• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 1994

Prompt recognition and proper treatment of esophageal perforation or rupture may ax~ert death or minimize complications. We have experienced sixteen patients of esophageal perforation at the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, Hallym Medical college during the period fromJan. 1986 to Sep. 1993. The ratio between male and female patient was 13:3 and their age ranged from 23 years to 67 years old. The major cause of esophageal perforations was spontaneous rupture in 7 cases[45%], surgical trauma in 2 cases[12%], instrumental trauma in 2 cases[12%], and others in 5 cases[31%]. The common site of esophageal perforation was in the lower third portion of the esophagus[10 cases, 62%]. The most consistent symptom of esophageal perforation was chest pain in 11 cases, temperature elevation within a few hours was 9 cases.Contrast roentgenographic studies demonstrated the perforation in all but 2 of the 16 patients. The frequent complications of esophageal perforation were empyema in 7 cases[45 %] and mediastinitis in 2 cases[12%]. fourteen patients had suture closure and drainage with 2 deaths, and 2 patient received only drainage procedures. The mortality rate was 12%[2 cases] and cause of death was sepsis and aortic rupture.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.243-249
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• 1986

Thirty-two cases of tetralogy of Fallot corrected totally using extracorporeal circulation in this department are presented during the period from April 1983 to Feb. 1986. Types of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction were a case of pulmonic valvular stenosis, 3 cases of infundibular stenosis, and 28 cases of combined type. There were associated anomaly such as 3 cases of pulmonary arterial hypoplasia, 7 cases of atrial septal defect, a case of left superior vena cava, and 2 cases of right side aortic arch. Transannular patch for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction was necessary in 12 cases. Operative death was 6 cases and late death was a case, but other remaining cases followed up over 2 months carried out normal life.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.454-462
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to explore the lonely-death phenomenon and to understand the circumstances surrounding the lonely-death cases among elderly people by examining the articles on such phenomenon and the media reports of such cases. The cases of lonely death reported from 2007 to 2017 were used. Case analysis was conducted, and the news articles that described the lonely death cases were identified using an internet search engine. Forty seven cases were analyzed. Several risk factors emerged from the data obtained, such as economic hardship, chronic illness, mental health problems like alcohol addiction, social isolation, disconnection from family members or the neighborhood, unemployment, single household, unmarried or divorced status, and living in an urban area. Based on the findings, prevention strategies were addressed.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.289-292
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• 2013

A total of 2,080 forensic autopsies in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi province were performed by the National Forensic Service (NFS) in 2010. After analysing blood samples collected at autopsies by GC-MS and LC-MS/MS, the types and prevalence of drugs and poisons in blood were investigated using our laboratory information management system. Among 2,080 cases, 1,061 cases (51%) were positive for drugs and poisons. Surprisingly, antidepressants were identified in 137 cases which comprised 13% of the positive cases. Twelve different kinds of antidepressants were determined: Amitriptyline, fluoxetine, nortriptyline, trazodone, imipramine, mirtazapine, citalopram, venlafaxin, clomipramine, paroxetine, sertraline and bupropion. Amitriptyline was the most frequently detected antidepressant and was identified in 39 cases. Moreover, amitriptyline, fluoxetine, and nortriptyline were included in the list of the 20 most commonly encountered drugs or poisons in the analysis of blood collected at autopsies from 2007 to 2009, indicating the prevalence of their use. In this study, the 137 antidepressant-related deaths were classified by the mode of death to predict the prevalence of these drugs. As a result, those deaths were divided into four groups based on the cause and mode of death: 56 cases of suicide with fatal concentrations of antidepressant drugs in blood, 6 homicidal cases directly or indirectly related to antidepressants, 59 natural deaths with antidepressants detected in blood and 16 deaths caused by fire or other accidents with antidepressants detected in blood. Because incidents involving antidepressants have been increasing, especially in suicides or homicides, it is necessary for the health authorities and law enforcement administrations to cooperate and share the statistical data for curbing the abuse of antidepressants. This report is expected to provide the reference data related with antidepressants for the investigation of the deaths.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 1991

From January 1980 to December 1989, thirteen patients underwent operation for ventricular septal defect associated with aortic insufficiency in Kyungpook national university hospital. Ten male and three female patients ranged in age from 3 years to 25 years, with an average age of 11.5 years. Aortic cusp prolapse was found in eight cases[61.5%]. The aortic regurgitation was classified by Sellers` method with grade I in 2 cases, grade II in 9 cases, and grade III in 2 cases. Direct suture or patch repair of ventricular septal defect was performed through the right ventricle. Eight cases were treated only by closure of VSD, 3 cases by plication, but two of the letter were reoperated due to the persistent of aortic regurgitation and fungal endocarditis respectively. Aortic valve replacement were performed in 2 cases at the first operation. There was only one late death[7.7%], which was caused by postoperative fungal endocarditis. Follow-up for twelve patients except one death were followed up for 3 months to six years after operation. Residual aortic regurgitation was noted in six cases[46.2%], but the postoperative course of them were uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 1980

Total 193 patients over 16 years of age who have underwent a surgical correction of congenital heart diseases during the period 1964 to September of 1979 were reviewed. 106 patients were male and 87 patients were female. 85 patients were in the ages of 16 years through 20 years. The oldest patient was 54 years old male who had atrial septal defect. The commonest defects were atrial septal defect that accounted for 66 cases [34.2%]. Ventricular septal defect was next one that accounted for 66 cases [34.2%]. Patients with tetralogy of Fallot defects were 34 cases [17.6%]. 25 cases had patent ductus arteriosus [13.0%]. Patients with pulmonary stenosis were 17 cases [8.8%] and transposition of the great arteries cases were 2 cases [1%]. There were 14 cases of operative death in this series. So operative mortality rate was 7.3%. The commonest cause of death was low output syndrome and next was renal failure. This reviewed series reveals the incidence of operable congenital heart defects appearing in adult cardiac surgical patients and an aggressive surgical approach can be justified with low operative mortality like as pediatric age group.

