• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.211-219
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• 2014

Background: Our objectives were to review our institutional early and midterm experience with primary tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair, and identify predictors of intensive care unit (ICU) morbidity. Methods: We analyzed perioperative and midterm follow-up data for all cases of primary TOF repair from 2001 to 2012. The primary endpoint was early mortality and morbidity, and the secondary endpoint was survival and functional status at follow-up. Results: Ninety-seven patients underwent primary repair. The median age was 4.9 months (range, 1 to 9 months), and the median weight was 5.3 kg (range, 3.1 to 9.8 kg). There was no early surgical mortality. The incidence of junctional ectopic tachycardia and persistent complete heart block was 2% and 1%, respectively. The median length of ICU stay was 6 days (range, 2 to 21 days), and the median duration of mechanical ventilation was 19 hours (range, 0 to 136 hours). By multiple regression analysis, age and weight were independent predictors of the length of ICU stay, while the surgical era was an independent predictor of the duration of mechanical ventilation. At the 8-year follow-up, freedom from death and re-intervention was 97% and 90%, respectively. Conclusion: Primary TOF repair is a safe procedure with low mortality and morbidity in a medium-sized program with outcomes comparable to national standards. Age and weight at the time of surgery remain significant predictors of morbidity.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.374-379
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• 2015

A 10-year-old gelding Warmblood weighing 560 kg was referred to J&C Equine Hospital with the history of hyperpnea, depression, pawing, and rolling for 7 hours. According to the results of clinical and ultrasound examination, it was considered that intestines were distended with thickened wall. The horse had been treated with lactated Ringers' solution (14 L, IV), flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg, IV), and mineral oil (1 L, PO), but he did not show any responses to those treatments. Exploratory laparotomy was performed and identified incarcerated small intestine through the epiploic foramen. The horse received resection and anastomosis of the entrapped small intestine. After surgery, the horse was treated with intensive postoperative care of fluid therapy (5 L with 20 mEq/L KCl, every 2 hours), flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg, IV, sid), antibiotics (penicillin 22,000 IU/kg, IV, qid and gentamicin 6.6 mg/kg, IV, sid), lidocaine constant rate infusion (bolus 1.3 mg/kg over 15 minutes then 0.05 mg/kg/minute), common nutritional supplements, nasogastric intubation every 2 hours and trunk bandage. Postoperative feeding program had started with small amount of hay every 4 hours and gradually increased to normal amount till 5 days. At 77 days after surgery, he showed sudden outbreak of colic and was euthanized. The causes of colic were small intestinal strangulation by passing through the mesenteric rents and postoperative adhesion between small intestines. According to the results, it is recommended to perform perioperative intensive care of horse with colic and to use several methods to prevent adhesions during abdominal surgery of horses.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2022

Background: A time course analysis was undertaken to evaluate how perioperative process-of-care and outcome measures evolved after implementation of an enhanced recovery after thoracic surgery (ERATS) program. Methods: Outcome and process-of-care measures were compared between patients undergoing major elective thoracic surgery during a 9-month pre-ERATS implementation period to those at 1-3, 4-6, and 7-9 months post-ERATS implementation. Outcome measures included length of stay, the 30-day readmission rate, 30-day emergency department visits, and minor and major adverse events. Process measures included first time to activity, out-of-bed, ambulation, fluid diet, diet as tolerated, as well as removal of the first and last chest tube, epidural, patient-controlled analgesia, and Foley and intravenous catheters. Results: In total, 704 patients (352 pre-ERATS, 352 post-ERATS) were included. Mobilization-related process measures, including time to first activity (16.5 vs. 6.8 hours, p<0.001), out-of-bed (17.6 vs. 8.9 hours, p<0.001), and ambulation (32.4 vs. 25.4 hours, p=0.04) saw statistically significant improvements by 1-3 months post-ERATS implementation compared to pre-ERATS. Time to Foley removal improved by 4-6 months post-ERATS (19.5 vs. 18.2 hours, p=0.003). Outcome measures, including the 30-day readmission rate and emergency department visits, steadily decreased post-ERATS. By 7-9 months post-ERATS, both minor (18.2% vs. 7.9%, p=0.009) and major (13.6% vs. 4.4%, p=0.007) adverse events demonstrated statistically significant improvements. Length of stay trended towards improvement from 6.2 days pre-ERATS to 4.8 days by 7-9 months post-ERATS (p=0.06). Conclusion: The adoption of ERATS led to improvements in multiple process-of-care measures, which may collectively and gradually achieve optimization of clinical outcomes.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 2014

