1999. Results : The 47 patients presented altogether 108 aneurysms with male to female ratio of 1 : 3.7, and average age 54.9 years(range 33-81 years). Common locations for multiple aneurysms were P-com(31%), MCA(30%) and Acom( 15%). The postoperative good and poor outcomes were 30 cases(68%) and 11 cases(25%), respectively and there were 3 deaths(7%). The analyzed results for 44 surgically treated patients were as follows ; 1) The size of aneurysm was relevant to frequency of rupture ; the lowest for lesions less than 1cm(21%), rising to 85% for lesions greater than 3cm(p<0.05). 2) The surgical outcome was significantly correlated with preoperative clinical status of the patients(p<0.05). 3) The good outcome was associated with surgery within 7 days(especially 24 hours) after clinical onset of symptoms but not with type of operation and laterality of aneurysms. Conclusion : With regard to the surgical treatment for multiple aneurysm cases, surgeons should consider the salient factors in a good prognosis such as patient's preoperative status, size of aneurysm, timing of surgery, and type of operation.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.41-47
• /
• 2001

In order to test the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and $\alpha$-tocopherol on full-thickness skin grafts in rats, we peeformed full-thickness skin grafts bilaterally on rats. After surgery, we analyzed the tissue-concentrations of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase(GPx)/reductase(GPr) on days 0, 2, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21 and 28. The four groups had similar patterns of change in SOD, catalase, GPx and GPr values. SOD increased initially, and was significantly increased at day 7, returning to the preoperative activity level on day 14 (control, HBO, and $\alpha$-tocopherol treated alone) and 28 (HBO plus $\alpha$-tocopherol). Catalase had a similar pattern of change as the SOD enzyme activity, except for the surgical control on day 2. Glutathione peroxidase/reductase activity in the four groups had a similar pat-tern of enzyme activity, with a significant increase from preoperative level on day 4, peaking during days 7 to 10, and returning to preoperative level on day 21(surgical control, HBO, and $\alpha$-tocopherol-treated alone) and 28 (HBO plus $\alpha$-tocopherol treated group). Hence, the clinical use of HBO and $\alpha$-tocopherol mixture can be recommended as an adjunctive treatment for free skin grafts in rats. But, the antioxidant used, its dose, and the timing of its administration, as well as, the exposure time and the pressure of HBO, should be the subject of further research.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.sup1
• /
• pp.73-78
• /
• 2001

Objective : Intraoperative rupture of an intracranial aneurysm can interrupt a microsurgical procedure and jeopardize the patient's chance to favorable outcome. The purpose of this study was to analyse and evaluate intraoperative aneurysmal rupture and render ideal prevention and management to intraoperative rupture. Patients and Methods : The authors retrospectively analysed the results of 609 patients who underwent cerebral aneurysm surgery from January 1991 to December 2000. Results : 1) Intraoperative aneurysmal rupture occurred in 73 of 609 consecutive aneurysm surgery, so the incidence was about 12.0% and it was relatively lower than other reports. 2) Aneurysms arising from anterior communicating artery appeared more prone to intraoperative rupture. 3) The size of aneurysm and timing of operation didn't influence intraoperative aneurysmal rupture and temporary clipping didn't reduce the incidence of intraoperative aneurysmal rupture. 4) Intraoperative aneurysmal rupture occured during three specific periods : (1) dissection stage in 61%, (2) clip application stage in 29 %, (3) predissection stage in 10%. 5) In the patients with intraoperative aneurysmal rupture, surgical outcome was relatively good and there was no significant difference in outcome compared with unruptured group. Conclusion : Our suggestion for prevention methods of intraoperative aneurysmal rupture are as follows : 1) minimal brain retraction, 2) sharp and careful aneurysmal neck dissection, 3) gentle clipping with proper clip selection etc. Management methods after intraoperative aneurysmal rupture are as follows : 1) strong aspiration of bleeding point, 2) rapid application of temporary and/or tentative clip, 3) following rapid dissection of neck and proper clip application, 4) use of encircling clip etc.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.140-143
• /
• 2008

Degloving injuries result from the tangential force against the skin surface, with resultant separation of the skin and the subcutaneous tissue from the rigid underlying muscle and fascia. These injuries are associated with extensive soft tissue loss and occasionally with exposure of bone, and they require reconstructive modality for resurfacing and successful rehabilitation that considers the vascular anatomy and the timing of the operation. A 19-year-old male patient was transferred to our facility with degloving injury extending from the lower third of the right thigh to the malleolar area. The tibial bone was exposed to a size of $2{\times}3.5cm^2$ on the upper third of the lower leg at the posttraumatic third day. The exposed soft tissue was healthy, and the patient did not have any other associated disease. At the posttraumatic sixth day, one-stage resurfacing was performed with a medial gastrocnemius muscle flap transposition for the denuded bone and a split-thickness skin graft for the entire raw surface. The transposed gastrocnemius muscle attained its anatomical shape quickly, and the operating time was relatively short. No transfusion was needed. This early reconstruction prevented the accumulation of chronic granulation tissue, which leads to contracture of the wound and joint. The early correction of the gastrocnemius muscle flap transposition made early rehabilitation possible, and the patient recovered a nearly full range of motion at the injured knee joint. The leg contour was almost symmetric at one month postoperatively.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.193-198
• /
• 2021

The purpose of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF) ligation is to prevent neurological injury and the poor blood supply through ligation of arteriovenous fistula. Therefore, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (INM) is required via multimodal neurological examination for minimizing the side effects after surgery based on the patient's symptoms. Transcranial electric motor-evoked potentials (TceMEP) help to check the condition of the corticospinal tract. Whenever ligation is performed, TceMEP should be performed every minute to check for abnormalities. However, an examiner's lack of knowledge about the operation procedure and examination and also poor communication between the examiner and surgeon can cause incorrect timing of the stimulation of TceMEP that interferes with the procedure and causes side effects such as paralysis and motor weakness. As a result of this SDAVF ligation survey, it is believed that for proper INM, case reports will be needed along with further research and the examiner will also have to work closely with the surgeon to minimize neurological damage to patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.127-134
• /
• 2012

Objective: To analyze the prognostic factors thought to be related with survival time after a spinal metastasis operation. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 217 patients who underwent spinal metastasis operations in our hospital from 2001 to 2009. Hematological malignancies, such as multiple myeloma and lymphoma, were excluded. The factors thought to be related with postoperative survival time were gender, age (below 55, above 56), primary tumor growth rate (slow, moderate, rapid group), spinal location (cervical, thoracic, and lumbo-sacral spine), the timing of radiation therapy (preoperative, postoperative, no radiation), operation type (decompressive laminectomy with or without posterior fixation, corpectomy with anterior fusion, corpectomy with posterior fixation), preoperative systemic condition (below 5 points, above 6 points classified by Tomita scoring), pre- and postoperative ambulatory function (ambulatory, non-ambulatory), number of spinal metastases (single, multiple), time to spinal metastasis from the primary cancer diagnosis (below 21 months, above 22 months), and postoperative complication. Results: The study cohort mean age at the time of surgery was 55.5 years. The median survival time after spinal operation and spinal metastasis diagnosis were 6.0 and 9.0 months. In univariate analysis, factors such as gender, primary tumor growth rate, preoperative systemic condition, and preoperative and postoperative ambulatory status were shown to be related to postoperative survival. In multivariate analysis, statistically significant factors were preoperative systemic condition (p=0.048) and postoperative ambulatory status (p<0.001). The other factors had no statistical significance. Conclusion: The factors predictive for postoperative survival time should be considered in the surgery of spinal metastasis patients.