• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.686-692
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• 1997

This study represents an attempt to present an analysis of early surgical results in 15 cases of aortic surgery conducted at Chonnam University Hospital between February 1994 to August 1995. The subject, 9 males and 6 females, ranged in age from 32 to 73 years with a mean age of 55.07$\pm$ 1176 years. The patients were treated for dissecting aortic aneurysm in nine, atherosclerotic aneurysm in 4, and traumatic aortic aneurysm in two. There were 9 cases of median stemotomy, 4 cases of posterolateral thoracotomy, and 2 cases of thoracoabdominal incision. Graft replacement of ascending aorta andfor partial or total aortic arch were performed in 9 patients, descending aorta andfor t oracoabdominal aorta in 3 and total aorta in 1, Two traumatic aortic aneurysms were closed directly. Associate procedures were resuspension of aortic valve in three patients and elephant trunk procedure, coronary reimplantation and aortic valve replacement in one patient. Nine patients underwent operation for ascending aorta andfor aortic arch with retrograde cerebral perfusion during deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest. Perfusion pressure was maintained below 25 mmHg and the mean duration of circulatory arrest was 56.67 $\pm$ 29.25 minutes. Three patients underwent graft replacement of desending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta during deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest. Three patients died of traumatic bile peritonitis, multioragn failure, and rupture of residual dissecting aortic aneurysm by malignant hypertension. Postoperative complications included reoperation for bleeding in 4 patients, temporary confusion in 3, pulmonary complication in 3, and pericardial effusion in .

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2012

Background: Some disabled patients show insufficient cooperation during dental treatment, and general anesthesia in an outpatient setting can be successfully administered. To minimize post-anesthetic complications is an essential issue, and strict discharge protocols are required for the safety of the patients. Post-anesthetic follow-ups using telephone calls can be applied to improve the quality of the outpatient care system. The authors evaluated the post-operative condition of patients after dental treatment under general anesthesia. Methods: Total 143 patients and their caregivers included in this study. The patients received general anesthesia for dental treatment in Seoul National University Dental Hospital, Clinic for Persons with Disabilities from July, 2011 to April, 2012. Telephone calls were given to the patients or their caregivers to collect information about the patients' systemic condition and anesthesia-related complications. Results: Among 131 patients with responses of telephone calls, 87 patients (66.4%) reported no discomfort, while 44 patients (33.6%) presented post-anesthetic complications. A total of 20 patients reported mild fever, 10 patients had vomiting, and 7 patients had sore throat. Other complications included nausea, fatigue, nasal bleeding, skin sore, and body rash. Among the patients with the history of epilepsy, 63.6% showed post-anesthetic discomfort or complication (P = 0.027, ${\chi}^2$ test). Conclusions: One third of dental patients who received general anesthesia due to insufficientcooperation complained discomfort after discharged from outpatient anesthetic care.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.60-64
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• 2002

Objectives: Three classic treatment modalities have been used to treat Graves' disease: antithyroid medication, radioiodine ablation, and subtotal thyroidectomy. Postoperative thyroid functions were studied in patients with Graves' disease treated by subtotal thyroidectomy to evaluate the superiority of surgical treatment. Materials and Methods: One hundred fourty patients of Graves' disease were analysed retrospectively in follow-up for more than three years following subtotal thyroidectomy. Postoperative serum levels of $T_3,\;T_4, TSH, TSH-R Ab, free $T_4$, were evaluated to watch hypo- or hyperthyroidsm. Results: In the evaluation of preop- and postoperative thyroid function after three years of subtotal thyroidectomy, $T_3$ was changed from $464.10{\pm}196.16ng/dl$ to $140.41{\pm}76.56ng/dl$ in mean value, $T_4$ was changed from $20.76{\pm}7.98{\mu}g/dl$ to $9.54{\pm}4.02{\mu}g/dl$, $TSHT_3$ was changed from $0.55{\pm}4.42{\mu}u/ml$ to $4.96{\pm}7.20{\mu}u/ml$, TSH-R Ab was changed from $41.6{\pm}28.27%$ to $28.7{\pm}28.79%$ and free $T_4$ was changed from $4.45{\pm}2.33ng/dl$ to $1.44{\pm}0.69ng/dl$ in mean value. Euthyroidism was noted in 118 patients(84.3%), overt hyperthyroidism in 6 patiens(4.3%), latent hyperthyroidism in 8 patients(5.7%), overt hypothyroidism in 2 patint(1.4%), and latent hypothyroidism in 6 patients(4.3%). Of surgical complications, permanant hypoparathyroidism was found in one patient, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in two patients, postoprative bleeding with reoperation in two patients, and death in one patient. Conclusion: The thyroid function after subtotal thyroidectomy in diffuse toxic goiter is normal level (euthyroidism) in 84.3% and low recurrence rate of hyperthyroidism is showed with rare surgical complication. Therefore, subtotal thyroidectomy in diffuse toxic goiter is more effective and safe than RI or longterm ATD treatment, if the operation is performed by skillful surgeon.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.265-271
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• 2015

