• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1396-1401
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• 2000

Although direct surgical treatment of the lesion in the pons may cause severe neurologic morbidity, safe route to minimize injuries of the important structures in the pons should be considered. The authors operated four cases of intrapontine lesions via safe approach route without causing severe neurologic complications. Two cases were intrapontine tumors and other two were intrapontine hematoma. An anaplastic astrocytoma($3{\times}3{\times}3cm$) located bilaterally in the pons was approached via midline of the median sulcus, and a metastatic tumor($1.5{\times}1.5{\times}1.5cm$) located at the left posterolateral aspect in the upper pons was approached via suprafacial space. Two cases of hematoma were evacuated via median sulcus, and supra- and infrafacial spaces. Preoperatively, quadriplegia, swallowing difficulty, diplopia, speech disturbance, and nystagmus were noted in a patient with an anaplastic astrocytoma. A patient with metastatic tumor showed mild right hemiparesis, right hemisensory disturbance, diplopia, and dizziness. Two patients with hematoma in the pons were comatous, and had contracted, fixed pupils. Postoperatively, a patient with an anaplastic astrocytoma recovered and a patient with a metastatic tumor showed temporary hemifacial palsy. Mental status was fully recovered normal even though facial palsy, diplopia, severe ataxia, dizziness, and tremor persisted in both patients with pontine hematoma. Careful operation based on the anatomical knowledge of the floor of the 4th ventricle is of prime importance in appraoching to the intrapontine lesion with minimal injuries of the eloquent structures during surgery.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.599-606
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• 2021

Background Postoperative dehiscence and surgical site infection after spinal surgery can carry serious morbidity. Multidisciplinary involvement of plastic surgery is essential to minimizing morbidity and achieving definitive closure. However, a standardized approach is lacking. The aim of this study was to identify effective reconstructive interventions for the basis of an evidence-based management protocol. Methods A retrospective review was performed at a single tertiary institution for 45 patients who required 53 reconstruction procedures with plastic surgery for wounds secondary to spinal surgery from 2010 to 2019. Statistical analysis was performed for demographics, comorbidities, and treatment methods. Primary outcomes were postoperative complications, including dehiscence, seroma, and infection. The secondary outcome was time to healing. Results The overall complication rate was 32%, with dehiscence occurring in 17%, seroma in 15% and infection in 11% of cases. Median follow-up was 10 months (interquartile range, 4-23). Use of antibiotic beads did not affect rate of infection occurrence after wound closure (P=0.146). Use of incisional negative pressure wound therapy (iNPWT) was significant for reduced time to healing (P=0.001). Patients treated without iNPWT healed at median of 67.5 days while the patients who received iNPWT healed in 33 days. Demographics and comorbidities between these two groups were similar. Conclusions This data provides groundwork for an evidence-based approach to soft tissue reconstruction and management of dehiscence after spinal surgery. Timely involvement of plastic surgery in high-risk patients and utilization of evidence-based interventions such as iNPWT are essential for improving outcomes in this population.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.689-695
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• 2022

Background Lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) is an effective, functional treatment for limb lymphedema. This study reports an alternative surgical approach to lymphedema treatment without the use of indocyanine green mapping. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 29 consecutive lymphedema patients who underwent LVAs from January 2015 to December 2020, whereby incisions were made along the anatomy of the superficial venous systems in both upper and lower extremities around the joint areas. The evaluation included qualitative assessments and quantitative volumetric analyses. Result The mean number of anastomoses was 3.07, and the operative time was 159.55 minutes. Symptom improvement was recorded in 86.21% of the patients, with a mean volume reduction of 32.39%. The lymphangitis episodes decreased from 55.17% before surgery to 13.79% after surgery, and the median number of lymphangitis episodes per year decreased from 1 before surgery to 0 after surgery. Conclusions The superficial venous anatomical approach is an easy way to start a lymphedema practice using LVA without other advanced surgical equipment. With this reliable technique, microsurgeons can perform LVA procedures and achieve good results.

