• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.565-569
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• 2000

Background; Post-intubation injury is known to be the most common cause of tracheal stenosis. Treatment strategy for tracheal stenosis varies accoring to the extent of pathologic lesion. Focal mucosal lesion can be treated with laser photoablation, but full thickness tracheal lesion should be treated with resection and anastomosis. Material and Method; From Aptil 1998 to May 1999, twelve patients suffering from tracheal stenosis as a complication of endotracheal intubation were managed by resection and end-to-end anastomosis in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Gyeongsang National University Hospital. Result; There was no operative mortality. Five temporary vocal cord paralysis and one wound infection occurred as early complications. During 18 months of follow-up, re-stenosis was not found. Conclusion; Tracheal resection and anastomosis can be considered as an excellent surgical treatment for tracheal stenosis which developed as a complication of endotracheal intubation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.353-358
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• 2001

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is rare, chronic, relapsing, and multisystemic inflammatory disease targeting the cartilaginous structures. Respiratory track involvement occurs in approximately half of the cases. Subglottic stenosis is a rare manifestation of RP. Here, we report a case of RP with a subglottic stenosis, resulting in acute respiratory failure. A 63-year old man was admitted complaining of multiple joint pain, general weakness, weight loss, throat pain, hoarseness, exertional dyspnea, and hearing difficulties. A laryngoscopy and neck CT revealed a subglottic stenosis. Four days after admission, he complained severe dyspnea resulting in acute respiratory failure. Immediately, a tracheostomy was done for airway preservation. After high dose steroid therapy, the general symptoms were improved. However, the subglottic stenosis was sustained. Thus, a laryngotracheal augumentation and stent insertion was performed. The speech valve was then replaced. The subglottic stenosis was managed with low dose steroid and monthly cyclophosphamide pulse therapy, and the patient has been followed up regularly.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.168-174
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• 2006

Background: Several biochemical mediators, such as substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and prostaglandin $E_2$, have been demonstrated to be involved in herniated or degenerated disc-induced radiculopathy. The authors tested the hypothesis that these mediators would existed in the epidural space of humans. Methods: Thirty nine patients were divided into two groups; 27 patients, who were diagnosed with spinal stenosis (stenosis group), and 12 scheduled for epidural anesthesia, without a history of back pain (control group). Under fluoroscopic guidance, an epidural catheter was introduced through the caudal space and placed into the anterior and posterior spaces, up to and around the epidural adhesive area, in the stenosis group. In the control group, the catheter was placed into the posterior epidural space through the L3⁣-4 or L4⁣-5 intervertebral space. Epidural irrigation was performed with 10 ml of saline, via an epidural catheter. Aspirated lavage fluid was collected, and the concentrations of biochemical mediators (substance P, CGRP and prostaglandin $E_2$) measured using an enzyme immunoassay kit. Results: Substance P, CGRP and prostaglandin $E_2$ were detected in all the epidural lavage fluids from both groups. The concentrations of substance P and prostaglandin $E_2$ in the stenosis group were higher than those of the control (P < 0.05). However, there was no difference in the CGRP levels between the two groups. In the stenosis group, the concentrations of these three mediators in the anterior epidural space were no different to those in the posterior space. Conclusions: These results suggest that biochemical mediators, such as substance P and prostaglandin $E_2$, in the epidural space might be partly involved in pain mechanism associated with spinal stenosis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.219-228
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• 2014

Background: A lipo-prostaglandin E1 agonist is effective for the treatment of neurological symptoms of spinal stenosis when administered by an oral or intravenous route. we would like to reveal the therapeutic effect of an epidural injection of lipo-prostaglandin E1 on hyperalgesia in foraminal stenosis. Methods: A total of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were included. A small stainless steel rod was inserted into the L5/L6 intervertebral foramen to produce intervertebral foraminal stenosis and chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). The rats were divided into three groups: epidural PGE1 (EP) (n = 15), saline (n = 15), and control (n = 10). In the EP group, $0.15{\mu}g{\cdot}kg-1$ of a lipo-PGE1 agonist was injected daily via an epidural catheter for 10 days from postoperative day 3. In the saline group, saline was injected. Behavioral tests for mechanical hyperalgesia were performed for 3 weeks. Then, the target DRG was analyzed for the degree of chromatolysis, chronic inflammation, and fibrosis in light microscopic images. Results: From the fifth day after lipo-PGE1 agonist injection, the EP group showed significant recovery from mechanical hyperalgesia, which was maintained for 3 weeks (P < 0.05). Microscopic analysis showed much less chromatolysis in the EP group than in the saline or control groups. Conclusions: An epidurally administered lipo-PGE1 agonist relieved neuropathic pain, such as mechanical hyperalgesia, in a rat foraminal stenosis model, with decreasing chromatolysis in target DRG. We suggest that epidurally administered lipo-PGE1 may be a useful therapeutic candidate for patients with spinal stenosis.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.10 no.1 s.19
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• pp.41-45
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• 2004

