No abstract available.

PURPOSE: Surgery for thyroid disease requires a skin incision that can result in postsurgical problems such as prominent scars, adhesions, hypesthesia, and paresthesia in the neck. To overcome these problems, we performed a gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via an axillary approach. METHODS: Between May 2004 and April 2005, 30 female patients underwent gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via an axillary approach. Surgical outcomes were evaluated in terms of operating time, length of hospital stay, and the incidence of perioperative complications. Patient opinion was assessed using a verbal response scale at two and four months after surgery. RESULTS: The mean operating time was 126.8±32.4 minutes, and the mean length of hospital stay was 4.3±1.1 days. No cases required conversion to open surgery and none involved significant intraoperative complications. Three patients (10.0%) complained slight hypesthesia or paresthesia in the anterior chest wall, and only 2 patients (6.7%) complained the discomfort while they were swallowing for 4 months after surgery. All patients were satisfied with the cosmetic results. CONCLUSION: Gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via an axillary approach is feasible and safe and provides excellent cosmetic results with a minimal degree of postoperative complaints. This procedure provides another surgical option for the treatment of benign thyroid disease in selected patients.
Cicatrix ; Conversion to Open Surgery ; Deglutition ; Female ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Incidence ; Intraoperative Complications ; Length of Stay ; Neck ; Paresthesia ; Skin ; Thoracic Wall ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroidectomy*

To evaluate surgically induced astigmatism for 6 months following 3.2mm scleral tunnel incision cataract surgery according to incision site we divided 115 patients(124 eyes) into superior incision group 1 (58 eyes) and superotemporal incision group 2 (66 eyes). Each group was classified into 3 cases according to preoperative astigmatism. Postoperative astigmatic changes by vector method were 0.40 diopter(D) against-the-rule astigmatism(ATR) in group 1, 0.25 D ART in group 2 at 6 months and there was no difference between two groups(P>0.05). In the preoperative with-the-rule astigmatic cases, postoperative astigmatic changes were 0.56 D ART in group 1, 0.38 D ATR in group 2, in the preoperative against-the-rule astigmatic cases, postoperative astigmatic changes were 0.25 D ART in group 1, 0.12 D ART in group 2, in the preoperative no astigmatic cases, postoperative astigmatism changes were 0.53 D ATR in group 1, 0.25D ART in group 2 at 6 months. There was no significant difference between two groups in postoperative astigmatic changes(P>0.05) and corneal astigmatisms were stabilized after 2 months postoperatively in both groups(P<0.05).
Astigmatism* ; Cataract*

Using Mercox CL-2B, intravascular casting was performed follwoing intracameral injection with 2.0microgram/microliter of Endothelin-1(ET-1) in the rabbit eye. One hour after intracameral injection with ET-1 caused severe focal andsegmental constriction of major arterial circle(MAC). Obstruction of the small branch of MAC caused localized filling defect and decreased number of capillaries in the vascular cast. The diameters of vascular cast were reduced at about 22.2% in proximal MAC, 22.4% in distal MAC and 21.8% in first branch of MAC. This results were suggested that ET-1 may play a role in the regulation of blood flow in the anterior segment vasculature of the rabbit.
Capillaries ; Constriction ; Endothelin-1* ; Microvessels*

The purpose of this study was to determine whether preoperative topical antiglaucomatous therapy influences the outcome of subsequent trabeculectomy. We investigated 50 eyes of 36 patients with primary open anlge glaucoma(POAG)and 86 eyes of 77 patients with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), who had undergone trabeculectomy. All the patients had received topical antiglaucomatous therapy preoperatively and had been followed up for at least 6 months postoperatively. Both groups, POAG and PACG were divided into two subgroups according to the duration of preoperative antiglaucomatous therapy: (a)for less than 1 month and (b)for more than 6 months. The criterion for success was maintenance of postoperative intraocular pressure(IOP)below 21 mmHg without medication. The rates of success were compared at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. In POAG patients, the overall success rate was clinically significantly higher in subgroup (a)than in subgroup (b)(P<0.05). The success rate in subgroup (a)of POAG patients remained higher irrespective of class of antiglaucomatous medications(P<0.05). In PACG patients, the success rate was also higher in subgroup A, but it failed to reach clinical significance. Postoperative mean IOP was slightly lower in subgroup (a)of all the participants, but it was not clinically significant. Our study suggests that long-term use topical antiglaucoma medications can affect adversely the result of filtering surgery in POAG.
Filtering Surgery ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure ; Humans ; Trabeculectomy*

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to describe psychosocial difficulties experienced by cancer patients. METHODS: Three focus group interviews were conducted to collect the data from 19 outpatients with cancer undergoing treatments during 2009. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed using constant comparative analysis of grounded theory. RESULTS: As a result of constant comparative analysis, 'psychosocial distress' was identified as a core category, and seven subcategories were identified. 'Plunged into negative emotions' and 'damaged self-identity' were identified as major categories in the individual dimension. 'Difficulty in dealing with diagnosis' and 'hasty expectations and concerns' were identified in the dimension of family. 'Inefficient communication' and 'lack of necessary information' were identified in the dimension of health care setting. 'Lonely journey into a strange territory' was identified in the dimension of society. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that cancer patients experience a wide range of psychosocial problems. Thus, in assessing and relieving psychosocial distress of cancer patients, it is necessary to focus not only on the level of the individual but also on the levels of family, health care setting, and society in general is necessary.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Delivery of Health Care ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Qualitative Research

