• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.741-745
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• 2015

Background Microvascular complications after free-flap breast reconstructions are potentially devastating problems that can increase patient morbidity and lead to flap loss. To date, no comprehensive study has examined the rates of salvage and the methods of microvascular revision in breast reconstruction. We reviewed the treatment of microvascular complications of free-flap breast reconstruction procedures over a seven-year period. Methods A retrospective review of all patients who underwent microvascular breast reconstruction at our institution between April 2006 and December 2013 was conducted. Based on their surgical records, all patients who required emergency re-exploration were identified, the rate of flap salvage was determined, the factors associated with flap salvage were evaluated, and the causes and methods of revision were reviewed. Results During the review period, 605 breast reconstruction procedures with a free lower abdominal flap were performed. Seventeen of these flaps were compromised by microvascular complications, and three flaps were lost. The overall salvage rate was 82.35%. No significant differences between the salvaged group and the failed group were observed with regard to age, BMI, axillary dissection, number of anastomotic arteries and veins, recipient vessel types, or use of the superficial inferior epigastric vein in the revision operation. Successful salvage of the flap was associated with a shorter time period between recognizing the signs of flap compromise and the take-back operation. Conclusions The salvage rate of compromised lower abdominal flaps was high enough to warrant attempting re-exploration. Immediate intervention after the onset of flap compromise signs is as important as vigilant postoperative monitoring.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.155-166
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• 1969

Heterotopic abdominal homograft of canine heart was carried out in 20 pairs of dogs. Of these 12 cases were subjected as a control and 8 were subjected to immunosuppressive group. The dosage of immunosuppressive agent was 5mg/kg/day of Imuran [Azathioprine] for 3 days preoperatively, 10mg/kg on operative day and 5mg/kg/day postoperatively. For reducing the metabolic demand, the donor heart was preserved in 4degree heparinized saline solution for approximately I4 minutes. In the most of the cases, transplantation was performed with the technique of end-to-side aorto-aortic anastomosis and end-to-side pulmonary artery-inferior vena cava anastomosis at the infrarenal portion. Five out of 20 grafted dogs were survived more than one day. The longest survived 18 days in the control group and survive more than 60 days in the treated group. The survival cases were 3 out of 8[37. 5%] in the group of dogs treated with lmuran and 2`out of 12 [16.6%] in the group of non-treated. A prominent gross findings of the grafted heart was a minimal to moderate degree of dilatation of the heart with or without thrombosis in the cardiac chambers and/or anastomotic site. The case number 10, 15, and 19 showed moderate hypertrophy in grossly. The microscopic findings were as follows; 1. There were early hypersensitive histologic reactions such as interstitial edema, cellular infiltrations and early degenerative changes in the myocardium in the cases of 3 hour survival. 2. In the cases of more than 6 hours survival, organizing thrombosis of myocardial vessels, vasculitis,myocardial necrosis and lymphocyte, plasma cell, round cell infiltrations were noted. In the cases of more than 12 hours survival, the degree of these histologic changes especially in the non-treated group were more intensified than in the treated. 3. In the cases which survived more than one day, so called homograft specific histologic changes were milder in the immunosuppressive group compared with the control. 4. All the host hearts showed no evidence of pathologic findings histologically. Among the homologous canine cardiac transplantation tissue reaction, was milder and suvival time longer in the group treated with immunosuppressive drug.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.378-396
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• 2022

Several reconstructive methods have been reported to restore the continuity of the aerodigestive tract following resection of pharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. However, high complication rates have been reported after voice prosthesis insertion. In this setting, the ileocolon free flap (ICFF) offers a tubularized flap for reconstruction of the hypopharynx while providing a natural phonation tube. Herein, we systematically reviewed the current evidence on the use of the ICFF for reconstruction of the aerodigestive tract. A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed MEDLINE, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Ovid MEDLINE(R). Data on the technical considerations and surgical and functional outcomes were extracted. Twenty-one studies were included. The mean age and follow-up were 54.65 years and 24.72 months, respectively. An isoperistaltic or antiperistaltic standard ICFF, patch flap, or chimeric seromuscular-ICFF can be used depending on the patients' needs. The seromuscular chimeric flap is useful to augment the closure of the distal anastomotic site. The maximum phonation time, frequency, and sound pressure level (dB) were higher with ileal segments of 7 to 15 cm. The incidence of postoperative leakage ranged from 0 to 13.3%, and the majority was occurring at the coloesophageal junction. The revision rate of the microanastomosis ranged from 0 to 16.6%. The ICFF provides a reliable and versatile alternative for reconstruction of middle-size defects of the aerodigestive tract. Its three-dimensional configuration and functional anatomy encourage early speech and deglutition without a prosthetic valve and minimal donor-site morbidity.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2005

