The retrospective method of literatures was adopted and the epistemology of network thinking was integrated with the methodology of network analytic techniques so that the researches of meridian and collateral could be conducted in the new view of complex networks. The results indicate that meridian and collateral could be regarded as the complex networks composed of acupoints and meridians. The thinking and the methods of network analysis are ongoing to be applied to the paradigm of the analysis on meridian and collateral and it is expected that the paradigm could generate profound impacts on understanding the substance of meridian and collateral as well as on guiding clinical practice.
Collateral Circulation ; Humans ; Meridians

Obstruction of the inferior vena cava(IVC) is an uncommon condition, and the collateral pathway variesaccording to the level, extent, duration and the cause of obstruction. Membranous obstruction of IVC in itshepatic portion might be one of the principal cause among Korean, though not reported till now. Analytical studywas perfomred in 26 cases of IVC obstruction with various cause. 1. The level of the obstruction showed relativelyeven distribution as follows, upper caval in 11 cases, middle caval in 6 cases and infrarenal in 9 cases. 2. Themain cause of upper caval obstruction was membranous obstruction . 3. As a whole, the main collateral pathway wasthe central route(22 case:85%). 4. Characteristic collateral pathway unique to upper caval obstruction wastranshepatic vanous collateral, developed between the obstructed segment and unobstructed segment of IVC. 5.Scalloping of left cardiac border produced by pericardiophrenic venous collateral was characteristic simple chestX-ray finding in IVC obstruction.
Collateral Circulation ; Vena Cava, Inferior

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Rapid recanalization might improve clinical outcomes after intraarterial thrombolysis (IAT) for acute ischemic stroke patients with collateral circulation. We determined whether rapid recanalization and collateral circulation affect clinical outcomes after IAT. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical and radiological data of 134 consecutive patients who underwent IAT for intracranial artery occlusion. The interval from symptom onset to recanalization after IAT (onset-to-recanalization time) as an estimate of the probability of good clinical outcome (modified Rankin scale 0-2) was calculated in patients with collateral circulation in the ischemic hemisphere, which was rated poor (0/1 American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology criteria) or good (2-4). Changes in National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NHISS) score before and after IAT and modified Rankins scale scores 3 months after discharge were compared with respect to onset-to-recanalization time. RESULTS: In patients with good collateral circulation, the estimated onset-to-recanalization time for a 0.5 probability of a good clinical outcome was 347 minutes; with poor collateral circulation, it was 172 minutes for a 0.2 probability of good clinical outcome. Outcome analyses according to onset-to-recanalization time showed patients recanalized <6 hours had lower NHISS scores (<4.5, 4.5-6, >6 hours of onset-to-recanalization time, and non-recanalization: 5.1, 6.9, 11.9, and 19.8, respectively) at discharge and higher percentages of good clinical outcome (69%, 66.7%, 21.9%, and 0%, respectively) 3 months after IAT. CONCLUSIONS: The time window to expect a high probability of a good clinical outcome after IAT is highly dependent on the collateral circulation.
Arteries ; Collateral Circulation* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke

Moyamoya disease is a cerebrovascular disease of unknown etiology which leads to spontaneous occlusion of circle of Willis. Cerebral ischemic or hemorrhagic episodes occur as moyamoya disease progresses. To establish an efficient collateral circulation for the ischemic brain of this disease many surgical the therapeutic methods have been proposed. We analyzed the surgical results of encephaloduroarteriomyosynangiosis(EDAMS) and compared with that of direct bypass surgery, superfical temporal artery to middle ce rebral artery(STA-MCA) anastomosis to determine the efficacy of new indirect revascularization procedure, EDAMS, in the treatment of moyamoya disease. Twenty three patients with moyamoya disease who underwent revascularization procedure were included in this study. EDAMS was performed on 18 sides in 16 patients and STA-MCA anastomosis was done on 12 sides in 7 patients. Two patients underwent encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis(EDAS). The surgical results of EDAMS were excellent to good in 14 patients and fair in 2 patients. No statistical significance of the outcome was observed in comparision of EDAMS and STA-MCA anastomosis(p-value=0.471). Regardless of surgical procedures, outcome of child-onset moyamoya disease was found to be superior to those of adult-onset moyamoya disease(p-delete=0.024). In conclusion, EDAMS is considered to be one of the effective indirect revascularization methods to prevent the ischemic attack and establish the revascularization for moyamoya disease.
Brain ; Circle of Willis ; Collateral Circulation ; Humans ; Moyamoya Disease ; Temporal Arteries

It was presented the precise technique of percutaneous radial-artery catheterization with testing methods for assessment of status in the collateral circulation of the hand, and also presented continuous measurement of arterial blood pressure with connecting to Arenoids blood pressure manometer for blood pressure and commented the easiness numerous arterial blood samplings for the critically illed patients without pain.
Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Catheterization* ; Catheters* ; Collateral Circulation ; Hand ; Humans

The obstruction of inferior vena cava(IVC) is uncommon condition. The classification is based on the obstructive sites of major anatomic segments of IVC. The main collateral pathways of interruption of IVC were central channels through ascending lumbar veins, intervertebral veins and azygos-hemiazygos complex. However, the complete obstruction of mid-portion of IVC, accompanying collateral cirulation with pericardiacophrenic vein was rarely reported. We had experienced a case of complete obstruction of mid-portion of IVC with lobulated left cardiac border, which was unforgettable characteristic finding on chest radiograph. It was confirmed by venographic examination that the lobulated left cardiac shadow was a collateral circulation of pericardiacophrenic vein.
Classification ; Collateral Circulation* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Inferior*

The importance of the suboccipital plexus(Bosniak's Plexus) described by Bosniak in 1963, is emphasized. This rich anastomatic network is formed by the deep and ascending cervical arteries and nuchal brances of the vertebral artery. We experienced this Bosniak's plexus after common carotid artery aneurysm.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Collateral Circulation* ; Neck* ; Vertebral Artery

The surgically treated 9 patients with anterior choroidal artery aneurysms were clinically analysed. The mean age of patients was fifty six and the size were between 3 mm and 12 mm. Anterior choroidal artery, although small, is important cerebral vessel because of its extensive strategic area of supply. We preserve anterior choroidal artery 8 out of 9 cases during clipping of aneurysm. Fortunately in the sacrificed case, no specific neurologic deficit was developed. So, we reviewed the anatomy & collateral circulation of this vessel.
Aneurysm* ; Arteries* ; Choroid* ; Collateral Circulation ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations

The running courses of twelve meridians are explained through the electrical properties of cell membrane, and the phenomenon related with meridians such as mechanism of acupuncture analgesia and acupuncture anesthesia, pause of the propagated sensation along channels, nature of propagated sensation and width of propagated sensation is expounded in this article. As a result, it is held that the meridian system, a circulatory conduction system of bio-electricity of human, is an independent system from the known nine large systems.
Acupuncture Points ; Cell Membrane ; physiology ; Collateral Circulation ; Humans ; Meridians

BACKGROUND: Among the various physiochemical stimuli, hypoxia has been known to cause coronary vasodilation. In contrast to this, endothelial dependent contracting factor(EDCF) was shown to be secreted by hypoxia and overall physiological roles of these apparently contradicting two phenomena are not clear. Although coronary vasodilation is dominant in epicardial coronary artery by hypoxia, collateral circulation may show different response from epicardial coronary artery to the same stimulus and effect of hypoxia on the vasomotor tone of collateral vessels has not been established. METHODS: Left circumflex coronary artery was chronically occluded using Ameriod occluder in the canine model and myocardial blood flow through collateral circulation was measured using microsphere during induced regional hypoxia. RESULTS: 1) Myocardial blood flow measurements during oxygenated and hypoxic solution infusion were 1.11+/-0.11 mg/min/g and 1.12+/-0.10 ml/min/g respectively in normal perfused zone(LAD territory), but in the collateral dependent zone(LCX territory) blood flow decreased significantly during hypoxic solution infusion(0.55+/-0.17 ml/min/g vs 0.43+/-0.21 ml/min/g)(p<0.05). Also myocardial blood flow ratio(LCX/LAD territory) decreased significantly during hypoxic solution infusion(0.49+/-0.16 vs 0.39+/-0.02)(p<0.05). 2) In collateral dependent zone, endocardial and epicardial blood flow ratio showed significant redistribution during hypoxic solution infusion. 3) After verapamil administration, myocardial blood flow in collateral dependent zone increased from 0.43+/-0.21ml/mg/g to 0.56+/-0.23 ml/mg/g(p<0.05). Also myocardial blood flow ratio(LCX/LAD territory) increased from 0.39+/-0.20 to 0.50+/-0.20 to 0.50+/-0.21 after verapamil administration. CONCLUSION: Hypoxia seems to cause vasoconstriction in collateral vessels and redistribution of blood flow in collateral dependent zone and these effects can be reversed by verapamil.
Anoxia* ; Collateral Circulation* ; Coronary Vessels ; Microspheres ; Oxygen ; Vasoconstriction ; Vasodilation ; Verapamil