This study was conducted to analyze the results of inhalation anesthesia performed at the equine hospital of Korea Racing Authority (KRA) and to find out the influencing factors on mortality during and/or after inhalation anesthesia. Among 585 cases of anesthesia, orthopedic surgery (410) was performed the most frequently, followed by colic surgery (85) and upper airway surgery (45). Twenty out of 585 horses were either euthanized or died during and/or after anesthesia. Among those twenty horses, fourteen horses received colic surgery, three received orthopedic surgery, and three others received upper airway surgery. The major causes of mortality were rupture of intestine in colic surgery and airway obstruction during recovery in upper airway surgery. Myopathy, refracture, laminitis were the causes of mortality in orthopedic surgery. Consequently, the horses that received colic and upper airway surgeries showed significantly high mortality rate rather than horses that received orthopedic surgery (p < 0.01). According to the results, horses that received colic surgery showed the highest mortality rate from euthanasia due to poor and grave prognosis. To reduce the perioperative mortality of horses, it is recommended to perform perioperative intensive care for colic surgery and careful monitoring for upper airway surgery during recovery.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2011

Purpose: A rib fracture secondary to blunt thoracic trauma continues to be an important injury with significant complications. Unfortunately, there are no definite treatment guidelines for severe multiple rib fractures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the result of early operative stabilization and to find the risk factors of surgical fixation in patients with bilateral multiple rib fractures or flail segments. Methods: From December 2005 to December 2008, the medical records of all patients who underwent operative stabilization of ribs for severe multiple rib fractures were reviewed. We investigated patients' demographics, preoperative comorbidities, underlying lung disease, chest trauma, other associated injuries, number of surgical rib fixation, combined operations, perioperative ventilator support, and postoperative complications to find the factors affecting the mortality after surgical treatment. Results: The mean age of the 96 patients who underwent surgical stabilization for bilateral multiple rib fractures or flail segments was 56.7 years (range: 22 to 82 years), and the male-to-female ratio was 3.6:1. Among the 96 patients, 16 patients (16.7%) underwent reoperation under general or epidural anesthesia due to remaining fracture with severe displacement. The surgical mortality of severe multiple rib fractures was 8.3% (8/96), 7 of those 8 patients (87.5%) dying from acute respiratory distress syndrome or sepsis. And the other one patient expired from acute myocardial infarction. The risk factors affecting mortality were liver cirrhosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, concomitant severe head or abdominal injuries, perioperative ventilator care, postoperative bleeding or pneumonia, and tracheostomy. However, age, number of fractured ribs, lung parenchymal injury, pulmonary contusion and combined operations were not significantly related to mortality. Conclusion: In the present study, surgical fixation of ribs could be carried out as a first-line therapeutic option for bilateral rib fractures or flail segments without significant complications if the risk factors associated with mortality were carefully considered. Furthermore, with a view of restoring pulmonary function, as well as chest wall configuration, early operative stabilization of the ribs is more helpful than conventional treatment for patients with severe multiple rib fractures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2000

