• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.60-63
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• 2007

Purpose: Free transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous(TRAM) flap is one of the most popular methods of breast reconstruction. But if fat necrosis and fatty induration occur at the reconstructed breast, they can make the breast harder and make it difficult to differentiate a tumor recurrence from them. To expect and prevent these complications, we measured the pressure change of the superficial venous system whose congestion can be the cause of them. Methods: An intraoperative clinical study was done to compare venous pressure of superficial inferior epigastric vein(SIEV) before and after the elevation of free TRAM flap. Fourteen TRAM flaps were included and the pressures of SIEV were measured two times at the beginning of the elevation and just before the division of the inferior pedicle. Results: The venous pressure in free TRAM flap was significantly higher after the flap elevation at both contralateral side and ipsilateral(p=0.005 and p=0.026 respectively). The four cases with vertical scar shower significantly greater increase at contralateral side than ipsilateral side(p=0.020). Conclusion: Intraoperative venous pressure recording can be an objective data for evaluating the congestion of TRAM flap and can help to prevent the complications of fat necrosis and fatty induration with venous superdrainage.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.669-676
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• 1994

Because the number of patients who require maintenance hemodialysis is increasing in number recently, angioaccess has become important to many vascular surgeons participating in the management of such patients.The authors created 269 arteriovenous fistulas[AVF] for angioaccess in 229 patients with chronic renal failure[CRF] at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Chungnam National University Hospital during the period from August 1990 to March 1993. We analyzed the results of 260 operations for 220 patients except 9 patients who were lost during the follow up period. We performed snuffbox AVF in 171 cases, classic radiocephalic AVF in 46 cases, direct AVF at other site in 5 cases, forearm Gore-Tex AVF in 29 cases, and upper arm Gore-Tex AVF in 9 cases. We experienced 13 cases of operative failures, 11 cases of early complications, and 60 cases of late complications including obstructions during follow-up period. The 1 year, 2 year and 3 year patency rates of snuffbox AVF[Group 1], classic radiocephalic AVF[Group 2], and Gore-Tex AVF[Group 3] are like followings; 89, 84, 76% in group 1, 84, 75, 68% in group 2, and 79, 66, 55% in group 3. It showed a statistically significant difference between group 1, 2 and group 3.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.543-546
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• 2021

Despite the extensive use of lithotomy position in several plastic surgery procedures, most reports regarding the related incidence of complications are presented in the urologic, gynecologic, and anesthesiologic fields. We present the case of a 54-year-old male patient. polytrauma patient who underwent internal iliac artery embolization leading to extensive gluteal necrosis requiring: debridement, abdominoperineal resection and composite anterolateral thigh flap reconstruction with prolonged lithotomy position. The patient presented lower limb ischemia briefly after surgical theater. A computed tomography scan revealed the obstruction of the left superficial femoral artery requiring emergency revascularization. Arterial thrombosis is a potentially devastating complication and plastic surgeons should be aware of the possible dangers when performing surgeries in prolonged lithotomy position. Preoperative detection of patients at high risks for developing complications should be performed in order to implement preventive measures and avoid potentially life-threatening sequelae.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.230-235
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• 2023

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is an infrequently occurring neoplasm most commonly observed in the pleura, but it can develop in the head and neck region in occasional cases. However, no reports have described SFT in the temporalis muscle. Herein, we present the first known case of SFT in the temporalis muscle. A 47-year-old man complained of a painless palpable mass on his right temple. Facial enhanced computed tomography identified a 4.0×2.9×1.4 cm mass presenting as a vascular tumor in the right temporalis muscle under the zygomatic arch. The mass was excised from the right temporalis muscle under general anesthesia. A histopathologic examination revealed that the mass was an SFT. No complications occurred after surgery, including functional disability or sensory loss. The patient was followed up for 3 months without complications. Although SFT in extrapulmonary regions is rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of masses that occur in the temporal area.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.328-334
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• 2023

An aging population and changes in dietary habits have increased the incidence of diabetes, resulting in complications such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). DFUs can lead to serious disabilities, substantial reductions in patient quality of life, and high financial costs for society. By understanding the etiology and pathophysiology of DFUs, their occurrence can be prevented and managed more effectively. The pathophysiology of DFUs involves metabolic dysfunction, diabetic immunopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and angiopathy. The processes by which hyperglycemia causes peripheral nerve damage are related to adenosine triphosphate deficiency, the polyol pathway, oxidative stress, protein kinase C activity, and proinflammatory processes. In the context of hyperglycemia, the suppression of endothelial nitric oxide production leads to microcirculation atherosclerosis, heightened inflammation, and abnormal intimal growth. Diabetic neuropathy involves sensory, motor, and autonomic neuropathies. The interaction between these neuropathies forms a callus that leads to subcutaneous hemorrhage and skin ulcers. Hyperglycemia causes peripheral vascular changes that result in endothelial cell dysfunction and decreased vasodilator secretion, leading to ischemia. The interplay among these four preceding pathophysiological factors fosters the development and progression of infections in individuals with diabetes. Charcot neuroarthropathy is a chronic and progressive degenerative arthropathy characterized by heightened blood flow, increased calcium dissolution, and repeated minor trauma to insensate joints. Directly and comprehensively addressing the pathogenesis of DFUs could pave the way for the development of innovative treatment approaches with the potential to avoid the most serious complications, including major amputations.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.308-321
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• 2022

Transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) is useful in all aspects of lesion screening, monitoring activity, or treating/diagnosing any related complications of inflammatory bowel disease. Its ability to screen or diagnose complications is almost the same as that of other methods, such as CT or MRI. Moreover, its noninvasiveness makes it a first-line examination method. A TAUS image depicting ulcerative colitis will show large intestinal wall thickening that is continuous from the rectum, which is mainly due to mucosal layer thickening, while for Crohn's disease, a TAUS image is characterized by a diversity in the areas affected, distribution, and layer structure. Indicators of activity monitoring include wall thickness, wall structure, and vascular tests that use Doppler ultrasound or contrast agents. While all of these have been reported to be useful, at this time, no single parameter has been established as superior to others; therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of these parameters is justified. In addition, evaluating the elasticity of lesions using elastography is particularly useful for distinguishing between fibrous and inflammatory stenoses. However, the lack of objectivity is the biggest drawback of using ultrasound. Standardizing and popularizing the ultrasound process will be necessary, including scanning methods, equipment settings, and image analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.596-606
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• 2024

Purpose To examine the technical considerations of endovascular treatment for aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) based on a 10-year experience in Songklanagarind Hospital. Materials and Methods This retrospective cohort study included 210 patients who underwent endovascular treatment for symptomatic AIOD between January 2010 and December 2020. The patients' clinical and lesion characteristics, including technical considerations of the procedure, were collected, analyzed, and stratified using the Transatlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC). Results Most patients (80%) in this study had chronic limb-threatening ischemia lesions, with an occlusion rate of 37%. The technical success rate of TASC C & D was lower than that of TASC A & B, 84.4% vs. 99.2% p ≤ 0.001. A technical success rate of 93.3% (14/15) was found for the femoral and brachial approach, compared with a success rate of 89.0% (57/64) for the unibifemoral approach in TASC C & D, without a statistically significant difference (p = 0.076). However, the puncture site complications in this route were up to 17.6%, which is the highest rate compared with other techniques. These complications could be treated either conservatively or minimally invasively. Conclusion In cases of failed femoral access, simultaneous femoral and brachial approaches improved the technical success rate of endovascular recanalization of TASC C & D aortoiliac occlusions.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.204-209
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• 2022

The state of intense peripancreatic inflammation in chronic pancreatitis can give rise to various vascular complications such as venous thrombosis and arterial pseudoaneurysms. Due to its intimate location with the pancreas, spleno-mesenteric-portal axis suffers the greatest blunt of thrombotic complications. Treatment modalities for such cases of chronic portal vein thrombosis have always been controversial and challenging. Medical management with anticoagulants is both risky and unsatisfactory due to presence of varices, hypersplenism, and persistence of the inflammatory pathology. Although endovascular techniques have been tried in various case reports, there are definite anatomical challenges in cases of long segment porto-mesenteric thrombosis with massive ascites. Surgical shunts have been historically described for cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic portal hypertensive patients. However, its use in patients with refractory ascites due to chronic pancreatitis induced portal vein thrombosis has not been reported in the medical literature. Here, we present a case of an extensive portal vein thrombosis with massive refractory ascites in a patient with alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis successfully treated with a surgical mesocaval shunt using an interposition small diameter graft.

• Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.12.1-12.6
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• 2012

The advanced glycation endproducts receptor (AGE-R) is a signal transduction receptor for multiligand such as S100b and AGEs. S100b has been demonstrated to activate various cells with important links to atherosclerosis initiation and progression including endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells via AGE-R, triggering activation of multiple signaling cascades through its cytoplasmic domain. Many studies have suggested AGE-R might even participate in the cardiovascular complications involved in the pathogenesis of type I diabetes. Recently, Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier 1 (SURM-1 also known as SUMO-1) has been recognized as a protein that plays an important role in cellular post-translational modifications in a variety of cellular processes, such as transport, transcriptional, apoptosis and stability. Computer Database search with SUMOplot Analysis program identified the five potential SURMylation sites in human AGE-R: K43, K44, K123, and K273 reside within the extracellular domain of AGE-R, and lastly K374 resides with the cytosolic domain of AGE-R. The presence of the consensus yKXE motif in the AGE-R strongly suggests that AGE-R may be regulated by SURMylation process. To test this, we decided to determine if AGE-R is SURMylated in living vascular cell system. S100b-stimulated murine aortic vascular smooth muscle cells were used for western blot analysis with relevant antibodies. Taken together, bioinformatics database search and molecular biological approaches suggested AGE-R is SURMylated in living cardiovascular cell system. Whilst SURMylation and AGE-R undoubtedly plays an important role in the cardiovascular biology, it remains unclear as to the exact nature of this contribution under both physiological and pathological conditions.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.1035-1037
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• 2009

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common congenital heart defect. All PDAs, regardless of size or degree of symptoms, require occlusion. Transcatheter PDA occlusion features fewer complications than trans-thoracic closure. It is also more cost-effective and has an excellent occlusion rate. Therefore, transcatheter PDA occlusion is accepted as the standard treatment option for PDA. However, tubular-type PDAs are difficult to close with ordinary detachable coils or the Amplatzer Duct Occluder; thus, these lesions remain a challenge for transcatheter closure. We attempted to occlude a tubular-type PDA by using an oversized Amplatzer Vascular Plug, which allowed intraluminal packing of the ductus. By using this treatment method, PDA occlusion was achieved safely with an excellent final outcome. We suggest that this approach may be a good option for transcatheter closure of a tubular-type PDA.