• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.86-90
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• 2012

Objective : Life-threatening hemispheric stroke is associated with a high mortality and morbidity. Decompressive hemicraniectomy has been regarded as an effective treatment option for refractory intracranial hypertension. Here, we reported the clinical course of 5 children with decompressive craniectomy and duroplasty after non-traumatic refractory intracranial hypertension. Methods : Four toddlers and one preschool-girl were included in this study; there were 3 boys and 2 girls with a mean age of 34.6 months (range 17-80). Decompressive craniectomy including duroplasty was performed in cases of dilatation of pupil size after intensified standard medical therapy had proven insufficient. All children had a Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale score <8 at pre-operation state. The mean time-point of craniectomy after stroke attack was 12 hours (range 4-19). Results : During the long-term follow-up period (mean 47.6 months), no children died. One year later, when we checked their Glasgow Outcome Scale scores, only one toddler received a score of 4 (moderate disability). But the others had good recoveries although they had minor physical or mental deficits. According to the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category Scale, 4 children received a score of 2 (mild disability). Conclusion : Despite our small cases, we suggest that decompressive hemicraniectomy and duroplasty is an acceptable and life-saving treatment for refractory intracranial hypertension after unilateral hemispheric stroke in toddlers and preschool children.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.325-333
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• 2001

Objective : To clarify the benefits and therapeutic effects of intra-arterial papaverine infusion on the symptomatic cerebral vasospasm, we analyzed the results of treatment in 32 patients retrospectively. Methods : A total of 510 patients underwent surgical clipping or endovascular intra-aneurysmal treatment for ruptured intracranial aneurysm between May, 1996 and June, 1999. The delayed ischemic deficit(DID) was developed in 90 of 510 patients. Of these 90 patients, 32 developed symptomatic vasospasm inspite of using modest "3H therapy". The brain CT scan was taken before the intra-arterial infusion of papaverine. The 32 patients underwent 42 intra-arterial papaverine infusion. The symptomatic vasospasm was divided into three groups : deterioration of mental status(Group 1), appearance of a focal neurologic deficit(Group 2), or both(Group 3). We measured Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS), arterial diameters, and cerebral circulation time(CCT) at the time of pre- and postangioplasty. Results : The number of patients in group 1, 2 and 3 were 26, 7, 9 respectively. Eighteen cases showed improvement of GCS more than 2 scores, 16 more than 1, and 8 showed no change of GCS. Average cerebral circulation time(CCT) was decreased ranging from 0.0%-67.5%, and arterial diameters were increased in 21 cases ranging from 1 to 4 folds. Conclusion : Intra-arterial papaverine infusion seemed to have therapeutic effects on symptomatic vasospasm by improving the neurological signs and increasing the arterial diameter. We suggest that intra-arterial papaverine infusion would be an useful adjunctive therapeutic modality in symptomatic vasospasm.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.278-283
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• 2001

Objective : Massive cerebral infarction could be accompanied by severe brain swelling and death secondary to transtentorial herniation. Approximately 10% to 15% of middle cerebral artery infarctions are associated with this phenomenon. However, the effectiveness and timing of decompressive surgery are still controversial. In this study, we present our results on the effect of decompressive craniectomy in life threatening cerebral infarction. Method : We retrospectively analyzed 15 patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy for massive cerebral infarction from January 1997 to April 1999. Surgical indication was based on the clinical signs such as neurological deterioration, pupillary reflex, and radiological findings. Clinical outcome was assessed by Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Results : All 15 patients(five men, ten women ; mean age, 52.3 years ; right 11, left 4) were treated with wide craniectomy and duroplasty. The average time interval between onset of symptom and surgical decompression was 2.9 days. Clinical signs of uncal herniation(anisocoria, or fixed and dilated pupils) were presented in 13 of 15 patients. Mean Glasgow coma scale(GCS) was 12.4 points on admission, 8.1 points on preoperative state and 11.8 points postoperatively. Overall outcomes were favorable in 5 cases(Glasgow outcome scale : GOS I, II), unfavorable in 6 cases(Glasgow outcome scale : GOS III, IV) and dead in 4 cases. Conclusion : Early decompressive craniectomy before brain stem compression is considered as an effective lifesaving procedure for massive cerebral infarction unresponsive to aggressive medical therapy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2014

Objective : The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and prognostic factors in patients with brain abscesses treated in a single institute during a recent 10-year period. Methods : Fifty-one patients with brain abscesses who underwent navigation-assisted abscess aspiration with antibiotic treatment were included in this study. Variable parameters were collected from the patients' medical records and radiological data. A comparison was made between patients with favorable [Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) ${\geq}4$] and unfavorable (GOS <4) outcomes at discharge. Additionally, we investigated the factors influencing the duration of antibiotic administration. Results : The study included 41 male and 10 female patients with a mean age of 53 years. At admission, 42 patients (82%) showed either clear or mildly disturbed consciousness (GCS ${\geq}13$) and 24 patients (47%) had predisposing factors. The offending microorganisms were identified in 25 patients (49%), and Streptococcus species were the most commonly isolated bacteria (27%). The mean duration of antibiotic administration was 42 days. At discharge, 41 patients had a favorable outcome and 10 had an unfavorable outcome including 8 deaths. The decreased level of consciousness (GCS <13) on admission was likely associated with an unfavorable outcome (p=0.052), and initial hyperglycemia (${\geq}140mg/dL$) was an independent risk factor for prolonged antibiotic therapy (p=0.032). Conclusion : We found that the level of consciousness at admission was associated with treatment outcomes in patients with brain abscesses. Furthermore, initial hyperglycemia was closely related to the long-term use of antibiotic agents.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2012

Objective : Psychiatry in North Korea is believed to seem very different from psychiatry in South Korea. However, there is nearly no information regarding psychiatry in North Korea until now. Our study aimed to get information about North Korean psychiatry. Methods : Three North Korean defectors in South Korea, whose clinical experience as medical doctors in North Korea was over 10 years, were recruited. They underwent the semi-structured interview, content of which included the clinical experience with psychiatric patients, the details of psychiatry, the treatment of psychiatric patients, the stigma of mental illness, and the suicide, in North Korea. Results : In North Korea, psychiatric department was called as 49th(pronounced as Sahsip-gu-ho in Korean). Only patients with vivid psychotic symptoms came to psychiatric department. Non-psychotic depression or anxiety disorders usually were not dealt in psychiatry. The etiology of mental illness seemed to be confined to biological factors including genetic predisposition. Psychosocial or psychodynamic factors as etiology of mental illness appeared to be ignored. Psychiatry was apparently separated from political or ideological issues. The mainstay of psychiatric treatment is the inpatient admission and out-of-date therapy such as insulin coma therapy. Stigma over mental illness was common in North Korea. Suicide is considered as a betrayal to his/her nation, and has been reported to be very rare. Conclusion : The situation of psychiatry in North Korea is largely different from that of South Korea. Although some aspects of North Korean psychiatry are similar to psychiatry in former socialist countries, North Korean psychiatry is considered to have also its unique characteristics.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.295-306
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• 2001

Objectives : The management of massive brain swelling remains an unsolved problem in neurosurgical field. Despite newly developed medical and pharmacological therapy, the mortality and morbidity due to massive brain swelling remains high. According to many recent reports, surgical decompression with dura expansion is superior to medical management in patients with massive brain swelling. We performed surgical treatment on the first line of treatment, and followed medical management in case with refractory increased intracranial pressure(ICP). To show the quantitative effect of decompressive surgery on the intracranial pressure, we performed ventricular puncture and checked the ventricular ICP continuously during the decompressive surgery and postoperative period. Materials and Methods : Fifty-one patients with massive brain swelling, undergoing bilateral decompressive craniectomy with dura expansion, were studied in this study. In all patients, ventricular puncture was performed at Kocher's point on the opposite side of massive brain swelling. The ventricular pressure was monitored continuously, during the bilateral decompression procedures and postoperative period. Results : The initial ventricular ICP were varied from 13mmHg to 112mmHg. Immediately after the bilateral craniectomy, mean ventricular ICP decreased to $53.1{\pm}15.8%$ of the initial ICP(ranges from 5mmHg to 87mmHg). Dura opening decreased mean ICP by additional 36.7% and made the ventricular pressure $16.4{\pm}10.5%$ of the initial pressure (ranges from 0mmHg to 28mmHg). Postoperatively, ventricular pressure was lowered to $20.2{\pm}22.6%$(ranged from 0mmHg to 62.3mmHg) of the initial ICP. The ventricular ICP value during the first 24 hours after decompressive surgery was found to be an important prognostic factor. If ICP was over 35mmHg, the mortality was 100% instead of additional medical(barbiturate coma therapy and hypothermia) treatments. Conclusion : Bilateral decompression with dura expansion is considered an effective therapeutic modality in ICP control. To obtain favorable clinical outcome in patients with massive brain swelling, early decision making on surgical management and proper patient selection are mandatory.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.3
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• pp.399-443
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• 1989

In this thesis, I intend to study the translational and clinical interpretation through the syndrom of "Pyong-Yeol-Byong", and reached the following conclusions. 1. Eum-Yang-Kyo (陰陽交)' 1) Meaning: "Eum" means "Essential and vital energy" "Yang" means "Evil factor affecting health" and "Kyo" means "cross-struggle." 2) Location of disease: Heat evil enter Hyeol-Bun (血分) 3) Pathogenesis: Heat evil invade Eum-Bun (陰分) and struggles with Health energy, therefore Eum-Chung (陰精) is exhausted and Heat-evil doesn't disapper, it damage Eum and exhaust fluid. Reach fever, rapid pulse raving and unable to take meal, not controled by sweating and sceach death. 4) Particularity of Syndrome: Heat enter Hyol-Bun, and Evil factor is enough and Health energy is insufficient, so that reveal the symptoms of high fever, delirium with coma, unable to take meals. 5) Therapy: It clears Gi-Bun heat evil (氣分熱邪) by Gypsum, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae, Flos Lonicerae, Fructus Forsythiae, Fructus Gardeniae, Radix Scutellanae Rhizoma Coptidis, and cools Blood by Cornu Rhinoceri Asiatici, Radix Rehmanniae, Cortex Moutan Radicis, Dae-Chung-Yob (大靑葉) Radix Arnebiae Seu Lithospermi. 2. Poong Gweol (風厥) 1) Meaning: Poong means wind-evil, Gweol means reversing up. 2) Location of disease: Disease complexes with TaeYang (太陽) in outer part, and with So-Eum (少陰) in inner part. 3) Pathogenesis: Tae-Yang-Gyeong (太陽經) accept wind-evil and So-Eum-Gyeong (少陽經) Kidney Energy reverse up so that fidgetiness not resolves by sweating. 4) Particularity of Syndrome: There are outer symptoms of fever, hydrosis with inner symptoms of fidgetinessis. 5) Therapy: Reduce Jok-Tae-Yang (足太陽) and Supply Jok-So-Eum (足少陰) by accupuncture, so cure Poong Gweol and make balance between Yeong (營) and Wi (衛). 3. Scrofula coused by wind-evil (勞風) 1) Meaning: It means accepting wind evil rest less. 2) Location of Disease: It locates lung 3) Pathogenesis: Because of accepting wind-evil restless, he take scrofula with damaging lung. 4) Particularity of disease: It is lung disease of aversion to wind and shiver, nape-stiffiness, dim eyesight, cough, disphea, vomitting sputum, if one camnot vomit sputum, he died by damage of lung. 5) Therapy: The period of therapy is different by age or strength of health energy, so I think must prevent Eum deficiency and clear fever no reduced in lung. 4. Shin-Poong (腎風) 1) Meaning: It means taking edema by accepting wind-evil, because the kidney controls water. 2) Location of Disease: It is that wind-evil envade kidney. 3) Pathogenesis : Water evil of kidney with wind-heat rises up to face, reach edema, puffines s of the lower eyelid, floating pulse, bombus, yellowish urine, hydrosis and hand-heating, drymouth and excessive thirsty, walkless by heaviness, menstrual disfunction, restless and unable to take meals, unable to lie flat, heavy cough if lie flat, and accepting wind-evil by deficiency of kidney function, so the function of dredging the water passage is not smooth, symptom of water and symptom of wind reveal together. 4) Therapy: Remove wind-heat, promote diuresis to eliminate tile wetness-evil, supplement the dificiency of kidney's Eum. Finally, we can know that later Fever Disease Medicime (溫病學) is affected to the theory of "Pyong Yeol Byong" in 33th Chapter of SoMoon (素問).

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.863-871
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• 2007

Objects : To gain better insights of East-west integrated treatment of ischemic stroke. We analyzed 89 patients with severe acute ischemic stroke who were admitted to the East-west integrated intensive care unit. Methods : Subjects enrollment was from the East-west integrated intensive care unit of Kyung Hee Medical Center from March 2006 to February 2007. Patients were admitted within 14 days after the onset of ischemic stroke. We assessed the subjects' general characteristics, risk factors, admitting routes and periods, diagnostic imaging, process of western treatment and Korean traditional treatment, complication and consequence. Results : The proportion of males was 50.6%, of females 49.4%, average age was male 66.0$\pm$10.3 and female 71.1$\pm$10.5. Average length of hospital stays was 19.5 days. Monthly admissions were highest in November and December. The admission route was through emergency room (61.8%) or ward (34.8%). Mean Glasgow coma scale score was 10.0$\pm$2.5, average time from symptom of onset to hospital admission was 2.3$\pm$2.2 days. Dominant ischemic vascular territory was middle cerebral artery (66.3%). Initial western treatment was argatroban (22.5%), urokinase (28.1%), and heparinization (38.2%). Distribution of Sasang constitution of So-yang to Tae-eum to So-eum was equal to 5.4 to 2.9 to 1.5. Major complications were observed in 40 (42.7%) patients. In hospital mortality was 12.4% (11 deaths), all of them caused by aggravation of neurological deficit and only 3 of them with major complications. There appears to be a significant positive relationship between length of hospital stay and occurrence of complications (P<0.05). After discharge from the ICU, 64 (71.9%) patients were improved, 11 (12.4%) patients had expired, and 14 (15.8%) patients were transferred. Conclusions : From this study, we suggest that patients with severe acute ischemic stroke should be treated with East-west integrated therapy for more favorable consequences and decreased mortality.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.421-425
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• 2018

Methanol is a clear, colorless, volatile, and poisonous liquid that is commonly used as an industrial solvent. Visual impairment is a common symptom of methanol poisoning; however, visual impairment rarely occurs after exposure through inhalation. Therefore, visual loss after methanol intoxication via respiration has rarely been reported. We report a case of visual damage associated with methanol poisoning via respiratory exposure in an industrial setting. In this case in South Korea, a 28-year-old woman who worked at a cell phone factory was admitted to the emergency department with mental changes. She had blurred vision that began two days prior, but she did not come to the hospital until she experienced mental changes. She ranked 9 on the Glasgow Coma Scale and presented with severe metabolic acidosis. So, she was admitted to intensive care, and continuous renal replacement therapy was performed. Finally, she was discharged after recovery of her mental state, but had to undergo rehabilitation for six months. Also, her visual impairment was permanent. Methanol intoxication can occur through inhalation, which is difficult to detect initially. However, treatment of methanol poisoning is time-critical. Therefore, doctors should always keep in mind that methanol intoxication may occur via respiration. If in doubt, treatment should be given as soon as possible.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.59-76
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• 1997

The purposes of this study were to identify the contents and satisfaction level of the patients received home care service, and to compare the differences of the contents by the characteristics of the patients. Seventy eight patients received home care service from 1st Jan. to 30th Sept., 1996 were data-collected to analyze the contents and outcomes of home care service. Sixty-nine patients currently receiving home care service were participated to evaluate the satisfaction level of home care service. The data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, $x^2$ test, and ANOVA by SPSS $PC^+$ program. The findings of this study were as follow : 1. The contents & outcomes of home care service 1) The mean age of the subjects was 64.4 years: 58% of them were female. Those who living in Seoul were 83% and the rest of the subjects was living in Kyung-Gi. 2) The subjects who had one diagnosis were 41%. Over 60% of them had the disease of neurologic & sensory system. 3) The mean number of visit was 6. Only one visit was 22%. The mean time of care was 79 minutes. Duration of visit from 31 minutes to 60 minutes were 47 %. The subjects who terminated the visit because of death were 67.3%. 62% of the persons who referred them to the home care service were nurses. 4) The pain after the service was more relieved than before. The amounts of intake, the degree of bed sore, edema & fracture after the service were more improved than before. Health status after the service was improved in general. 5) There were significant differences between initial and last conscious level in tracheostomy care & oxygen inhalation care. There was significant difference between initial and last degree of activity in blood sugar check. 6) There were significant differences on the number of visit in assessment of the status, evaluation & observation, vital sign check, skin care, injection, medication, bed sore care, colostomy care, relaxation therapy for pain relief, patient education, family care, exercise therapy, position change, supply of disinfected equipments and infection control. There were significant differences on visiting time in nasogastric tube care, drainage tube care and oxygen inhalation care. 2. The satisfaction level of home care service 1) 50% were male. Over 60 years of the subjects was 61 %. Those who living in Seoul were 82%. 2) The subjects who had one or two diagnosis were 32% respectively. 55% of the persons who referred them to the home care service were nurses. 3) Total level of satisfaction of home care service was very high. 4) The older the age, the higher the satisfaction level. The larger the number of visit, the higher the satisfaction level. 5) The subjects who were in cloudy state were higher level of satisfaction than in alert or coma state. The subjects whose activity were normal or who needed assistance were higher level of satisfaction than bedridden or immobilized subjects. These findings suggested that the patients had substantial need for posthospital care. They tended to be elderly and to have experienced the wide range of health problems associated with aging, chronicity, including limitations in activities, and other serious health problems. So, the nationwide home care systems beyond the limit of demonstration program by local association and the development of the effective financial system of home based health care are necessary for the clients who are in need of home care.