• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2009

Objective : Although endoscopic procedures for lumbar disc diseases have improved greatly, the postoperative outcomes for high grade inferior migrated discs are not satisfactory. Because of anatomic limitations, a rigid endoscope cannot reach all lesions effectively. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of endoscopic transforaminal suprapedicular approach to high grade inferior-migrated lumbar disc herniations. Methods : Between May 2006 and March 2008, a suprapedicular approach was performed in 53 patients with high grade inferior-migrated lumbar disc herniations using a rigid endoscope and a semi-rigid flexible curved probe. One-to-four hours after surgery, the presence of remnant discs was checked with MRI. The outcomes were evaluated with the visual analogue scale (VAS) score and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) one week after surgery. Results : The L2-3 level was involved in 2 patients and the L3-4 level was involved in 14 patients, while the L4-5 level was involved in 39 patients. There were single piece-type in 34 cases and a multiple piece-type in 19 cases. Satisfactory results were obtained in all cases. The mean preoperative VAS for leg pain was $9.32{\pm}0.43$ points (range, 7-10 points), whereas the mean ODI was $79.82{\pm}4.53$ points (range, 68-92 points). At the last follow-up examination, the mean postoperative VAS for leg pain was $1.78{\pm}0.71$ points and the mean postoperative ODI improved to $15.27{\pm}3.82$ points. Conclusion : A high grade inferior migrated lumbar disc is difficult to remove sufficiently by posterolateral endoscopic lumbar dscectomy using a rigid endoscope. However, a satisfactory result can be obtained by applying a transforaminal suprapedicular approach with a flexible semi-rigid curved probe.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.152-160
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• 2016

Purpose: Endoscopic diagnosis of gastric cancer (GC) that emerges after eradication of Helicobacter pylori may be affected by unique morphological changes. Using comprehensive endoscopic imaging, which can reveal biological alterations in gastric mucosa after eradication, previous studies demonstrated that Congo red chromoendoscopy (CRE) might clearly show an acid non-secretory area (ANA) with malignant potential, while autofluorescence imaging (AFI) without drug injection or dyeing may achieve early detection or prediction of GC. We aimed to determine whether AFI might be an alternative to CRE for identification of high-risk areas of gastric carcinogenesis after eradication. Materials and Methods: We included 27 sequential patients with metachronous GC detected during endoscopic surveillance for a mean of 82.8 months after curative endoscopic resection for primary GC and eradication. After their H. pylori infection status was evaluated by clinical interviews and $^{13}C$-urea breath tests, the consistency in the extension of corpus atrophy (e.g., open-type or closed-type atrophy) between AFI and CRE was investigated as a primary endpoint. Results: Inconsistencies in atrophic extension between AFI and CRE were observed in 6 of 27 patients, although CRE revealed all GC cases in the ANA. Interobserver and intraobserver agreements in the evaluation of atrophic extension by AFI were significantly less than those for CRE. Conclusions: We demonstrated that AFI findings might be less reliable for the evaluation of gastric mucosa with malignant potential after eradication than CRE findings. Therefore, special attention should be paid when we clinically evaluate AFI findings of background gastric mucosa after eradication (University Hospital Medical Information Network Center registration number: UMIN000020849).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.697-702
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• 1998

Hyperhidrosis of the palms, axillae, and the face has a strong negative impact on the quality of life for many people. Existing nonsurgical therapeutic options are far from ideal. A definitive cure can be obtained by upper thoracic sympathectomy. The traditional open surgical technique is a major procedure; few patients and doctors have found that risk-benefit considerations favor surgery. Endoscopic minimal invasive surgical techniques are now available. We investigated whether endoscopic ablation of upper thoracic sympathetic chain(T2-4) is an efficient and safe treatment of hyperhidrosis. We treated 40 patients with bilateral endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy. There were no mortalities, life-threatening complication, no treatment failures occurred in 40 patients. After a short-term follow-up, 100% of the patients reported satisfactory results. Endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy is an efficient, safe, and minimally invasive surgical method for the treatment of palmar, axillary hyperhidrosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2005

