• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.14-24
• /
• 2013

Objectives: Pregnant women in rural areas do not have access to sufficient obstetric services in their own communities due to the shortage of obstetricians. Therefore, most of these women must seek obstetrician outside of their communities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between obstetric complications and accessibility to local obstetric care in Korea. Methods: This study was an ecological study in which the unit of analysis was an administrative district. Using Korea National Health Insurance Corporation data, the total number of deliveries and the delivery proportion within and outside of the community from 2001 to 2008 were calculated for 232 administrative districts nationwide. Three outflow levels were categorized based on each district's out-of-community delivery proportion: high outflow (upper one third), moderate outflow (middle one third), and low outflow (lower one third). In addition, three obstetric complication rates (the rate of complications following abortion, ectopic and molar pregnancy, the abortion rate, and the eclampsia rate) were calculated for the 232 districts. One-way ANOVA and multivariate linear regression were used to evaluate obstetric complications among the three outflow levels. Results: The high outflow districts had higher rates of eclampsia and complications following abortion, ectopic, and molar pregnancy compared to the other districts (ANOVA, p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the abortion rate among the three groups. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that high outflow districts were statistically significant in the rate of complications following abortion, ectopic and molar pregnancy and eclampsia rate after adjusting for local tax per capita (p<0.01). Conclusion: These results indicate that poor access to local obstetric care correlate with poor obstetric outcomes (delayed or excessive bleeding, embolism, genital tract or pelvic infection, shock or other complications following abortion and ectopic or molar pregnancy, or eclampsia).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.454-464
• /
• 2001

Background: It has been recognized that systemic inflammatory reaction and oxygen free radical formed by activated leukocyte in the procedure of cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) frequently produce postoperative cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of leukocyte-depleting filters in the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for patients undergoing open heart surgery(OHS). Material and method: The study involved 15 patients who underwent OHS with a Leukoguard-6 leukocyte filter placed in the arterial limbs of the bypass circuit(filter group, n=15) and 15 patients who did not have the filter(control group, n=15). We analyzed the differences between the groups in intraoperative changes of peripheral blood leukocyte and platelet counts, pre- and postbypass changes of malondialdehyde(MDA), troponin-T(TnT), 5'-nucleotidase(5'-NT) in coronary sinus blood, spontaneous recovery rate of heart beat after CPB, pre-and postoperative cardiac index(Cl) and pulmonary vascular resistance(PVR), and the amounts of postoperative bleeding and sternal wound complication. Result: During CPB, total leukocyte count of the filter group(9,567$\pm$ 842/㎣) was significantly less than that of the control group(13,573+1,167/㎣) (p<0.01), but there was no significant difference in platelet count between the groups. Postoperative levels of MDA(3.78+0.32 $\mu$mol/L vs 5.86+0.65 $\mu$mo1/L, p<0.01), TnT(0.40$\pm$0.04 ng/mL vs 0.59$\pm$0.08 ng/mL, p<0.05) and 5'-NT(3.88$\pm$0.61 U/L vs 5.80$\pm$0.90 U/L, p<0.05) were all significantly lower in the filter group than the control group. Postoperative Cl was higher in the filter group than the control group(3.26$\pm$0.18 L/$m^2$min vs 2.75$\pm$0.17 L/$m^2$/min, p=0.05). PVR of the filter group was lower than that of the control group(65.87$\pm$7.59 dyne/sec/cm$^{5}$ vs 110.80+12.22 dyne/sec/cm$^{5}$ , p<0.01). Spontaneous recovery rate of heart beat in the filter group was higher than that in the control group(12 patients vs 8 patients, p<0.05). Postoperative wound infection occurred in one case in the filter group and 4 case in the control group(p<0.05). Postoperative 24 hour blood loss of the filter group was more than that of the control group (614$\pm$107 mL vs 380+71 mL, p=0.05).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.12
• /
• pp.1323-1328
• /
• 1996