Background: Stainless steel wiring remains the most popular technique for primary sternal closure. Recently, a multifilament cable wiring system (Pioneer Surgical Technology Inc., Marquette, MI, USA) was introduced for sternal closure and has gained wide acceptance due to its superior resistance to tension. We aimed to compare conventional steel wiring to multifilament cable fixation for sternal closure in patients undergoing major cardiac surgery. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively on 1,354 patients who underwent sternal closure after major cardiac surgery, using either the multifilament cable wiring system or conventional steel wires between January 2009 and October 2010. The surgical outcomes of these two groups of patients were compared using propensity score matching based on 18 baseline patient characteristics. Results: Propensity score matching yielded 392 pairs of patients in the two groups whose baseline profiles showed no significant differences. No significant differences between the two groups were observed in the rates of early mortality (2.0% vs. 1.3%, p=0.578), major wound complications requiring reconstruction (1.3% vs. 1.3%, p>0.99), minor wound complications (3.6% vs. 2.0%, p=0.279), or mediastinitis (0.8% vs. 1.0%, p=1.00). Patients in the multifilament cable group had fewer sternal bleeding events than those in the conventional wire group, but this tendency was not statistically significant (4.3% vs. 7.4%, p=0.068). Conclusion: The surgical outcomes of sternal closure using multifilament cable wires were comparable to those observed when conventional steel wires were used. Therefore, the multifilament cable wiring system may be considered a viable option for sternal closure in patients undergoing major cardiac surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.177-186
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• 1994

Pentastarch is a hydroxyethyl starch similar to hetastarch, but lower average molecular weight and fewer hydroxyethyl groups which result in enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis and faster renal elimination.This report was performed to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of 10 % pentastarch[Pentaspan , group I] for plasma volume expansion after open heart surgery with that of 5% albumin[Plasmanate, group II]. There were no statistically significant differences between the group I [n=18] and group II [n:19] in the preoperative parameters [age, sex, body weight] and operative parameters[bypass time, aorta cross clamping time]. During the first 24 hours after arrival of the patient in the surgical intensive care unit, colloid solution [500--1000 ml] was infused to maintain left atrial pressure of more than 8 mmHg, or cardiac index of 2.0 L/min/M2 of more. In results, there were 3 complications of hypotension immediately after infusion of 5 % albumin solution and 2 among the 3 patients were excluded for the study. However there was no complication after infusion of 10 % pentastarch solution. Hemodynamic responses to infusion was similar for both groups, although in group I a greater increase in both left atrial pressure[mean 1.8 versus 0.7 mmHg, p< 0.05] and right atrial pressure [mean 2.2 versus 1.7 mmHg, p < 0.05] was observed during infusion of the first 500 ml. There were no significant differences in any of the measured respiratory parameters[PaO2, intrapulmonary shunt, and effective lung compliance]. Homodilution with colloid significantly reduced hemoglobin [mean 1.2 versus 0.8 gm/dl], and serum protein and albumin level[total protein;4.8$\pm$ 0.5 versus 5.2 $\pm$0.5 gm/dl, p < 0.05: albumin: 3.2 $\pm$0.4 versus 3.6 $\pm$0.6 gm/dl, p < 0.05] by 6:00 AM on 1 day postoperatively, however there were no significant differences on 7 day postoperatively. The mean serum colloid osmotic pressure and osmolarity was similar in both group.There were no abnormal findings of liver function and kidney function in all the patients. There were no significant between-group differences in bleeding time, platelets, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and amount of chest tube output measured on 1st and 7th postoperative day. These findings demonstrated that 10% pentastarch is more effective and safe for plasma volume expension than 5 % albumin solution with no adverse effects on coagulation. Also 10 % pentastarch is less expensive than 5 % albumin and it would appeare to be a reasonable first choice for plasma volume expansion.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.144-148
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• 2002

The present study was done to determine the efficacy and safety of varicose vein removal using a minimally invasive, powered vein-extracting device with cutaneous transillumination and tumescent anesthesia techniques and then compared this to a retrospective group of conventional phlebectomy operations. There were 133 limbs in 104 patients(72 women, 32 men) treated with the use of the vein extractor aided by transcutaneous illumination. The hydrodissection was performed with Trivex™ Irrigated illuminator(Smith & Nephe $w^{ R}$) system using normal saline after the 2~3mm sized skin incision. Varicose clusters were extracted by the use of TriveTM esector(Smith & Nephe $w^{ R}$) system under transillumination. After the varisoce vein extraction, the operation area was compressed with surgical pad for bleeding control. The complication rate was 3.84% The mean number of incisions was 3.24 and mean operative time per limb was 65.9 minutes. The mean hospitalization was 1.86 days. The varicose vein extraction using transilluminated powered phlebectomy(TIPP) is a safe, efficacious and cosmetically satisfactory method. The procedure decreases the operating time and the number of incisions required to remove varicose clusters. Further evaluation and long term follow up will be necessary to determine the recurrence rate and long termcomplications.to determine the recurrence rate and long termcomplications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.110-115
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• 2012

Background: Pneumonectomy remains the ultimate curative treatment modality for destroyed lung caused by tuberculosis despite multiple risks involved in the procedure. We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent pneumonectomy for treatment of sequelae of pulmonary tuberculosis to determine the risk factors of early and long-term outcomes. Materials and Methods: Between January 1980 and December 2008, pneumonectomy or pleuropneumonectomy was performed in 73 consecutive patients with destroyed lung caused by tuberculosis. There were 48 patients with empyema (12 with bronchopleural fistula [BPF]), 11 with aspergilloma and 7 with multidrug resistant tuberculosis. Results: There were 5 operative mortalities (6.8%). One patient had intraoperative uncontrolled arrhythmia, one had a postoperative cardiac arrest, and three had postoperative respiratory failure. A total of 29 patients (39.7%) suffered from postoperative complications. Twelve patients (16.7%) were found to have postpneumonectomy empyema (PPE), 4 patients had wound infections (5.6%), and 7 patients required re-exploration due to postoperative bleeding (9.7%). The prevalence of PPE increased in patients with preoperative empyema (p=0.019). There were five patients with postoperative BPF, four of which occurred in right-side operation. The only risk factor for BPF was the right-side operation (p=0.023). The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 88.9% and 76.2%, respectively. The risk factors for late deaths were old age (${\geq}50$ years, p=0.02) and low predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (< 1.2 L, p=0.02). Conclusion: Although PPE increases in patients with preoperative empyema and postoperative BPF increases in right-side operation, the mortality rates and long-term survival rates were found to be satisfactory. However, the follow-up care for patients with low predicted postoperative FEV1 should continue for prevention and early detection of pulmonary complication related to impaired pulmonary function.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.70-75
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• 1999