Tracheostomy and endotracheal intubation are often performed in patients with acute and chronic respiratory failure. Recently, the incidence of iatrogenic tracheal stenosis has increased. Tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis would be one of the most physiologic treatment options for severe tracheal stenosis. Also, this treatment can be applied to the management of trachea invaded by thyroid cancer and tracheal neoplasm. The authors aimed to analyze the outcomes of end-to-end anastomosis of trachea following segmental resection in tracheal stenosis and tracheal invasion of cancer that we have recently experienced. Materials and methods Authors retrospectively studied 19 cases treated by tracheal resection with end-to-end anastomosis between Feburuary 1996 and January 2003. 12 patients had tracheal stenosis, 6 patients had tracheal invasion by thryroid cancer and 1 patient had tracheal cancer. We analyzed the direct causes of tracheal stenosis, preoperative vocal cord function, operation technique, early and delayed postoperative complications, and the outcome of end-to-end anastomois. Result Decannulation without significant aspiration was achieved in 16 cases($89.5\%$). A 27 year-old man could not be decannulated because of restenosis. A 62 year-old woman could not be decannulated because of bilateral vocal cord palsy. Conclusion End-to-end anastomosis is a safe and effective surgical method for tracheal stenosis. Case selection for end-to-end anastomosis and preservation of recurrent laryngeal nerve during operation is very important.

• Journal of KIISE:Software and Applications
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1247-1254
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• 2003

Currently. the north american symptomatic carotid endarterectomy trial, european carotid surgery trial, and common carotid method are used to measure the carotid stenosis for determining candidate for carotid endarterectomy using the projection angiography from different modalities such as digital subtraction angiography. rotational angiography, computed tomography angiography and magnetic resonance angiography. A new computerized carotid stenosis measuring system was developed using MR angiography axial image to overcome the drawbacks of conventional carotid stenosis measuring methods, to reduce the variability of inter-observer and intra-observer. The gray-level thresholding is one of the most popular and efficient method for image segmentation. We segmented the carotid artery and lumen from three-dimensional time-of-flight MRA axial image using gray-level thresholding technique. Using the measured intima-media thickness value of common carotid artery for each cases, we separated carotid artery wall from the segmented carotid artery region. After that, the regions of segmented carotid without artery wall were divided into region of blood flow and plaque. The calculation of carotid stenosis degree was performed as the following; carotid stenosis grading is(area measure of plaque/area measure of blood flow region and plaque) * 100%.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.727-733
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• 1988

Two cases of the discrete membranous subaortic stenosis were experienced at the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Case I was 31 years old male with a history of aortic valve replacement[Ionescu-Shiley, 19mm] at the other hospital in 1980. Heart failure was noticed 6 years later. On cardiac catheterization, pressure gradient between left ventricle 4 aorta was 104 mmHg, but subvalvular aortic stenosis was not detected by preoperative 2-D echo <% left ventriculogram. Above case revealed stenoinsufficiency of the prosthetic valve. Under the diagnosis of the prosthetic valve failure, re-do aortic valve replacement[Bjork-Shiley, 23 mm] was done. During operation, the discrete membranous subaortic stenosis was incidentally found, and it was completely resected. So we thought that above discrete membranous subaortic stenosis was not detected at first operation, and it was progressed during 6 years, and accelerated the degeneration of the prosthetic valve. Case II was 20 years old female. Her complaints were exertional dyspnea, angina, syncope, which were aggravated since 5 years ago. 2-D echo <% left ventriculogram revealed the discrete membranous subaortic stenosis. Pressure gradient was 20 mmHg, but her symptoms were serious. Associated cardiac anomaly was the persistent left superior vena cava without connection with right superior vena cava. Complete excision of the membranous tissue was done. Post-operative pressure gradient between left ventricle & aorta was absent, and her complaints were nearly subsided. Both cases were type I according to the Newfeld classification of the discrete subvalvular aortic stenosis, and complete excision of the membranous tissue was done without myotomy or mymectomy. And short-term follow-up results[Case I:2 years, Case II: 1 ~ years] were good except soft systolic murmur[grade II/VI] at the aortic area in both cases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.457-466
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• 2020