The obstructive diseases involving the left main coronary artery(LMCA) are serious. Surgical treatment is generally regarded as much more effective than medical therapy in terms of long-term survival and relief of symptoms. This study represents an attempt to present an analysis of early surgical results in 21 cases conducted at Chonnam University Hospital between October 1992 And August 1995. The subject. 12 males and 9 female, ranged in age from 25 to 67 years with a mean age of 49.3${\pm}$12.5 years. As for indications for operation, unstable angina was reported on 66.7% of the subjects, while stable angina and acute myocardial infarction in 4 and 3 cases, respectively. There were also 2 cases of Takayasu's aortitis and 1 case of failed percutaneous translumlnal coronary angioplasty(PTCA). Eleven subjects had isolated LMCA diseases compared to 10 subjects with associated LMCA diseases. Of the patients with ass;3ciated LMCA diseases, 4 subjects had single coronary artery disease, 3 had double coronary artery disease, remaining 3 suffered from triple coronary artery disease. As for the group with isolated LMCA disease, ostidl angioplasty llsing autopericardium was conducted with 5 subjects. The remaining subjects with the isolated diseases and all of the patients with associated LMCA disease underwent aortocoronary bypass grafts. The left internal mammary artery was used in all patients and the average number of anastomoses was 3.13 ${\pm}$0.93. One subject died of low cardiac output syndrome at the second postoperative day. There were 5 instances of postoperative complication including reoperation for bleeding in two patients, wound infection in two, and arrhythmia in one. Follow-up coronary angiogram were conducted with eights patients, including five patients who underwent ostial angioplasty. In these cases, the patients showed surf. ficient enlargement of the left coronary ostium and the grafted vessels kept their patency. In our experience, surgical treatment of the LMCA diseases has not shown a higher rAte of operative mortAlity or morbidity than other obstructive coronary artery diseases. To patients with ostial stenosis, which is frequently observed among young female, angioplasly utilizing autopericardium seems to be a desirable choice considering the cosmetic effect, chances of reoperation and hemodynamic characteristics.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.11
• /
• pp.1218-1222
• /
• 1996

The reported incidence of postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock not responding to conventional therapy is still 0.1 to 0.8%. For this group of patients, more aggressive form of circulatory support must be employed. Centrifugal pumps are a ventricular assist device most commonly used on this purpose, due to low cost and easy availability. Currently, however, clinical experience of centrifugal pumps as a ventricular assist device is rarely reported in Korea. From January 1992 to January 1996, 2986 patients underwent cardiac operations on cardiopulmonary bypass at Seoul National University Hospital. Refractory postcardiotomy cardiac failure requring ventricular support with a Biomedicus centrifugal pump developed in ten of these patients. There were eight men and two women, ranged in age from nine years to 77 years with a mean of 50$\pm$20 years. The primary surgical procedures consisted of isolated coronary revascularization in four patients, combined coronary revascularization and aortic valve replacement in two, aortic dissection repair in two, pulmonary embolectomy in one, and heart transplantation in one. Of the ten patients, five had left ventricular assistance, one had right ventricular assistance, and four had biventricular assistance. Duration of ventricular assistance ranged from 24 to 175 hours, with a mean of 76$\pm$51 hours. Seven patients were weaned from ventricular assistance, and four of them discharged. The causes of death for nonsurvivors were progressive cardiac failure in two patients and multiorgan failure, intractable ventricular fibrillation, irreversible brain injury, and mechanical problem, respectively, in the other four. Survival was not predicted by time on cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross-clamp time, or duration of ventricular support. Major complications included bleeding(7), renal failure(6), infection(3) and neurologic complication(2). These results indicate that a centrifugal pump can provide reasonably satisfactory short-term circulatory support.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.39 no.4 s.261
• /
• pp.281-288
• /
• 2006