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the methods of diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules. Materials and Methods : We performed a clinical review of patients with thyroid nodules, who were surgically treated at the Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Chosun University from January 1996 to December 1998. Results: 1) The patients were divided into two groups; 65 patients(80.2%) with benign nodular disease and 16 patients(19.8%) with malignant disease. 2) The sex distribution showed a preponderance of females with a ratio of 5.2:1 in benign nodular disease and 3:1 in malignant disease. Benign nodules were more prevalent in patients in their 40's as compared to malignant nodules in patients in their 50's and 60's. 3) The most common duration of illness was 3 months, occurring in 45.7% of the total cases. 4) The most prominent symptom and sign was a palpable nodule in the anterior aspect of the neck. 5) The location of the nodule was ; 41 cases in the right lobe, 29 cases in the left lobe, and 11 cases in both lobes. 6) Thyroid scanning of 40 patients revealed cold nodules in 90.6% of benign nodules and in all malignant disease. 7) Fine needle aspiration cytology were performed in 32 cases of the 81 patients. Comparing with postoperative pathological findings, the results were the same in 87.5% of 32 cases. 8) Intra-operative frozen section study was performed in 56 cases of the 81 patients. Comparing with postoperative pathological finding, the results were same in 96.4% of the 56 cases. 9) The histopathological classification revealed that adenomatous goiters were the most common benign disease and papillary carcinomas were the most common malignant disease. 10) The most frequently employed operation for benign nodules and malignant disease was unilateral total lobectomy. When the metastasis was confirmed, lymphadenectomy and radical neck dissection was performed in malignant disease. 11) Important postoperative complications were transient hoarseness, transient hypocalcemia, hypothyroidism, wound bleeding, and hoarseness. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that palpable nodules in anterior aspect of neck is revealed cold nodule by thyroid scanning and malignancy by fine needle aspiration cytology, which should be removed surgically. There is no difference in complication and survival rate with type of operation and lymphatic dissection. Therefore, procedure of operation is dependent on the site of nodule and involvement of lymph node.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.11 s.268
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• pp.822-827
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• 2006

Background: Lung transplantation is a definitive therapy for a variety of end stage lung diseases. Since 1996, we have performed thirteen cases of lung transplantation including two retransplantations, and we analyzed the outcomes, complications, and survivals of these patients. Material and Method: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of thirteen cases from July, 1996 to July, 2005. Result: During the period, 11 patients had undergone 43 lung and heart-lung transplantations, and two patients had retransplantation due to allograft failure. Mean age of recipients were $45.2{\pm}10.7$ years(range, $25{\sim}59$). Early complications were bleeding, reperfusion injury, and infection and late complications were mainly infection and post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease. Excluding the operative mortality, the mean survival period was 16.5 months($2{\sim}60$ months). Two retransplantations had been performed 2 weeks and 13 months after single lung transplantations. Conclusion: In order to achieve long term survival, early detection of complications and proper treatment in addition to surgical skills are necessary, and these efforts can promote better lung transplantation programs in the near future.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2008

Background: Aortic diseases tend to involve the entire aorta. Hence, there is the constant possibility of the need for a secondary operation at the remnant aorta. This study analyzed our cases of secondary aortic surgery in order to determine its characteristics and problems. Material and Method: Between April 2003 and June 2007, 12 patients (6 male and 6 female) underwent thoracoabdominal aortic replacement as a secondary aortic operation. Their clinical courses were analyzed. Four of the patients underwent lower thoracobadominal aortic replacement under the normothermic femorofemoral bypass, and the others underwent an entire thoracobdominal aortic replacement under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Result: There was no death or paraplegia. As local complications, there were 3 cases of wound infection and 2 cases of an immediate reoperation caused by bleeding and one case of delayed wound. revision for a contaminated perigraft hematoma. As a systemic complication, there was one case of renal insufficiency, which required hemodialysis and one case of respiratory insufficiency that needed prolonged ventilator care. The mean admission period was $30{\pm}21$ days. All the patients were followed up for $626{\pm}542$ days without reoperation or other problems. Conclusion: Using properly selected patients and a careful approach, thoracoabdominal aortic replacement can be performed safely as a secondary aortic surgery.