• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.399-402
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• 1996

Endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy (ETS) has recently become estabilished as a successful treatment for severe palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis. Descriptions have been published of neurolytic, operative and alternative endoscopic procedures involving thermocoagulation, laser coagulation, or or nonvideo-assisted ganglionectomy using equipment not widely available, with low morbidity and excellent results. All methods have advantage and disadvantages. A 19-year-old male who suffered from severe hyperhidrosis on face, palms and axillary areas, has been initially treated with stellate ganglion block in other pain clinic. He was transfered to our pain clinic for endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. The patient was intubated left side 34 Fr. double lumen tube and positioned left semi-lateral position for right sympathectomy. Right side pneumothorax was created by clamping the ipsilateral side of the double lumen tube and aspiration of air. 11-mm trocar was introduced through incision at the third intercostal space in anterior axillary line, and then additional two 11-mm and 5-mm trocar was introduced through second and fifth intercostal space in mid axillary line. The lung was gently retracted and the parietal pleura over the heads of the appropriate ribs excised using 5-mm sharp insulated coagulating microprocesss. The T4, T3, and T2 ganglions, as well as accompanying rami communicantes, and other branchs arising from upper thoracic nerves to the brachial plexus and surrounding tissues were carefully dissected, coagulated. During sympathectomy, skin temperature of middle was continuously monitored. Elevation of palmar skin temperature intraoperatively indicated an adequate sympathectomy with a definite therapeutic effect. A No. 28 Fr. thoracotomy tube was introduced through a troca under video guidance, placed under water seal after the lung was reinflated. the controlateral side was performed same procedure. After bilateral sympathectomy, chest tubes were removed, and then, he was discharged 2 days after operation with great satisfaction. The ETS provides a well-tolerated, cost-effective alternative to thoracic sympathectomy for primary hyperhidrosis and sympathetic mediated neuropathic pain disorder. And T2 ganglion is considered the key ganglion for the treatment of primary hyperhidrosis. The low incidence of compensatory sweating may by explained by the limited extent of the sympathectomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.525-530
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• 1998

Thoracoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for primary palmar hyperhidrosis has been known to be effective and to have cosmetic merits compared to conventional open sympathectomy. In spite of its cosmetic advantages over thoracotomy, VATS using 5 mm or 10 mm instruments still has the problem of operative wound as well as pain on trocar sites. Recently, 2 mm thoracoscopic instruments have been used. The purpose of this study was to examine the results of thoracoscopic sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis with 2 mm thoracoscopic instruments. From January 1997 to April 1997, 46 patients underwent bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy with 2mm instruments at Seoul National University Hospital. T-2 ganglion was carefully dissected and resected out in all patients. In one patient, the lower third of T-1 ganglion was inadvertently resected together with T-2 ganglion due to poor anatomical localization. In 4 patients who also complained of excessive axillary sweating, T-3 ganglion was resected as well. The instruments were removed without leaving any chest drain after reexpansion of the lung. Trocar sites were approximated with sterile tapes. All patients were relieved of excessive sweating in their upper extremities immediately after the operation. Nine patients(19.6%) showed incomplete reexpansion of the lung, and two of them required needle aspiration. Complications related to the surgical procedures, such as Horner's syndrome, hemothorax, and brachial plexus injury, were not detected in any cases. Most patientsdid not complaine of pain. All patients were discharged from the hospital on the day of operation. Despite a narrow operative viewfield, thoracic sympathectomy with 2 mm thoracoscopic instruments can be performed without increasing any severe complications. We recommend 2 mm instruments for thoracoscopic sympathectomy because they make as the more cosmetic, less painful, and equally effective compared to thoracoscopic sympathectomy using 5 mm or greater instruments.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.685-696
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• 2011

An efficient laparoscope manipulator robot was designed to automatically control the position of laparoscope via a passive joint on end-effector position. The end position of the manipulator is controlled to have corresponding velocity defined in the global coordinate space using laparoscopic visual information. Desired spatial position of laparoscope was derived from detected positions of surgical instrument tips, then the clinical viewing plane was moved by visual servoing task. The laparoscope manipulator is advantageous for automatically maintaining clinically important views in the laparoscopic image without any additional operator. A laparoscope is mounted to a holder which is linked to four degree of freedom manipulator via universal joint-type passive rings connection. No change in the design of laparoscope or manipulator is necessary for its application to surgery assistant robot system. Expanded working space and surgical efficiency were accomplished by implementing slant linking structure between laparoscope and manipulator. To ensure reliable positioning accuracy and controllability, the motion of laparoscope in an abdominal space through trocar was inspected using geometrical analysis. A designed laparoscope manipulating robot system can be easily set up and controlled in an operation room since it has a few subsidiary devices such as a laparoscope light source regulator, a control PC, and a power supply.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.214-222
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• 2014

