• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.86-92
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• 2019

Purpose: There is increasing interest in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) in critically ill patients. This study investigated the effects and outcomes of elevated IAP in a trauma intensive care unit (ICU) population. Methods: Eleven consecutive critically ill patients admitted to the trauma ICU at Pusan National University Hospital Regional Trauma Center were included in this study. IAP was measured every 8-12 hours (intermittently) for 72 hours. IAP was registered as mean and maximal values per day throughout the study period. IAH was defined as $IAP{\geq}12mmHg$. Abdominal compartment syndrome was defined as $IAP{\geq}20mmHg$ plus ${\geq}1$ new organ failure. The main outcome measure was in-hospital mortality. Results: According to maximal and mean IAP values, 10 (90.9%) of the patients developed IAH during the study period. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was significantly higher in patients with $IAP{\geq}20mmHg$ than in those with IAP <20 mmHg (16 vs. 5, p=0.049). The hospital mortality rate was 27.3%. Patients with a maximum $IAP{\geq}20mmHg$ exhibited significantly higher hospital mortality rates (p=0.006). Non-survivors had higher maximum and mean IAP values. Conclusions: Our results suggest that an elevated IAP may be associated with a poor prognosis in critically ill trauma patients.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2019

Purpose: The Essential Surgical Procedures in Trauma (ESPIT) course was developed as a model to teach necessary surgical procedures to trauma physicians. Its goals are to improve knowledge, self-confidence, and technical competence. Methods: The ESPIT course consisted of five lectures and a porcine lab operative experience. The ESPIT course has been run seven times between February 2014 and April 2016. ESPIT participants completed a questionnaire to assess self-efficacy regarding essential surgical procedures in trauma before and immediately after taking the ESPIT course. Sixty-three participants who completed both pre- and post-course questionnaires on self-efficacy were enrolled in this study. Results: The overall post-ESPIT mean self-efficacy score was higher than the pre-ESPIT mean self-efficacy score ($8.3{\pm}1.30$ and $4.5{\pm}2.13$, respectively) (p<0.001). Self-efficacy was significantly improved after the ESPIT course in general surgeons (p<0.001), thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons (p<0.001), emergency medicine doctors, and others (neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons) (p<0.001). The differences in self-efficacy score according to career stage (<1 year, 1-3 years, 3-5 years, and >5 years) were also statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusions: The data of the ESPIT participants indicated that they felt that the ESPIT course improved their self-efficacy with regard to essential surgical procedures in trauma. The ESPIT course may be an effective strategy for teaching surgical procedures, thus promoting better management of traumatic injuries.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.116-119
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• 2020

Cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) is commonly performed to provide relief of pain caused by radiculopathy. Intra-arterial injection of particulate steroid or direct needle injury can lead to spinal artery embolism or thrombosis. Also there is a possibility of vascular spasm. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of spinal cord infarction that occurred after TFESI with non-particulate steroid in Korea. A 47-year-old female patient underwent C7 TFESI at local pain clinic. Injected materials were dexamethasone and mepivacaine. Right after the intervention, she felt muscle weakness and decreased sensation. On physical examination, she had decreased sensation from C4 to T2 dermatome in light touch and pin-prick test. Proprioception and vibration were intact. The motor grades of upper extremities were grade 1. Cervical and thoracic spine MRI was checked. Diffusion-weighted image and apparent diffusion coefficient image showed long extension of spinal cord infarction from C2 to T1 level.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2022