Purpose: In Korea, the number of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomies for early gastric cancer patients has been increasing lately. Although minimally invasive surgery is more beneficial, no reported case of a totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy has been reported because of difficulty with intracorporeal anastomosis. This study attempts, through our experiences, to determine the feasibility of a totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy using an intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy in treating early gastric carcinoma. Materials and Methods: We investigated surgical results and clinicopatholgic characteristics of eight(8) patients with an early gastric carcinoma who underwent a totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy at the Department of Surgery, Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, between June 2004 and September 2004. The intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy was performed with a delta-shaped ananstomosis by using only laparoscopic linear staplers (Endocutter 45mm; Ethicon Endosurgery, OH, USA). Results: The operative time was $369.4\pm62.5$ minutes (range $275\∼465$ minutes), and the anastomotic time was 45.1\pm14.4$ minutes (range $32\∼70$ minutes). The anastomotic time was shortened as surgical experience was gained. The number of laparoscopic linear staplers for an operation was $7.1\pm0.6$. The number of lymph nodes harvested was $31.9\pm13.1$. There was 1 case of transfusion and no case of conversion to an open procedure. The time to the first flatus was 2.8$\pm$0.5 days, and the time to the first food intake was $4.1\pm0.8$ days. There were no early postoperative complications, and the postoperative hospital stay was $10.0\pm3.9$ days. Conclusion: A totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy using an intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy with a delta-shaped anastomosis is technically feasible and can maximize the benefit of laparoscopic surgery for early gastric cancer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.144-149
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• 2001

Purpose: Gastric stump cancer is defined as a cancer that develops in the stomach after a resection in cases of non-malignant or malignant gastric disease. The interval between the gastrectomy and the detection of gastric stump cancer must be over 5 years. Since duodenogastric reflux gastritis is a precancerous condition and one of the most important factors inducing gastric stump cancer, we compared the bile-acid content of gastric juice between gastric stump cancer patients and controls. Materials and Methods: To evaluate retrospectively the surgical treatment of patients with gastric stump cancer, we reviewed the cases histories of 1016 stomach cancer patients who had been operated on at the Department of General Surgery, Kosin University Gospel Hospital, between 1995 and 1998. The gastric juice was collected during the operations on the gastric stump cancer patients by using a needle puncture of the fundus of the stomach and during the endoscopic examinations of the control subjects. The samples were analyzed for various bile acids (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry). Results: The 6 gastric stump cancer cases accounted for $0.6\%$ of all gastric cancer patients; 5 patients were first operated on for a peptic ulcer and the remaining one for an adenocarcinoma of the stomach. All of the cases were men. The reconstruction method after the initial gastrectomy was a Billroth II in all cases. The sites of the gastric stump cancer were the anastomotic sitein 2 patients, the upper body in 2, the fundus in 1 and the cardia in 1. The operative methods were 3 total gastrectomies, 2 subtotal gastrectomies with Roux en Y anastomosis, and 1 partial gastrectomy with lymph node dissection and had a curative intention in all patients. All of the patients were still surviving at the time of this report. The gastric juices of 4 gastric stump patients showed significantly higher contents of cholic acid ($36.42{\mu}g/ml$) compared to the gastric juices of 35 control subjects ($36.42{\mu}g/ml$)(p$\leq0.0001$). Chenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid were not significantly different. Conclusion: The gastric juice of gastric stump cancer patients contained a significantly higher cholic acid content. At the time of the initial gastrectomy, an operative method that prevents duodenogastric reflux may prevent or minimize the development of gastric stump cancer, and more aggressive surgical treatment may improve survival.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.675-680
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• 2010

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the distinguishing clinicoradiologic findings of traumatic tracheobronchial injury. Material and Method: Between January 2003 and December 2009, six patients who underwent surgical repair for traumatic tracheobronchial injury due to blunt trauma were included in this study. We evaluated the mechanism of the injury, the coexisting injuries, the time until the making diagnosis and treatment, the diagnostic methods, the anatomic location of the injury and the surgical outcomes. Result: The mechanisms of injury were traffic accident and crushing forces. The frequent symptoms were subcutaneous emphysema, dyspnea and pain, and the common radiologic findings were pneumothorax, mediastinal emphysema, rib fracture and lung contusion. Only 2 patients were diagnosed by chest CT and the others were not diagnosed preoperatively. The location of injury was the trachea in 2 patients and the bronchial tree in 4 patients. There was no postoperative mortality or anastomotic leak; however, vocal cord palsy occurred in one patient. The most distinguishing sign was persistent lung collapse even though the chest tube was connected with negative pressure. Conclusion: Although it was not easy to diagnose traumatic tracheobronchial injury without a clinical suspicion, the distinguishing clinical symptoms and CT findings could help to make an early diagnosis without performing bronchoscopy.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.145-150
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• 2002

