• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제53권2호
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• pp.41-48
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• 2020

Background: Chylothorax after congenital heart surgery is not an uncommon complication, and it is associated with significant morbidity. However, consensus treatment guidelines are lacking. To improve the treatment outcomes of patients with postoperative chylothorax, we implemented a standardized management protocol at Severance Hospital in September 2014. Methods: A retrospective review of patients treated at a single center was done. All corrective and palliative operations for congenital heart disease performed at our institution between January 2008 and April 2018 were reviewed. The incidence and treatment outcomes of postoperative chylothorax were analyzed. Results: The incidence of chylothorax was 1.9%. Sixty-one percent of the patients could be managed with a low-fat diet, while 28% of the patients required complete restriction of enteral feeding. Thoracic duct embolization was performed in 2 patients and chest tube drainage decreased immediately after the procedure. No patient required thoracic duct ligation or pleurodesis. After implementation of the institutional management protocol, the number of chest tube drainage days decreased (median, 24 vs. 14 days; p=0.45). Conclusion: Implementing a strategy to reduce postoperative chylothorax resulted in an acceptable incidence of postoperative chylothorax. Instituting a clinical practice protocol helped to curtail the treatment duration and to decrease the requirement for surgical treatment. Image-guided embolization of the thoracic duct is an effective treatment for postoperative chylothorax.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.584-597
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of different types of complications on long-term survival following total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 926 patients who underwent total gastrectomy between 2008 and 2016 were included. Patients were divided into the morbidity and no-morbidity groups, and long-term survival was compared between the 2 groups. The prognostic impact of postoperative morbidity was assessed using a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, which accounted for other prognostic factors. In the multivariate model, the effects of each complication on survival were analyzed. Results: A total of 229 patients (24.7%) developed postoperative complications. Patients with postoperative morbidity showed significantly worse overall survival (OS) (5-year, 65.0% vs. 76.7%, P<0.001) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) (5-year, 74.2% vs. 83.1%, P=0.002) compared to those without morbidity. Multivariate analysis adjusting for other prognostic factors showed that postoperative morbidity remained an independent prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.442; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.136-1.831) and CSS (HR, 1.463; 95% CI, 1.063-2.013). There was no significant difference in survival according to the severity of complications. The following complications showed a significant association with unfavorable long-term survival: ascites (HR, 1.868 for OS, HR, 2.052 for CSS), wound complications (HR, 2.653 for OS, HR, 2.847 for CSS), and pulmonary complications (HR, 2.031 for OS, HR, 1.915 for CSS). Conclusions: Postoperative morbidity adversely impacted survival following total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Among the different types of complications, ascites, wound complications, and pulmonary complications exhibited significant associations with long-term survival.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.301-303
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• 2010

Purpose: The axillary web syndrome (AWS) is a selflimiting cause of morbidity in the early postoperative period after axillary surgery. This article presents a rare complication developed after surgical treatment for axillary osmidrosis. Methods: A 55-year-old male patient underwent surgical excision of skin and glandular tissue for axillary osmidrosis. Three weeks after the surgery, he visited our department due to a visible web of left axillary skin overlying palpable cord extends into the medial ipsilateral arm. There was a taut and tender cord of tissue under the skin and shoulder abduction was limited to less than 90 degrees. He was diagnosed with AWS and treated with conservative management. Results: Four months later, AWS resolved completely without any treatment and patient was free of pain or motion restriction. Conculsion: Axillary web syndrome has been described as frequent complication after axillary lymph node dissection or sentinel node biopsy, but not after surgical treatment of axillary osmidrosis. Surgeons must be aware of the risk of axillary web syndrome after treatment of axillary osmidrosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.237-240
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• 2005

Improved operative, anesthetic, and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) techniques have significantly reduced postoperative complications; however, neurologic disorders remain a serious complication after open heart surgery. Possible explanations for neurologic complications are microembolism from CPB, decreased cerebral pefusion pressure due to intraoperative hypotension and unexpected metabolic changes. Amomg these, seizure has low incidence and Todd's paralysis after open heart surgery is extremely rare. Todd's paralysis is a complication of a seizure due to neuronal exhaustion mimicking large cerebral infarction after open heart surgery.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.474-480
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• 2001

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the complications of open reduction and internal fixation of mandibular fracture with miniplates. Patients and Methods: A total of 134 patients who presented with 196 fractures were analyzed retrospectively. Complications were evaluated for factors such as age, the site of fracture, the severity of fracture, delayed operation, preoperative wound contamination, the site and disposition of teeth in the fracture line and midfacial fractures. Statistical analysis was used to compare complications to risk factors. Results: Of the 134 patients, 20 patients had some form of postoperative complications and complication rate was 14.9%. These complications included infection, plate fracture, malocclusion, wound dehiscence, nerve injury and nonunion. There was a significant correlation between complication rate and the severity of fracture, preoperative wound contamination and the site of the fracture and disposition of teeth(p<0.05). Conclusion: The occurrence of postoperative complications in the treatment of mandibular fractures was related to the severity of fracture, preoperative wound contamination and the site of the fracture and disposition of teeth.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.311-313
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• 1998

Continuous epidural catheter insertion is common practice in postoperative analgesia. Subarachnoid migration of epidural catheter is a rare complication. Presumed delayed subarachnoid migration of an epidural catheter occured in a 58-year-old female patient after subtotal gastrectomy. Delayed respiratory depression occured 7 hrs after transfer to admission room. She was intubated and had ventilatory care. The fluid from the epidural catheter was examined and the result showed that gucose was 107 mg% and protein was 31 mg%. Immediate naloxone administration and ventilatory care for one day was done. The patient discharged without any sequalae.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제28권10호
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• pp.911-916
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• 1995