Purpose: Pedicle screw fixation provides 3-column stabilization, multidimensional control, and a higher rate of interbody fusion. Although computed tomography (CT) is recommended for the postoperative assessment of pedicle screw fixation, its use is limited due to the radiation exposure dose. The purpose of this preliminary retrospective study was to assess the clinical usefulness of low-dose mobile cone-beam CT (CBCT) for the postoperative evaluation of pedicle screw fixation. Methods: The author retrospectively reviewed postoperative mobile CBCT images of 15 patients who underwent posterior pedicle screw fixation for spinal disease from November 2019 to April 2020. Pedicle screw placement was assessed for breaches of the bony structures. The breaches were graded based on the Heary classification. Results: The patients included 11 men and four women, and their mean age was 66±12 years. Of the 122 pedicle screws, 34 (27.9%) were inserted in the thoracic segment (from T7 to T12), 82 (67.2%) in the lumbar segment (from L1 to L5), and six (4.9%) in the first sacral segment. Although there were metal-related artifacts, the image of the screw position (according to Heary classification) after surgery could be assessed using mobile CBCT at all levels (T7-S1). Conclusions: Mobile CBCT was accurate in determining the location and integrity of the pedicle screw and identifying the surrounding bony structures. In the postoperative setting, mobile CBCT can be used as a primary modality for assessing the accuracy of pedicle screw fixation and detecting postoperative complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.374-386
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• 2023

Background: The heightened morbidity and mortality associated with repeat cardiac surgery are well documented. Redo median sternotomy (MS) and minimally invasive valve surgery are options for patients with prior cardiac surgery who require mitral valve surgery (MVS). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the outcomes of redo MS and minimally invasive MVS (MIMVS) in this population. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus for studies comparing outcomes of redo MS and MIMVS for MVS. To calculate risk ratios (RRs) for binary outcomes and weighted mean differences (MDs) for continuous data, we employed a random-effects model. Results: We included 12 retrospective observational studies, comprising 4157 participants (675 for MIMVS; 3482 for redo MS). Reductions in mortality (RR, 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37-0.80), length of hospital stay (MD, -4.23; 95% CI, -5.77 to -2.68), length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay (MD, -2.02; 95% CI, -3.17 to -0.88), and new-onset acute kidney injury (AKI) risk (odds ratio, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.61) were statistically significant and favored MIMVS (p<0.05). No significant differences were observed in aortic cross-clamp time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, or risk of perioperative stroke, new-onset atrial fibrillation, surgical site infection, or reoperation for bleeding (p>0.05). Conclusion: The current literature, which primarily consists of retrospective comparisons, underscores certain benefits of MIMVS over redo MS. These include decreased mortality, shorter hospital and ICU stays, and reduced AKI risk. Given the lack of high-quality evidence, prospective randomized control trials with adequate power are necessary to investigate long-term outcomes.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.64-73
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• 1988

Recent studios have shown that narcotic drags produce an unusually intense, prolonged and segmental analgesic action in man whoa injected into the spinal subarachnoid or epidural space (Wang et al, 1979; Behar et al, 1979; Cousins et al, 1979; Magora et a., 1980, Johnston and McCaughey, 1980). Since 1960, many investigators claimed that low molecular weight(LMW) dextran increased the clinical duration of lidocaine(Loder, 1960; Loder, 1962), tetracaine (Chinn and Wirjoatmadja, 1967) and bupivacaine(Kaplan et al, 1975) in man but the mechanism of the action of dextran was unclear. But Curtiss and Scurlock(1979), and Buckled and Fink(1979) claimed that LMW dextran has no effect on the duration of action of bupivacaine in animal studies. The present study was performed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of analgesia by the thoracic epidural injection of morphine and bupivacaine mixture for the relief of pain due to fractured or contused ribs, to evaluate the duration of analgesic effect by the use of the above mixture in a hypertonic solution(dextran 70 or 50% dextrose in water) and to observe the possibility of improvement in the lung function after the pain block. The complications following the pain block were also observed. The 50 single thoracic epidural injections of the mixture were divided into three groups : Group 1(n=15) served as a control group and drags used for the relief of pain were as follows(Mean$\pm$S.D.): morphine($2.13{\pm}1.64\;mg$), 0.5% bupivacaine($3.10{\pm}1.04\;ml$) and 0.9% saline($3.64{\pm}1.11\;ml$). Group 2(n=16) serves as an experimental group and drugs were as follows(Mean$\pm$S.D.): morphine($2.13{\pm}0.72\;mg$), 0.5% bupivacaine($3.06{\pm}0.77\;ml$) and dextran 70($3.75{\pm}1.29\;ml$). Group 3 (n=19) served as an experimental group and drags were as follows(Mean$\pm$S.D.) : morphine($2.42{\pm}0.51\;mg$), 0.5% bupivacaine($3.21{\pm}0.71\;ml$) and 50% dextrose in water($3.58{\pm}1.11\;ml$). The results are were follows: 1) The Dumber of patients who obtained excellent and good analgesic effects following the block were greater in the experimental Croup 2(94%) and Group 3 (90%) than theme of the control Group 1 (80%). 2) The duration of pain relief which lasted more than 3 days after the epidural block was longer in the experimental Group 2 (81%) and Group 3 (75%) than those of the control Croup 1(67%). 3) The pulmonary reserve(FVC%+FEV 1.0%) of 27 cases who were treated by the pain block between 1 and 31 drys following the chest injury was increased to about 13% than those before the block, and that of 13 cases between 32 and 82 days following the chest injury was decreased to about 4% than those before the block. 4) Of the complications following the pain block, there were 5 cased(10%) of nausea within 2 hours following the block, 4 cases(8%) of vomiting after 2 hours following the block, 10 cases(20%) of pruritus after 3~4 hours following the block, 17 cases(34%) of transient urinary retention which tasted 8 to 19 hours, 3 cases(6%) of headache within 2 hoers following the block and 2 cases(4%) of dural puncture. In conclusion, it is suggested that the clinical duration of analgesic effect produced by morphine and bupivacaine mixture can be prolonged by addition of the hypertonic solution to the mixture.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.454-459
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• 2002

Clinical analysis of the relation between the clinical data of chest trauma patients and bone scan results was done to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of bone scan for the diagnosis of rib or chondral fracture. Material and Method： 445 patients treated due to chest trauma in Dongguk University Kyungju Hospital from July 1998 to December 2001 were studied. Age and sex distribution, causes of chest trauma, interval from the injury to arrival at hospital, final diagnosis, relationship between the chest pain and bone scan results, relationship between local tenderness and bone scan results, and sensitivity and specificity of bone scan were studied. Result： The male was 61.6% and the female was 38.4%. Age distribution was nearly even from the twenties to the sixties. The traffic accident was the most common cause of chest injury(60.4%). Most patients(76.6%) were arrived to the hospital within 6 hours after chest trauma. Rib fracture was the most common final diagnosis(46.5 %). The relationship between the duration of chest pain and tenderness and the bone scan results were significant, and the same in the relationship between the duration of local tenderness and the bone scan results, but the latter is more significant. The sensitivity of bone scan was 99.4% and the specificity was 90.4%. Conclusion： If the patient complains the chest pain continuously and the local tenderness around the chest is continued over 3 weeks, it is good to perform the bone scan. Further study including the MRI may be helpful for more evaluation in chest trauma patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.545-558
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• 2003

Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is of particular interest because of its severity of the associated lung injury and its high mortality. However, the pathophysiologies of ARDS in infant and childhood groups are still not well clarified inspite of many previous investigations. To investigate the time course of pathophysiology of ARDS in infant and childhood groups, this study was designed with experimental endotoxin-induced ARDS model using young rabbits (8 week-old). Material and Method: Rabbits were divided into the control group (n=8) and the endotoxin-treated group (n=32). The endotoxin group was subdivided into 4 groups by the sampling times as 3, 6, 12 and 24 hr-groups (G- $E_{3,6,12,24,}$ each n=8). The experimental ARDS was made by a bolus injection of endotoxin (Escherichia coli serotype 055 : B5, 0.50 mg/kg) via rabbit ear vein. For evaluation of the hematologic and inflammatory markers, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentrations, the blood samples were taken from the heart. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were obtained for analysis of the leukocytes and protein concentration. With biopsy of the lung, histopathologic changes of the lung were also evaluated. Result: In the endotoxin groups, significant leukopenia (owing to pancytopenia) occurred in 3 and 6-hr groups, which was followed by significant leukocytosis (owing to neutrophilia) in the 12 and 24-hr groups (p<0.05). Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) and interleukin-1 $\beta$ (IL-1 $\beta$) in the endotoxin groups were higher than those of control group (p<0.05). Serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) of G- $E_{3}$ and G- $E_{6}$ were higher than those of control group, whereas those of G- $E_{12}$ were lower than those of control groups (p<0.05). Total leukocyte counts and protein con-centrations in BALF were significantly elevated in the endotoxin groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The hemorrhagic pattern of BALF showed occurred in the endotoxin groups. The endotoxin groups (in G- $E_{6}$) had severe infiltration of inflammatory cells (lymphocyte and monocyte) in the pulmonary interstitium and parenchyma, migrations of neutrophil and eosinophil into alveolar spaces and interstitial widening, which are the evidences of acute lung injury. In the endotoxin groups, there were significant positive correlations between the BALF findings and the immunologic markers (TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$, SOD) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Severe acute lung injury occurred in all the endotoxin-treated rabbits. The pathophysiologic findings were so progressive until 6-hr by time dependant pattern, and then recovered slowly, Variable hematologic, immuno-logic, and pathologic factors were well correlated in the development and progression of endoxin-induced lung injury. The pathophysiologic responses were sensitive and rapid in young rabbit Young rabbit seemed to be a useful experimental animal model for infant and childhood groups.roups.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.413-418
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• 1997