Background: Extracardiac pericardial-flap lateral tunnel Fontan operation has theoretical advantage of growth potentiality of the extracardiac tunnels. The mid-term results of this technique and morphologic change of the lateral tunnel were studied. Material and Method: Clinical data was reviewed in 42 patients who underwent extracardiac pericardial-flap lateral tunnel Fontan operation between November 1993 and December 2004. The age was $2.8{\pm}1.5$ years and the body weight was $12.3{\pm}3.2$ kg. Extracardiac tunnel was constructed using the pedicled pericardium with the base undetached. By reviewing the follow-up cardiac angiograms, the diameter and the cross-sectional area of the lateral tunnel was compared to those of inferior vena cava. Result: There were four operative mortality cases (9.8%) and the causes of death were low cardiac output for all four cases. Postoperatively, five patients had prolonged pleural effusion longer than two weeks and one patient required a permanent pacemaker due to complete heart block. Follow-up was possible in 37 patients and the follow up duration was $3.8{\pm}2.2$ years. During that period, one patient died, of upper gastrointestional bleeding combined with heart failure and one patient died a sudden death of unknown cause. Two patients required reoperation due to subaortic stenosis and anastomosis site stenosis between inferior vena cava and lateral tunnel. In one patient, bradyarrhythmia was anew but there was no thromboembolic complication. The lateral tunnel showed growth in proportion to the size of the inferior vena cava. Conclusion: Extracardiac pericardial-flap lateral tunnel Fontan operation is relatively simple and safe. The mid-term result was favorable and the extracardiac tunnel showed potential for growth.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.44-50
• /
• 2006

Puroose: This study evaluated the late rectal complications in cervix cancer patients following treatment with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and high dose rate intracavitary radiation (HDR ICR). The factors affecting the risk of developing late rectal complications and its incidence were analyzed and discussed. Materials and Methods: The records of 105 patients with cervix cancer who were treated with radical radiotherapy using HDR ICR between July, 1995 and December, 2001 were retrospectively reviewed. The median dose of EBRT was 50.4Gy $(41.4{\sim}56.4 Gy)$ with a daily fraction size of 1.8Gy. A total of $5{\sim}7$ (median: 6) fractions of HDR ICR were given twice weekly with a fraction size of $4{\sim}5 Gy$ (median: 4Gy) to A point using an Ir (Iridium)-192 source. The median dose of ICR was 24 Gy $(20{\sim}35 Gy)$. During HDR ICR, the rectal dose was measured in vivo by a semiconductor dosimeter. The median follow-up period was 32 months, ranging from 5 to 84 months. Results: Of the 105 patients, 12 patients (11%) developed late rectal complications: 7 patients with grade 1 or 2, 4 patients with grade 3 and 1 patient with grade 4. Rectal bleeding was the most frequent chief complaint. The complications usually began to occur $5{\sim}32$ (median: 12) months after the completion of radiotherapy. Multivariate analysis revealed that the measured cumulative rectal BED over 115 Gy3 (Deq over 69 Gy) and the depth (D) of a 5 Gy isodose volume more than 50 mm were the independent predictors for late rectal complications. Conclusion: With evaluating the cumulative rectal BED and the depth of a 5 Gy isodose volume as predictors, we can individualize treatment planning to reduce the probability of late rectal complications.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.230-236
• /
• 2001

Purpose : To evaluate treatment results in terms of local control, complications and survival after reirraidiation in recurrent cervical cancer following definite radiation therapy. Material and methods : From November 1987 through March 1998, eighteen patients with recurrent cervical cancer following definite radiation therapy were subsequently treated with reirradiation at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center. In regard to the initial FIGO stage, one patient was stage la, five were stage IIa, three were IIb, two were IIb and two were IVa. The age range was 37 to 79 years old with median age of 57. The time interval from initial definite radiation therapy to recurrence ranged from 6 to 122 months with a median of 58 months. The recurrent sites were the uterine cervix in seven patients, vagina in ten and pelvic lymph node in one. Reirradiation was peformed with external radiation and intracavitary radiation in twelve patients, external radiation and implantation in four and external radiation alone in two. The range of external radiation dose was $2,100\~5,400\;cGy$ and the range of the total radiation dose was $3,780\~8,550\;cGy$. The follow-up periods ranged from 8 to 20 months with median of 25 following reirradiation. Results : Fourteen of eighteen patients $(78\%)$ had local control just after reirradiation. The two year disease free survival (2YDFS) rate was $53.6\%$. There were statistically significant differences in the 2YDFS according to both recurrent site (2YDFS $28.5\%$ in uterine cervix, $71.4\%$ in vagina, (p=0.03)) and the total dose (2YDFS $71.8\%$ in >6,000 cGy , $25\%$ in $\leq6,000$ cGy, p=0.007). Seven of ten patients who were followed for more than 20 months remain alive and disease free (7/18, $39\%$). Patients treated with external radiation and intracavitary radiation had a higher rate of 2YDFS. Seven patients including 4 patients with no local control experienced local failure in the uterus or vagina and two patients died with distant metastasis. Complications included rectal bleeding in 3 patients, bowel obstruction treated with surgery in two, hematuria in one, radiation cystitis in two, soft tissue swelling in two and vaginal necrosis spontaneously healed in one. There was no statistical difference in complications according to the total dose or the time to recurrence from initial radiation. Conclusion : In patients with recurrence following definite radiation therapy in the uterine cervical cancer, reirradiation may be effective but requires an effort to reduce radiation induced severe complications.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.504-512
• /
• 1994

