• Neonatal Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.234-239
• /
• 2011

Purpose: Ibuprofen is used for prevention and treatment of patent ductus arteriosus as an alternative drug of indomethacin in very premature infants. We aimed to determine the effect of prophylactic ibuprofen on patent ductus arteriosus and clinical outcomes in preterm infants less than 1,250 g. Methods: A retrospective review of 39 preterm infants who were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit from November 2009 to July 2010 was performed. Patients were divided into a prophylactic group (n=13) and a matched historical control group (n=26), where prophylactic ibuprofen were administrated within 24 hours after birth. The rate of ductal closure, side-effects of drug treatment and clinical outcomes were compared between two groups. Results: Comparison of the prophylactic and control groups revealed no significant differences in the rate of ductal closure (69.2% vs 77.7%, P=0.825) and surgical ligation (23.1% vs 30.8%, P=0.719). Occurrence of bowel perforation was more frequent in the prophylactic group than the control group, but was not significant (30.8% vs 11.5%, P=0.194). The frequency of intraventricular hemorrhage (grade${\geq}$3) and other outcomes did not differ between the groups. Conclusion: Ibuprofen prophylaxis in preterm infants did not decrease the rate of ductal closure, the need for surgical ligation and the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage. Further studies are needed to investigate the beneficial effect and associated adverse events attributed to ibuprofen prophylaxis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.209-213
• /
• 2014

Purpose: Pathologic aerophagia (PA) may lead to bowel perforation or volvulus in mentally retarded patients. The authors investigated the effects of clonazepam on the management of PA in children with severe to profound mental retardation (MR). Methods: This study was undertaken as a retrospective case analysis of 21 PA patients with MR who were followed for over 12 months and diagnosed as having PA. Patients were assigned to two management groups, that is, to a clonazepam randomized open-labeled, treatment group or a reassurance group. The following were recorded and analyzed; age, response, remission rate to clonazepam treatment, and the side effect of clonazepam. It was defined positive response (response+) as being symptom-free for a whole week within 1 month of commencing treatment and remission(+) as being symptom-free for a whole month within 6 months of treatment. Results: The average age of the 21 PA children with MR was 10 years and 13 patients were female. Symptom duration before diagnosis of PA was 7 months. Clinical features of the clonazepam-trial group (n=11) and the reassurance group (n=10) were non-significantly different. Response(+) was achieved by 2 patients (18.2%) in the clonazepamtrial group and by no patient in the reassurance group. Remission(+) was achieved by 6 patients (54.5%) in the clonazepam-trial group and by one patient (10%) in the reassurance group (p=0.040). Conclusion: When PA children with MR with severe bowel distention are considered for surgical treatment to prevent acute abdomen, a trial of clonazepam could be recommended.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.314-319
• /
• 2010

Odontogenic infections are a normally locally confined, self-limiting process that is easily treated by antibiotic therapy and local surgical treatment. However, it may spread into the surrounding tissues through a perforation of the bone, and into contiguous fascial spaces or planes like the primary or secondary fascial spaces. If the infection extends widely, it may spread into the lateral pharyngeal and retropharyngeal space. The retropharyngeal space is located posterior to the pharynx. If an odontogenic infection spreads into this space, severe life-threatening complications will occur, such as airway obstruction, mediastinitis, pericarditis, pleurisy, pulmonary abscess, aspiration pneumonia and hematogenous dissemination to the distant organs. The mortality rate of mediastinitis ranges from 35% to 50%. Therefore, a rapid evaluation and treatment are essential for treating retropharyngeal space abscesses and preventing severe complications. Recently, we encountered two cases of a retropharyngeal space abscess due to the spread of an odontogenic infection. In all patients, early diagnosis was performed by computed tomography scanning and a physical examination. All patients were treated successfully by extensive surgical and antibiotic therapy.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.46-53
• /
• 2001