Thirteen patients with lung cancer have undergone bronchoplastic procedures from January 1991 to July 1994 in Kyung Hee univ. Hospital.Among them,twelve patients were male and one patient was female from 33 to 76 years of age.[ mean 56.6 11.5 years of age The pathologic diagnoses were squamous cell carcinoma in twelve patients and adenoid cystic carcinoma in one patient.The bronchoplastic procedures consisted of seven right upper sleeve lobectomies, one right middle sleeve lobectomy, one left lower sleeve lobectomy and four sleeve pneumonectomies. In these sleeve pneumonectomies, right sleeve pneumonectomy was done in three patients and the other was left sleeve pneumonectomy. Including the four sleeve pneumonectomies, carinoplasty was performed in seven patients. Postoperatively, we carried out bronchoscopic suction of intrabronchial secretions in necessary for the prevention of postoperative complication. All except one were discharged without any complication and have been in good condition. Postoperative mortality was in one patient who expired 25days after right middle sleeve lobectomy with respiratory failure.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.111-119
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• 1996

The medical records of 87 patients with thyroid nodule treated from May 1992 to February 1996 were retrospectively reviewed to assess complication with age, sex, pathologic classification, location of lesions, and surgical procedures. The overall rate of complication were observed 10(11.5%) in thyroid surgery. The most common complication was transient hypoparathyroidism, which occurred in 6(6.9%) of 87 patients. The 2(2.3%) patients experienced Permanent hypoparathyroidism and each 1(1.1%) patient was reported in transient recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis and hematoma.. Well-performed thyroid surgery usually produces few complications. More extensive resections, involving bilateral thyroidectomy are associated with a higher incidence of postoperative morbidity, in particular vocal cord paralysis and hypoparathyroidism, than procedures that consist essentially of unilateral thyroidectomy. Our experience suggests that the postoperative complication relates primarily to the surgical procedure. The low incidence of permanent complications in thyroid surgery suggests the feasibility of total thyroidectomy as the operation of choice when thyroid nodules were malignant and surgeons are familiar with the technique and indications.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 2000

The microsurgical reconstruction is necessary for elderly patients to treat severe trauma and head and neck tumor. The aim of this study is to analyze the risks of microvascular surgery and whether or not happening of more complication in elderly patients who are older than 60 years old and to suggest the solution of the complication. The retrospective study included 41 elderly patients who underwent treatment of 44 microsurgical reconstructions among total 271 cases of microsurgical reconstruction from July, 1988 to December, 1998. Their ages ranged from 61 years to 79 years. There were 26 males and 15 females. The involved sites were 23 head and necks, 13 upper gastrointestinal tracts, 3 lower extremities, 1 chest and 1 sacral region. The causes of microsurgical reconstruction were 36 head and neck tumors, 2 radionecrosis, 2 traumas and 1 melanoma in lower limb. The used flaps were 14 radial forearm flaps, 13 jejunal flaps, 10 latissimus dorsi muscle flaps, 3 rectus abdominis muscle flaps, 2 lateral arm flaps, 1 scapular flap, and 1 iliac osteocutaneous flap. They had medical problems which were 29 tobacco abuse, 14 hypertensions, 13 alcohol abuse, 10 chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, 7 diabetes mellituses, 3 ischemic heart diseases. All patients have had successful results without specific complications except 3 cases of free flap failure and 3 perioperative death. The causes of 3 flap failures were 2 flap necrosis due to arterial insufficiency and 1 flap loss due to secondary infection. All of these cases were treated with secondary free flap surgery. However 3 patients died perioperatively due to 2 respiratory arrests and 1 sepsis. It was not related to operate microsurgical reconstruction itself, but was correlated with the complication of postoperative care after head and neck surgery. We conclude that plastic surgeons consider the importance of prevention of expected complication as thorough analysis of operative risk factor and appropriate treatment. We had to select the donor and recipient vessel appropriately to perform successful microsurgery in elderly patients and consider vein graft and end-to-side anastomosis to reduce complication if necessary. In addition, we emphasize the importance of pre, peri and postoperative care in head and neck cancer patients to reduce postoperative complication and morbidity.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.421-427
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• 2005

Although the incidence of mediastinal wound infection in patient undergoing median sternotomy for cardiovascular surgery is relatively low(less than 1%), it is not only a devastating and potentially life-threatening complication but also associated morbidity, mortality and cost are unacceptably high. During the past few decades various methods had been applied for the treatment of postoperative mediastinitis. Currently, chest wall reconstruction by using muscle flaps-especially pectoralis major muscle and rectus abdominis muscle are commonly selected for the reconstruction after wide debridement has become widely accepted. We performed bilateral pectoralis major-rectus abdominis muscles in-continuity bipedicle flap to overcome the limit of each flap for reconstruction of sternal defects in 17 patients. We analyzed the results of the surgery. Recurrent infection developed in 17.6% of cases and abdominal herniation was observed in one patient. There was no postoperative hematoma or death. We conclude that this flap is very valuable in reconstruction of the anterior chest wall defect caused by post-sternotomy infection because it provides sufficient volume to fill the entire mediastinum, and the complication rate compares favorably to that of other methods.