Introduction: This study aimed to report on the effectiveness of using Korean medicine to improve symptoms of mitral stenosis. While some patients that do not require surgery due to mild mitral stenosis are treated with medication, the medication does not always alleviate the symptoms. Thus, we administered Korean medicine treatments to those patients because there are not many case reports on using this approach to treat symptoms of mitral stenosis. Case Presentation: A 48-year-old male patient with mitral stenosis complained of symptoms, such as palpitation, dyspnea, chest pain, fatigue, and swelling in both legs. To reduce the patient's symptoms, we administered Korean medical treatments, including herbal medicine (Samulanshin-tang-gamibang) and acupuncture. To evaluate the results, we used the numeric rating scale (NRS) and the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification. After 17 days of treatment, the NRS score decreased for palpitation (8→2), dyspnea (8→1), chest pain (5→0), fatigue (96→2), and swelling in both legs (6→2). The NYHA class also changed from Class II to Class I. No adverse reaction was noted. Conclusion: According to the results, Korean medicine treatments can be considered to be effective for mitral stenosis patients. To confirm this finding, a prospective study is needed in the future.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.465-470
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• 2017

Objective : Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) grading systems using sagittal images are useful for evaluation of lumbar foraminal stenosis. We evaluated whether such a grading system is useful as a diagnostic tool for surgery. Methods : Between July 2014 and June 2015, 99 consecutive patients underwent unilateral lumbar foraminotomy for lumbar foraminal stenosis. Surgically confirmed foraminal stenosis and the contralateral, asymptomatic neuroforamen were assessed based on a 4-point MRI grading system. Two experienced researchers independently evaluated the MR sagittal images. Interobserver agreement and intraobserver agreement were analyzed using ${\kappa}$ statistics. Results : The mean age of patients (54 women, 45 men) was 62.5 years. A total of 101 levels (202 neuroforamens) were evaluated. MRI grades for operated neuroforamens were as follows : Grade 0 in 0.99%, Grade 1 in 5.28%, Grade 2 in 14.85%, and Grade 3 in 78.88%. Interobserver agreement was moderate for operated neuroforamens (${\kappa}=0.511$) and good for asymptomatic neuroforamens (${\kappa}=0.696$). Intraobserver agreement by reader 1 for operated neuroforamens was good (${\kappa}=0.776$) and that for asymptomatic neuroforamens was very good (${\kappa}=0.831$). In terms of lumbar level, interobserver agreement for L5-S1 (${\kappa}=0.313$, fair) was relatively lower than the other level (${\kappa}=0.804$, very good). Conclusion : MRI grading system for lumbar foraminal stenosis is thought to be useful as a diagnostic tool for surgery in the lumbar spine; however, it is less reliable for symptomatic L5-S1 foraminal stenosis than for other levels. Thus, various clinical factors as well as the MRI grading system are required for surgical decision-making.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2009

Objectives: Endoscopic airway dilatation and stenting has been developed to treat the airway stenosis without potential morbidities of open surgery. We report the clinical results of endoscopic airway dilatation with silicone stenting in patients with posttuberculous bronchial stenosis(PTBS) and with severe main tracheal stenosis who have poor general conditions Methods : A prospective observation study of five patients, who have undergone endoscopic airway dilatation and silicone stenting between Feb 2007 and Feb 2009. A total of twelve patients were treated with endoscopic airway dilatation, among them 5 patients were included in this study. three patients were treated with newly designed silicone stent (Natural stent: TNO Co., Seoul, South Korea) because of poor surgical conditions and longer stenotic segment Results: 3 patients were grade III PTBS, and the other 2 patients were grade IV post tracheotomy main tracheal stenosis. One patient of PTBS were treated with silicone stent following endoscopic dilatation because of longer stenotic segment. Two patients of main tracheal stenosis patients were treated with silicone stent because of tracheal lumen collapse. There was no severe postoperative complications except mild granulation tissue formations Conclusions : Endoscopic dilatation including silicone stenting could be a useful method for treating patients with PTBS, and for main tracheal stenosis patients with poor general surgical conditions