• Journal of Broadcast Engineering
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.265-272
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• 2015

A new technology on video frame rate up-conversion (FRUC) is presented by combining the median filter and motion estimation (ME) with an occlusion detection (OD) method. First, ME is performed to have a motion vector. Then, the OD method is used to refine motion vector in the occlusion region. Since the wrong motion vector can be obtained with high possibility in the occluded area, a median filtering that less depends on the motion vector is applied to that area, and since the motion vector is continuous and robust in the non-occluded area, BDMC(Bi-Directional Motion Compensated interpolation) is applied to obtain interpolated image in that area. BDMC using the bi-directional motion vectors achieves good results when continuity and robustness of the motion vector is higher. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm provides better performance than the conventional approach. The average gain of PSNR (Peak Signal to Noise Ratio) is approximately 0.16 dB in the test sequences compared with BDMC.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2007

Fundoplication is accepted as an effective treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The recent results of laparoscopic fundoplication demonstrated safety and less morbidity, shorter hospital stay and less pulmonary complication compared to the open operation. Laparoscopic fundoplication has been our first choice of operation for gastroesophageal reflux disease since 2003. Among 29 cases, there were 2 conversion cases because of severe distension of transverse colon and hepatomegaly. We studied 27 consecutive patients operated upon from January 2003 through December 2004. There were 15 boys and 12 girls, ages from 1.5 months to 12 years (median 25.3 months). Body weight ranged from 2.9 kg to 37 kg (median 9.8 kg). Neurological abnormalities were present in 23 patients. Indications for surgery included medically refractory reflux associated with vomiting, pneumopathy, otorhinolaryngologic pathology, failure to thrive, esophagitis, apnea and bradycardia. We used 4-5 trocars of 5 mm or 12 mm with $30^{\circ}$ telescope and performed the Nissen technique in all patients. In neurological impaired patients, gastrostomy tube was placed at the time of fundoplication. Median operative time was 130 minutes (70 - 300 minutes). There was no mortality nor intraoperative complication. Twenty-six patients were followed for median of 19 months (8 - 31 months). Four patients (15.4 %), who were all neurological impaired, developed recurrent symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Two of these patients had reoperation (1 laparoscopic approach, 1 open method). There were significant increases in body weight in 11 patients after fundoplication. Laparoscopic fundoplication is acceptable as a safe and effective method for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.225-229
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• 2012

Background: Reoperation of cardiac surgery via median sternotomy can be associated with significant complications. Thoracotomy is expected to reduce the risk of reoperation and to enhance the surgical outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed two operative approaches (thoracotomy vs. sternotomy) in cardiac reoperation. Materials and Methods: From September 2007 to December 2010, 35 patients who required reoperation of the mitral valvular disease following previous median sternotomy were included. Average age of patients was $45.8{\pm}15.4$ years (range, 14 to 76 years) and male-to-female was 23:12. Interval period between primary operation and reoperation was $135.8{\pm}105.6$ months (range, 3.3 to 384.9 months). Results: Comparative analysis was done dividing the patient group into two groups that are thoracotomy group (22 patients) and sternotomy group (13 patients). Thoracotomy group was significantly lower in operative time ($415.2{\pm}90.3$ vs. $497.5{\pm}148.0$, p<0.05), bleeding control time ($108.0{\pm}29.5$ vs. $146.4{\pm}66.8$, p<0.05) and chest tube drainage ($287.5{\pm}211.5mL$ vs. $557.3{\pm}365.5mL$, p<0.05) compared to sternotomy group. Conclusion: The thoracotomy approach is superior to sternotomy in some variables, and it is considered as a valid alternative to repeat median sternotomy in patients who underwent a previous median sternotomy.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.87-97
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• 2021