From January, 1992 to June, 1996, )7 patients with flail chest were treated at Sonnchunhyang university hospital. 15 patients were managed by internal fixation of fractured ribs, whereas the remaining 22 patients were managed by endotracheal intubation and intermittent positive-pressure ventilation alone. There were no difference between two groups in age, sex, the severity of injury to the chest wall and the nature of associated injuries. Average dur'Btion of assisted ventilation was 5.7 $\pm$ 1.7 days in the patients treated by internal fixation versus 8.7 $\pm$ 3.3 days In the patients treated by continuous me hanical ventilation. Average stay in the intensive care unit was 8.3 $\pm$ 3.9 days for the patients treated by internal fixation, whereas it was $13.2\pm4.1$ days in the group treated by continuous mechanical ventilation alone. In the group treated by internal fixation, complications were 3 atelectases(20.0%), 1 pneumonia(6.7%), 2 operative wound problems(12.3%) and 1 barotrauma(6.7%). In the other group, 7 atelectases(31.8%), 4 pneumonitis(18.2%), 2 empyemas(9.1%) and 3 barotraumas(1).6%). The mortality rate was 13.3%(2/15) in the surgically treated patients, whereas it was 22.7%(5122) in the other group. The treatment of flail chest by internal fixation resulted in speedy recovery, decreased complications and mortalities, and better ultimatc cosmetic and functional results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.504-509
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• 2003

Although arterial grafts are widely used due to the advantage of long-term patency in coronary bypass surgery, greater saphenous vein is still an important additional conduit. It was reported that preservation of the adventitia of vein graft and the adjacent tissues may bring the improved long-term graft patency. The aim of this study is to look for a harvest technique that can reduce vein injury and wound complications. Material and Method: In thirty-four patients that vein grafts were used for coronary bypass surgery, 50 harvest sites were included for the study. In 25 harvest sites in calf below knee (group 1), vein was exposed through a long incision and then clearly dissected from the adjacent tissue. Ten endoscopic vein harvests were performed in the thighs (group 2). Fifteen other vein grafts that were bluntly dissected were harvested from the thighs through three separate incisions (group 3). Result: Vein harvest time was longest in endoscopic harvest group (44.7$\pm$9.8 minutes) and shortest in group 3 (24.2$\pm$5.9 minutes) (p＝0.000). Most avulsion injuries of vein branches happened in the endoscopic group. Sequential grafting numbers per vein were 1.72$\pm$0.98 with thigh vein graft and 1.16$\pm$0.37 with calf vein (p＝0.02). Swelling of foot and/or leg, which was the most common wound complication after vein harvest, was most commonly presented in group 1 (20/25 sites; p＝0.000). Tingling, the most common neurologic complication, was also most prevalent in group 1 (7/25 sites; p＝0.013). The risk factor of the wound complication was vein harvest from calf, and the vein harvest technique was not a risk for wound complication. Conclusion: Vein harvest technique through three separate incisions from thigh presented shorter harvest time and less vein injury and wound complication compared with the endoscopic harvest technique from thigh or the harvest through a long incision from calf.