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the shortterm outcome of a pylorus-preserving proximal gastrectomy by comparing it with a jejunal interposition after a total gastrectomy in proximal gastric adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: For 22 patients (12 men and 10 women) who underwent a pylorus-preserving proximal gastrectomy, several clinical parameters were obtained from the medical records retrospectively. In this study, the data were collected between September 1993 and December 1999 at Chungnam National University Hospital, and the results were compared with those of 25 patients (17 men and 8 women) who underwent an isoperistaltic simple jejunal interposition. Results: The average operative time in the pylorus-preserving proximal gastrectomy group (220 minutes) was shorter than that in the jejunal interposition group (243 minutes) (P<0.05). The hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were significantly higher in the pylorus-preserving proximal gastrectomy group at 2 years after the operation. The body weight ratio (postoperative body weight/preoparative body weight) in patients who had a pylorus-preserving proximal gastrectomy was significantly higher than that in patients with a jejunal interposition at 2 years after the operation. The jejunal interposition procedure had better outcomes in anastomotic site stricture, duration of hospital stay, and number of removed lymph nodes (P<0.05). Conclusions: We think that from the viewpoint of quality of life, a pylorus-preserving proximal gastrectomy, as well as a jejunal interposition, is a useful reconstruction method for early adenocarcinomas of the proximal stomach. However, stricture of the esophagogastrostomy site in the pyloruspreserving proximal gastrectomy is a common problem to be solved in the future.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.140-148
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• 1995

To study the clinical profiles and outcome of surgery in infants with esophageal atresia, we reviewed 96 esophageal atresia cases who were treated from April, 1978 to June, 1995. There were 51 male and 45 female infants, a ratio of 1.1:1. The low birth weight(<2500g) patients were 32%. Clinical findings at the time of diagnosis included drooling in 57%, choking in 50%, cyanosis in 38%, respiratory distress in 27% and swallowing difficulty in 20%. Gross classification included 6 cases of type A esophageal atresia(6%), 79 cases of type C(82%), 3 cases of type E (3%) and 8 cases of type F(8%). Associated anomalies occurred in 34 infants(35%). Among them, cardiac anomalies were most common(60%). A primary repair of the defect was carried out in 76 patients with type A or C. A staged operation comprising a repair or gastric tube interposition after gastrostomy was performed in 8 patients. In all 3 infants with H-type, a division of fistula was performed. Esophageal resection and anastomosis was done in 8 infants with esophageal stenosis. In one infant, a gastrostomy was performed and he expired before staged operation. Anastomotic complications included leakage in 16 cases(17%), stricture in 37 cases(39%) and recurrent tracheoesopohageal fistula in 3 cases(3%). The mortality rate was 14% and the leading cause of death was pneumonia. The overall survival rate was 86%, and according to Waterston criteria, the survival rates were 93%, 85% and 58% in class A, Band C, respectively. 75 patients were followed up with median follow up 6.4 years. Among them, 93% were uneventful and 7% had frequent pneumonia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.861-866
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• 1996

Surgical angioplasty of isolated stenosis of the left main coronary artery(LMCA) restores a more physiologic flow to the myocardium, allows percutdneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of distal coronary stenoses at a later stage, and is a less time consuming and convenient procedure than the conventional coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) . Between Jul. 1994 and Dec. 1995, 7 surgical angioplasty had been performed. LMCA stenoses involved ostium in 2 patients, middle third in 3, and dis- tal third in 2. In 2 patients, the origin of left anterior descending coronary artery was involved in conjunction with LMCA. T e additional coronary artery stenoses were found in 2 cases. One patient was emergently operated after coronary angiography following his cardiac arrest. LMCA was approached anteriorly in all patients. The pulmonary artery was transected in 3 patients for a better exposure. The onlay patch consisted or autologous or bovine pericardium. There was no postoperative myocardial infarction or mortality. Left ventricular functions were well preserved in all patients. Postoperative coronary angiography revealed widely patent LMCA in 5 cases, and mild narrowing of distal anastomotic sites in 2 cases. Provided that well defined indications are followed correctly, surgical angioplasty can be a safe alternative to conventional CABG.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.876-884
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• 1997

Fourteen patients underwent orthotopic heart transplantation between March 1994 and May 1996 in Seoul National University Hospital. There were 9 male and 5 female patients, and the mean age was 40.8 $\pm$ 12.4 years ranged from 12 to 56 years. All patient were in NYHA Fc III or IV preoperatively. The underlying heart diseases were dilated cardiomyopathy in 11 and restrictive cardiomyopathy in 3. The mean age of donors was 24.9$\pm$ 10.2 years and the causes of the brain death were head trauma by traffic accidents in 8, subarachnoid hemorrhage in 2, 1 asphyxia, 1 fall down injury, 1 brain tumo , and 1 drowning, respectively The blood type was identical in 11, compatible in 2, and incompatible in 1 patient. The direct bicaval anastomosis technique was used in 11 cases, and standard right atrial anastomosis was done in the remaining 3 cases. The graft ischemic time was 158$\pm$44 minutes ranged 94 to 220 minutes. There were two hospital deaths(14.3%). The causes of deaths were 1 right ventricular failure followed by suspected cyclosporine induced hemolytic uremic syndrome and rejection, and 1 delayed massive bleeding, probably from rupture of the anastomotic pseudoaneurysm, respectively. The follow-up duration was 16$\pm$9 months(3 to 28 months). There was one late death(8.3%). All the other patients were in NYHA Fc I except one patient who was in hospital because of the acute rejection. The actuarial survival rates including hospital deaths were 93.7% at 1 month, 86.9% at 6 months, and 77$\pm$12% at 2 years. Conclusively, heart transplantation is the good strategy for the management of end stage heart disease with acceptable operative mortality and early follow-up results.