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.269-273
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• 1986

We have examined 5,304 cases of claims by death that had occured for recent three years from January, 1983 to November, 1985 in Dae han kyoyuk Ins. Co. As a result, we came to following conclusions: 1. The total numbers of the deaths are increased for three years, but the deaths, classifying by medical examinations are decreased. 2. The great part of the death were due to Accident death(27.7%), occupied Number 1, malignant neoplasm(23.9%) Number 2 and Circulatory system disease(23.9%), which were the main canses of death in the insured people. 3. With age, section ranging from 30-39 years of death cases took extremely large portions by 35.2%. 4. For the period elapsed, the deaths within 2 years to ander 3 years, 18.6%, above 6 years, 18.6%, thus the period elapsed was longer more and more as years go. 5. By the deaths of malignant neoplasm, hepatoma in male and gastric cancer in female were important causes of death.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.405-413
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• 2019

Background Face transplantation has naturally evolved from reconstructive procedures. However, few institutions perform face transplantations, because it is time-consuming and it is necessary to justify non-vital organ transplantation. We investigated the process of organ donation from brain-dead patients and the possibility of incorporating face transplantation into the donation process. Methods A retrospective review was performed of 1,074 brain-dead patients from January 2015 to December 2016 in Korea. We analyzed the time intervals from admission to brain death decisions (first, second, and final), the causes of brain death, and the state of the transplanted organs. Results The patient base (n=1,074) was composed of 747 males and 327 females. The average period between admission to the first brain death decision was 8.5 days (${\pm}15.3$). The average time intervals between the first brain death decision and medical confirmation using electroencephalography and between the first brain death decision and the final determination of brain death were 16 hours 58 minutes (${\pm}14hours$ 50 minutes) and 22 hours 57 minutes (${\pm}16hours$ 16 minutes), respectively. The most common cause of brain death was cerebral hemorrhage/stroke (42.3%), followed by hypoxia (30.1%), and head trauma (25.2%). Conclusions When face transplantation is performed, the transplantation team has 22 hours 57 minutes on average to prepare after the first brain death decision. The cause of brain death was head trauma in approximately one-fourth of cases. Although head trauma does not always imply facial trauma, surgeons should be aware that the facial tissue may be compromised in such cases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 1971

Eighty-four cases of mitral commissurotomy were done in this department between October 1958 and September 1970. Therc wcre 54 males and 30 females. Six cases were under the age of 20 years. Prcoperativc embolization occurred in 9. 5% of the cases. consisting of 8. 3% cerebral and 1.2% peripheral embolization. Intraoperative and postoperative cmbolization occurred in 4.7% of the cases, with 1. 2% cerebral and 3.5% peripheral embolism. Two out of three postopeative embolism cases expired, one of which was caused by septic cerebral embolism due to valve vegetation nnd the other by mesenteric embolism. Atrial fibrillation was 1loted ill 43% of the case. Seventy closed mitral commissurotomy was done by left appendegeal approach with finger fracture method or Bailey's guillotine valvotome. Fourteen open mitral commissurotomy cases were done either by right side approach or median sternotomy, three of which were reoperation cases after blind mitral commissurotomy. One out of 14 cases were operated on with open mitral commissurotomy and concomitant open aortic valve bicuspidalization, This case expired due to severe serum hepatitis ten days after operation. Thirty-two per cent of valve calcification was noted during operation and one of which had marked vegetation on the valve cusps too. Operative mortality was 1.4% in blind mitral commissurotomy and 14% in open mitral commissurotomy. Over-all mortality in the entire series was 3.5%. One case among the blind commissurotomy cases expired during operation due to left inferior pulmonary vein laceration and death was caused in two open mitral commissurotomy cases by coronary artery airembolism. Three hospital death occurred in blind operation group, one due to coronary embolism, and two by hepatic failures. Three hospital death among open heart surgery cases were caused by hepatic failure in two and cerebral embolism in one cases. ln most of the survivors improved functional capacity and exercise lolerance were noted.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.157-162
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• 2018

There have been 1,039 accidents in laboratory(National Research Safety Headquarters). Accidents in laboratory has increased by 71.5% from 158 cases in 2011 to 271 cases in 2016. Accident analysis results show that there has been no death accident after 2011 when 5 death accidents happened. The results also show that severe injuries have been 23 cases(2%) from 2011 to 2016(7 cases in 2011, 2 cases in 2012, 2013 and 2014, 3 cases in 2015, 7 cases in 2016). Minor injuries shows increasing trend from 151 cases in 2011(92.6%) to 294 cases in 2016(97.6%). Among the causes of accidents in laboratory, piercing injuries by injector were 69 cases(10.4%) for recent 3 years, i.e. 22 cases(12.6%) in 2014, 18 cases(14.2%) in 2015 and 29 cases(16%). Piercing injuries by injector with infection such as viral hepatitis and HIV/AIDS were identified in 10 cases in 2014, 5 cases in 2015, and 10 cases in 2016.Therefore, we would like to contribute to the safety of laboratories by suggesting a guideline for prevention and post management of laboratory accidents.