• Infection and chemotherapy
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.328-339
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• 2018

Background: Pneumococcal disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in patients with comorbidities and advanced age. This study evaluated trends in epidemiology of adult pneumococcal disease in Crete, Greece, by identifying serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance of consecutive Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from adults during an 8-year time period (2009-2016) and the indirect effect of the infant pneumococcal higher-valent conjugate vaccines 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13). Materials and Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility was performed by E-test and serotyping by Quellung reaction. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was defined as non-susceptibility to penicillin (PNSP) combined with resistance to ${\geq}2$ non-${\beta}$-lactam antimicrobials. Results: A total of 135 S. pneumoniae strains were isolated from adults during the study period. Twenty-one serotypes were identified with 17F, 15A, 3, 19A, and 11A, being the most common. The coverage rates of PCV10, and PCV13 were 17.8% and 37.8%, respectively. PCV13 serotypes decreased significantly from 68.4% in 2009 to 8.3% in 2016 (P = 0.002). The most important emerging non-PCV13 serotypes were 17F, 15A, and 11A, with 15A being strongly associated with antimicrobial resistance and MDR. Among all study isolates, penicillin-resistant and MDR strains represented 7.4% and 14.1%, respectively. Predominant PNSP serotypes were 19A (21.7%), 11A (17.4%), and 15A (17.4%). Erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and levofloxacin resistant rates were 30.4%, 15.6%, 16.3%, 16.3%, and 1.5%, respectively. Conclusion: Although pneumococcal disease continues to be a health burden in adults in Crete, our study reveals a herd protection effect of the infant pneumococcal higher-valent conjugate vaccination. Surveillance of changes in serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance among pneumococcal isolates are necessary to guide optimal prevention and treatment strategies.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.6-13
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• 2023

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been found to cause life-threatening respiratory failure, which can progress to irreversible lung damage. Lung transplantation can be a life-saving treatment in patients with terminal lung disease (e.g., acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by infection). This study aimed to present the clinical course and results after initial lung transplantation in patients with severe COVID-19 who did not recover even with optimal medical care. Methods: From August 2019 to February 2022, this study enrolled 10 patients with COVID-19 (5 men; median age, 55.7 years) who underwent lung transplantation at a single center in Korea. All patients' characteristics, clinical pathway, overall survival, complications, and operative data were collected and analyzed. Results: Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or an oxygenator in a right ventricular assist device circuit was applied to 90% of the patients, and the median length of extracorporeal life support before operation was 48.5 days. There were no cases of mortality after a median follow-up of 372.8 days (interquartile range, 262.25-489 days). The major complications included the requirement for postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in 2 cases (20%), re-transplantation in 1 case (10%), and re-exploration due to bleeding in 2 cases (20%). During the follow-up period, 3 out of 10 patients died. Conclusion: Excellent early outcomes were observed for patients who underwent lung transplantation. Thus, lung transplantation can be an effective and feasible treatment for patients with end-stage lung disease caused by COVID-19.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.108-110
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• 2013

전체 정맥혈색전증 환자의 20% 이상이 암과 관련이 있고, 암 환자에 있어 혈색전증은 두 번째 사망 원인으로 작용하고 있어 이에 대한 효과적인 예방과 치료가 사망률을 감소시킬 수 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 혈색전증 진단에 있어 혈액검사로 D-dimer 측정 및 영상검사로 도플러 초음파, 전산화단층혈관 촬영술을 사용한다. 치료 약제로 경구 비타민 K 길항제가 사용되었으나, 최근에는 정기적인 모니터링이 필요하지 않은 약제들이 새롭게 사용되고 있다. 저자들은 진행성 위암환자에서 발생한 하지 심부정맥 혈전증 및 폐동맥 혈색전증에 있어 저분자량 헤파린을 투여하며, 호전된 사례를 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.172-179
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• 2023

Purpose: Out-of-hospital traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA) often has a poor prognosis despite rescue efforts. Although the incidence and mortality of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have increased, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has decreased in some countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the prehospital setting, immediate treatment of cardiac arrest is required without knowing the patient's COVID-19 status. Because COVID-19 is usually transmitted through the respiratory tract, airway management can put medical personnel at risk for infection. This study explored whether on-scene treatments involving CPR for TCA patients changed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea. Methods: This retrospective study used data from emergency medical services (EMS) run sheets in Gangwon Province from January 2019 to December 2021. Patients whose initial problem was cardiac arrest and who received CPR were included. Data in 2019 were classified as pre-COVID-19 and all subsequent data (from 2020 and 2021) as post-COVID-19. Age, sex, possible cause of cardiac arrest, and treatments including airway maneuvers, oropharyngeal airway (OPA) or i-gel insertion, endotracheal intubation (ETI), bag-valve mask (BVM) ventilation, intravenous (IV) line establishment, neck collar application, and wound dressing with hemostasis were investigated. Results: During the study period, 2,007 patients received CPR, of whom 596 patients had TCA and 367 had disease-origin cardiac arrest (DCA). Among the patients with TCA, 192 (32.2%) were pre-COVID-19 and 404 (67.8%) were post-COVID-19. In the TCA group, prehospital treatments did not decrease. The average frequencies were 59.7% for airway maneuvers, 47.5% for OPA, 57.4% for BVM, and 51.3% for neck collar application. The rates of ETI, i-gel insertion, and IV-line establishment increased. The treatment rate for TCA was significantly higher than that for DCA. Conclusions: Prehospital treatments by EMS workers for patients with TCA did not decrease during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the rates of ETI, i-gel insertion, and IV-line establishment increased.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제57권4호
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• pp.399-407
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• 2024

Background: Pump-controlled retrograde trial off (PCRTO) is a safe, simple, and reversible method for weaning patients from veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). However, few studies have compared PCRTO to conventional weaning methods. This retrospective study aimed to compare PCRTO to non-PCRTO methods. Methods: This study included patients who were weaned from VA-ECMO from January 2016 to December 2022 at our medical center. Demographic data, ECMO management, ECMO complications, survival to discharge, and cardiogenic shock after VA-ECMO weaning were compared between the 2 groups. Results: Seventy patients who were weaned from VA-ECMO using PCRTO and 85 patients who were weaned with conventional methods were compared. Patient characteristics were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The rate of survival to discharge was significantly higher in the PCRTO group than in the non-PCRTO group (90% vs. 72%, p=0.01). The rates of freedom from all-cause mortality at 10, 30, and 50 days after weaning from ECMO were 75%, 55%, and 35% in the non-PCRTO group and 62%, 60%, and 58% in the PCRTO group, respectively (p=0.1). The incidence of cardiogenic shock after weaning from VA-ECMO was significantly higher in the non-PCRTO group (16% vs. 5%, p=0.04). In logistic regression analysis, PCRTO was a significant factor for survival to discharge (odds ratio, 2.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.29-5.28; p=0.02). Conclusion: Compared to conventional methods, PCRTO is a feasible and reversible method, and it serves as a useful predictor of successful VA-ECMO weaning through a preload stress test.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권sup1호
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• pp.99-107
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• 2001

Objective : Hydrocephalus and vasospasm are the common complications following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In spite of development of perioperative management and operative technique, hydrocephalus cause neurological deficit and poor prognosis. Usually CSF drainage procedure(external ventricular drainage(EVD) or shunt) is needed in hydrocephalus following SAH. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the need for shunting and the outcome after shunting in hydrocephaus following SAH can be related to the duration, daily and total amount of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) drainage at EVD. Material and Method : IVH is one of several factors which cause hydrocephalus. In this retrospective study, firstly we investigated the incidence of IVH in total cases and frequency of IVH according to aneurysmal site and then prognosis of IVH following SAH. Among 629 patients with SAH, hydrocephalus was diagnosed by CT scan and symptoms. And then those 102 hydrocephalus following SAH were divided into two groups which were hydrocephalus with IVH group and without IVH group. In these two groups, we investigated and compared the incidence of hydrocephalus in all case, frequency of hydrocephalus according to aneurysmal site, the outcome according to H-H grade on admission and the need rate of shunt, etc. Of those hydrocephalus, 100 EVD procedures were done. The duration, daily and total amount of CSF drainage at EVD were investigated. Fifty cases expired during EVD was excluded. We analyzed whether the need rate of shunt and the final outcome after shunting can be related to IVH, the duration and daily and total amount of CSF drainage. Result : The incidence of hydrocephalus following SAH was 20%(with IVH group ; 64%, without IVH group ; 11%). As H-H grade on admission was better, the outcome of hydrocephalus was also better. The mortality rate of hydrocephalus with IVH was 64% which was higher than 40% that of hydrocephalus without IVH. The need rate of shunt in all cases of hydrocephalus following SAH was 20%, but those with IVH group excluding expired patients before shunt was 40%. This was very similar to 41% of the need rate of shunt in hydrocephalus without IVH. The total amount of CSF drainage was statistically related to the need rate of shunt(total amount : need rate of shunt/<1000cc : 15%, 1000-2000cc : 40%, >2000cc : 50%). The duration and daily amount of CSF drainage were not statistically related to the need rate of shunt, but as daily amount of CSF drainage was more and duration was longer, the need rate of shunt was increased(daily amount : need rate of shunt /<100cc : 16%, 100-200cc : 25%, >200cc : 40%//duration : need rate of shunt/<1week : 8%, 1-2weeks : 30%, >2weeks : 47%), and also the final outcome after shunting was poor. Especially the total amount of CSF drainage was significant related to the final outcome after shunting(total amount : GOS/<1000cc : I&II(3/4), 1000-2000cc : II(2/4), III(2/4), >2000cc : III&IV(6/7)). Conclusion : This study revealed that the incidence and mortality rate of hydrocephalus following SAH were influenced by IVH. So SAH associated IVH has the higher incidence of hydrocephalus and poor outcome. As the CSF drainage amount was more and duration of drainage was longer, the need rate of shunt was increased and the final outcome after shunting was poor. Especially the total amount of CSF drainage were strongly related to the need rate of shunt and the outcome after shunting.

• 한국어병학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.263-273
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• 2009

우리나라에서 Streptococcus parauberis는 넙치, Paralichthys olivaceus와 강도다리, Platichthys stellatus의 병원체로 보고되는 사례가 증가하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 S. parauberis에 의한 연쇄 구균병의 수온에 대한 영향 (14${^{\circ}C}$ 및 21${^{\circ}C}$)과 넙치에 대한 병원성을 확인하고자 하였다. S. parauberis 생균을 넙치에 $2.0{\times}10^{7}$ cfu/fish의 농도로 복강주사하고 21일간 폐사를 조사하였다. 또한, H&E 염색과 in situ hybridization 방법을 이용하여 감염 정도, 조직 변화 및 세균의 분포를 포함하는 조직병리학적 연구를 수행하였다. 21일간 넙치의 폐사를 관찰한 결과, 14${^{\circ}C}$와 21${^{\circ}C}$에서의 누적폐사율이 각각 16.7%와 50%로 나타났다. 대부분의 경우 S. parauberis에 감염된 넙치는 체색흑화, 무기력, 복수에 의한 가벼운 복부팽만, 비장 종대, 간 충혈 및 각 내부 장기의 퇴색이 관찰되었다. 심장에서는 한계가 명료한 유백색의 결절과 심낭에 불투명한 염증성 삼출물이 차 있었다. 특히, 폐사가 나타나기 시작한 후 모든 실험어에서 심외막염과 심근염이 관찰 되었다. S. parauberis 인위 감염 시, 균의 검출여부나 조직 내에서의 세균 분포 양상을 관찰하기 위하여 수행한 in situ hybridization의 결과, 실험에 사용한 장기들 중 간장, 비장, 신장 및 위에서는 약한 양성 반응을 나타내었으나 심장의 심근에서 가장 강한 양성 반응을 관찰할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과는 S. parauberis가 심근에 심각한 영향을 미쳐서 호흡곤란과 혈액순환에 영향을 미치는 것으로 판단되므로 S. parauberis에 의한 심외막염과 심근염은 넙치의 폐사와 직접적인 관련이 있는 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.82-88
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• 2008

배경: 하행성 괴사성 종격동염은 구인두에서 염증이 발생한 후 경부간막을 통해 종격동으로 진행함으로써 발생하는 종격동 결체조직의 중증 염증질환이며, 적절한 항생제의 사용과 적극적인 배농술에도 여전히 높은 사망률을 보인다. 본 연구에서는 하행성 괴사성 종격동염으로 진단되어 치료한 환자들의 수술 전 상태, 수술방법, 수술 후 경과등에 대한 성적을 분석하였다. 대상 및 방법: 1998년 9월부터 2007년 8월까지 8명의 환자가 하행성 괴사성 종격동염으로 진단되어 치료하였다. 모든 환자에서 진단 즉시 광범위 항생제를 사용하면서 응급 배농술을 시행하였고, 세균학적 감수성 검사에 따라 항생제를 선택, 사용하였다. 수술방법으로는 경부수술만 시행한 경우가 2예, 경부 및 개흉술을 통하여 수술한 경우가 6예였다. 결과: 증상발현부터 내원까지의 기간은 평균 $4.6{\pm}1.8$일($1{\sim}9$일)이었다. 감염의 원인으로는 치성감염이 4예(50%), 인두 농양이 2예(25%), 불명확한 경우가 2예(25%)였다. Endo 등의 분류에 따라서는 I형이 2예, IIA형이 3예, IIB형이 3예였으며, 원인균은 6예에서 동정되었는데, 연쇄상구균이 4예, 포도상구균이 1예, 클렙시엘라균이 1예였다. 개흉술의 비율은 75%였다. 수술 후 2명의 환자가 사망하여 사망률은 25%였고, 사망의 원인은 모두 패혈증성 쇼크에 의한 다발성 장기부전이었다. 사망 환자들은 모두 초기 배농을 경부절개만 시행하였던 경우였으며, 염증조절이 실패한 경우였다. 결론: 하행성 괴사성 종격동염은 조기진단이 필수이며, 진단 후 혐기성 균을 제어할 수 있는 항생제를 포함한 충분한 항생제 투여와 함께 즉각적인 배농을 시행하여야 한다. 배농시에는 비록 국한적인 염증이라고 판단되더라도 경부절개 및 적절한 흉부접근을 통해 적극적으로 시행하여야 하겠다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제61권4호
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• pp.478-484
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• 2018

Objective : Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) was the third most common cause of death in South Korea in 2014. Evidence from abroad suggests that comprehensive stroke centers play an important role in improving the mortality rate of stroke. However, surgical treatment for CVD is currently slightly neglected by national policy, and there is still regional imbalance in this regard. For this reason, we conducted a survey on the necessity of, and the requirements for, establishing regional comprehensive cerebrovascular surgery centers (CCVSCs). Methods : This investigation was performed using the questionnaire survey method. The questionnaire was consisted with two sections. The first concerned the respondent's opinion regarding the current status of demand and the regional imbalance of cerebrovascular surgery in South Korea. The second section asked about the requirements for establishing regional CCVSCs. We sent the questionnaire to 100 board members of the Korean Society of Cerebrovascular Surgeons. Results : Most experts agreed that cerebrovascular surgery patients were concentrated in large hospitals in the capital area, and 83.6% of respondents agreed that it was necessary to alleviate the regional imbalance of cerebrovascular surgery. With regards to personnel, over 90% of respondents answered that at least two neuro-vascular surgeons and two neuro-interventionists are necessary to establish a CCVSC. Regarding facilities, almost all respondents stated that each CCVSC would require a neuro-intensive care unit and hybrid operating room. The survey asked the respondents about 13 specific neurovascular surgical procedures and whether they were necessary for a regional CCVSC. In the questions about the necessity of cerebrovascular surgical equipment, all seven pieces of equipment were considered essential by all respondents. A further five pieces of equipment were considered necessary on site: computed tomographic angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, conventional angiography, surgical microscope, and surgical navigation. Our results may provide a basis for future policy regarding treatment of cerebrovascular disease, including surgery. Conclusion : Raising the comprehensiveness of treatment at a regional level would lower the national disease burden. Policies should be drafted regarding comprehensive treatment including surgery for cerebrovascular disease, and related support plans should be implemented.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제64권6호
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• pp.891-900
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• 2021

Objective : Vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm (VADA) is a very rare subtype of intracranial aneurysms; when ruptured, it is associated with significantly high rates of morbidity and mortality. Despite several discussions and debates, the optimal treatment for VADA has not yet been established. In the last 10 years, flow diverter devices (FDD) have emerged as a challenging and new treatment method, and various clinical and radiological results have been reported about their safety and effectiveness. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results with the use of FDD in the treatment of unruptured VADA. Methods : We retrospectively evaluated the data of all patients with unruptured VADA treated with FDD between January 2018 and February 2021 at our hybrid operating room. Nine patients with unruptured VADA, deemed hemodynamically unstable, were treated with FDD. Among other parameters, the technical feasibility of the procedure, procedure-related complications, angiographic results, and clinical outcomes were evaluated. Results : Successful FDD deployment was achieved in all cases, and the immediate follow-up angiography showed intra-aneurysmal contrast stasis with parent artery preservation. A temporary episode of facial numbness and palsy was noted in one patient; however, the symptoms had completely disappeared when followed up at the outpatient clinic 2 weeks after the procedure. The 3-6 months follow-up angiography (n=9) demonstrated complete/near-complete obliteration of the aneurysm in seven patients, and partial obliteration and segmental occlusion in one patient each. In the patient who achieved only partial obliteration, there was a sac 13 mm in size, and there was no change in the 1-year follow-up angiography. In the patient with segmental occlusion, the cause could not be determined. The clinical outcome was modified Rankin Scale 0 in all patients. Conclusion : Our preliminary study using FDD to treat hemodynamically unstable unruptured VADA showed that FDD is safe and effective. Our study has limitations in that the number of cases is small, and it is not a prospective study. However, we believe that the study contributes to evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of FDD in the treatment of unruptured VADA.