Purpose: This study examined emergency medical service (EMS) transportation patterns for adult trauma patients before and after establishing a level 1 regional trauma center (RTC) and to evaluate the transportation approach after prehospital severity screening. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of trauma patients aged ≥18 years admitted via EMS to the emergency department or a level 1 RTC, 1 year before to 3 years after RTC establishment. Patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) in the patient registration system were selected. Analyses were performed to determine transportation pattern changes by comparing patients pre- and post-RTC establishment and by yearly comparisons over the 4-year study period using the Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test. Results: Overall, 3,587 patients were included. The mean ISS was higher in the post-RTC group (n=2,693; 10.63±8.90, median 9.00) than in the pre-RTC group (n=894; 9.44±8.20, median 8.00; p<0.001). The mean transportation distance (9.84±13.71, median 5.80 vs. 13.12±16.15 km, median 6.00; p<0.001) was longer in the post-RTC group than in the pre-RTC group. Furthermore, proportionally fewer patients were transported from an area in the same city as the RTC after establishment (86.1% vs. 78.3%; p<0.001). Yearly comparisons revealed a gradually increasing trend in the hospital death rate (ptrend=0.031). Conclusions: After establishing a level 1 RTC, the EMS transportation of severe trauma patients increased gradually along with the long-distance transportation of minor trauma patients. Therefore, improved prehospital EMS trauma severity assessments and level 1 RTC involvement in patient classification in the prehospital phase are necessary.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.154-161
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• 2011

Tracheoesophageal fistula without esophageal atresia (H-type TEF) is a congenital anomaly that is characterized by a fistula between the posterior wall of the trachea and the anterior wall of the esophagus, not accompanied by esophageal atresia. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnostic time, the side of cervical approach and short term result after surgery by searching medical records of patients treated for H-type TEF. The search was done at University of Ulsan, Department of Pediatric Surgery of Asan Medical Center, and the total number of patients from May 1989 to December 2010 was 9 with M:F ratio of 1:2. The median gestational age was $39^{+6}$ ($32^{+6}{\sim}41^{+0}$) wks. Seven out of nine patients were born at term and the other two were born premature. The clinical presentation was aspiration pneumonia, difficulty in feeding, chronic cough, vomiting, abdominal distension and growth retardation. The symptoms presented right after birth. The diagnosis was made with esophagography and the median time of diagnosis was 52 days of life. The majority of surgical corrections were performed within two weeks of diagnosis (median; 15d, range; 1d - 6m). Six patients had associated anomalies, and cardiac anomalies were most common. The cervical approach was utilized in all cases (right 2, left 7). Transient vocal cord palsy and minor esophageal leakage complicated two cases. Although the diagnosis of H-type TEF was difficult and often delayed, we had a good short term result. The left cervical approach was preferred.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2024

Backgrounds/Aims: Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is the only radical treatment for periampullary malignancies. Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) first approach combined with total meso-pancreas (MP) excision was conducted to improve the oncological results. There has not been any previous research of a technique that combines the SMA first approach and total MP excision with a detailed description of the MP macroscopical shape. Methods: We prospectively assessed 77 patients with periampullary malignancies between October 2020 and March 2022 (18 months). All patients had undergone PD with SMA first approach combined total MP excision. The perioperative indications, clinical data, intra-operative index, R0 resection rate of postoperative pathological specimens (especially mesopancreatic margin), postoperative complications, and follow-up results were evaluated. Results: The median operative time was 289.6 min (178-540 min), the median intraoperative blood loss was 209 mL (30-1,600 mL). Microscopically, there were 19 (24.7%) cases with metastatic MP, and five cases (6.5%) with R1-resection of the MP. The number of lymph nodes (LNs) harvested and metastatic LNs were 27.2 (maximum was 74) and 1.8 (maximum was 16), respectively. Some (46.8%) patients had pancreatic fistula, but mostly in grade A, with 7 patients (9.1%) who required re-operations. Some 18.2% of cases developed postoperative refractory diarrhea. The rate of in-hospital mortality was 1.3%. Conclusions: The PD with SMA first approach combined TMpE for periampullary malignancies was effective in achieving superior oncological statistics (rate of MP R0-resection and number of total resected LNs) with non-inferior short-term outcomes. It is necessary to evaluate survival outcomes with long-term follow-up.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.209-212
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• 1995

Cystic hygroma is a cystic tumor developed by lymphatic stasis due to congenital blockage of regional lymphatic drainage. It ususally occurs at neck and axilla. However, in some cases of cervical cystic hygroma, cervical portions of the cysts may extend into the mediastinum. We experienced a case of huge cervico-mediastinal cystic tumor in 11 month old girl presenting a large fluctuating neck mass and severe respiratory distress. Surgical resection was done through combined approach of cervical incision and median sternotomy. Pathological diagnosis was confirmed to cervico-mediastinal cystic hygroma.