• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.24-27
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• 2015

During flap elevation, most perforators are cut except one or more perforators that are essential to flap survival. However these cutout perforators can cause deterioration of the blood circulation of the flap. To salvage the jeopardized flaps, rebuilding the perforator system is essential for flap survival. In the first case, after flap elevation, the upper abdominal flap margin was severely ischemic. To supply blood to the upper abdominal flaps, we found and used a major perforator underneath the upper abdominal flap which was cut earlier during the elevation, and we performed reanastomosis with ipsilateral deep inferior epigastric artery. Upper abdominal flap ischemic area was limited to a narrow suture area. In the second case, we performed free superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap reconstruction. After successful anastomosis of the SIEA and superficial inferior epigastric vein (SIEV) with internal mammary artery and vein, serious venous congestion occurred immediately because of SIEV malfunction. We found the largest perforator vein under the flap, as an alternate way to drain, then connected it with the thoracoacromial vein with a vein graft harvested in the contralateral SIEV. Circulation has improved. In conclusion, perforator system reconstruction is essential in a jeopardized flap salvage.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.66-71
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• 1989

It has been standard practice in many institutions to use a combination of a light general anesthesia and an epidural block for lower abdominal and pelvic surgery. This combination of a balanced anesthesia can provide various benefits to the patient such as less bleeding in the surgical field, the use of a lower concentration of general anesthetics, less muscle relaxant, and post operative pain management. However, there are several problems associated with hemodynamics such as bradycardia and hypotension etc. In order to block the pain of the high surgical area with a lumbar epidural puncture postoperatively, a large volume of local anesthetic is required and consequently an extensive blockade of sympathetic, sensory and motor functions can occur causing motor weakness, numbness and postural hypotension. Therefore, the patient is unable to have early ambulation postoperatively. In this study, thoracic epidural catheterization was undertaken to locate the tip of the catheter exactly at the surgical level for upper abdominal surgery, and was followed by general anesthesia. Twenty-one patients scheduled for upper abdominal surgery were selected. Fifteen of them had hepatobiliary operations and the remaining 6 had gastrectomies. Thoracic epidural punctures were performed mostly at T9-T10 (57.1%) and T8-T9. Neuromuscular blocking agents were not used in half of the cases and the, mean doses of relaxant were $3.5{\pm}1.0mg$ in gastrectomies, and $2.7{\pm}0.9mg$ in cases of hepatobiliary operation. Epidural morphine was injected 1 hour before the end of the operation for postoperative pain control. Eight patients did not require additional analgesics and the mean dose of epidural morphine was $2.2{\pm}0.9mg$, and 13 cases were given 0.125% epidural bupivacaine when patients complained of pain. Their initial doses of epidural morphine were $1.9{\pm}0.4mg$ and the mean duration of bupivacaine was 6 hours 20 minutes${\pm}40$ minutes. In conclusion. thoracic epidural analgesia is valuable to reduce postoperative pain in patients with upper abdominal surgery, However, it is not easy to maintain this balanced anesthesia with high epidural analgesia-and light general anesthesia for upper abdominal surgery because of marked hemodynamic changes. Therefore, further practice will be required.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.246-250
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• 2012

Background: Although it is rare for the fracture itself to become a life threatening injury in patients suffering from rib fracture, the lives of these patients are occasionally threatened by other associated injuries. Especially, early discovery of patients with rib fracture and intra-abdominal organ injury is extremely important to the prognosis. This study analyzed the link between rib fracture and intra-abdominal injury to achieve improved treatment. Materials and Methods: Among trauma patients that had visited the hospital emergency room from January 2007 to December 2009, a retrospective study was conducted on 453 patients suffering from rib fracture due to blunt trauma. Rib fracture was classified according to location (left, right, and bilateral), and according to level (upper rib fracture [1-2nd rib], middle rib fracture [3-8th rib], and lower rib fracture [9-12th rib]). The researched data was statistically compared and analyzed to investigate the correlation between the location, level, and number of rib fracture and intra-abdominal organ injury. Results: Motor vehicle injury was found to be the most common mechanism of injury with 208 cases (46%). Associated injuries accompanied with rib fracture were generated in 276 cases (61%). Intra-abdominal organ injury was discovered in 97 cases (21%). Liver injury was the most common intra-abdominal injury associated with rib fracture with 39 cases (40%), followed by spleen injury, with 23 cases (23%). Intra-abdominal injury according to level of rib fracture was presented as upper rib fracture in 11 cases (11%), middle rib fracture in 31 cases (32%), and lower rib fracture in 55 cases (57%), thus verifying that intra-abdominal injuries were commonly accompanied in lower rib fractures (p=0.03). In particular, significant increase of intra-abdominal injury was presented in fractures below the 8th rib (p=0.03). The number of intra-abdominal injuries requiring emergency operations was significantly higher in patients with more than 6 rib fractures (p=0.04). Conclusion: Intra-abdominal organ injury is more common in patients with lower rib fracture, especially fractures below the 8th rib. Intra-abdominal organ injuries generated in multiple rib fracture patients with more than 6 fractures significantly higher severity. These cases must be thoroughly inspected and carefully observed as there is possibility of emergency operation.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.132-140
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to determine the success rate of air reduction as the primary treatment of intussusception and whether the success of air reduction could be predicted by plain x-ray. The authors reviewed the medical records of 54 consecutive patients diagnosed with intussusception from Jan 2005 to Dec 2007 at the Department of Surgery, Masan Samsung Hospital. The natures of symptoms and findings of plain abdominal radiography performed in the emergency department (ED) were reviewed. Air reduction failed more frequently (26.3 %) in patients who visited ED more than 24 hours after symptom onset (p=0.009). The mean duration of symptom for operated patients was longer than air reduction group (p=0.01). Also, 3/4 of patients having localized distension of small bowel in the left upper quadrant abdomen had unsuccessful air reduction (p=0.002). In conclusion, the time interval from symptom onset to arrival at ED and localized distension of small bowel in the left upper quadrant abdomen significantly increased the failure rate of air reduction.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.32-41
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after upper or lower abdominal digestive tract surgery. Methods: Participants in this retrospective observational study had undergone upper or lower digestive tract surgery and entered the surgical intensive care unit between March 1, 2016 and February 28, 2017. Data were collected from the medical records, operative records, results of laboratory test, and the nursing records of the hospitals. Results: Of the patients, 544 patients were enrolled in the study and PPCs -developed in 335 (61.6%) patients. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, significant risk factors of PPCs were identified: BMI (Body Mass Index; $kg/m^2$), preoperative serum BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen; mg/dL), abdominal open surgery, or blood transfusion during operation. Conclusion: These risk factors could be used to help identify patients at risk for PPCs and then appropriate nursing interventions could be provided for patients at risk of PPCs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.473-477
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• 2014

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is a rare malignant tumor. Herein, we report the case of a 52-year-old male patient who had postprandial abdominal distension and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. The abdominal computed tomography (CT) angiogram showed an IVC mass extending from the infrahepatic to the suprarenal inferior vena cava. The radiologic findings were suggestive of an IVC leiomyosarcoma. Surgical resection and reconstruction with a cryopreserved homograft were performed. The follow-up abdominal CT angiogram revealed the patient to be disease-free 6 months after surgery with patency of the IVC and renal vein.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.139-140
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• 2023

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.270-274
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• 2017

Background: We evaluated the operative outcomes of an extra-anatomic bypass from the ascending aorta to the abdominal aorta in patients with type II or III Takayasu arteritis (TA) with mid-aortic syndrome. Methods: From 1988 to 2014, 8 patients with type II (n=2) or III (n=6) TA underwent an ascending aorta to abdominal aorta bypass. The mean patient age was $43.5{\pm}12.2years$ and the mean peak pressure gradient between the upper and lower extremities was $54.8{\pm}39.0mm\;Hg$. The median follow-up duration was 54.4 months (range, 17.8 to 177.4 months). Results: There were no cases of operative mortality. The mean peak pressure gradient significantly decreased to $-2.4{\pm}32.3mm\;Hg$ (p=0.017 compared to the preoperative value). Late death occurred in 2 patients. The symptoms of upper extremity hypertension and claudication improved in all patients. The bypass grafts were patent at $47.1{\pm}58.9months$ in 7 patients who underwent follow-up imaging studies. Conclusion: An extra-anatomic ascending aorta to abdominal aorta bypass could be an effective treatment option for severe aortic steno-occlusive disease in patients with type II or III TA, with favorable early and long-term outcomes.

• Journal of Gynecologic Oncology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.92.1-92.9
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• 2018

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the pulmonary recruitment maneuver (PRM) at the end of the operation to decrease laparoscopy-induced abdominal or shoulder pain after gynecological oncologic surgery. Methods: In total, 113 women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for malignant or premalignant gynecological lesions were assigned randomly to two groups: the PRM group (the patient was placed in the Trendelenburg position ($30^{\circ}$) and the PRM, consisting of two manual pulmonary inflations to a maximum pressure of $40cmH_2O$) (n=54) and the control group (n=52). Postoperative shoulder and abdominal pain was assessed 12, 24, and 48 hours later using a visual analog scale (0-10). In addition, the incidence of post-discharge nausea and vomiting was recorded until 48 hours after discharge. Results: Postoperative shoulder pain at 12 and 24 hours was significantly less severe in the PRM group ($2.2{\pm}0.5$ and $2.0{\pm}0.4$) than in the control group ($4.0{\pm}0.5$ and $3.9{\pm}0.4$; both p<0.001). The PRM significantly reduced the severity of upper abdominal pain at 12 and 24 h compared with the control group ($3.1{\pm}0.4$ and $2.9{\pm}0.4$ vs. $2.9{\pm}0.5$ and $4.9{\pm}0.5$; both p<0.001). The analgesic requirement during the postoperative period was similar in the two groups (control group, 78.8%; PRM group, 75.9%; p=0.719). Conclusion: The PRM effectively and safely reduced postoperative shoulder and upper abdominal pain levels in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological oncologic surgery. Trial registry at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01940042.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.183-188
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• 2008

Wandering spleen is very rare condition in children characterized by migration of the spleen from its normal position due to laxity or absence of the supporting splenic ligaments. We experienced a case of splenic infarction due to torsion of a wandering spleen in a 6-year-old boy who presented with fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain of 2 day's duration. On physical examination, there was severe tenderness in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. The plain abdominal radiograph showed marked colonic gaseous distension. Contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography scan showed decreased density of spleen in the normal position, consistent with infarction. At emergency laparotomy, a wandering spleen twisted $360^{\circ}$ on its pedicle was found. Despite splenic detorsion, blood flow could not be restored. Splenectomy was therefore performed. The child was discharged 7 days after surgery without any complications.