• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.10
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• pp.380-385
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• 2015

Purpose: Croup is a common pediatric respiratory illness with symptoms of varying severity. Moreover, epiglottitis is a rare disease that can rapidly progress to life-threatening airway obstruction. Although the clinical course and treatments differ between croup and epiglottitis, they are difficult to differentiate on presentation. We aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of croup and epiglottitis in Emergency Department patients. Methods: The 2012 National Emergency Department Information System database of 146 Korean Emergency Departments was used to investigate patients aged ${\leq}18years$ presenting with croup or epiglottitis. Results: We analyzed 19,374 croup patients and 236 epiglottitis patients. The male:female sex ratios were 1.9:1 and 2.3:1 and mean ages were $2.2{\pm}2.0$ and $5.6{\pm}5.8years$, respectively. The peak incidence of croup was observed in July and that of epiglottitis was observed in May. The hospitalization rate was lower in croup than in epiglottitis patients, and the proportion of patients treated in the intensive care unit was lower among croup patients. The 3 most common chief complaints in both croup and epiglottitis patients were cough, fever, and dyspnea. Epiglottitis patients experienced dyspnea, sore throat, and vomiting more often than croup patients (P<0.05). Conclusion: Both groups had similar sex ratios, arrival times, 3 most common chief complaints, and 5 most common comorbidities. Epiglottitis patients had a lower incidence rate, higher mean age of onset, and higher hospitalization rate and experienced dyspnea, sore throat, and vomiting more often than croup patients. Our results may help in the differential diagnosis of croup and epiglottitis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 2010

Objective : Despite rapid evolution of shunt devices, the complication rates remain high. The most common causes are turning from obstruction, infection, and overdrainage into mainly underdrainage. We investigated the incidence of complications in a consecutive series of hydrocephalic patients. Methods : From January 2002 to December 2009, 111 patients underwent ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting at our hospital. We documented shunt failures and complications according to valve type, primary disease, and number of revisions. Results : Overall shunt survival time was 268 weeks. Mean survival time of gravity-assisted valve (GAV) was 222 weeks versus 286 weeks for other shunts. Survival time of programmable valves (264 weeks) was longer than that of pressure-controlled valves (186 weeks). The most common cause for shunt revision was underdrainage (13 valves). The revision rate due to underdrainage in patients with GAV (7 of 10 patients) was higher than that for other valve types. Of 7 patients requiring revision for GAV underdrainage, 6 patients were bedridden. The overall infection rate was 3.6%, which was lower than reported series. Seven patients demonstrating overdrainage had cranial defects when operations were performed (41%), and overdrainage was improved in 5 patients after cranioplasty. Conclusion : Although none of the differences was statistically significant, some of the observations were especially notable. If a candidate for VP shunting is bedridden, GAV may not be indicated because it could lead to underdrainage. Careful procedure and perioperative management can reduce infection rate. Cranioplasty performed prior to VP shunting may be beneficial.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.183-187
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• 2009

Purpose: Because of the volume of elective sterilizations performed in the world during the past decade, the vasectomy was a popular method for male sterilization in Korea and this, in turn, had been followed by an increase in the number of patient requiring vasectomy reversal with the high rate of subsequent divorce and remarriage. Recently, many authors have reported high success rates of vasovasostomy using microsurgical techniques and we performed modified two layer vasovasostomy with intravasal silicone tube to increase postoperative patency and pregnacy rate. Methods: Microscopic vasovasostomy was performed in 9 patients and their average age was $35.78{\pm}1.36years$(from 28 years to 44 years) from June 2006 to June 2008 at our department using modified two layer vasovasostomy with silicone tube insertion. Standard Guibor silicone tube, consisting of two 17.7 cm, 0.064 cm diameter, malleable, stainless steel probes connected by 29 cm of silicone tubing wedged onto disposable probes, were used in all cases. Results: Success rates were 88.8 % for patency and pregnancy 44.4 % for pregnancy in modified two layer vasovasostomy with silicone tube insertion. The patency rates were higher in cases of long postoperative day and in cases of short duration of vasectomy and vasovasostomy. Conclusion: We used a modified method to correspond the patency and pregnancy rate in microscopical modified two layer vasovasostomy using the intravasal silicone tube permanently. This method brings normal patency in microsurgical vasovasostomy because the silicone tube prevent obstruction of anastomosed site of the vas permanently.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.654-661
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• 1999

Background : The upper respiratory tract is the primary target organ of various airborne pollutants and is easily accessible part of the respiratory tract, and also is the predominant structure where chronic cough originates. The nasal peak inspiratory flow(PIFn), which is the peak inspiratory flow via nose with nasal mask and spirometry, could be a reliable parameter of nasal obstruction. The validity of PIFn has been evaluated in several studies by assessing the correlation between PIFn measurements and other parameters of nasal air flow. This study was designed to show the reproducibility of PIFn, the difference of PIFn between patients with chronic cough and normal subjects, and the usefulness of PIFn in the evaluation of nasal obstruction in patients with chronic cough. Methods : PIFn was measured by spirometry with nasal mask, twice a day for 3 consecutive days in 7 young normal subjects to evaluate validity of the test. In 32 patients with chronic cough and 25 age-matched normal subjects, PIFn and pulmonary function test($FEV_1$, $FEV_1%$ pred, FVC, and FVC% pred) were measured at first visiting. Results : Values of PIFn, $FEV_1$, and FVC were nearly constant in 7 young normal adults. Patients with chronic cough were 32 (14 males and 18 females) and the mean age was $41.4{\pm}15.9$ years. Normal subjects were 32(22 males and 10 females) and the mean age was $39.8{\pm}18.6$ years. There was no significant difference of age and pulmonary function test between patients with chronic cough and normal subjects(p<0.05). The PIFn values in patients with chronic cough was significantly lower than those of normal subjects($2.25{\pm}0.68\;L/sec$ vs. $2.75{\pm}1.00\;L/sec$ ; p=0.02). The postnasal drip syndrome(PNDS) comprised the majority of patients with chronic cough(27). The PIFn in patients with PNDS was significantly lower than that of normal subjects (mean$\pm$SD ; $2.18{\pm}0.66$ vs. $2.75{\pm}1.00\;L/sec$, p=0.006). Conclusion : There was a significant difference of PIFn between patients with chronic cough and normal subjects. Among the patients with chronic cough, patients with PNDS showed the most significant difference with normal subjects in PIFn. The PIFn could be a useful parameter of nasal obstruction in patients with chronic cough, especially in patients with PNDS.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2003

Purpose :To analyze the survival period, prognostic factors and complications of patients having undergone high-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy (HDR-ILB) as a salvage radiation therapy, while having a catheter, for percutaneous transhepatic billary drainage (PTBD), inserted due to biliary obstruction caused by a secondary malignant biliary tumor Methods and Materials : A retrospective study was performed on 24 patients having undergone HDR-ILB, with PTBD catheter Insertion, be)ween December 1992 and August 2001. Their median age was 58.5, ranging from 35 to 82 years. The primary cancer site were the stomach, gallbladder, liver, pancreas and the colon, with 12, 6, 3, 2 and 1 cases, respectively. Eighteen patients were treated with external beam radiation therapy and HDR-lLB, while slx were treated with HDR-lLB only. The 4otal external beam, and brachytherapy radiations dose were 30$\~$61.2 and 9$\~$30 Gy, with median doses of 50 and 15 Gy, respectively. Results : Of the 24 patients analyzed, 22 died during the follow-up period, with a median survival of 7.3 months. The 6 and 12 months survival rates were 54.2 (13 patients) and 20.8$\%$ (5 patients), respectively. The median survivals for stomach and gailbladder cancers were 7.8 and 10.2 months, respectively, According to the unlvariate analysis, a significant factor affecting survival of over one year was the total radiation dose (over 50 Gy) (o=0.0200), with all )he patients surviving more than one year had been Irradiated with more than 50 Gy. The acute side effects during the radiation therapy were managed with conservative treatment. During the follow-up period, 5 patients showed symptoms of cholangltis due to the radiation therapy Conclusion :An extension to the survival of those patients treated with HDR-ILB is suggested compared to the median historical survival of 4hose patients treated with external biliary drainage. A boost radiation dose could be effectively given, by performing HDR-lLB, which is a prognostic factor In addition, the acute complications of radiation therapy were effectively controlled by conservative management, and It could be regarded as a safe treatment.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.178-182
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• 1998

Purpose : The conventional Whitaker test assesses the renal pelvic pressure response to a constant infusion rate of 10 mL/min in adult and 5 mL/min in children. We evaluated whether the infusion rate,5 mL/min is appropriate during Whitaker test in children. Materials and Methods : The study included 3 children with unilateral hydronephrosis, whose diuretic renography results were equivocal to define the presence of urinary obstruction. The kidneys were perfused at increasing flow rates from lmL/min. Results : There were intrapelvic pressure increases $26\;cmH_2O$ at 3 mL/min, $50\;cmH_2O$ at 2 mL/min and $80\;cmH_2O$ at 3 mL/min infusion rate, respectively. There was no need to increase the infusion rate over 4 mL/min to get a positive Whitaker test. Conclusion : Our experience with Whitaker test at variable low flow rates (1-5 mL/min) confirmed its usefulness in differentiating obstructive from nonobstructive uropathy. We recommend the increasing infusion rate from 1 mL/min during Whitaker test in children.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.72-81
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• 1990

Because failure of microvascular flap grafting has sometimes been attributed to vascular obstruction in the anastomotic site, this study investigated the healing process after microvascular anastomoses. The healing process of anastomotic sites were observed by the use of the light and the scanning electron microscope after microvascular anastomoses of the right common carotid artery in rats. The experimental animals were sacrificed on the 4th day, 1st, 2nd, 4th and 6th week. Throughout the whole experimental period, arterial patency rate was 78% (11/14). At the early stage, it was possible to recognize histologically disappearance of endothelial cell and rupture of part of the media. Subintimal hyperplasia and the growth of media appeared around the suture line at the 2nd week. Endothelial cell regeneration occurred and the depth of vessel wall was normalized at the 4th week. By the scanning electron microscope, at the early stage, the anastomotic site was covered with many platelets, red blood cells, fibrins and macrophages. At the 4th week, the insertion site of the thread was completely covered with normal endothelial cells which were parallel to longitudinal axis of vessels and complete reendothelialization over the anastomotic site seemed to take about 6th week.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.28-30
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• 2016

Major maxillofacial bone injury itself can be life threatening from both cardiovascular point of view, as well as airway obstruction. Significant hemorrhage from facial fracture is an uncommon occurrence, and there is little in the literature to guide the management of these patients. We report a 73-year-old male driver who was transported to our hospital after a motor vehicle collision. The patient was hypotensive and tachycardic at presentation and required active fluid resuscitation and transfusion. The patient was intubated to protect the airway. All external attempts to control the bleeding, from packing to fracture reduction, were unsuccessful. Emergency angiogram revealed the bleeding to originate from terminal branches of the sphenopalatine artery, which were embolized. This was associated with cessation of bleeding and stabilization of vital signs. Despite the age and severity of injury, the patient recovered well and was discharged home at 3 months with full employment. In facial trauma patients with intractable bleeding, transcatheter arterial embolization should be considered early in the course of management to decrease mortality rate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.355-359
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• 1993

Ten consecutive patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm were treated in Chungnam National University Hospital from May of 1985 to June of 1993. Pulsating palable mass was the most common first sign [7 patients]. The ratio of male to female was 8:2. The age ranged from 53 to 73 years with mean age of 65 years. The etiology and location of the aneurysm was atherosclerosis and infrarenal aorta in all. Dacron graft interposition [straight graft-1, bifurcation graft-7] and wrapping with aneurysmal sac were performed in 8 patients. In one patient with infected abdominal aortic aneurysm, we performed aneurysmectomy and left axillo-bifemoral bypass with 8 mm PTFE graft. And in another patient with complete thrombotic obstruction of infrarenal aortic aneurysm, we performed the suturing of the proximal part of the abdominal aortic aneurysm and aorto-bifemoral bypass with 18 x 9 mm PTFE graft. There was one operative death with the mortality rate of 11 % and 8 complications in 4 patients; ARF[2], duodenal ulcer[1], mechanical ileus[1], genitourinary dysfunction[2] and wound infection with abdominal abscess[1]. Because of the high operative mortality after rupture of the aneurysm, we think it is better to operate on early at the diagnosis of abodominal aortic aneurysm is made.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6823-6827
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• 2014

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of pancreatic drainage for pain relief in advanced pancreatic cancer. Method: Seventy-one patients with pancreatic carcinoma were divided into two groups: dilated and non-dilated pancreatic ducts. All patients underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic biliary stenting and pancreatic stenting. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, pain remission rates and survival time were evaluated during follow-up. Results: The post-ERCP VAS score of the dilated group was lower than that of the non-dilated group at 1 and 3 months post-ERCP. There was no difference at 6 months. The pain remission rate in the dilated duct group was significantly higher than that in non-dilated duct group in 1 and 3 months post-ERCP. The median survival times were 8.17 and 8.22 months respectively. Conclusion: Endoscopic pancreatic drainage can relieve pain of advanced pancreatic cancer accompanied by safe dilation of the pancreatic duct.