• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2016

Background: Sacral nerve stimulation is a therapeutic option with demonstrated efficacy for conditions presenting with perineal pain caused by different etiologies. We aimed to assess whether a sacral electrode ($Interstim^{(R)}$, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) inserted through the caudal pathway is able to offer an acceptable level of sacral stimulation and rate of catheter migration. Methods: We present 12 patients with pelvic pain who received sacral neuromodulation via the sacral hiatus with the InterStim electrode. We evaluated patient satisfaction as well as migration and removal of the electrode, if necessary. Results: Our experience included 12 patients, 10 women and two men, with a mean age of 60 years. In eight of the 12 patients, the initial therapy was effective, and the final system implantation was performed. During subsequent follow-up, patient satisfaction was good. To date, there have been no cases of electrode displacement or migration. Conclusions: The caudal insertion of the InterStim electrode, with its own fixation system, and initially designed for transsacral insertion, appears in our experience to be a satisfactory option which can minimize electrode displacements, achieving similar results in therapeutic efficacy and causing no difficulties in removal.

• Journal of Multimedia Information System
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.163-170
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• 2017

Internet of things (IoT) is a new paradigm for collecting, processing and analyzing various contents in order to detect anomalies and to monitor particular patterns in a specific environment. The collected data can be used to discover new patterns and to offer new insights. IoT-enabled data mashup is a new technology to combine various types of information from multiple sources into a single web service. Mashup services create a new horizon for different applications. Environmental monitoring is a serious tool for the state and private organizations, which are located in regions with environmental hazards and seek to gain insights to detect hazards and locate them clearly. These organizations may utilize IoT - enabled data mashup service to merge different types of datasets from different IoT sensor networks in order to leverage their data analytics performance and the accuracy of the predictions. This paper presents an IoT - enabled data mashup service, where the multimedia data is collected from the various IoT platforms, then fed into an environmental cognition service which executes different image processing techniques such as noise removal, segmentation, and feature extraction, in order to detect interesting patterns in hazardous areas. The noise present in the captured images is eliminated with the help of a noise removal and background subtraction processes. Markov based approach was utilized to segment the possible regions of interest. The viable features within each region were extracted using a multiresolution wavelet transform, then fed into a discriminative classifier to extract various patterns. Experimental results have shown an accurate detection performance and adequate processing time for the proposed approach. We also provide a data mashup scenario for an IoT-enabled environmental hazard detection service and experimentation results.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2017

Background: Every patient who undergoes mandibular third molar surgery is concerned about post-operative pain. Indeed, previous researchers have used various methods to treat such pain. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of sublingual injection of dexamethasone (8 mg) to treat post-operative pain after mandibular third molar surgery. Method: This was a randomized, double-blind, split-mouth, clinical trial, involving 48 healthy patients who required surgical removal of two mandibular third molars with similar bilateral positions. All operations were performed by the same experienced surgeon. The patients were randomized into a study group (8 mg dexamethasone injection) and a placebo group (normal saline injection). Both interventions were injected into the sublingual space immediately after local anesthesia, 30 min before the first incision. The study group received an 8 mg dexamethasone injection, while the placebo group received a normal saline injection. The wash period between the patients' two operations was 3 to 4 weeks. Pain was assessed by recording the number of analgesic tablets (rescue drug) consumed, as well as by noting the patients' responses to the visual analog scale (VAS) on the first, second, and third days after surgery. Results: The study group differed significantly from the placebo group in terms of VAS score and analgesic consumption. Conclusion: Dexamethasone (8 mg), injected sublingually, significantly eased post-operative pain after surgical removal of the mandibular third molar.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.440-444
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• 2013

Background Axillary osmidrosis is characterized by unpleasant odors originating from the axillary apocrine glands, resulting in psychosocial stress. The main treatment modality is apocrine gland removal. Until now, of the various surgical techniques have sometimes caused serious complications. We describe herein the favorable outcomes of a new method for ablating apocrine glands by minimal subdermal shaving using sclerotherapy with absolute ethanol. Methods A total of 12 patients underwent the procedure. The severity of osmidrosis was evaluated before surgery. Conventional subdermal shaving was performed on one side (control group) and ablation by means of minimal subdermal shaving and absolute ethanol on the other side (study group). Postoperative outcomes were compared between the study and control groups. Results The length of time to removal of the drain was 1 day shorter in the study group than in the control group. There were no serious complications, such as hematoma or seroma, in either group, but flap margin necrosis and flap desquamation occurred in the control group, and were successfully managed with conservative treatment. Six months after surgery, we and our patients were satisfied with the outcomes. Conclusions Sclerotherapy using absolute ethanol combined with minimal subdermal shaving may be useful for the treatment of axillary osmidrosis. It can reduce the incidence of seroma and hematoma and allow the skin flap to adhere to its recipient site. It can degrade and ablate the remaining apocrine glands and eliminate causative organisms. Furthermore, since this technique is relatively simple, it takes less time than the conventional method.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.735-741
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• 2013

