The superficial temporal fascia is a thin, pliable, well- vascularized flap that is useful in elevation of the reconstructed ear of the microtia. However, the elevation of the superficial temporal fascial flap by conventional T or zigzag incisions in temporal region frequently leaves a conspicuous scar, hair thinning and alopecia. To overcome these problems, we harvested the superficial temporal fascia as a random pattern flap using only a retroauricular skin incision line for the ear elevation. Thereafter, the cartilage framework was elevated including superficial temporal fascia and superficial mastoid fascia underneath: dissection plane was continuous with the superficial temporal fascial flap harvest and dissection was performed just beneath the superficial mastoid fascia under the framework. A carved costal cartilage block was grafted at the posterior wall of the concha and covered with the harvested superficial temporal fascial flap, followed by a full-thickness skin graft. From June 2001 to December 2001, 9 patients (male 8 and female 1), who ranged from 9 to 26 years in age, underwent ear elevation using this method. The skin grafts was successful and the appropriate auriculocephalic angle was preserved in all cases. We did not find any complications such as infection, graft loss or cartilage extrusion in the 3 to 9 months follow-up period and the patients were satisfied with their cosmetic results. This method was easy to perform and did not leave any other scar in the temporal hear-bearing area and the results have been favorable.
Alopecia ; Cartilage ; Cicatrix ; Ear* ; Fascia* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hair ; Humans ; Mastoid ; Skin ; Transplants

The patients with mandibular prognathism frequently have a retrusion of the lower nasal base and around the piriform aperture. In such cases, paranasal depression or flattening gives a person a gloomy, tired, depressive and old appearance by accentuating the nasolabial folds. In this case, mandibular set back is not enough to achieve the maximum aesthetic results and facial harmony. Although severe retrusion of maxilla needs large graft for paranasal augmentation or Lefort osteotomies, mild retrusion around the piriform aperture can be restored by simple autogenous onlay bone graft. In order to correct the mild paranasal retrusion combined with mandibular prognathism, we performed sagittal split osteotomy of ramus and retropositioned the distal segment of mandible for mandibular set back. Thereafter, we harvested autogenous bone from the distal portion of a mandibular proximal segment. The harvested bone was about 1 X 2.5cm sized and sculptured in a semilunar shape to fit the paranasal region. Through two separate 1-cm upper buccal incision, the bone grafts were placed around the piriform aperture for contour restoration and fixed with screw. Our operative technique is simple and easy, moreover has no need for another donor site for paranasal augmentation. Using this method, we treated paranasal depression as well as mandibular prognathism at the same time and so, improved facial profile and contour in 5 cases. At the time of follow-up at 1 year, there has been no infection, extrusion or relapse with this technique and patients were satisfied with their aesthetic results.
Depression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inlays ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Nasolabial Fold ; Osteotomy ; Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus* ; Prognathism* ; Recurrence ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants*

Background/Aims: The prevalence of GERD and treatment costs are continuously rising in Korea, and the importance of primary health care clinics where the most treatment of actual patients is conducted is increasing. In this study, the diagnosis of GERD, selection of therapeutic drugs, and treatment methods in primary health care clininics were investigated through a large-scale multi-dimensional surveys. Methods: From January 2015 to December 2018, the study data of 18,010 patients with GERD were retrospectively investigated based on eletronic medical record at 542 primary health care clinics in Korea. Results: Among all GERD patients, endoscopy was used for diagnosis in 16.11% of cases, and the most frequently performed in gastroenterology department (28.85%). The average BMI and the proportion of patients in stages 1 to 3 of obesity were highest in the ERD group, and the majority of the severity of ERD group was mild. Symptoms of the patients with GERD were mainly heartburn, gastric acid reflux, and chest pain. Drug treatment was performed in most of the patients with GERD, and PPI was the main drug, and Esomeprazol was prescribed the most among the main ingredients, and the ratio of PPI alone was high. The rate of symptom improvement after GERD treatment was slightly higher in the ERD group (75.91%) and the NERD group (74.36%) than in the GERD diagnosed without endoscopy group (63.89%). Conclusions In domestic primary health care clinics, the majority were diagnosed with GERD without endoscopy on the basis of symptoms. The most preferred treatment for GERD was PPI, which was prescribed alone in the majority.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular failure (LVF) after an acute myocardial infarction occurs during the perioperative period, and since this condition can lead to severe complications, intensive care is required for the patient. LVF is characterized hemodynamically by a raised left heart filling pressure and volume and global depression of the hearts pumping performance. Several effective drugs for patients with heart failure are catecholamines such as dopamine and dobutamine, vasodilators such as nitroglycerin and nitroprusside, and noncatecholamine inotropes such as amrinone, which are either infused alone or in combination. However, as of now, there has been no study as to clarifying either the exact dosage, drug combination, or how they affect the heart. METHODS: By inducing a state of experimental acute left ventricular failure in 20 dogs through ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, this study compared the hemodynamic parameters of two treatment groups-one group using amrinone alone (bolus 1 mg/kg, continuous infusion 15micro gram/kg/min), and another group using a combination of dopamine (10micro gram/kg/min) and nitroglycerin (2micro gram/kg/min). RESULTS: Cardiac output of dogs with postinfarct heart failure increased in both treatment groups. But, there was a significant decrease in systemic vascular resistance, pulmonary vascular resistance and left ventricular end diastolic pressure in the group treated with amrinone than dopamine-nitroglycerin. Amrinone also revealed a favorable effect on oxygen utility. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that amrinone might be more effective than the combination of dopamine and nitroglycerin for acute left ventricular failure in terms of myocardial function, hemodynamic stability and oxygen utility.
Amrinone* ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Catecholamines ; Coronary Vessels ; Depression ; Dobutamine ; Dogs* ; Dopamine ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Ligation ; Myocardial Infarction ; Nitroglycerin ; Nitroprusside ; Oxygen ; Perioperative Period ; Vascular Resistance ; Vasodilator Agents ; Ventricular Function

