• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.619-626
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• 2010

Background: The indications and the optimal time of surgery of infective endocarditis are controversial. We report the surgical results of our hospital during the last 10 years with literature review. Material and Method: Between January 2000 and December 2009, we enrolled 23 infective endocarditis patients who underwent surgery, and analyzed retrospectively. In the preoperative blood culture, 8 cases (34.8%) were positive. The average preoperative antibiotics treatment period was $20.78{\pm}16.00$ days. There were 12 (52.2%) urgent operations. The average follow up period was $49.26{\pm}33.21$ months. Result: 20 mechanical valve replacements were performed, 9 in aortic position, 8 in mitral position and 3 in the both positions. The other procedures were one mitral valvuloplasty, one infected myxoma extirpation, and one infected pacemaker lead removal with debridement. The average period of postoperative intravenous antibiotic treatment was $24.39{\pm}15.98$ days. There were 5 complications, including 2 cases of postoperative bleeding, one postcardiotomy syndrome, one cerebral ischemia, and a low cardiac output syndrome. There were statistically significant postoperative improvement in NYHA class, left ventricle end diastolic/end systolic volume, and left atrium size (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion: We could obtain the satisfactory results without any moftalities by using sufficient preoperative antibiotics in hemodynamically stable patients, and by prompt surgery in unstable patients.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.31 no.5 s.88
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• pp.517-523
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• 2001

Titanium miniscrews we being used increasingly as an anchorage for tooth movement, because they ate easy to place and to remove, increase the number of sites available, give minimum strain to patients regarding surgical procedures, and offer uneventful healing alter removal. The use of titanium miniscrews as an orthodontic anchorage has been reported in clinical case reports, but clinicians have experienced screw loosening when using such screws.' To our knowledge, there are no published reports evaluating the stability of miniscrews. Information about the length of miniscrews used in relation to the location is of some importance, as stability will vary depending on bone duality The purpose of this study was to evaluate a variety of Lengths of miniscrews (dimeter: 2mm) which were inserted in maxilla or mandible and to demonstrate in a dog model which miniscrew provides fundamental stability in the jaws. 10 mm long miniscrews in the maxilla and 8mm long: miniscrews in the mandible showed no clinical mobility and retained their position throughout an 8 weeks force (200g) application. The mucosal condition around the screws was healthy in cases in which miniserews were inserted in the alveolar bone between the roots and the head of the screws emerged into the attached gingiva. When the force application was terminated, radiographic analysis revealed neither rent resorption not periodontal pathology around the miniscrews that remained stable during the entire treatment period. This study suggests that if titanium miniscrews with adequate length are properly used depending on the location, they provide sufficient stability for orthodontic anchorage.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.474-482
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• 2012

Elongation of cheek teeth roots in pet rabbits is very common, and is associated with malocclusion followed by reduced appetite, salivation, periapical abscess, and epiphora. Conservative methods including medication, drainage, irrigation, tooth trimming, intraoral and extraoral extraction, surgical treatment of periapical abscessation, and diet control have been adapted as the only treatments to resolve elongation of teeth roots. However, remaining challenges include the long-term period of cure and recurrence. This study was performed to investigate the possibility of nonvital pulp therapy on elongation of the mandibular cheek teeth roots in pet rabbits. Thirty-one pet rabbits with dental problems due to root elongation were submitted. Ten pet rabbits among them were treated by nonvital pulp therapy procedures (group A), while the others were treated by conservative methods (group B). Appetite improved within 1-5 days after nonvital pulp therapy and the treatment was discontinued 1 month postoperatively in group A. Abscess occurred in another site not treated with nonvital pulp therapy in only two rabbits. Growth of the mandibular cheek teeth treated with nonvital pulp therapy stopped, resulting in malocclusion, intraoral inflammation from the enamel spur, and abscess of the teeth roots. In the group B rabbits treated with conservative therapy, partial drainage, long term medication, recurrent oral trimming and control of repeated oral inflammation occurred. Consequently, buccotomy or tooth extraction was performed in group B. Owners were satisfied with nonvital pulp therapy preventing dental root abscess and repeated troubles including inflammation and malocclusion and reduction of the treatment period. These results suggest that nonvital pulp therapy can be performed on pet rabbits with elongation of mandibular cheek teeth roots.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.831-842
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• 2001

Background: Patients with cardiac diseases who have structural defects in their heart bring about metabolic insult such as preoperative acid-base imbalance. Cardiac operation requires many nonphysiologic procedures such as extracorporeal circulation, hypothermia, and hemodilution. We studied the acid-base status of surgical heart diseases pre-operatively, during extracorporeal circulation, and post-operatively and researched the treatment indications of acid-base disturbances. Material and Method: From January 1997 to May 1999, fifty two cases of open heart surgery were carried out under extracorporeal circulation, which divided into a set of pediatric and adult groups, congenital and acquired groups, non-cyanotic and cyanotic groups, The $\alpha$ -stat arterial blood gas analysis was done in each group during the preoperative period, during the operation with extracorporeal circulation, and during the postoperative period. Result: Before surgery, all patients present metabolic acidosis, PaO2 was low in adult group and acquired group and compensatory respiratory alkalosis was noted in cyanotic group. During extracorporeal circulation, adult group revealed alkalosis and normal in acquired group. Pediatric group presents low Pa$CO_2$, metabolic acidosis and respiratory alkalosis. Congenital group and non-cyanotic group showed non-compensatory alkalosis trend and non-compensatory respiratory acidosis were observed in cyanotic group during extracorporeal circulation. Postoperative acid-base status of adult group was recovered to normal and the standard bicarbonate was increased in the acquired group. All of the pediatric, congenital non-cyanotic, and cyanotic groups revealed the lack of buffer base.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.904-910
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• 2003

Thoracoscopic bullectomy (VATS-B) is now the preferred treatment for spontaneous pneumothorax despite of higher recurrence rate than open thoracotomy. Several methods have been used to prevent this problem. The effectiveness of staple line reinforcement (SLR) in VATA-B using endostaplers was assessed by clinical and experimental study. Meterial and Method: In experimental study, canine lungs were harvested immediately (group I N=5) and 48 hours (group II N=5) after stapling. The pressures at which initial air leaks occurred were measured. In clinical study from February 1997 to March 1999, 106 procedures in 104 patients undergoing VATS-B for spontaneous pneumothorax were classified into two groups according to the presence of SLR and were compared. Result: The average pressure of the initial air leakage was significantly higher in SLR than that of staples alone (18$\pm$1.6 vs 48$\pm$3 mm Hg in group I; 23.8$\pm$1.9 vs 54$\pm$4.6 mm Hg in group II, p<0.001). In the clinical data, there were significant differences seen in the duration of drainage, the total length of endostaplers used, and the duration of the postoperative hospital stay between patients with staple alone and patients with SLR (4.4$\pm$1.4 vs 3.1$\pm$1.1 days in duration of drainage, 92.3$\pm$28.1 vs 71.1$\pm$30.6 mm in total length of endostaplers used, 5.9$\pm$1.9 vs 4.6$\pm$1.7 days in postoperative hospital stays, p<0.001). Conclusion: SLR was effective for preventing prolonged air leakage and responsible for shorter hospital stays after VATS-B for the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.889-896
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• 1996

Aggressive revascularization of the ischemic lower extremities in atherosclerotic occlusive diseases or acute embolic arterial occusion due to cardiac valvular disease by thromboembolectomy or an arterial by- pass operation has been advocated by some authors. To evaluate clinical pattern and operative outcome of the ischemic lower extremity, surgical experience in 101 patients who were admitted to Dong-A Univer- sity Hospital between March 1990 and August 1995 was analyzed. The patients were 92 males and 9 females ranging fro 25 to 87 years of age. The underlying causes of arterial occlusive disease were atherosclerotic obliterances in 54 case, Buerger's disease in 20 cases, thromboembolism in 24 cases, vascular trauma in 3 cases and pseudoaneurysm in 3 cases. - The major arterial occlusive sites of atherosclerotic obliterance were femoral artery in 30 cases, iliac artery in 23 cases, popliteal artery in 10 cases, distal aorta in 6 cases and the major arterial occlusive sites of Buerger's disease were posterior tibial artery in 14 cases, anterior tibial artery in 8 cases, popliteal artery in 5 cases. The operative procedures of arterial occlusive disease were bypass graft operation in 61 cases, thromboembolectomy in 21 cases, sympathectomy in 20 cases. Arterial bypass operations with autogenous or artificial vascular prosthesis were done in 61 cases which Included femoro-popliteal bypass in 21 cases, femoro-femoral bypass in 15 cases, axillo-bifemoral bypass in 7 cases, aorto-bifemoral with inverted Y-gr ft In 3 cases, femoro-profundafemoral bypass in 3 cases, popliteo-tibial bypass in 2 cases, aorto-iliad bypass in 1 case Over all postoperative patency rates were 83.6 oyo at 1 year, 75.5% at 3 years and limb salvage rate was 86.8 oyo . Six patients died in the hospital following vascular surgery for ischemic lower extremities, although the causes of death were not directly related to the vascular reconstructive operative proccedures. The leading causes of death were in the order of multiple organ failure, acute renal failure, and sepsis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.10
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• pp.1065-1070
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• 2008

Purpose : This study aims to determine whether early closure (within 7 d) of significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with indomethacin or ligation reduces neonatal morbidity when compared with delayed closure (after 7 d). Methods : Fifty-eight extremely-low-birth-weight infants admitted to the NICU of Seoul National University Hospital from April 2005 to May 2007 with PDA were studied retrospectively. Results : The mean gestational age (GA) was $26{\pm}2weeks$ (range, 23-32 wk), and the birth weight was $782{\pm}146g$ (range, 430-990 g). The delayed closure group was associated with early GA ($25.7{\pm}1.7wk$ vs $27.1{\pm}2.0wk$, P=0.013), in vitro fertilization (IVF) (55% vs 24%, P=0.017), and the absence of preeclampsia (5% vs. 34%, P=0.013). There was no difference in ductal size between the early closure and delayed closure groups. The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (95% vs 65%, P=0.012) and intraventricular hemorrhage (70% vs. 39%, P=0.027) increased in the delayed closure group. Using regression analysis adjusted for gestational age, delayed closure correlated positively with the duration of ventilator support (P=0.008), hospitalization (P=0.020), time to full enteral feeding (P<0.001), and total parenteral nutrition (P=0.010). Conclusion : Delayed closure of the hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus in extremely-low-birth-weight infants is significantly related to the development of various morbidities. Thus, early closure of PDA is needed within the first week of life.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.8 s.265
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• pp.579-587
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• 2006

Background: Preoperative risk analysis for Fontan candidates is still less than optimal in that patients with apparently low risks may have poor surgical outcome; prolonged pleural drainage, protein losing enteropathy, pulmonary thromboembolism and death. We hypothesized that low pulmonary vascular compliance (PVC) is a risk factor for prolonged pleural effusion drainage after the Fontan operation. Material and Method: A retrospective review of 96 consecutive patients who underwent the Extracardiac Fontan procedures (median age: 3.9 years) was performed. Fontan risk score (FRS) was calculated from 12 categorized preoperative anatomic and physiologic variables. PVC $(mm^2/m^2{\cdot}mmHg)$ was defined as pulmonary artery index $(mm^2/m^2)$ divided by total pulmonary resistance $(W.U{\cdot}/m^2)$ and pulmonary blood flow $(L/min/m^2)$ based on the electrical circuit analogue of the pulmonary circulation. Chest tube indwelling time was log-transformed (log indwelling time, LIT) to fit normal distribution, and the relationship between preoperative predictors and LIT was analyzed by multiple linear regression. Result: Preoperative PVC, chest tube indwelling time and LIT ranged from 6 to 94.8 $mm^2/mmHg/m^2$ (median: 24.8), 3 to 268 days (median: 20 days), and 1.1 to 5.6 (mean: 2.9, standard deviation: 0.8), respectively. FRS, PVC, cardiopulmonary bypass time (CPB) and central venous pressure at postoperative 12 hours were correlated with LIT by univariable analyses. By multiple linear regression, PVC (p=0.0018) and CPB (p=0.0024) independently predicted LIT, explaining 21.7% of the variation. The regression equation was LIT=2.74-0.0158 PVC+0.00658 CPB. Conclusion: Low pulmonary vascular compliance is an important risk factor for prolonged pleural effusion drainage after the extracardiac Fontan procedure.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.176-189
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• 2003