To understand the current status of neonatal surgery in Korea, a survey was made among the 36 members of the Korean Association of Pediatric Surgeons. The response rate was 75 % (26 surgeons in 20 hospitals). Five hundred fifty three neonatal surgical patients treated in 1999 were analyzed. Regional numbers of patients were closely related to the regional population in most areas. Ano-rectal malformations (17 %), pyloric stenosis (16 %), Hirschsprung's disease (13 %), atresia/stenosis of the gut (11 %), esophageal atresia (8 %) were the most common anomalies treated. The majority of operations were done within the first week of life. Seventy one per cent of cases were major life threatening or so-called neonatal index cases. Over-all mortality was 8 per cent. Higher mortality was observed in patients with diaphragmatic hernia (26 %), gastro-intestinal perforation (18 %), NEC (18 %), and esophageal atresia(14 %). Higher mortality was observed in patients with extremely low birth weight (33%) and low birth weight (18 %). Associated anomalies were observed in 20 %. Prenatal ultrasound was performed in 36 per cent with sensitivity of 20 %. Result of this study was compared to the previous report (1994) and that of Japan (1998).

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.27 no.10
• /
• pp.1793-1799
• /
• 2003

An optimal design of a multi-layered plate structure to endure high-velocity impact has been suggested by using size optimization after numerical simulations. The NET2D, a Lagrangian explicit time-integration finite element code for analyzing high-velocity impact, was used to find the parameters for the optimization. Three different materials such as mild steel, aluminum for a multi-layered plate structure and die steel for the pellet, were assumed. In order to consider the effects of strain rate hardening, strain hardening and thermal softening, Johnson-Cook model and Phenomenological Material Model were used as constitutive models for the simulation. It was carried out with several different gaps and thickness of layers to figure out the trend in terms of those parameters' changes under the constraint, which is against complete penetration. Also, the measuring domain has been shrunk with several elements to reduce the analyzing time. The response surface method based on the design of experiments was used as optimization algorithms. The optimized thickness of each layer in which perforation does not occur has been obtained at a constant velocity and a designated total thickness. The result is quite acceptable satisfying both the minimized deformation energy and the weight criteria. Furthermore, a conceptual idea for topology optimization was suggested for the future work.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.225-230
• /
• 1997

Background: Authors modified the traditional continuous axillary brachial plexus block technique of Selander for purpose of increasing success rate and decreasing complications by use of commercial epidural anesthesia set. Method: Thirty-nine patients scheduled for upper extremity operations were injected with 40 ml of anesthetic solution by axillary perivascular technique, using 23~25G immobile needle at 2 cm from the pectoralis major. Tuohy needle was immediately introduced at 4 cm from the pectoralis major and pierced the expanded neurovascular sheath at an angle of 30 degree to the skin. The "pop" was well noted well. Needle was advanced 0.5 to 3.0 cm and epidural catheter introduced through the needle. After removal of needle, occlusive dressing was done. Tip of catheter and spread of solution were demonstrated by fluoroscopy with contrast dye after completion of procedure. Result: Catheter insertion was successful at first attempt for all case. Total length of insertion was from 6 to 13($10.0{\pm}1.7$) cm. Tip of catheter was placed in infraclavicular space(66.7%), about the humeral head(17.9%) and in upper arm in 3 cases as U-shape(7.9%). Catheters were maintained for $6.7{\pm}2.6$(3-12) days. There were no complications such as: perforation of major vessels, needle trauma to nerve, infection, bleeding or hematoma. Conclusion: This study demonstrated continuous axillary brachial plexus block with epidural anesthesia set is safe, easy and convenient modification of technique of Selander.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.2-9
• /
• 2014

Background: Indirect reduction technique offers a valid option in the treatment of proximal humerus fracture. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the functional outcome and the complication rate after indirect reduction and internal fixation of unstable proximal humeral fractures with use of a locking plate. Methods: Twenty four patients with acute proximal humerus fracture were managed with indirect reduction and internal fixation with a locking plate. The mean follow-up period was 15.5 months. Results: The anatomical reduction of the medial cortex buttress was seen in 16 patients (66%) of the Group A and the non-anatomical reduction was seen in 8 patients (33%) of the Group B. Mean union time was $3.2{\pm}1.9$ months; it was $2.2{\pm}0.6$ months in the Group A and $5.3{\pm}2.2$ months in the Group B (p < 0.05). In our series, there were 6 cases of complications and these include 2 cases of varus malunion, 2 cases of shoulder stiffness, 1 case of heterotrophic ossification, 2 cases of screw perforation and 1 case of impingement. Conclusions: We conclude from our studies that indirect reduction and internal fixation using locking plate for acute proximal humerus fracture can give good results with bony union and predictable good overall functional outcome. If the medial cortex buttress is well maintained, a better anatomical reduction would be achieved, the union would be prompted, the pain would be further reduced and the range of the motion would be recovered more promptly.

• Clinical Endoscopy
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.623-632
• /
• 2023

Background/Aims: Endoscopic resection of all colorectal adenomatous lesions with a low complication rate, simplicity, and negative residuals is challenging. Hence, we developed a new method called "non-injection resection using bipolar soft coagulation mode (NIRBS)" method, adapted for colorectal lesions. In addition, we evaluated the effectiveness of this method. Methods: We performed NIRBS throughout a 12-month period for all colorectal lesions which snare resection was acceptable without cancerous lesions infiltrating deeper than the submucosal layer. Results: A total of 746 resected lesions were included in the study, with a 4.5 mm mean size (range, 1-35 mm). The major pathological breakdowns were as follows: 64.3% (480/746) were adenomas, and 5.0% (37/746) were intraepithelial adenocarcinomas (Tis lesions). No residuals were observed in any of the 37 Tis lesions (mean size, 15.3 mm). Adverse events included bleeding (0.4%) but no perforation. Conclusions: NIRBS allowed the resection of multiple lesions with simplicity because of the non-injection and without perforating due to the minimal burn effect of the bipolar snare set in the soft coagulation mode. Therefore, NIRBS can be used to resect adenomatous lesions easily, including Tis lesions, from small to large lesions without leaving residuals.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.107-123
• /
• 2024

The drilling angle of the well is an important factor that can affect the sand production process and make its destructive effects more severe or weaker. This study investigated the effect of different well angles on sand production for the Asmari Formation, located in one of the oil fields southwest of Iran. For this purpose, a finite difference model was developed for three types of vertical (90°), inclined (45°), and horizontal (0°) wells with casing and perforations in the direction of minimum and maximum horizontal stresses, then coupled with fluid flow. Here, finite element meshing was used, because the geometry of the model is so complex and the implementation of finite difference meshes is impossible or very difficult for such models. Using a combined FDM-FEM model with fluid flow, the sand production process in three different modes with different flow rates for the Asmari sandstone was investigated in this study. The results of numerical models show that the intensity of sand production is directly related to the in-situ stress state of the oil field and well drilling angle. Since the stress regime in the studied oil field is normal, the highest amount of produced sand was in inclined wells (especially wells drilled in the direction of minimum horizontal stress) and the lowest amount of sand production was related to vertical wellbore. Also, the Initiation time of sand production in inclined wells was much shorter than in other wellbores.

• Clinical Endoscopy
• /
• v.57 no.5
• /
• pp.666-674
• /
• 2024

Background/Aims: Dilation of the tract before stent deployment is a challenging step in endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct drainage (EUS-PDD). In this study, we examined the effectiveness and safety of a novel spiral dilator, Tornus ES (Asahi Intec), for EUS-PDD. Methods: This was a retrospective, single-arm, observational study at Aichi Cancer Center Hospital. The punctured tract was dilated using a Tornus ES dilator in all EUS-PDD cases. Our primary endpoint was the technical success rate of initial tract dilation. Technical success was defined as successful fistula dilation using a Tornus ES followed by successful stent insertion. Secondary endpoints were procedure times and early adverse events. Results: A total of 12 patients were included between December 2021 and March 2023. EUS-PDD was performed in 11 patients for post-pancreaticoduodenectomy anastomotic strictures and one patient with pancreatitis with duodenal perforation. The technical success rates of stent insertion and fistula dilation using a Tornus ES dilator was 100%. The median procedure time was 24 minutes. No remarkable adverse events related to the procedure were observed, apart from fever, which occurred in 2 patients. Conclusions: Tract dilation in EUS-PDD using a Tornus ES is effective and safe.