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and advantages of an endoscopic endonasal approach for the treatment of pituitary tumors. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 31 patients with pituitary tumors having endoscopic endonasal surgery between March 1999 and August 2003. Results: Among 31 patients with pituitary adenomas, 25 (81%) patients exhibited gross total removal of tumor on postoperative MRI within 3 days after surgery. Among 6 patients removed subtotally, 2 had only radiosurgery, 3 have had periodic follow-up MRIs and one patient with large extended tumor (grade IV, Stage E) had secondary transcranial removal of tumor before radiosurgery. Postoperative complications included cerebrospinal fluid leak in 2 patients, sinusitis in 1 patient, and one patient died due to unexpected intracerebral hemorrhage on 5 days after surgery. Besides considerable experiences with this approach are needed because of narrow working channel to the sella turcica, the results of our study showed following advantages of this procedure: visualization of areas not seen with the operating microscope, elimination of oronasal complications, more functional and cosmetic outcome, and shortened operative time and hospital stay. Conclusion: The authors consider that endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach provides good results with minimal invasion for patients with pituitary tumors.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.312-316
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• 2009

Objective : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a transforaminal suprapedicular approach, semi-rigid flexible curved probe, and 3-dimensional reconstruction computed tomography (3D-CT) with discogram in the endoscopic treatment of non-contained lumbar disc herniations. Methods : The subjects were 153 patients with difficult, non-contained lumbar disc herniations undergoing endoscopic treatment. The types of herniation were as follows : extraforaminal, 17 patients; foraminal, 21 patients; high grade migration, 59 patients; and high canal compromise, 56 patients. To overcome the difficulties in endoscopic treatment, the anatomic structures were analyzed by 3D reconstruction CT and the high grade disc was extracted using a semi-rigid flexible curved probe and a transforaminal suprapedicular approach. Results : The mean follow-up was 18.3 months. The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) of the patients prior to surgery was 9.48, and the mean postoperative VAS was 1.63. According to Macnab's criteria, 145 patients had excellent and good results, and thus satisfactory results were obtained in 94.77% cases. Conclusion : In a posterolateral endoscopic lumbar discectomy, the difficult, non-contained disc is considered to be the most important factor impeding the success of surgery. By applying a semi-rigid flexible curved probe and using a transforaminal suprapedicular approach, good surgical results can be obtained, even in high grade, non-contained disc herniations.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.338-343
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• 2014

Objective : The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical results of endoscopic radiofrequency ablation of medial branch in patients with chronic low back pain originating from facet joints. Methods : Between October 2010 and December 2013, 52 consecutive patients had suffering from chronic low back pain had undergone endoscopic radiofrequency denervation of medial branch of dorsal ramus. The clinical outcomes of these 52 patients were reviewed retrospectively. Preoperative and postoperative Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Korean version of Oswestry Disability Index (K-ODI), and patients' satisfaction with the procedure were assessed. Results : The pain scores on the VAS for back pain had improved significantly from a preoperative mean of 7.1 to a postoperative mean of 2 at the last follow-up (p<0.001). The clinical outcomes based on the K-ODI had also improved significantly from a preoperative mean of 26.5% to postoperative mean of 7.7% at the last follow-up (p<0.001). 80% of patients were satisfied with the procedure. There were no complications associated with the procedure. Conclusion : Our preliminary results demonstrate that endoscopic radiofrequency denervation of medial branch could be an effective alternative treatment modality for chronic back pain originating from facet joints that provides long-term pain relief.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.175-181
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• 2010