Background: It is well known that severe hypoxemia is often associated with liver cirrhosis without preexisting cardiac or pulmonary diseases. Pulmonary vascular impairments, more specifically, intrapulmonary shunting have been considered as a major mechanism. Intrapulmonary shunting arises from pulmonary vascular dilatation at the precapillary level or direct arteriovenous communication and has relationship with the characteristic skin findings of spider angioma. However, these results are mainly from Western countries where alcoholic and primary biliary cirrhosis are dominant cuases of cirrhosis. It is uncertain that the same is true in viral hepatitiss associated liver cirrhosis, which is dominant causes of liver cirrhosis in Korea. We investigated the incidences of hypoxemia and orthodeoxia in Korean cirrhotic patients dominantly composed of postnecrotic cirrhosis and the significance of intrapulmonary shunting as the suggested mechanism of hypoxemia, Method: We performed the arterial blood gas analysis separately both at the supine and errect position in 48 stable cirrhotic patients without the evidences of severe complications such as ascites, variceal bleeding, and hepatic coma. According to the results of arterial blood gas analysis, all patients were divided into hypoxemic and normoxemic group. In each group, pulmonary function test and Tc-99m-MAA whole body scan were performed. The shunting fraction was calculated based on the fact that the sum of cerebral and bilateral renal blood flow is 32% of the systemic blood flow. Results: The hypoxemia of $PaO_2$ less than 80 mmHg was observed in 9 patients(18.8%) and Orthodeoxia more than 10 mmHg was observed in 8 patients(16.7%). But there was no patient with significant hypoxemia of $PaO_2$ less than 60 mmHg. $PaO_2$ was significantly decreased in the patients with spider angioma than the pathients without spider angioma and showed no correlation with the serologic type and severities of liver function test findings. Any parameters of pulmonary function test did not demonstrate the difference between normoxemic and hypoxemic group. But hypoxemic group showed significantly increased shunt fraction of $11.4{\pm}4.1%$ than normoxemic group of $4.1{\pm}2.0%$ (p<0.05). Conclusions: Hypoxemia is not infrequently observed complication in liver cirrhosis and intrapulmonary shunting is suggested to p1ay a major ro1e in the development of hypxemia. But there was no great likelihood of clinically significant hypoxemia in our domestic cirrhotic patients predominantly composed of postnecrotic type.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.27-34
• /
• 2004

