• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.450-456
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• 2002

Idiopathic tracheal stenosis is a type of benign stenosis that possesses specific characteristics but is of unknown origin. It is a rare disease characterized by extensive fibrosis of a portion of trachea, and predominantly found in women. The lesion presents as circumferential fibrotic stenosis that usually occurs at upper trachea and the subglottic larynx, but lower trachea may also be involved. Diagnosis is made from the clinical characteristics accompanide by compatible pathologic features and by exclusion of other etiologies. Conservative management such as laser resection, dilatation and stent insertion can be tried initially, but surgical resection is recommended for definitive treatment due to frequent restenosis and maintenance problems of conservative approach. We report a case of idiopathic tracheal stenosis treated with tracheal resection and anastomosis followed by insertion of a retrievable stent for immediate relief of airway obstruction.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1508-1515
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• 1992

Between 1975 and 1992, forty five patients with trachea stenosis received tracheoplasty for relief of obstruction. The causes of airway problem are brain contusion[19 cases, 40%], cerebrovascular disease[3 cases, 7%], drug intoxication[8 cases, 18%], psychotic problem[2 cases, 4%], trachea tumor[3 cases, 7%], adult respiratory distress syndrome[9 cases, 20%] and direct trauma[1 case, 2%]. Direct causes of trachea stenosis were complications of tracheostomy[36 cases, 80%], complications of nasotracheal intubation[5 cases, 11%], tumor[3 cases, 6%] and trauma[1 case, 2%]. Thirty one patients underwent the sleeve resection and end-to-end anastomosis. Five patients performed a wedge resection and end-to-end anastomosis. Forteen patients received the Montgomery T-tube for relief of airway obstruction. Four patients have done simple excision of granulation tissue. Two, subglottic stenosis patients were received Rethi procedure[anterior division of cricoid cartilage, wedge partial resection of lower thyroid cartilage and Montgomery T-tube molding] and the other subglottic stenosis patient underwent permanent trachea fenestration. Including cervical flexion in all patients postoperatively, additional surgical techniques for obtain tension-free anastomosis were hyoid bone release technique in two cases, and hilar mobilization, division of inferior pulmonary ligament and mobilization of pulmonary vessel at the pericardium were performed in one case. Cervical approach was used in 39 cases, cervicomediastinal in 12 cases and transthoracic in one case. Complications of tracheoplasty were formation of granulation tissue at the anastomosis site[3 cases], restenosis[9 cases], trachea-innominate artery fistula[2 cases], wound infection[2 cases], separation of anastomosis[2 cases], air leakage[3 cases], injury to a recurrent laryngeal nerve[temporary 8 cases, permanent 2 cases] and hypoxemia[1 case]. Surgical mortality for resection with primary reconstruction was 6.7%, with one death due to postoperative respiratory failure and two deaths due to tracheo-innominate artery fistula.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.32-35
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• 1993

During the period from September 1989 through December 1992, 118 cases of coronary arterial bypass graft were performed at Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Asan Medical Center. Twenty-one of these had history of recent or remote percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. They consisted of 13 males[age,58.7 + 5.4 years] and 8 females[age, 63.6 + 2.8years] with the mean age of 60.6. History of old myocardial infarction was noted in 24%[5/21] of the patients and congestive heart failure in 2 cases. The angina by type of presentation is unstable in all of the patients. The patterns of involvement of coronary arterial disease were left main disease[1], single vessel disease[5], double vessel involvement[10], and triple vessel involvement[5]. We performed 4 cases of single bypasses, 7 cases of double, 8 cases of triple, and 2 cases of quadruple bypasses. Total of 51 grafts[LIMA:12, RSVG:39] were inserted in 21 cases with average of 2.4 grafts per patient. The methods of myocardial protection were cold blood cardioplegia[8 cases], intermittent aortic occlusion[11], and continuous coronary perfusion with local coronary sharing[2]. There were no operative or late death. The only cardiac complication was 1 case of low cardiac output required IABP. The other complications were 1 case of sternal wound infection and 1 case of postoperative bleeding required reoperation. And there was no case of perioperative myocardial infarction. Postoperatively, 3 cases of recurrent angina were detected at 5, 7, and 18months after surgery. One of them was managed successfully with repeat PTCA[who was recurred 18 months postoperatively], and the other two with medication. I conclude that we can approach the patients more aggressively with PTCA, because of our acceptable operative risks.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 1998

Treatment of esophageal perforation when diagnosed late remains controversial. Ten consecutive patients since 1990 were treated late(later than 24 hours) for esophageal perforation with primary repair. Four perforations were iatrogenic, 3 were spontaneous, 2 were foreign body aspiraton and 1 was trauma. The interval from perforation to operation was 116 hours in mean and 48 hours in median value. The principles of repair included (1) a local esophagomyotomy proximal and distal to the tear to expose the mucosal defect and intact mucosa beyond, (2) debridement of the mucosal defect and closure, (3) reapproximation of the muscle, and (4) adequate drainage. The repair was buttressed with parietal pleura or pericardial fat in 9 patients. Associated distal obstruction was treated with dilation and esophagomyotomy intraoperatively. There was one mortality and cause of death was massive gastric bleeding due to gastric ulcer on 33rd day after operation. Five patients had leak at the site of repair and these cases were treated completely with conservative treatment except a mortality case. In conclusion, in the absence of malignant or irreversible distal obstruction, meticulous repair of perforated esophagus and adequate drainage are preferred approach, regardless of the duration from the injury to the operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 1972

The recent development of cardiovascular surgery as well as aortoarteriogaphy has been established excellent operative result with great aid of limb-salvage. However, less consideration or less experience still exists on the regard of vascular accident and vascular disease, as well as vascular surgery in Korea. During the last 13 years, we experienced only two cases of aorto-iliac occlusion,acute and chronic, regardless of having had more than 300 cases of mitral valvotomy and gradual increasing tendency of arteriosclerosis and hypertension in Korea. Therefore it is noteworthy to report the cases in order to promote the consideration for vascular surgery. Case 1; 52 year old female who had 20 years history of mitral stenosis with uricular fibrillation and received medical treatment for recent 1 year in the medical department. 10 days before admission, acute saddle emboli developed and 15 days after the onset, embolectomy through both common femoral arteries on the groin and abdominal approach was made. The progression of emboll to the right popliteal bifurcation was found by arteriography on operating table and retrograde flushing with heparin solution by the polyethylene catheter inserted through posterior tibial artery. The operation was successful, but 9 hours after operation sudden death occurred. Considering this case, first, mitral valvotomy already before might prevent peripheral embolizatlon, secondarily, the more early detection and surgery might also prevent the progression of emboli. Thirdly, although preoperative or postoperatlve heparinization is controversial for mitraI stenosis, heparinization might prevent additional emboli to vital organs in this case Cases 2; 66 year old female who had 4 years history of left hip and calf intermittent claudication and has had rest pain, inability to walk and ischemic necrosis on the the left leg since last 3 months prior to admission to the orthopedic department under the suspicion of herniated disc. Absence of pulsation on the groin and aortography evidenced aortoillac occlusion predominantly on the left side. Thromboendarterectomy was made and the operative result was successful with absence of claudication, healing of ulcer and aortographic patency of occlusive site. This chronic occlusion is considered to result from arteriosclerosis in origin with the evidence of moderate hypertension, x-ray evidence of calcified plaque on the aortic knob and operative finding of palpable plaques.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 1997

Accidental ingestion of caustic substance is one of the common problems among children around the world. Acid intake accounts for a mere 5% of all reported cases of corrosive ingestion in the West. Because of the esophageal sparing effect of acid, clinically significant esophageal involvement after acid ingestion occurs in only 6 to 20 percent of the instances. Despite effort of prevention, 7% to 15% of children sustaining caustic esophageal burns develop esophageal strictures. If balloon dilatation or bougie dilatation fails to resolve the esophageal strictures, successful outcome following replacement by colon or stomach has been reported in children. But the complications and morbidity following these operations are still relatively high. Seven patients with corrosive-acid induced esophageal strictures who were operated upon at the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital from 1991 to 1995 were reviewed. Primary resection and anastomosis was performed in all of 7 patients. The stricture involved short segments of the esophagus at the level of the lower cervical and the upper thoracic vertebra. The operations were approached through a left cervical incision or a left thoracotomy. In one patient, operative repair of anastomotic leakage was done, and three patients required re-resection of anastomotic strictures postoperatively, and one patient required a third operation(reversed gastric tube) due to an anastomotic stricture. The other anastomotic leaks, strictures or pulmonary complications were resolved with conservative treatment. In conclusion, primary resection and anastomosis of the esophagus was performed successfully on the 6 of 7 children with acid induced corrosive esophageal strictures. This approach is physiologic, especially in children who should have a long life expectancy, and recommended for the treatment of short-segment acid induced corrosive esophageal strictures.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.102-106
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• 2010