Background: We analyzed the result of the "Off-Pump" Coronary Artery Bypass grafting (OPCAB) performed to minimize inflammatory responses to cardiopulmonary bypass and myocardial ischemia during the aortic cross-clamp period. Material and Method : The preoperative diagnosis operative procedure mortality complication and postoperative course of the 50 patients who underwent OPCAB between January 1998 and September 1998 were analyzed. There were 34 males and 16 females with mean age of 60$\pm$9 years. Preoperative clinical diagnoses were unstable angina in 31(62%) stable angina in 16(32%) and clinical diagnoses were unstable angina in 31(62%) stable angina in 16(32%) and postinfarction angina in 3(6%) patients. Preoperative angiographic diagnoses were three-vessel disease in 25(50%) two-vessel disease in 5(10%) one-vessel disease in 7(14%) and left main disease in 13(26%) patients. There were elective operation in 37 cases and urgent operation in 13 cases. Result: The mean number of grafts was 3.2$\pm$1.2 per patient. Grafts used were unilateral internal thoracic artery in 43 greater saphenous vein in 37 radial artery in 7 bilateral internal thoracic arteries in 4 and right gastroepiploic artery in 2 cases Forty sequential anastomoses were performed in 18 cases. Vessels accessed were left anterior descending artery in 48 diagonal branch in 41 obtuse marginal branch in 30 right coronary artery in 24 posterior descending artery in 9 ramus intermedius in 5 and posterolateral branch in 5 anastomoses. Predischarge coronary angiography performed in 44 patients demonstrated the patency rate of 89.5%(128/143) Operative mortality was 2%(1/150) Postoperative complications were arrhythmia in 5 graft occlusion that needed reoperation in 4. perioperative myocardial infarction in 2 femoral artery thromboembolism developed after the application of IABP in 1 postoperative transient delirium in 1 peripheral compression neuropathy in 1 case. Sixteen patients(32%) were extubated at the operating room and the other patients were extubated at the mean 13$\pm$20 hours after the operation. Mean duration of stay in intensive care unit was 49$\pm$46 hours. Thirteen patients(26%) required blood transfusions perioperatively and the amount of perioperative blood transfusion was mean 0.70$\pm$1.36 pack/patient. Conclusion: OPCAB is suggested to be the ideal technique with less postoperative complication less hospitalization time and less cost.less cost.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.155-166
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• 2006

Inguinal hernia is the most common disease treated by the pediatric surgeon. There are several controversial aspects of management 1)the optimal timing of surgical repair, especially for preterm babies, 2)contralateral groin exploration during repair of a clinically unilateral hernia, 3)use of laparoscope in contralateral groin exploration, 4)timing of surgical repair of cord hydrocele, 5)perioperative pain control, 6)perioperative management of anemia. In this survey, we attempted to determine the approach of members of KAPS to these aspects of hernia treatment. A questionnaire by e-mail or FAX was sent to all members. The content of the questionnaire were adapted from the "American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Surgery hernia survey revisited (J Pediatr Surg 40, 1009-1014, 2005)". For full-term male baby, most surgeons (85.7 %) perform an elective operation as soon as diagnosis was made. For reducible hernia found in ex-preterm infants already discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), 76.2 % of surgeons performed an elective repair under general anesthesia (85.8 %). 42.9 % of the surgeons performed the repair just before discharge. For same-day surgery for the ex-premature baby, the opinion was evenly divided. For an inguinal hernia with a contralateral undescended testis in a preterm baby, 61.9 % of surgeons choose to 'wait and see' until 12 month of age. The most important consideration in deciding the timing of surgery of inguinal hernia in preterm baby was the existence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (82.4 %), episode of apnea/bradycardia on home monitoring (70.6 %). Most surgeons do not explore the contralateral groin during unilateral hernia repair. Laparoscope has not been tried. Most surgeons do not give perioperative analgesics or blood transfusion.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.253-263
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• 2018

Purpose: With increasing life expectancy, the presence of comorbidities has become a major concern in elderly patients who require surgery. However, little is known about the impact of different comorbidities on the outcomes of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG). In this study, we investigated the impact of comorbidities on postoperative complications in patients undergoing LTG for gastric carcinoma. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 303 consecutive patients who underwent LTG for gastric carcinoma between 2005 and 2016. The associations between each comorbidity and postoperative complications were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: A total of 189 patients (62.4%) had one or more comorbidities. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity (37.0%), followed by diabetes mellitus (17.8%), chronic viral hepatitis (2.6%), liver cirrhosis (2.6%), and pulmonary (27.1%), ischemic heart (3.3%), and cerebrovascular diseases (2.3%). The overall postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were 20.1% and 1.0%, respectively. Patients with pulmonary disease significantly showed higher complication rates than those without comorbidities (32.9% vs. 14.9%, respectively, P=0.003); patient with other comorbidities showed no significant difference in the incidence of LTG-related complications. During univariate and multivariate analyses, pulmonary disease was found to be an independent predictive factor for postoperative complications (odds ratio, 2.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-4.64), along with old age and intraoperative bleeding. Conclusions: Among the various comorbidities investigated, patients with pulmonary disease had a significantly higher risk of postoperative complications after LTG. Proper perioperative care for optimizing pulmonary function may be required for patients with pulmonary disease.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.91-95
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• 1998

Background: Quality of postoperative care may be improved by management of postoperative pain. Epidural anesthesia and analgesia have several advantages over general anesthesia and parenteral analgesics in managing the postoperative pain. We retrospectively reviewed records of obstetrical patients who underwent the cesarean sections under epidural anesthesia to evaluate perioperative analgesic use, side effects, and complications. Methods: All patients received epidural anesthesia consisting of 0.25% bupivacaine, 2% lidocaine and 100 ${\mu}g$ fentanyl, followed by epidural analgesia with 0.1% bupivacaine and 12.5 ${\mu}g$/ml fentanyl at rate of 2 ml/hr for 48 hours. Patients' records were reviewed for: medications administered for pain relief, incidence of nausea and vomiting and pruritus, and presence of respiratory or cardiovascular depression. Results: Over 18 months, 1,054 patients' records were reviewed. Average age was 27.8 years (18~43 years). 768 patients (72.9%) received no additional drugs for the pain relief. Intramuscular analgesics, ketoprofens, were one time administered to 247 patients (23.4%), 39 patients (3.7%) received two more dosages. The time of administration was $8.3{\pm}4.3$ hours postoperatively. Antiemetics, for example, low-dose droperidol, were administerd one time for 160 patients (15.2%), 5 patients (0.5%) received two or more administrations. The medication was administered $5.1{\pm}4.2$ hours postoperatively. Drugs for relief of pruritus, low-dose naloxone, were administered one time for 108 patients (10.2%), 10 patients (0.9%) received 2 or more dosages. The time of administration was $6.3{\pm}4.2$ hours postoperatively. None of the patients experienced cardiovascular nor respiratory (<8 breath/min) depression. Conclusions: Postoperative continuous epidural analgesia in combination with bupivacaine and fentanyl is an effective method of providing postoperative analgesia with low incidence of side effects.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.155-173
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• 2018

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is an unwanted adverse event in any operation. It leads to functional limitations and psychological trauma for patients, and leaves the operative team with feelings of failure and humiliation. Therefore, it is crucial that preventive strategies for CPSP are considered in high-risk operations. Various techniques have been implemented to reduce the risk with variable success. Identifying the risk factors for each patient and applying a timely preventive strategy may help patients avoid the distress of chronic pain. The preventive strategies include modification of the surgical technique, good pain control throughout the perioperative period, and preoperative psychological intervention focusing on the psychosocial and cognitive risk factors. Appropriate management of CPSP patients is also necessary to reduce their suffering. CPSP usually has a neuropathic pain component; therefore, the current recommendations are based on data on chronic neuropathic pain. Hence, voltage-dependent calcium channel antagonists, antidepressants, topical lidocaine and topical capsaicin are the main pharmacological treatments. Paracetamol, NSAIDs and weak opioids can be used according to symptom severity, but strong opioids should be used with great caution and are not recommended. Other drugs that may be helpful are ketamine, clonidine, and intravenous lidocaine infusion. For patients with failed pharmacological treatment, consideration should be given to pain interventions; examples include transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, botulinum toxin injections, pulsed radiofrequency, nerve blocks, nerve ablation, neuromodulation and surgical management. Physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and lifestyle modifications are also useful for relieving the pain and distress experienced by CPSP patients.