Purpose: The method of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement can be divided into the pull and introducer techniques. We compared short-term complications and prognosis between patients who underwent the pull technique and two other types of introducer techniques, the trocar introducer technique and T-fastener gastropexy technique. Methods: Twenty-six patients who underwent PEG were enrolled in this study. We retrospectively investigated the age, sex, body weight, weight-for-age Z-score, underlying diseases, PEG indications, complications, duration of NPO (nil per os), pain control frequency, and duration of antibiotic therapy. The patients were classified into three groups according to the PEG technique. The occurrence of complications was monitored for 10 weeks after the procedure. Results: The age, sex, body weight, and weight-for-age Z-score were not significantly between the three groups. Most patients had cerebral palsy and seizure disorders. Dysphagia was the most common indication for PEG. Major complications occurred in 5 (50%), 4 (66.7%), and 0 (0%) patients in group I, II, and III, respectively (p=0.005). Further, peristomal infection requiring systemic antibiotic therapy occurred in 2 (20%), 3 (50%), and 0 (0%) patients in group I, II, and III, respectively (p=0.04). There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to minor complications, duration of NPO, pain control frequency, and duration of antibiotic therapy. Conclusion: The results indicate that the T-fastener gastropexy technique was associated with the lowest rate of major complications.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2024

Reduced-port gastrectomy (RPG) includes all procedures derived from various efforts to minimize surgical invasiveness, with single-incision laparoscopic gastrectomy (SILG) being the ultimate reduced-port technique. However, there are challenges related to its feasibility, oncological validity, training, and education. This review describes the current issues and challenges, as well as the future prospects of RPG for gastric cancer. Gastrectomy, which started as an open surgery, has evolved into a laparoscopic surgery. With the advancements in laparoscopic technology, SILG has been used to minimize surgical scarring. However, owing to the technical difficulties of SILG, cases involving the addition of 1 trocar or needle grasper alongside the multichannel port have also been reported. Additionally, 3-port laparoscopic gastrectomy (3PLG) using only 3 trocars is also being performed. RPG, as a concept, includes a range of approaches such as SILG, 2-port laparoscopic gastrectomy, and 3PLG. These techniques aimed to reduce the number of ports or incisions required for laparoscopic gastrectomy. Despite technical difficulties, RPGs offer numerous advantages, including minimal invasiveness, excellent cosmetic outcomes, and the potential for improved postoperative recovery, such as reduced length of hospital stay and post-operative pain. It could be considered similar to conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy, and may not be oncologically inferior. Ongoing studies, such as the KLASS 12, are required to gain further insights.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.280-285
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• 2023

Uterine leiomyoma is the most common benign pelvic tumor in female and being symptomatic is an indication for surgical removal. As laparoscopic surgery has been developed, some cases related to parasitic leiomyomas in the port site have been reported. A 40-year-old female who a history of previous laparoscopic surgery to remove uterine myoma 2 years ago visited in outpatient clinic of general surgery with palpable mass in left lower abdomen. Contrast enhanced abdomen CT and pelvis MRI were done to evaluate the mass. It was diagnosed parasitic leiomyoma in pathologic study after surgical removal and parasitic leiomyoma should be considered when patient visited presenting abdominal mass with the history of laparoscopic myomectomy.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2008

Background: The use of regional local anesthetics or opioids during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), in combination with general anesthesia, has been investigated in several interventional studies. Methods: We studied a total of 240 (n = 60, each) patients who were undergoing LC, and they received local infiltration and intraperitoneal instillation with normal saline or 0.25% levobupivacaine 60 ml. Group R (S) received infiltration of normal saline 20 ml before incision and at the end of surgery and then 40 ml intraperitoneal instillation after removal of the gall bladder under remifentanil-based anesthesia. Group R (L) received 0.25% levobupivacaine instead of normal saline in the same method like group R (S). Group S (S) received the same method as group R (S) under sevoflurane based anesthesia in place of remifentanil. Group S (L) received 0.25% levobupivacaine instead of normal saline with the same method as group S (S). Pain was assessed on a visual analog scale at 1, 6, 12 and 24 hours after operation. Results: The pain intensity of Group R (L) was significantly lower than that of group R (S), and the the incisional pain of group S (L) was significantly lower than that of group S (S) in the first six hours. The time delay to first operative analgesics in group R (S) and group S (S) was significantly shorter than that of group R (L) and group S (L). Conclusions: Infiltration and instillation of levobupivacaine reduced the postoperative pain and remifentanil did not increase the pain severity and opioid requirement when performing the LC.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.10
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• pp.80-87
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to compare in antiseptic effect between povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine-ethanol for laparoscopic cholecystectomy on the port site. A total of 46 patients admitted to surgery at one university hospital in Seoul were included in the study. A study group was randomly assigned using a random number table. The antiseptic effect was evaluated and compared to povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine-ethanol by using a culture and identification of bacteria, measurement of the number of bacteria (CFU/ml) and incidence of surgical site infection. Our results show that povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine-ethanol have no statistically significant difference in the incidence rate of bacteria after 3 minutes of disinfection and before removal of the trocar and in the number of bacteria and the incidence of surgical site infection. Thus, in order to select an efficient and appropriate skin antiseptics, we suggest that it is necessary to consider not only the disinfectant effect but also cost and convenience. In this research, our results about effect and usage of skin antiseptics can be used as basic data and educational resource, and this is expected to improve comprehension of skin antiseptics.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 2012

Purpose: This study considered the effects and proper treatments of mandibular condyle fractures by comparing clinical differences and complications according to analysis and treatment plan. Methods: From September 2007 to August 2010, patients who were diagnosed with condylar fracture and monitored for more than 3 months were selected. Cases were divided in a reductive manner and evaluated by type and period of intermaxillary fixation (IMF), status of occlusion and trismus according to the Spiessle/Schroll method. A total 50 patients were examined. Results: The number of the unilateral condyle fractures was 45 and 30 patients had multiple fractures. Type of fracture was categorized by the Spiessle/Schroll method. There were 21 patients with type I, 11 patients with type II, 3 patients with type 3, 10 patients with type V and 5 patients with type VI; there were no patients with a type IV fracture. 11 patients were operated on with open reduction. Among them, 9 patients were type II and 2 patients were type I. For type I patients, an intra-oral approach was conducted with an endoscope and trocar. For 3 of the type II patients, an retromandibular approach was conducted and for the rest of the type II patients, the same approach as type I was used. The periods of IMF were 2.36 weeks (mean) in open reduction group and 2.9 weeks (mean) in closed reduction group and the total mean period is 2.78 weeks. All patients had stable occlusion after removing the IMF. Trismus occurred in 1 patient for open reduction and 5 patients for closed reduction. Facial nerve palsy was observed in one patient postoperatively that resolved after 6 months. Conclusion: In this study, similar prognosis was shown after an open and closed reduction was conducted. Therefore, treatments need to be planned depending on the degree of condyle fracture and the amount of displacement. Additionally, the period of IMF could be shortened with open reduction.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.106-115
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• 2018

Chest tube insertion is a common procedure usually done for the purpose of draining accumulated air or fluid in the pleural cavity. Small-bore chest tubes (${\leq}14F$) are generally recommended as the first-line therapy for spontaneous pneumothorax in non-ventilated patients and pleural effusions in general, with the possible exception of hemothoraces and malignant effusions (for which an immediate pleurodesis is planned). Large-bore chest drains may be useful for very large air leaks, as well as post-ineffective trial with small-bore drains. Chest tube insertion should be guided by imaging, either bedside ultrasonography or, less commonly, computed tomography. The so-called trocar technique must be avoided. Instead, blunt dissection (for tubes >24F) or the Seldinger technique should be used. All chest tubes are connected to a drainage system device: flutter valve, underwater seal, electronic systems or, for indwelling pleural catheters (IPC), vacuum bottles. The classic, three-bottle drainage system requires either (external) wall suction or gravity ("water seal") drainage (the former not being routinely recommended unless the latter is not effective). The optimal timing for tube removal is still a matter of controversy; however, the use of digital drainage systems facilitates informed and prudent decision-making in that area. A drain-clamping test before tube withdrawal is generally not advocated. Pain, drain blockage and accidental dislodgment are common complications of small-bore drains; the most dreaded complications include organ injury, hemothorax, infections, and re-expansion pulmonary edema. IPC represent a first-line palliative therapy of malignant pleural effusions in many centers. The optimal frequency of drainage, for IPC, has not been formally agreed upon or otherwise officially established.