• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.419-425
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• 2015

Objective : Acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusion (AVBAO) is a devastating disease with a high mortality rate. One of the most important factors affecting favorable clinical outcome is early recanalization. Mechanical thrombectomy is an emerging treatment strategy for achieving a high recanalization rates. However, thrombectomy alone can be insufficient to complete recanalization, especially for acute stroke involving large artery atheromatous disease. The purpose of this study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy in AVBAO. Methods : Fourteen consecutive patients with AVBAO were treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Additional multimodal treatments were intra-arterial (IA) thrombolysis, balloon angioplasty, or permanent stent placement. Recanalization by thrombectomy alone and multimodal treatments were assessed by the Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) score. Clinical outcome was determined using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at 7 days and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months. Results : Thrombectomy alone and multimodal treatments were performed in 10 patients (71.4%) and 4 patients (28.6%), respectively. Successful recanalization (TICI 2b-3) was achieved in 11 (78.6%). Among these 11 patients, 3 (27.3%) underwent multimodal treatment due to underlying atherosclerotic stenosis. Ten (71.4%) of the 14 showed NIHSS score improvement of >10. Overall mortality was 3 (21.4%) of 14. Conclusion : We suggest that mechanical thrombectomy is safe and effective for improving recanalization rates in AVBAO, with low complication rates. Also, in carefully selected patients after the failure of recanalization by thrombectomy alone, additional multimodal treatment such as IA thrombolysis, balloons, or stents can be needed to achieve successful recanalization.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.929-933
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• 2012

This study was done to examine the prognosis according to onset and duration of treatment in acute ischemic cerebral infarction patients. We analysed NIHSS(National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) score of acute ischemic cerebral infarction patients who visited department of Internal Korean Medicine, one medical center in Busan from January to December 2009. We divided patients into two groups by the initial time of treatment. Group A is admitted within 7 days, Group B is admitted from 7 to 14 days. We used NIHSS for functional recovery after 3 weeks later from admission day, and analyzed prognostic factor by analysis of covariance. All patients showed statistically significant improvement after 1week, 2weeks, 3weeks from admission, and between 1st week and 2nd week. However, there was no significant difference between 2nd week and 3rd week. NIHSS recovery score after 3weeks were analysed according to the timing of treatment. There was a statistically significant difference between two groups. The percentage of aggravated patients showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. This study suggests that earlier admission care has an effect on functional recovery of patients with acute ischemic cerebral infarction. Further research on the large scale and long-term follow up is required.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.1015-1022
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe the effects of traditional Korean medicine treatment on a patient with an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) at the left basal ganglia. Methods: The patient was treated with herbal medicine (Gamicheongsim-tang, Hwangryunhaedok-tang-tablet), acupuncture, moxibustion, and rehabilitative therapy. The effects of these treatments were evaluated using the manual muscle test (MMT), sensory scale, Korean version of the modified Barthel index (K-MBI), and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Results: After treatment, the MMT grade improved from 3+/3+ to 4+/4+, and the sensory scale increased from 40%/40%/40% to 80%/80%/80%. In addition, the K-MBI score improved from 56 to 100, and the NIHSS score decreased from 7 to 1. Conclusion: The results suggest that traditional Korean medicine can be effective in the treatment of patients with ICH.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.117-124
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• 2013

Objectives The aims of this study was to observe the effectiveness of East-West Integrative Medicine (EWIM) by analysing between EWIM estimated group and Non-EWIM eastimated group with Brain Rehabilitation Registry. Methods We divided hospitals into two groups, one is EWIM estimated group hospital (Kyeonghee university, Wonkwang university, Dongguk university) and the other is non-EWIM estimated group (Jeonnam university, Gyeongbuk university, Catholic university). Then we analysed the effectiveness of treatments retrospectively using the database of Brain Rehabilitation Registry (http://www.kbrr.or.kr/, version 1.0). Totally 293 patients were included, EWIM estimated group was 175 and non-EWIM estimated group was 118. The main outcome measurements were National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Mini Mental State Examination-Korea (MMSE-K). Results Changes of NIHSS was not significant in both total patient and patient who treated over 3 weeks. MMSE-K showed positively significant difference (p=0.044) in EWIM estimated group patients who treated over 3 weeks. In case of MBI, EWIM estimated group showed more effective result and also statistically significant in both total patients and patients who treated over 3 weeks. Conclusions We patially argued that EWIM estimated group was more effective than non-EWIM estimated group in stroke patients' functional recovery. We suggested base data of EWIM in stroke patiens through this study and this could be applied future researches of developing modified EWIM system.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2024