Background: Infective endocarditis shows higher operative morbidity and mortality rates than other cardiac diseases. The vast majority of studies on infective endocarditis have been made on aortic endocarditis, with little attention having been paid to infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. This study attempts to investigate the clinical aspects and operative results of infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. Meterial and Method: The subjects of this study consist of 23 patients who underwent operations for infective endocariditis on the mitral valve from June 1995 to May 2003. Among them, 2 patients suffered from prosthetic valvular endocarditis and the other 21 from native valvular endocarditis. The subjects were evenly distributed age-wise with an average age of 44.8$\pm$15.7 (11∼66) years. Emergency operations were performed on seventeen patients (73.9%) due to large vegetation or instable hemodynamic status. In preoperative examinations, twelve patients exhibited congestive heart failure, four patients renal failure, two patients spleen and renal infarction, and two patients temporary neurological defects, while one patient had a brain abscess. Based on the NYHA functional classification, seven patients were determined to be at Grade II, 9 patients at Grade III, and 6 patients at Grade IV. Vegetations were detected in 20 patients while mitral regurgitation was dominant in 19 patients with 4 patients showing up as mitral stenosis dominant on the preoperative echocardiogram. Blood cultures for causative organisms were performed on all patients, and positive results were obtained from ten patients, with five cases of Streptococcus viridance, two cases of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and one case each of Corynebacteriurn, Haemophillis, and Gernella. Operations were decided according to the AA/AHA guidelines (1988). The mean follow-up period was 27.6 $\pm$23.3 (1 ∼ 97) months. Result: Mitral valve replacements were performed on 43 patients, with mechanical valves being used on 9 patients and tissue valves on the other 4. Several kinds of mitral valve repair or mitral valvuloplasty were carried out on the remaining 10 patients. Associated procedures included six aortic valve replacements, two tricuspid annuloplasty, one modified Maze operation, and one direct closure of a ventricular septal defect. Postoperative complications included two cases of bleeding and one case each of mediastinitis, low cardiac output syndrome, and pneumonia. There were no cases of early deaths, or death within 30 days following the operation. No patient died in the hospital or experienced valve related complications. One patient, however, underwent mitral valvuloplasty 3 months after the operation. Another patient died from intra-cranial hemorrhage in the 31st month after the operation. Therefore, the valve-related death rate was 4.3%, and the valve-related complication rate 8.6% on mid-term follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 100%, 88.8%, and 88.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a complete removal of infected tissues is essential in the operative treatment of infectious endocarditis of the mitral valve. It is also suggested that when infected tissues are completely removed, neither type of material nor method of operation has a significant effect on the operation result. The postoperative results also suggest the need for a close follow-up observation of the patients suspected of having brain damage, which is caused by preoperative blood contamination or emboli from vegetation, for a possible cerebral vascular injury such as mycotic aneurysm.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.188-198
• /
• 2002

Background: Reoperations on the aortic root or the ascending aorta are being performed with increasing frequency and remain a challenging problem. This study was performed to analyze the results of reoperations on the ascending aorta and aortic root. Material and Method: Between May 1995 and April 2001, 30 patients had reoperations on the ascending aorta and aortic root and were reviewed retrospectively. The mean interval between the previous repair and the actual reoperation was 56 months(range 3 to 142 months). Seven patients(23.3%) had two or more previous operations. The indications for reoperations were true aneurysm in 7 patients(23.3%), prosthetic valve endocarditis in 6(20%), false aneurysm in 5(16.7%), paravalvular leak associated with Behcet's disease in 4(13.3%), malfunction of prosthetic aortic valve in 4(13.3%), aortic dissection in 3(10%), and annuloaortic ectasia in 1(3.3%). The principal reoperations performed were aortic root replacement in 17 patients(56.7%), replacement of the ascending aorta in 8(26.7%), aortic and mitral valve replacement with reconstruction of fibrous trigone in 2(6.6%), patch aortoplasty in 2(6.6%), and aortic valve replacement after Bentall operation in 1 (3.3%). The cardiopulmonary bypass was started before sternotomy in 7 patients and the hypothermic circulatory arrest was used in 16(53.3%). The mean time of circulatory arrest, total bypass, and aortic crossclamp were 20$\pm$ 12 minutes, 228$\pm$56 minutes, and 143$\pm$62 minutes, respectively Result: There were three early deaths(10%). The postoperative complications were reoperation for bleeding in 7 patients(23.3%), cardiac complications in 5(16.7%), transient acute renal failure in 2(6.6%), transient focal seizure in 2(6.6%), and the others in 5. The mean follow-up was 22.8 $\pm$20.5 months. There were two late deaths(7.4%). The actuarial survival was 92.6$\pm$5.0% at 6 years. One patient required reoperation for complication of reoperation on the ascending aorta and aortic root(3.7%). The 1- and 6-year actuarial freedom from reoperation was 100% and 83.3$\pm$15.2%, respectively. One patient with Behcet's disease are waiting for reoperation due to false aneurysm, which developed after aortic root replacement with homograft. There were no thromboembolisms or anticoagulant related complications. Conclusions: This study suggests that reoperations on the ascending aorta and aortic root can be performed with acceptable early mortality and morbidity, and adequate surgical strategies according to the pathologi conditions are critical to the prevention of the reoperation.