Background The prosthetic dura is an essential element in the protection of the cranial parenchyma and prevention of cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Although prosthetic dura are widely used in neurosurgery, they occasionally provoke infection, which can be a major concern after neurosurgical treatment. However, removal of the prosthetic dura carries a risk of brain parenchyma injury and cerebrospinal fluid leakage. The salvage of infected prosthetic dural material has not been adequately addressed in the literature. In this study, we demonstrate the value of the combination of a meticulous surgical debridement of necrotic tissue and simultaneous muscle free flap for intractable postoperative epidural abscess without removal of the infected prosthetic dura. Methods Between 2010 and 2012, we reviewed the data of 11 patients with persistent infection on the prosthetic dura. The epidural infections each occurred after a neurosurgical procedure, and there was soft tissue necrosis with the disclosure of the underlying prosthetic dura and dead bone around the scalp wound. To salvage the infected prosthetic dura, meticulous debridement and a muscle free flap were performed. Results All 11 patients experienced complete recovery from the complicated wound problem without the need for further surgical intervention. No signs of prosthetic dural infection were observed during the mean follow-up period of 11 months. Conclusions The combination of a meticulous surgical debridement and coverage with a muscle free flap is an effective treatment for salvage of infected prosthetic dura.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.213-220
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• 2015

Background: Pediatric dentists face challenges when young patients require a mesiodens extraction. General anesthesia may be a burden to the child as well as the parent due to dental fears and costs. The aim of this study was to evaluate oral and intravenous sedation in the outpatient setting as a safe and effective means of managing patients who require a mesiodens extraction. Methods: Records were reviewed retrospectively to find patients who underwent a mesiodens removal procedure from January 2013 to September 2014 in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Ajou University Hospital (Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea). A total of 81 patients (62 male and 19 female) between 4 and 11 years of age (mean [${\pm}SD$] $81.6{\pm}14.1$ months) were studied, with a mean weight of $22.9{\pm}3.3kg$ (16 kg to 30 kg). Vital signs, sedation drug dosage, and sedation time were studied. Results: Mean doses of $63.7{\pm}2.5mg/kg$ chloral hydrate and $1.36{\pm}0.22mg/kg$ hydroxyzine were used for oral sedation. Nitrous oxide/oxygen was administrated for $40.0{\pm}2.1$ min. The mean dose of midazolam administered intravenously was $0.14{\pm}0.06mg/kg$ ($2.38{\pm}0.97$ times). In all cases, the mesiodens was removed successfully. Conclusions: Intravenous sedation combined with oral sedation and nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation can be an alternative to general anesthesia when administrated and monitored properly.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.186-193
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• 2020

Background: Non-tunneled catheters (NTCs) are used for hemodialysis (HD) in many centers in which fluoroscopy is not easily accessed despite high complication rates and conditions requiring long-term HD. Therefore, here we aimed to evaluate the superiority of catheter-related outcomes after the application of tunneled cuffed catheter (TCC) without fluoroscopy versus unconditioned NTC insertion. Methods: We divided the participants into two phases: those receiving NTCs between March 2010 and February 2011 (phase I), and those receiving TCCs or NTCs between March 2011 and February 2012 (phase II). Catheter survival, nurse satisfaction, and reasons for catheter removal were analyzed. Results: Two hundred and sixty patients in phase I and 300 patients in phase II were enrolled in this study. The success rate of TCC insertion was 99.2%. The catheter survival rate in phase I was 65.5% at 1 month, while that in phase II was 74.9% at 1 month (p=0.023). We compared catheter survival between TCCs and NTCs for all periods regardless of phase. The TCC survival rate was higher than the NTC survival rate (p<0.001). Catheter-associated problems led to catheter removal in 97 patients (26.6%) in phase I and 68 patients (18.5%) in phase II (p=0.009). Among 14 HD nurses, all reported being satisfied with manipulation during pre-/post-HD, manupulation during HD, and overall. Eleven HD nurses (78.6%) reported being satisfied with the workload. Conclusion: Compared with unconditional NTC insertion for HD, TCC insertion without fluoroscopy improved the overall catheter survival and nurse satisfaction rates.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.37
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• pp.23.1-23.8
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional effects of temporalis myofascial flap after condylectomy, with or without disc removal, in elderly patients with anterior disc displacement (ADD) without reduction and an erosive condylar surface of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Methods: A total of 15 joints from 11 elderly patients (71-78 years old) were included. The patients had pain, mandibular dysfunction symptoms, and unilateral or bilateral ADD as well as an erosive condylar surface of the TMJ. All patients underwent temporalis myofascial flap reconstruction after condylectomy, with or without disc removal. If the maximal mouth opening (MMO) remained <35 mm after condylectomy, coronoidotomy was also performed. Self-assessed pain and mandibular function, including MMO and protrusive and lateral movements, were evaluated. Results: No patient experienced serious complications. Most measurements improved significantly after surgery compared to preoperatively. Most patients achieved nearly-normal mouth opening at 4 weeks after surgery. Although most patients felt discomfort during active postoperative physiotherapy, no patient reported serious pain during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Although nonsurgical therapy is often the first treatment choice for ADD without reduction of the TMJ, surgical intervention involving condylectomy and temporalis myofascial flap reconstruction may be a reasonable first option for elderly patients with an erosive condylar surface of the TMJ.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.738-743
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• 2000

Background: Video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS) is being used as a therapeutic modality in many diseases in which thoracotomy has been used. We studied that the VATS can substitute the thoracotomy in benign esophageal disease. Material and Method: Group I (n=18) underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery, and group II(n=19) thoracotomy. Group I includes 14 leiomyomas and 4 achalasias. Group II includes 16 leiomyomas and 3 achalasias. Operative technique is enucleation in the leiomyoma and modified Heller's myotomy in the achalasia. Analyzing factors of operation-efficacy are anesthetic time, operation time, hospital stay, chest tube drainage amount and chest tube removal day. The degree of the postoperative pain is assessed by the frequency of opioid analgesics injection. Result: There was no death in both groups. There were 5 complications in the group I and 2 in the group II. Prolonged pleural effusion and restenosis of achalasia occurred to 1 patient in each group. In the group I, there were 1 temporaty vocal cord palsy and 2 mucosal tear leading to thoracotomy. There were no differences in anesthesia time, operation time, hospital stay, total chest tube drainage amount, chest tube removal day and frequency of opioid analgesics injection. The amount of the chest tube drainage at POD 1 day was significantly lower in group I(155.6$\pm$77.8cc) than in group II(572.8$\pm$280.1cc)(p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of our data showed that video-assisted thoracic surgery for benign esophageal disease is as effective as thoracotomy and in addition, cosmetic effect is much better. We concluded VATS may be a substitute for thoracotomy in benign esophageal disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2020

Background: Patients undergoing cardiac surgery require postoperative chest drainage. However, the drain is difficult to keep in place in children with congenital heart disease. Since 2015, at Kyungpook National University Hospital, the chest tube is removed on postoperative day 1 in patients who have undergone simple congenital cardiac surgery (i.e., closure of an atrial or ventricular septal defect). In this study, we evaluated the relationship between the duration of drain placement and the likelihood of pericardial effusion after congenital cardiac surgery. Methods: The medical records of patients who underwent closure of an atrial or ventricular septal defect at our hospital between January 2014 and December 2016 were reviewed. In total, 162 patients who received follow-up echocardiography and had information available on postoperative pericardial effusion after the repair procedure were enrolled. Results: Echocardiography was performed at a median of 5 days (range, 4 to 6 days) postoperatively before discharge from the hospital. Pericardial effusion occurred in 21 patients (13.0%), of whom only 3 (1.9%) had moderate or greater pericardial effusion, regardless of the drain duration. All patients improved during outpatient follow-up without invasive management. No patient had severe complications because of pericardial effusion. The duration of drain placement did not affect the incidence of postoperative pericardial effusion (p=0.069). Operative survival was 100%. Conclusion: Based on our study, we recommend removing the drain as soon as its role is complete, generally on postoperative day 1, because early removal does not increase the incidence of pericardial effusion in patients undergoing simple congenital cardiac surgery.