Background : Gastric cancer is the most common malignant tumor in Korea. Surgical operation is one of the major treatment modalities for gastric cancer patients. Therefore, gastrectomy is one of the most common procedures in General Surgery. There were variation in length of hospital stay and medical treatment for gastrectomy between three surgeons at Asan Medical Center. Clinical pathways have received considerable attention as a tool for reducing the medical practice variation, increasing the efficiency of care process, and improving the quality of care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a clinical pathway for gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients. Methods : The clinical pathway for gastrectomy was developed and implemented by a multidisciplinary group in Asan Medical Center. A computerized clinical pathway program was developed and revised after a pilot test. A total of 145 patients underwent gastrectomy by three surgeons at Asan Medical Center. We compared the length of hospital stay, patient satisfaction, and the unplanned readmission rate between the pre-pathway group (n=67) and the post-pathway group (n=78). We also investigated the degree of satisfaction among the physicians and nurses who were main end-users of the clinical pathway. Results : The clinical pathway was applied to all target patients. The average length of hospital stay was shortened from 12.7days to 10.6days (p<0.01). The degree of patient satisfaction with the care process changed from 90.3% to 89.2% after the implementation of the clinical pathway, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.761). Unplanned readmission rate was 2.9% in the pre-pathway group and 0% in the post-pathway group. More than 90% of physicians and nurses answered that the clinical pathway had been a useful tool in their medical practice. Conclusions : The findings of the study demonstrated that implementation of the clinical pathway for gastrectomy produced substantial reduction in the length of hospital stay while improving the quality of patient outcomes. The computerized clinical pathway program can be used as one of the powerful patient management tools for reducing the practice variations and increasing the efficiency of care process in Korean hospital settings.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.695-702
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• 2008

Background: The choice between a bioprosthetic and a mechanical valve is an important decision in cardiac valve surgery, and the durability of the tissue valve is a major decision factor. We retrospectively evaluated the midterm results of bioprosthetic valve replacement in the mitral position. Material and Method: The subjects were all patients who had undergone mitral bioprosthesis replacement between July 1989 and August 200.7. Among the 216 patients, there were 236 surgical cases. The mean age was $63{\pm}15$ years, and the male to female ratio was 1 : 3. We retrospectively analyzed hospital and outpatient records such that the total follow-up duration amounted to 760.2 patient-years, and the mean follow-up duration was $41.9{\pm}40.7$ months (range $0{\sim}212$ months). Result: Early death occurred in 18 patients (8.3%), and 13 of these underwent concomitant cardiac procedures. The survival rate after 5 years was $79.9{\pm}3.5%$, and the survival rate after 8 years was $65.5{\pm}5.5%$, while freedom from structural valve deterioration (SVD) was $96.2{\pm}2.2%$ at 5 years and $85.9{\pm}5.3%$ at 8 years. Freedom from reoperation was $90.6{\pm}1.7%$ at 5 years and $90.4{\pm}4.2%$ at 8 years, while freedom from reoperation for SVD was $98.1{\pm}1.2%$ at 5 years and $92.3{\pm}4.1%$ at 8 years. On multivariate analysis of preoperative risk factors, small valve size (between 25mm and 27mm) was a significant risk factor for reoperation, and low LV ejection fraction (<40%) was a significant risk factor for SVD and mortality. Conclusion: Survival and freedom from reoperation for SVD in mitral bioprosthesis replacement had acceptable midterm results, but freedom from SVD Was relatively low. In particular, since SVD increased sharply at the eighth postoperative year, frequent follow-up and echocardiograms around that time will be helpful for the early detection of SVD. It will be necessary to conduct further studies involving long-term follow-up and more patients.