Purpose: There is controversy over the treatment for low grade dysplasia, while resection is recommended for high grade dysplasia. But the concordance of the grade of dysplasia between pre- and post-resection is low because of sampling errors with endoscopic biopsy. We attempted to establish a clearer direction for the treatment of dysplasia by clarifying the discrepancy between the pre- and postresection diagnoses. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 126 patients who had undergone resection with the diagnosis of dysplasia on biopsy at Bundang CHA Hospital from 1999 to 2009. Results: Seventy patients were diagnosed with low grade dysplasia and 56 patients were diagnosed with high grade dysplasia. Among the 33 patients who received gastrectomy with lymph node dissec-tion, 30 patients were revealed to have invasive cancers and 4 patients showed lymph node metastasis. Discordance between the diagnoses from biopsy and resection occurred in 55 patients (44%). There was no correlation on the comparative analysis between the size, location or gross type of lesion and the grade of dysplasia. Conclusions: The rate of discordance between the diagnoses of endoscopic biopsy and the post resection pathologic report was as high as 44%. Endoscopic mucosal resection was not sufficient for some patients who were diagnosed with dysplasia on biopsy due to the presence of lymph node metastasis. It is necessary to be prudent when determining the follow-up and treatment based solely on the result of the biopsy.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of our study was to establish a safe and convenient diagnostic method for acute gastrointestinal (GI) graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in children by determining the sensitivity and negative predictive values of upper and lower endoscopic biopsies for children suspected of GI GVHD. Methods: Patients suspected of GI GVHD who received endoscopic evaluation within 100 days after stem cell transplantation and endoscopies between January 2012 and March 2014 in Seoul National University Children's Hospital were included in our study. Results: Fifteen patients with a total of 20 endoscopic procedures were included in our study. Sensitivity at the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum were 22.2%, 30.0%, and 80.0%, respectively. Negative predictive values at the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum were 22.2%, 30.0%, and 60.0%, respectively. Overall sensitivity and negative predictive values of upper endoscopic biopsy for GVHD were 77.8% and 50.0%, respectively. Overall sensitivity and negative predictive values of lower endoscopic biopsy for GVHD were 88.9% and 66.7%, respectively. Conclusion: We recommend flexible sigmoidoscopy as a safe and accurate diagnostic tool for GVHD, similar to other studies reported previously. However, if there is no evidence of GVHD on sigmoidoscopy with high index of suspicion of GI bleeding, full colonoscopy and upper endoscopy should be considered.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.564-568
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• 2000

The authors present a rare case of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma which successfully treated with endoscopic tumor resection. A 15-year-old boy was presented with multiple episode of generalized seizure and intermittent headache for 5 years. The patient had facial adenoma sebaceum, multiple nevi on his back, and mental retardation. Cerebral MRI scans showed a round tumor located at the frontal horn of right ventricle near the foramen monro. The tumor was totally removed with endoscopic procedure and histologically confirmed as a subependymal giant cell astrocytoma. Subependymal giant cell astrocytomas can cause all the clinical problems that are associated with other types of intracranial tumor. However, surgical indication is not well standardized, because of the lack of basic knowledge about the tumor and the likelihood of surgical morbidity. We believe that endoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive technique, can circumvent the surgical disadvantage while achieving the surgical goal.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.421-425
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• 2019

Background The endoscopic transnasal approach is widely used for reconstructing the medial orbital wall by filling it with a silicone sheet or Merocel, but this technique has the disadvantage of retaining the packing for a long time. To overcome this drawback, a method of positioning an absorbable plate in the orbit has been introduced, but there is a risk of defect recurrence after the plate is absorbed. Here, the authors report the results of a novel surgical technique of placing a nonabsorbable titanium mesh with porous polyethylene into the orbit through the endoscopic transnasal approach. Methods Fourteen patients underwent surgery using the endoscopic transnasal approach. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) was used to calculate the size of the bone defect due to the fracture, and the titanium mesh was designed to be shorter than the anteroposterior length of the defect and longer than its height. The titanium mesh was inserted into the orbit under an endoscopic view. The authors then confirmed that the titanium mesh supported the orbital contents by pressing the eyeball and finished the operation. Immediately after surgery, CT results were evaluated. Results Postoperative CT scans confirmed that the titanium mesh was well-inserted and in the correct position. All patients were discharged without any complications. Conclusions We obtained satisfactory results by inserting a titanium mesh with porous polyethylene into the orbit via the transnasal approach endoscopically.