PURPOSE: Early diagnosis and an improved survival rate have emerged as important issues for cancer survivors returning to work during the prime of their working life. This study investigated the attitudes of the general public towards cancer survivors returning to work in Korea and attempted to identify the factors influencing this negative attitude. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A general public perception survey regarding cancer survivors returning to work, targeting 2,000 individuals between 40-70 years of age, was conducted as face-to-face home visit. RESULTS: The public expressed a negative attitude towards cancer survivors returning to work, in terms of both perception and acceptance. Negative perception was higher among those in metropolitan areas compared with urban/rural areas (odds ratio [OR], 1.71), with monthly incomes < $2,000 compared with > $4,000 (OR, 1.54), and with patient care experience compared with those without (OR, 1.41). Negative acceptance was higher among those with monthly incomes < $2,000 compared with > $4,000 (OR, 1.71) and those with patient care experience compared with those without (OR, 1.54). The common factors between acceptance and perception that influenced negative attitude included area of residence, patient care experience, and monthly income. CONCLUSION: This study identified negative attitudes towards cancer survivors returning to work in South Korea and the factors influencing the reintegration of cancer survivors into society. It is necessary to promote community awareness and intervention activities to enable access to community, social, and individual units for the social reintegration of cancer survivors.
Early Diagnosis ; House Calls ; Humans ; Korea* ; Patient Care ; Return to Work ; Social Stigma ; Survival Rate ; Survivors*

Purpose: To report a rare case of bilateral optic nerve sheath meningocele diagnosed in a patient with exophthalmos.Case summary: A 33-year-old male visited our clinic with bilateral exophthalmos for 6 months. The patient had been diagnosed with hypertension 3 years previously; however, the condition had been poorly controlled. He also had a history of treatment associated with retinal vein occlusion, macular edema, and papilledema 2 years earlier. There was no limitation in his ocular movement. A Hertel exophthalmometry test showed bilateral exophthalmos of 20 mm in both eyes. Visual field tests showed an inferior arcuate visual field defect in the right eye and a superotemporal peripheral field defect in the left eye. In orbital magnetic resonance imagery, cerebrospinal fluid space widening along the optic nerve and flattening of the bilateral posterior pole of the eye were evident. The patient was diagnosed with optic nerve sheath meningocele. Conclusions Optic nerve sheath meningocele should be considered as a differential diagnosis of exophthalmos patients. Because it is a disease that can affect visual function in a manner similar to that of a visual field defect, rapid diagnosis through imaging study and thorough regular follow-up examinations are essential.

Purpose: To report a rare case of bilateral optic nerve sheath meningocele diagnosed in a patient with exophthalmos.Case summary: A 33-year-old male visited our clinic with bilateral exophthalmos for 6 months. The patient had been diagnosed with hypertension 3 years previously; however, the condition had been poorly controlled. He also had a history of treatment associated with retinal vein occlusion, macular edema, and papilledema 2 years earlier. There was no limitation in his ocular movement. A Hertel exophthalmometry test showed bilateral exophthalmos of 20 mm in both eyes. Visual field tests showed an inferior arcuate visual field defect in the right eye and a superotemporal peripheral field defect in the left eye. In orbital magnetic resonance imagery, cerebrospinal fluid space widening along the optic nerve and flattening of the bilateral posterior pole of the eye were evident. The patient was diagnosed with optic nerve sheath meningocele. Conclusions Optic nerve sheath meningocele should be considered as a differential diagnosis of exophthalmos patients. Because it is a disease that can affect visual function in a manner similar to that of a visual field defect, rapid diagnosis through imaging study and thorough regular follow-up examinations are essential.

PURPOSE: Surgery for thyroid disease requires skin incisions that can result in postsurgical problems, such as prominent scars, adhesions and hypesthesia, as well as paresthesia of the neck. To overcome these problems we performed a gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via an axillary approach. METHODS: Between November 2001 and April 2005, 141 patients underwent a gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via an axillary approach. The surgical outcomes were evaluated in terms of the operating time, length of hospital stay and the incidence of perioperative complications. Patient opinions were assessed using a verbal response scale at two and four months after surgery. RESULTS: The mean operating time and length of hospital stay were 122.7+/-32.8 minutes and 3.4+/-0.9 days, respectively. No cases required either conversion to open surgery or involved significant intraoperative complications. Two months after surgery, 75 patients (53.2%) complained of hypesthesia or paresthesia in the anterior chest wall. The number of patients with such complaints (9.9%) had decreased 4 months after surgery (P<0.001). Four months after surgery, only 4 patients (2.8%) complained of hypesthesia or paresthesia in the neck, and 10 (7.1%) complained of discomfort while swallowing. All patients were satisfied with the cosmetic results. CONCLUSION: A gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via an axillary approach is feasible and safe, and provides excellent cosmetic results, with a minimal degree of postoperative complaints. This procedure provides another surgical option for the treatment of benign thyroid disease in selected patients.
Cicatrix ; Conversion to Open Surgery ; Deglutition ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Incidence ; Intraoperative Complications ; Length of Stay ; Neck ; Paresthesia ; Skin ; Thoracic Wall ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroidectomy*