• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.329-332
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• 1993

Breakdown of the normal protective function of the larynx, either through primary or neurologic cause, leads to chronic aspiration, recurrent pneumonitis and possibly death. Lindemann`s tracheoesophageal diversion has three main advantages; first, it eliminates intractable aspiration in all patients who underwent the procedure, second, it preserves larynx, and third, if the underlying neurologic condition is recorved, the procedure can be reversed. We had performed tracheoesophageal diversion in two cases of intractable aspiration pneumonia patients. The postoperative courses were uneventful and they were receiving oral alimentation on the 22th and 9th postoperative days respectively, and could be discharged on 43th and 20th postoperative days respectively.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 2001

Background and Objectives： Intractable aspiration in patients with impaired protective function of the larynx often results in multiple episode of aspiration pneumonia, repeated hospitalizations and expensive nursing care. The purpose of this study was to review the authors’experience and Patient outcome with the laryngotracheal separation (LTS) procedure. Materials and Methods A retrospective review of 9 patients who underwent LTS between 1996 and 2001 was conducted. Ages ranged from 3 to 72 years. Results : Seven patients were expected to have morbid aspiration as a consequence of acquired neurologic injuries and two were congenital neurologic injuries. Two patients had a postoperative fistula, which was well controlled with local wound care and minor procedure. Following LTS, aspiration was effectively controlled in all patients and four were able to tolerate a regular diet. Conclusion : LTS is a low-risk, successful. definitive procedure which decreases the potential for aspiration, pulmonary complication, hospitalizations and increases quality of life, especially in patent with irreversible upper airway dysfunction and Poor speech potential.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2007

Background and Objectives: Since intractable aspiration in patients with impaired protective function of the larynx often results in multiple episode of aspiration pneumonia, repeated hospitalizations and expensive nursing care. The authors reported the preliminary results of laryngotracheal separation(LTS) in patient with chronic intractable aspiration. The purpose of this study was to report the follow up results of patient outcome with the LTS. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 15 patients who underwent LTS between 1996 and 2006 was conducted. Ages ranged from 3 to 72 years. Results: Eight patients had morbid aspiration as a consequence of acquired neurologic injuries and seven patients with congenital neurologic injuries. Two patients had a postoperative fistula, which was well controlled with local wound care. Following LTS, aspiration was effectively controlled in all patients and eight were able to tolerate a regular diet. Conclusion: LTS is a low-risk, successful, definitive procedure which decreases the potential for aspiration, pulmonary complications, duration of hospitalizations and increases quality of life, especially in patent with irreversible upper airway dysfunction and poor speech potential.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.198-201
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• 2010

Persistent and intractable hiccups (with respective durations of more than 48 hours and 1 month) can result in depression, fatigue, impaired sleep, dehydration, weight loss, malnutrition, and aspiration syndromes. The conventional treatments for hiccups are either non-pharmacological, pharmacological or a nerve block treatment. Pulsed radiofrequency lesioning (PRFL) has been proposed for the modulation of the excited nervous system pathway of pain as a safe and nondestructive treatment method. As placement of the electrode in close proximity to the targeted nerve is very important for the success of PRFL, ultrasound appears to be well suited for this technique. A 74-year-old man suffering from intractable hiccups that had developed after a coronary artery bypass graft and had continued for 7 years was referred to our pain clinic. He had not been treated with conventional methods or medications. We performed PRFL of the phrenic nerve guided by ultrasound and the hiccups disappeared.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1621-1625
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• 2008

Generally, hiccup is a temporary symptom, however, persistent or intractable hiccup that repeats continuously or does not respond to medical treatments makes the patients very painful. In this case, a seventy-two years old patient with pontine infarction showed symptoms as aspiration pneumonia and persistent hiccup a few days after hospitalized. We considered him as excess heat pattern and prescribed Yangkyuk-san. In the result, not only the frequency and intensity of hiccup were remarkably decreased but also the inflammation and overall symptoms by pontine infarction were improved.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.109-114
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• 1997

Aspiration of foreign bodies into the airway is a common problem in spite of efforts to educate the public, and it can be sometimes fatal accidents. We clinically analyzed 101 cases of airway foreign bodies treated in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine for the past 10 years comparing data with the previous articles. There was male predominance in the occurrence rate, being 72% in the male patients. The peak age was 1 to 3 years of age, and 84.2% was below age of 10. The most common symptom after foreign body aspiration was intractable cough, and obstructive emphysema was most commonly found on the initial chest X-rays. Foreign bodies were mainly located at the right main bronchus and left main bronchus was the next. Peanuts were the most common airway foreign bodies. Ventilating bronchoscopy was performed in the 99 cases and foreign bodies were successfully removed in most cases. There was 2 deaths(2%) resulted from hypoxia after bronchoscopy. The fact that complication rates increase with the duration of the foreign bodies in situ is clear. Therefore, prompt bronchoscopy in patients with suspected airway foreign bodies is essential for lower complication rates.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2012

Intrathecal drug administration system (ITDAS) can reduce the side effects while increasing the effectiveness of opioids compared to systemic opioid administration. Therefore, the use of ITDAS has increased in the management of cancer pain and chronic intractable pain. Catheter obstruction is a serious complication of ITDAS. Here, we present a case of catheter obstruction by a mass formed at the side hole and in the lumen. A 37-year-old man suffering from failed back surgery syndrome received an ITDAS implantation, and the ITDAS was refilled with morphine every 3 months. When the patient visited the hospital 18 months after ITDAS implantation for a refill, the amount of delivered morphine sulfate was much less than expected. Movement of the pump rotor was examined with fluoroscopy; however, it was normal. CSF aspiration through the catheter access port was impossible. When the intrathecal catheter was removed, we observed that the side hole and lumen of the catheter was plugged.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.227-232
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• 2010

Purpose: Continuous irrigation method is an important step in managing wound infection. V.A.C. devices have been used in intractable wounds for reducing discharge, improving local blood flow, and promoting healthy granulation tissue. We expect synergistic effects of reduced infection and more satisfactory, accelerated wound healing when using both methods simultaneously. This study evaluated continuous irrigation combined with V.A.C. appliance for treatment of infected chronic wounds. Methods: We reviewed data from 17 patients with infected intractable chronic wounds. V.A.C. device (Group A) was used in 9 patients, and V.A.C. with antibiotics irrigation (Group B) was used in 8 patients. We placed Mepitel$^{(R)}$ on the surface of wound and placed an irrigation and aspiration tube on each side. A sponge was placed on the Mepitel$^{(R)}$ and covered with film dressing. The wound was irrigated continuously with mixed antibiotics solution at the speed of 200 cc/hr and aspirated through the wall suction at the pressure of -125 mmHg. V.A.C. applied time, wound culture and wound size were compared between the two groups. Results: No complication were seen in two groups. Compared with Group A, in the Group B, V.A.C. applied time was shortened from 32.7 days to 25.6 days and showed efficacy in the reduction rate of wound size. No statistical differences were shown in bacterial reversion. Conclusion: V.A.C. appliance with continuous irrigation is an effective new method of managing infected chronic wounds and useful to reduce treatment duration and decrease wound size. Moreover it could be applied more widely to infected wound.