• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2023

Purpose: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) directly affects the survival of patients and can cause long-term sequelae. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether the operation of a trauma center in a single tertiary general hospital has improved emergency care and clinical outcomes for patients with TBI. Methods: The participants of this study were all TBI patients, patients with isolated TBI, and patients with TBI who underwent surgery within 24 hours, who visited our level 1 trauma center from March 1, 2012 to February 28, 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: patients who visited before and after the operation of the trauma center. A comparative analysis was conducted. Differences in detailed emergency care time, hospital stay, and clinical outcomes were investigated in this study. Results: On comparing the entire TBI patient population via dividing them into the aforementioned two groups, the following results were found in the group of patients who visited the hospital after the operation of the trauma center: an increased number of patients with a good functional prognosis (P<0.001 and P=0.002, respectively), an increased number of surviving discharges (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively), and a reduction in overall emergency care time (P<0.05, for all item values). However, no significant differences existed in the length of intensive care unit stay, ventilator days, and total length of stay for TBI patients who visited the hospital before and after the operation of the trauma center. Conclusions: The findings confirmed that overall TBI patients and patients with isolated brain injury had improved treatment results and emergency care through the operation of a trauma center in a tertiary general hospital.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7867-7869
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• 2015

Objective: To assess the safety and effectiveness of thalidomide (produced by CHANGZHOU PHARMACEUTICAL FACTORY CO.LTD) combined with chemotherapy in treating patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Method: A consecutive cohort of pretreated patients with advanced colorectal cancer were treated with thalidomide combined with chemotherapy. And chemotherapy for patients with advanced colorectal cancer were administered according to the condition of patients. Thalidomide was orally administered at a dosage of 50mg/day to 150mg/day before sleeping for at least 14 days. After at least 14 days of treatment, safety and side effects were evaluated. Results: There were 12 female and 3 male patients with advanced cancer recruited into this study, including 9 patients with colon, 6 patients with rectal cancer. The median age of patients was 57(41-82) years. Partial response was observed in 2 patients (2/15), and stable disease in 3 patients(3/15). Incidences of Grade 1 to 2 myelosuppression was observed in 1/15 patients, and Grade 1 to 2 elevation of hepatic enzyme was recorded in 1/15 patients. Adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract were documented in 1/15 patients, and were Grade 1. No Grade 3-4 toxicities were diagnosed. No treatment related death was found. Conclusions: Thalidomide combined with chemotherapy was safe and mildly effective in treating patients with advanced colorectal cancer. However, further study should be conducted to clarify the effectiveness of this combination.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.205-209
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• 2009

Objective : This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between the degrees of injury on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the time interval to recovery of consciousness in patients with diffuse axonal injury. Methods : From January 2004 to December 2008, 25 patients with diffuse axonal injury were treated at our hospital. We retrospectively investigated the patients' medical records and radiological findings. We divided the patients into three groups according to the grade of MRI finding : grade I, small scattered lesions on the white matter of the cerebral hemisphere; grade II, focal lesions on the corpus callosum; and grade III, additional focal lesions on the brain stem. Result : Seven patients belonged to the grade I group; 10 to the grade II group; and 8 to the grade III group. The mean Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of all patients at the time of admission was 7.28. Recovery of consciousness was observed in 23 of the 25 patients; the remaining two patients never regained consciousness. The time interval to recovery of consciousness (awake status) ranged from 1 day to 125 days (mean 22.1 days) : grade I group patients, within approximately 1 week (mean 3.7 days); grade II group patients, within approximately 2 weeks (mean 12.5 days); and grade III group patients, within approximately 2 months (mean 59.5 days). Conclusion : Our study results suggest a correlation between the mean time interval to recovery of consciousness in patients with diffuse axonal injuries and the degrees of brain injuries seen on MRI. Patients with grade I and II diffuse axonal injuries recovered consciousness within 2 weeks, while patients with grade III injuries required approximately 2 months.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5477-5482
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• 2015

Background: This study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors for a prethrombotic state in patients with malignant tumors. Materials and Methods: Plasma d-dimer (D-D) in patients with malignant tumors was measured. Abnormal rates of D-D and possible risk factors like gender, age, type of tumor, and staging of tumor were analyzed. Results: Of 1,453 patients, 629 demonstrated plasma D-D abnormality (43.3%). The D-D abnormal rate of male patients (n=851, 43.5%) was not statistically significantly different from that for female patients (n=602, 43.0%) (p>0.05). D-D abnormal rate increased with age and was statistically significant among different age groups (p<0.05). Regarding staging of tumor, D-D abnormal rate in patients with phase I was 2.0%, 6.2% in phase II, 47.6% in phase III and 83.1% in phase IV, with statistically significant differences between phase III and II, as well as phase III and IV (p<0.01). Conclusions: A prethrombotic state was closely related to malignancy of tumors. The risk factors for a prethrombotic state include age and tumor stage.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.35-41
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• 2005

This study was conducted to identify the effect of daylighting in hospitals on hospitalization time of patients and patients' outcomes in hospitals. Two major variations include orientation of hospital wards and the hospitalization times of various kinds of patients. Patients' data were obtained from two hospitals located in Seoul, Korea. The hospital buildings have north-facing and north-facing wards. The patients were classified according to the types of diseases and the orientation of the patient rooms. Then, statistical T-tests were applied in order to verify if natural light might shorter the hospitalization time of patients. The study also identified the types of diseases that were more responsive to the quantity of natural light in patient rooms. This information may be used as a basis for the development of guidelines for patient rooms in hospitals to achieve more effective healing environments. Likewise, the results may be applied to medical treatment buildings, recreational centers and hospital as well.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.500-505
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• 1986

Eight patients received operation for ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic regurgitation associated with Marfan`s syndrome from January 1984 to July 1986 at Seoul National University Hospital. The patients` age ranged from 29 to 51 years [mean 37.3 years]. Five patients were male and three were female. All of them showed some stigmata of skeletal system in Marfan`s syndrome. Three patients had dissecting aneurysm and five patients had fusiform aneurysm of ascending aorta. Two patients had concomitant fusiform aneurysm of abdominal aorta. All patients showed aortic regurgitation of grade III to IV. One patient received insertion of intraluminal ringed graft and resuspension of aortic valve, and seven patients received modified Bentall operation [Carol`s method]. There was no hospital death and all showed functional improvement in the 7.4 patient-years follow-up period.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.15-26
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• 2011

This study assessed and compared the expectation levels of in- and out-patients at hospitals of different size in relation to patients' view of their rights. A survey of out-patients visiting university hospitals (204 patients) and small to mid size community hospitals (215 patients) in Seoul and Kyeongki Province was conducted, where the respondents reported their perceptions of patient rights. Based on the survey, their respective expectation levels for the medical services that they would receive was assessed and analyzed for exploring possible factors for their selecting small to mid sized hospitals over larger hospitals. The results showed difference in perceptions between patients visiting or staying in lager and smaller hospitals. Namely, for out-patients, those at university hospitals had higher perceptions only about their rights to privacy while in hospital, whereas in the case of in-patients, those at small to mid size hospitals had higher perceptions only about their rights to access to inspection information. With respect to the results from analysis of difference in the expectation level for medical services between university and non-university hospital patients, it was found that in-patients at university hospitals had higher perceptions about their rights to choose to see hospital visitors while in hospital and rights to access to religious facilities.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.510-516
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• 2014

Background: Acute cerebral infarction is a major risk factor for postoperative neurologic complications in cardiac surgery. However, the outcomes associated with acute silent cerebral infarction (ASCI) have not been not well established. Few studies have reported the postoperative outcomes of these patients in light of preoperative Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI). We studied the postoperative neurologic outcomes of patients with preoperative ASCI detected by DWI. Methods: We retrospectively studied 32 patients with preoperative ASCI detected by DWI. None of the patients had preoperative neurologic symptoms. The mean age at operation was $68.8{\pm}9.5$ years. Five patients had previous histories of stroke. Four patients had been diagnosed with infective endocarditis. Single cerebral infarct lesions were detected in 16 patients, double lesions in 13, and multiple lesions (>5) in three. The median size of the infarct lesions was 4 mm (range, 2 to 25 mm). The operations of three of the 32 patients were delayed pending follow-up DWI studies. Results: There were two in-hospital mortalities. Neurologic complications also occurred in two patients. One patient developed extensive cerebral infarction unrelated to preoperative infarct lesions. One patient showed sustained delirium over one week but recovered completely without any neurologic deficits. In two patients, postoperative DWI confirmed that no significant changes had occurred in the lesions. Conclusion: Patients with preoperative ASCI showed excellent postoperative neurologic outcomes. Preoperative ASCI was not a risk factor for postoperative neurologic deterioration.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.56-61
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• 2013

Objectives: This video has been produced to provide better awareness for our patients about radiotherapy treatment for anxiety and stress. This video will give inexperienced patients a better understanding of the processes and expectations of the radiotherapy. We have produced a radiotherapy guidance video regarding work flow and a method of radiotherapy to relieve anxiety and stress. It also improves patients satisfaction and understanding of radiotherapy to provide a high-quality health care for radiotherapy patients with indirect experience. Methods: We have evaluated the effectiveness of the video compared to our existing verbal method. See below for the evaluation criteria; 1) Patients satisfaction rate of guidance 2) a comparison of understanding of radiotherapy 3) a comparison of a time of education for patients 4) a researching of an incidence rate of radiotherapy. Results: When compared to the verbal explanation the patients had a increased level of understanding of the radiotherapy treatment. The time to educate patient was decreased and the level of incidents during the treatment was decreased due to the patient having a better understanding of the whole process. Conclusion : In conclusion, the audiovisual education increased the understanding of radiotherapy for patients compared to verbal education. The video also helped patients to cooperate in treatment room so we can provide premium radiotherapy treatment. By reducing the treatment time and education processa we improved the patients overall experience.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2009

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the cooperative levels of dental patients requiring general anesthesia during dental treatments. Anesthetic induction methods for patients were also recorded and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Methods: Total 566 patients who visited Seoul National University Dental Hospital Clinic for Persons with Disabilities were reviewed on pre-anesthetic review and anesthesia records. The cooperative levels of patients were graded by 4 levels and induction methods used for the patients during general anesthesia application were analyzed. Results: More than half of patients(55.8%) were willing to receive the anesthetic induction(cooperative level 1), 18.6% were minimally cooperative(level 2), 20.8% needed physical restraint prior to induction(level 3), and 4.8% was poorly cooperative and induction procedure was performed under an unconscious condition after ketamine intramuscular injection(level 4). There was no gender difference in cooperative levels(P=0.11). Patients over 30 years revealed better cooperation levels compared to other age groups(P<0.05). For patients of level 1, 53.5% were anesthetized in a way of intravenous induction, while 77.1% out of patients of level 3 were anesthetically induced through inhalation method. Conclusion: Many dental patients with special needs were not cooperative to receive anesthetic induction. Additional behavioral support may be applied to poorly cooperative patients for the safe and successful clinical outcome.