Objective : To evaluate the clinical results of gross total resection in the surgical approach to spinal ependymoma. Methods : Between June 1995 and May 2009,13 males and 8 females (mean age 34) diagnosed with intramedullary or extramedullary spinal ependymoma were surgically treated at our centre. The neurological and functional state of each patient were evaluated according to the modified McCormick scale. Results : The average follow-up duration was 54 months (ranging from 12 to 168 months). The locations of the lesions were : thoracic region (4, 19%), lumbar region (7, 34%), cervical region (4, 19%), cervicothoracic region (3, 14%) and conus medullaris (3, 14%). Four patients (19%) had deterioration of neurological function in the early postoperative period. The neurological function of three patients was completely recovered at the 6th postoperative month, while that of another patient was recovered at the 14th month. In the last assessment of neurological function, 20 patients (95%) were assessed as McCormick grade 1. No perioperative complications developed in any of our patients. In one patient's 24-month assessment, tumour recurrence was observed. Re-operation was not performed and the patient was taken under observation. Conclusion : Two determinants of good clinical results after spinal ependymoma surgery are a gross total resection of the tumour and a good neurological condition before the operation. Although neurological deficits in the early postoperative period can develop as a result of gross total tumour resection, significant improvement is observed six months after the operation.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 1998

Between 1992 and 1996, 5 patients with the giant-cell tumor of the spine were treated. Four were female and one was male. The mean age was 34 years old, and the mean follow-up time was 36 months. The locations of the lesions were the cervical spine in 1, the thoracic spine in 3, and the lumbar spine in 1. Pain was the predominant presenting symptom in all cases and four had a neurological deficit. A combined anterior and posterior surgical approach wds as performed in all cases, which were also treated with AIF(anterior interbody fusion) and anterior and/or posterior instrumentation. Adjuvant radiation therapy was performed in 1 case of cervical spine. At the final follow-up, the pain and neurologic symptoms were improved. Radiologic examination showed no evidence of local recurrence and no failure of instrumentation of the spine.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.sup2
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• pp.322-327
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• 2001

Objectives : There are many kinds of method to evaluate neural decompression during operation. They are direct visual and manual inspection, intraoperative ultrasound, endoscope, intraoperative computed tomography and intraoperative myelography. We used intraoperative myelography to evaluate the proper decompression of neural elements during the decompressive surgery. Methods : We injected 10-20cc of nonionic water-soluble contrast materials through direct puncture site of exposed dura during operation or lower lumbar level or lumbar drain inserted preoperatively. 12 patients were included in this study. They were 7 patients of centrally herniated lumbar disc disease, 1 patient of multiple lumbar spinal stenosis, 2 patients of thoracic extradural tumor and 2 cervical fracture & dislocations. Results : 5 of 12 patients showed remained neural compression through intraoperative myelography, so they were operated further through other approach. Myelographic dye is heavier than CSF, so the dependent side of subarachnoid space was visualized only. In one case, CSF leakage through hemovac was detected, but it was treated only bed rest for 5 days after hemovac removal. Conclusion :Intraoperative myelography is an effective method to evaluate neural decompression during spinal surgery. This technique is easy and familiar to us, neurosurgeons.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.4
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• pp.277-284
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• 2019

Idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) is one of the varieties of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. Diagnosis of idiopathic NSIP can be done via multidisciplinary approach in which the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings were discussed together and exclude other causes. Clinical manifestations include subacute or chronic dyspnea and cough that last an average of 6 months, most of which occur in non-smoking, middle-aged women. The common findings in thoracic high-resolution computed tomography in NSIP are bilateral reticular opacities, traction bronchiectasis, reduced volume of the lobes, and ground-glass opacity in the lower lungs. These lesions can involve diffuse bilateral lungs or subpleural area. Unlike usual interstitial pneumonia, honeycombing is sparse or absent. Pathology shows diffuse interstitial inflammation and fibrosis which are temporally homogeneous, namely NSIP pattern. Idiopathic NSIP is usually treated with steroid only or combination with immunosuppressive agents such as azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, and mycophenolate mofetil. Prognosis of idiopathic NSIP is better than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Many studies have reported a 5-year survival rate of more than 70%.