• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.145-150
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• 2013

Endoscopic treatment is a minimally invasive treatment for managing patients with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Although several bulking agents have been used for endoscopic treatment, dextranomer/hyaluronic acid is the only bulking agent currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating VUR. Endoscopic treatment of VUR has gained great popularity owing to several obvious benefits, including short operative time, short hospital stay, minimal invasiveness, high efficacy, low complication rate, and reduced cost. Initially, the success rates of endoscopic treatment have been lower than that of open antireflux surgery. However, because injection techniques have been developed, a recent study showed higher success rates of endoscopic treatment than open surgery in the treatment of patients with intermediate- and high-grade VUR. Despite the controversy surrounding its effectiveness, endoscopic treatment is considered a valuable treatment option and viable alternative to long-term antibiotic prophylaxis.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2000

This paper reports our 9-year experience treating 34 infants with biliary atresia utilizing a new non-invasive diagnostic method, ultrasonographic "triangular cord"(TC) sign. The TC sign is present when there is visualization of a triangular or a band-like echogenicity just cranial to the portal vein. The ultrasonographic TC sign appears to be a simple, non-invasive, time-saving and useful tool in the diagnosis of biliary atresia. Sensitivity is 84 %. Active bile excretion was restored in 90 % of the patients who were treated between 31-60days, 78 % of those between 61-90 days, and 33 % of those being 91days or older. The incidence of postoperative cholangitis was 36 %. Construction of an antireflux valve in the Roux-en-Y loop did not affect the incidence of postoperative cholangitis(p=0.18). Among 34 infants with biliary atresia, 23(68 %) are alive for 2-102 months after operation, and 12 are alive for more than 5 years. Five-year estimate survival by Kaplan-Meier method was 66 %.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2010

The pathophysiology of Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been known that it is developed when the offense-primarily the gastric acid-pepsin content of the refluxate-overcomes a 3-tiered esophageal protective defense. consisting of antireflux mechanisms, luminal clearance mechanisms, and tissue resistance. Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), which is known as an extraesophageal variant of GERD, has been considered to be developed by transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR), direct mucosal injury by gastric contents, more sensitive mucosa compared to esophagus, and absence of buffering effect and aggravation of the injury due to pepsin. However, hypothesis of the pathophysiology in both entities are numerous and still lack of understanding for being a theory. There is no conflict that understanding the pathophysiology is necessary for resolving the problems of these diseases and numerous studies and results have been releasing. This review could provide clinicians dealing with GERD and LPR with applicable new information and help for overcoming the clinical obstruction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2009

Background and Objectives: Although laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) is a widely recognized disease in the field of otolaryngology, controversies still exist regarding the diagnosis and treatment for it. The purpose of this survey was to find out current trends in diagnosis and management of LPRD among Korean otolaryngologists. Materials and Method: Questionnaires were obtained from 26 Korean otolaryngology specialists by electronic balloting, and 46 members of the Korean Society of Head and Neck Surgery (KSHNS) bye-mail. Survey participants were asked about their preferences in diagnostic policy, duration/dosage of antireflux treatment, and their familiarity to the reflux symptom index (RST) and the reflux finding scores (RFS). Results: The majority of the survey participants (64%) preferred empiric therapy trial with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) based on patients' symptoms and their laryngeal findings. PPIs alone (27%) or PPIs with prokinetics (32%) were usually prescribed as a first line treatment mostly with once daily schedule in the morning before meal and for less than 4 months of duration (86%). More than 90% of participants were aware of the RSI and RFS, but less than 50% of them were actually using those items in the clinics. Conclusion: Most of Korean otolaryngologists who participated in this survey answered that they prefer starting empirical treatments with proton pump inhibitors mainly based on the patient's symptoms and their laryngeal findings.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.11
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• pp.447-450
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• 2020

Background: Esophageal stricture (ES) is an uncommon clinic entity in pediatrics that may be congenital or acquired in childhood. Acquired noncaustic ES is very rare, and clinical features of affected patients are unknown. Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the clinical findings, and outcomes of patients with acquired noncaustic ES to aid physicians in the early referral of patients to gastroenterologists. Methods: The medical data of patients with acquired noncaustic ES who were followed in our gastroenterology clinic between January 2009 and December 2019 were reviewed. Results: Acquired noncaustic ES was found in 12 of the 4,950 patients (0.24%) who underwent endoscopy during the study period. The main symptoms were dysphagia (58.3%), vomiting (33.3%), and chronic anemia (8.3%). Chronic malnutrition and underweight were found in 66.6% of the patients. The most common etiological factors were radiotherapy, peptic reflux, and achalasia (16.6%, each), while chemotherapy, squamous-cell carcinoma (SC) of the esophagus, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), esophageal web, epidermolysis bullosa, and esophageal diverticulum (8.2%, each) were the other etiological factors. Patients with EoE underwent endoscopic bougie dilation in addition to steroid use and elimination diet. Patients with epidermolysis bullosa and esophageal web underwent bougie dilation. Patients with peptic reflux-related ES were initially put on antireflux therapy, but during follow-up, one patient required esophageal replacement with colonic interposition. Patients with radiotherapy-related ES recovered with medical therapy. The patient with initially underwent surgical gastrostomy and tumoral mass excision. The patient then received chemotherapy and radiotherapy and underwent jejunal interposition. Patients with achalasia underwent surgical esophagomyotomy. Conclusion: The presence of solid dysphagia, malnutrition, and an associated disease may alert physicians to the presence of ES.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.128-132
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• 2008

Background: Laryngeal contact granuloma is an inflammatory hypertrophic granulation tissue arising at around the vocal process of arytenoid cartilage. Various approaches are currently used for the treatment, but a solid guideline has not been established. Objectives: We aimed to compare the each treatment modality in the hope of suggesting a guideline for the successful management of laryngeal contact granuloma. Method: Eighty-seven treatment cases of 56 patients were analyzed. Cases having recent intubation history were excluded from the study. All patients received vocal hygiene education. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI, N = 33) or H2 receptor antagonists ($H_{2}RA$, N =26) were used as a first-line treatment. Among the non-responders to $H_{2}RA$, 11 cases received PPI as a second-line therapy. Eight cases received botulinum toxin injection and 9 cases had laryngomicrosurgical removal. Results: As an initial therapy, response rate to PPI and $H_{2}RA$ was 60.6% and 38.5% respectively, which was not statistically different (p=0.091). Response rate of PPI as the second-line therapy was 36.3% (p=0.162 when compared to that of first-line PPI therapy). Response rate of Botulinum toxin injection was 75%. All cases of surgical removal recurred in a relatively short period (mean 1.9months). Conclusion: In patients having laryngeal contact granuloma, combined therapy with vocal hygiene education and PPI medication would provide more than 60% of therapeutic response. Botulinum toxin injection is highly effective even in non-responders to antireflux therapy. The only indications of surgery are to resolve diagnostic doubt or to treat acute airway compromise.