Objective : Collateral circulation is associated with the differential treatment effect of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in acute ischemic stroke. We aimed to verify the ability of the collateral map to predict futile EVT in patients with acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke. Methods : This secondary analysis of a prospective observational study included data from participants underwent EVT for acute ischemic stroke due to occlusion of the internal carotid artery and/or the middle cerebral artery within 8 hours of symptom onset. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify independent predictors of futile recanalization (modified Rankin scale score at 90 days of 4-6 despite of successful reperfusion). Results : In a total of 214 participants, older age (odds ratio [OR], 2.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56 to 3.67; p<0.001), higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.21; p=0.004), very poor collateral perfusion grade (OR, 35.09; 95% CI, 3.50 to 351.33; p=0.002), longer door-to-puncture time (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.14; p=0.009), and failed reperfusion (OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.30 to 10.76; p=0.015) were associated with unfavorable functional outcomes. In 184 participants who achieved successful reperfusion, older age (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.44 to 3.67; p<0.001), higher baseline NIHSS scores (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.22; p=0.006), very poor collateral perfusion grade (OR, 4.96; 95% CI, 1.42 to 17.37; p=0.012), and longer door-to-reperfusion time (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.15; p=0.003) were associated with unfavorable functional outcomes. Conclusion : The assessment of collateral perfusion status using the collateral map can predict futile EVT, which may help select ineligible patients for EVT, thereby potentially reducing the rate of futile EVT.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.732-739
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• 2021

Objective : Early successful reperfusion is associated with favorable outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The purpose of this study was to achieve successful recanalization by a combined mechanical thrombectomy technique, the Aspiration-Retriever Technique for Stroke (ARTS), which is composed of a flexible large lumen distal access catheter and a retrievable stent as the first-line strategy of mechanical thrombectomy. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 62 patients with AIS who underwent mechanical thrombectomy from 2018 to 2019 at our institute by a senior neurointerventionalist. Among them, patients who were treated using the ARTS technique with the soft torqueable catheter optimized for intracranial access (SOFIA^®; MicroVention-Terumo, Tustin, CA, USA) as the first-line treatment were included. Patients who had tandem occlusions or underlying intracranial artery stenosis were excluded. The angiographic and clinical outcomes were evaluated. The angiographic outcome was analyzed by the rate of successful recanalization, defined as a Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score of 2b or 3 at the end of all procedures and the rate of successfully achieving the first pass effect (FPE), defined as complete recanalization with a single pass of the device. The clinical outcomes included the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and mortality. Results : A total of 27 patients (mean age, 59.3 years) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The successful recanalization rate was 96% (n=26) while the FPE rate was 41% (n=11). The mean post-procedural NIHSS change was -3.0. Thirteen patients (48%) showed good clinical outcomes after thrombectomy with the ARTS technique (mRS at 90 days ≤2). Postoperative complications occurred in seven of 25 patients : hemorrhagic transformation in six patients (22%) and distal embolization in one patient (4%). Mortality was 15% (n=4). Conclusion : Although the clinical outcomes using the ARTS technique with a flexible large lumen distal access catheter performed as the frontline thrombectomy in patients with AIS were not significantly superior than those of other studies, this study showed a high rate of successful endovascular recanalization which was comparable to that of other studies. Therefore, ARTS using the SOFIA^® catheter can be considered as the first choice of treatment for AIS due to large vessel occlusion.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.609-615
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• 2002

A medical treatment of alternating current high-voltage electric field therapy is a method in which we get a healing effect, applying electric field to an organism through an artificial device. In order to estimate the clinical effects of alternating current high-voltage electric field load(HEALTHTRON) on the rehabilitation of stroke patients, improvement of a peripheral blood circulation, and psychogenic symptom, we used BEUNZEUNGHEYNG Instrument, NIHSS(the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale), FIM(Functional Independence Measure)lnstrument to research BEUNZEUNGHEYNG and recovery of rehabilitative funation. and also we used Thermography, Pulse Meter to measure body temperature and pulse, blood elements, and neuro modulators. We have reached the following conclusions after researching the clinical effects of alternating current high-voltage electric field therapy on the recovery of rehabilitative function and peripheral blood circulation. 1. HEALTHTRON efficiently has increased the volume of peripheral blood circulation in stroke patients. 2. HEALTHTRON rapidly has treated the symptoms of sleeplessness, alertness, and dizziness of stroke patients. 3. HEALTHTRON rapidly has improved rehabilitative function of stroke patients and the adjustment to their activities.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.180-189
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe the effects of traditional Korean medicine treatment on a patient with an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) at the left basal ganglia, thalamus, and posterior limb of the internal capsule. Methods: The patient was treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, Hyangsayukgunja-tang, and Samul-tang-gami. The effect of these treatments were evaluated using the manual muscle test (MMT), modified Barthel index (MBI), and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Results: After the treatments, the patient's status improved, as shown by his MMT grade, which increased from 1/1 to 4/4. In addition, the patient's MBI score improved from 0 to 77, and his NIHSS score declined from 16 to 2. In addition, the patient's Levin tube and Foley catheter were removed. Conclusion: The results suggest that traditional Korean medicine may be effective in the treatment of patients with ICH.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.620-626
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• 2017

Objective : Although venous thromboembolism (VTE) is frequently related to dehydration, the impact of dehydration on VTE in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is not clear. This study investigated whether dehydration, as measured by blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/creatinine (Cr) ratio, influences the occurrence of VTE in patients with AIS. Methods : This is a retrospective study of patients with AIS between January 2012 and December 2013. Patients with newly diagnosed AIS who experienced prolonged hospitalization for at least 4 weeks were included in this study. Results : Of 182 patients included in this study, 17 (9.3%) suffered VTE during the follow-up period; in two cases, VTE was accompanied by deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Patients with VTE were more frequently female and had higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, more lower limb weakness, and elevated blood urea nitrogen BUN/Cr ratio on admission. In a multivariate analysis, BUN/Cr ratio >15 (odds ratio [OR] 8.75) and severe lower limb weakness (OR 4.38) were independent risk factors for VTE. Conclusion : Dehydration on admission in cases of AIS might be a significant independent risk factor for VTE.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.635-643
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• 2017

Objective : Acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is associated with severe neurological dysfunction and high mortality rates. The benefits of mechanical thrombectomy in BAO have not been explored in recent clinical trials. Therefore, we analyzed outcomes of stent retriever mechanical thrombectomy for BAO, and compared with anterior circulation occlusions (ACO). Methods : In total, 161 consecutive patients (24 BAO, 137 ACO) who underwent mechanical thrombectomy with the stent retriever between January 2013 and August 2016 enrolled in our study. All patients underwent clinical assessment with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin scale (mRS). Radiological results were used to evaluate thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) scores and successful recanalization was defined by TICI 2b or 3. Results : Mean NIHSS scores at 24 hours and 30 days were significantly higher in the BAO group than the ACO group (p=0.021, p=0.001). mRS at 90 days was significantly higher in the BAO group (4.2) compared with the ACO group (3.0) (p=0.003). The BAO group (2.0) performed fewer stent retriever passages than the ACO group (2.7) (p=0.049). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of complications, but the BAO patients experienced a higher mortality (16.6%) rate than ACO patients (5.8%) (p=0.001). In subgroup analysis of BAO, patients with short procedure times achieved successful recanalization (p=0.001) and successfully recanalized patients exhibited more favorable mRS at 90 days (p=0.027). Conclusion : In our study, mechanical thrombectomy of BAO patients showed worse clinical outcome and higher mortality rate than ACO patients. However, mechanical thrombectomy with a stent retriever in BAO is an effective treatment, because successfully recanalized patients showed good clinical outcome in BAO patients.