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular failure (LVF) after an acute myocardial infarction occurs during the perioperative period, and since this condition can lead to severe complications, intensive care is required for the patient. LVF is characterized hemodynamically by a raised left heart filling pressure and volume and global depression of the hearts pumping performance. Several effective drugs for patients with heart failure are catecholamines such as dopamine and dobutamine, vasodilators such as nitroglycerin and nitroprusside, and noncatecholamine inotropes such as amrinone, which are either infused alone or in combination. However, as of now, there has been no study as to clarifying either the exact dosage, drug combination, or how they affect the heart. METHODS: By inducing a state of experimental acute left ventricular failure in 20 dogs through ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, this study compared the hemodynamic parameters of two treatment groups-one group using amrinone alone (bolus 1 mg/kg, continuous infusion 15micro gram/kg/min), and another group using a combination of dopamine (10micro gram/kg/min) and nitroglycerin (2micro gram/kg/min). RESULTS: Cardiac output of dogs with postinfarct heart failure increased in both treatment groups. But, there was a significant decrease in systemic vascular resistance, pulmonary vascular resistance and left ventricular end diastolic pressure in the group treated with amrinone than dopamine-nitroglycerin. Amrinone also revealed a favorable effect on oxygen utility. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that amrinone might be more effective than the combination of dopamine and nitroglycerin for acute left ventricular failure in terms of myocardial function, hemodynamic stability and oxygen utility.
Amrinone* ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Catecholamines ; Coronary Vessels ; Depression ; Dobutamine ; Dogs* ; Dopamine ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Ligation ; Myocardial Infarction ; Nitroglycerin ; Nitroprusside ; Oxygen ; Perioperative Period ; Vascular Resistance ; Vasodilator Agents ; Ventricular Function

PURPOSE: Robotic surgery is expected to have advantages over laparoscopic surgery; however, there are limited data regarding the feasibility of robotic surgery for rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Therefore, we evaluated the short-term outcomes of robotic surgery for rectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients with cT3N0-2 rectal cancer after preoperative CRT who underwent robotic low anterior resection (R-LAR) between March 2010 and January 2012 were matched with 66 patients undergoing laparoscopic low anterior resection (L-LAR). Perioperative clinical outcomes and pathological data were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Patient characteristics did not differ significantly different between groups. The mean operation time was 441 minutes (R-LAR) versus 277 minutes (L-LAR, p < 0.001). The open conversion rate was 6.1% in the R-LAR group and 0% in the L-LAR group (p=0.11). There were no significant differences in the time to flatus passage, length of hospital stay, and postoperative morbidity. In pathological review, the mean number of harvested lymph nodes was 22.3 in R-LAR and 21.6 in L-LAR (p=0.82). Involvement of circumferential resection margin was positive in 16.1% and 6.7%, respectively (p=0.42). Total mesorectal excision (TME) quality was complete in 97.0% in R-LAR and 91.0% in L-LAR (p=0.41). CONCLUSION: In our study, short-term outcomes of robotic surgery for rectal cancer after CRT were similar to those of laparoscopic surgery in respect to bowel function recovery, morbidity, and TME quality. Well-designed clinical trials are needed to evaluate the functional results and long-term outcomes of robotic surgery for rectal cancer.
Chemoradiotherapy* ; Flatulence ; Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Nodes ; Recovery of Function ; Rectal Neoplasms*

Tattooing has been practised since pre-Christian times, as an object of both fascination and revulsion. In the Present day, body tattoo has been a flourishing and contemporary teen issue. Adolescents have discovered tattoos as a means of self-expression. Due to the external characteristics of the tattoo however, a lot of researchers have shown their interest and done various researches. The examination of the psychological characteristics of the tattooed people revealed that a lot of people have psychological problems, the tattoos revealing the person's deviated image. As a result, several attempts have been made to try and correlate tattoos with the psychiatric diagnoses such as schizophrenia or personality disorder, or with adverse social circumstances such as poverty. The subject of tattoo removal is as old as the history of tattooing itself. Plastic surgeons have witnessed numerous tragic instances where a tattoo has caused hardship, including diminished employment prospects, even loss of love and affection from family and friends and, very commonly, loss of self-esteem. For this reason, the bearers of tattoo often consider the inevitable scarring left by tattoo removal as a preferable alternative. Past techniques of removing tattoos, using corrosive agents or skin graft, have been universally unsuccessful, or certainly less than satisfactory. But, currently laser therapy has been introduced into the market to remove tattoos. As a result, a lot of people have visited hospitals to get tattoos removed. In addition, many of those who had tried to hide the fact that they had tattoos, have been given the opportunity to express their feelings, and rate their psychological statements. This research enables to find the best approach to the person's psychiatric point of view, by objectively observing the person's psychological characteristics and psychological changes after the tattoo removal.
Adolescent ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Employment ; Friends ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Love ; Personality Disorders ; Poverty ; Schizophrenia ; Skin ; Tattooing ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes of higher order aberrations (HOAs) before and after laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) and to analyze the influence of tear film instability on HOAs of the corneal surface after LASEK. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 31 patients who underwent LASEK were divided into dry eye (16 patients, 32 eyes) and non-dry eye groups (15 patients, 30 eyes). Uncorrected distance visual acuity, spherical equivalent refraction, ablation depth, tear film parameters and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire scores were evaluated in both groups. Total HOA root mean square (RMS), third-order coma, third-order trefoil and fourth-order spherical aberration (SA) of the corneal surface immediately and at 10 seconds after blinking were measured before and after surgery. RESULTS: The total HOA RMS, coma, trefoil and SA significantly increased after LASEK compared with preoperative values in both groups. In the dry eye group, total HOA RMS, coma and trefoil significantly increased except for SA at 10 seconds after blinking compared with those measured immediately after blinking. In addition, the changes of total HOA RMS, coma and trefoil were negatively correlated with tear film break-up time (R = -0.420, -0.473 and -0.439, respectively), but positively correlated with OSDI score (R = 0.433, 0.499 and 0.532, respectively). In the non-dry eye group, there were no significant differences between HOAs measured at 10 seconds after blinking and those measured immediately after blinking. CONCLUSIONS: The HOAs including coma, trefoil and SA significantly increased after LASEK. The tear film instability in the dry eye can be associated with more deterioration of the optical quality after LASEK, due to more significant increase of total HOA RMS, coma and trefoil.
Adult ; Cornea/*physiopathology ; Corneal Wavefront Aberration/*etiology/physiopathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dry Eye Syndromes/*physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted/*adverse effects ; Lasers, Excimer/*therapeutic use ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tears/*physiology ; Visual Acuity/physiology ; Young Adult

An unusual case is presented as bilateral, complete digital duplication of the hand in a 32-year-old man. Radiographic evaluation showed complete duplication of intact phalanges and metacarpal bones in both hands. Although polydactyly of the hand is reported to occur among approximately 1 in 1000 live births, most of these malformations are rudimentary skin tags. Complete postaxial polydactyly is uncommon; it occurs in approximately 0.014% of all live births. The main goal of the surgical treatment is to establish adequate function and appearance. This case reports the preoperative evaluation and management of bilateral postaxial type III duplication of the fingers.
Adult ; Fingers ; Hand ; Humans ; Live Birth ; Metacarpal Bones ; Polydactyly* ; Skin

Atypical fibroxanthoma is a pleomorphic spindle cell neoplasm characterized by a variable combination of cells with fibroblastic and histiocytic features. It occurs mostly on sun-exposed area of the head and neck of elderly person and is a clinically benign reactive lesion despite apparent malignant histologic features. However, because of its potential for metastasis, it is widely regarded as a low-grade sarcoma. We report a 30-year-old woman with atypical fibroxanthoma developed on the left occipital area. The lesion was 1.5 x 2 cm sized papule. There was no skin lesion such as ulcer or eschar. However, mass was involving occipital bone and composed of dense, pleomorphic spindle cells and several bizarre multinucleated giant cells. After wide excision of the scalp and occipital bone, the defect was covered with bone cement, bipedicled local flap and the donor site was covered with STSG. The wound healed completely without complication. It remained free of recurrence for a period of about 1 year follow up.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Follow-Up Studies ; Giant Cells ; Head ; Humans ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Occipital Bone* ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma ; Scalp* ; Skin ; Tissue Donors ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries