This study aimed to assess the utilization trends of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) among lung cancer patients in Korea using the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database (2017 to 2021). PR was introduced and covered under the NHIS in 2016, primarily for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but recent evidence suggests its benefits for lung cancer patients. Data extraction was based on Korea Informative Classification of Diseases 8th revision codes C33 and C34, with PR prescriptions identified by codes MM440 and MM290.Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and propensity score matching was used for comparison between PR and non-PR groups. Results showed a significant increase in PR utilization, with the number of patients receiving PR (MM440) rising from 1,002 in 2017 to 3,723 in 2021, indicating a 3.7-fold increase. However, the proportion of patients receiving PR remained low at 2.9% in 2021. Enhanced access to PR services and improved evaluation strategies are essential for optimizing patient outcomes.

This study aimed to assess the utilization trends of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) among lung cancer patients in Korea using the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database (2017 to 2021). PR was introduced and covered under the NHIS in 2016, primarily for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but recent evidence suggests its benefits for lung cancer patients. Data extraction was based on Korea Informative Classification of Diseases 8th revision codes C33 and C34, with PR prescriptions identified by codes MM440 and MM290.Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and propensity score matching was used for comparison between PR and non-PR groups. Results showed a significant increase in PR utilization, with the number of patients receiving PR (MM440) rising from 1,002 in 2017 to 3,723 in 2021, indicating a 3.7-fold increase. However, the proportion of patients receiving PR remained low at 2.9% in 2021. Enhanced access to PR services and improved evaluation strategies are essential for optimizing patient outcomes.

This study aimed to assess the utilization trends of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) among lung cancer patients in Korea using the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database (2017 to 2021). PR was introduced and covered under the NHIS in 2016, primarily for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but recent evidence suggests its benefits for lung cancer patients. Data extraction was based on Korea Informative Classification of Diseases 8th revision codes C33 and C34, with PR prescriptions identified by codes MM440 and MM290.Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and propensity score matching was used for comparison between PR and non-PR groups. Results showed a significant increase in PR utilization, with the number of patients receiving PR (MM440) rising from 1,002 in 2017 to 3,723 in 2021, indicating a 3.7-fold increase. However, the proportion of patients receiving PR remained low at 2.9% in 2021. Enhanced access to PR services and improved evaluation strategies are essential for optimizing patient outcomes.

This study aimed to assess the utilization trends of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) among lung cancer patients in Korea using the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database (2017 to 2021). PR was introduced and covered under the NHIS in 2016, primarily for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but recent evidence suggests its benefits for lung cancer patients. Data extraction was based on Korea Informative Classification of Diseases 8th revision codes C33 and C34, with PR prescriptions identified by codes MM440 and MM290.Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and propensity score matching was used for comparison between PR and non-PR groups. Results showed a significant increase in PR utilization, with the number of patients receiving PR (MM440) rising from 1,002 in 2017 to 3,723 in 2021, indicating a 3.7-fold increase. However, the proportion of patients receiving PR remained low at 2.9% in 2021. Enhanced access to PR services and improved evaluation strategies are essential for optimizing patient outcomes.

Meningioma is one of the most common types of benign primary brain tumors in older adults, and multiple meningiomas are reported in fewer than 1% to 10% of cases. However, there is no definitive treatment guideline for patients with multiple meningiomas. An 80-year-old man presented with abruptly impaired cognition and was found to have two distinct meningiomas located in the temporal and frontal lobes. A single frontotemporal craniotomy was performed to remove both tumors. Pathological analysis revealed different subtypes and World Health Organization grades for each mass. The patient showed symptomatic improvement, experienced no postoperative complications, and exhibited no signs of recurrence during a 1-year follow-up period with evaluations at 3-month intervals. Despite the absence of a standard treatment for multiple meningiomas, surgical resection in a single procedure is feasible in selected patients.

Objective: Decompression with instrumented fusion is a common approach for treating spinal metastatic disease. However, in many cases, poor bone quality and compromised general condition increase the likelihood of mechanical failure and other complications. This study investigated complications, including those related to surgery, following decompression and fusion in patients with spinal metastatic disease. Methods: A study at a single tertiary medical center focusing on surgical details and perioperative complications was performed on 35 patients who underwent spinal surgery due to metastatic spinal disease based on a review of a prospective database. Data on patients' underlying conditions and the status of the primary tumors were collected, and various complications that occurred within the first month after surgery were analyzed. Results: During the study, 35 patients (mean age, 66.5 years; 26 men) were enrolled. The most frequent primary cancers were lung (34%) and prostate cancer (17%), followed by liver and breast cancer and others. The overall complication rate was 37% (14% surgery-related complications, 23% general complications). In all cases, surgery was performed due to lower extremity weakness, and 59% of patients showed improvements in motor function after surgery. Furthermore, 23% of patients regained the ability to walk. Conclusion Surgery for spinal metastasis is frequently performed as an emergency due to the severity of symptoms such as lower extremity weakness. Despite a high risk of acute complications, the procedure has significant benefits, including improvement in weakness and recovery of walking ability. Therefore, proactive treatment using appropriate surgical techniques is recommended.

Background: Although almost all interventional pulmonologists agree that rigid bronchoscopy is irreplaceable in the field of interventional pulmonology, less is known about the types of diseases that the procedure is used for and what difficulties the operators face during the procedure. The purpose of this study is to evaluate what diseases rigid bronchoscopy is used for, whether it is widely used, and what challenges the operators face in Korea. Methods: We enrolled 14 hospitals in this retrospective cohort of patients who underwent rigid bronchoscopy between 2003 and 2020. An online survey was conducted with 14 operators to investigate the difficulties associated with the procedure. Results: While the number of new patients at Samsung Medical Center (SMC) increased from 189 in 2003–2005 to 468 in 2018–2020, that of other institutions increased from 0 to 238.The proportion of SMC patients in the total started at 100% and steadily decreased to 59.2%.The proportion of malignancy as the indication for the procedure steadily increased from 29.1% to 43.0%, whereas post-tuberculous stenosis (25.4% to 12.9%) and post-intubation stenosis (19.0% to 10.9%) steadily decreased (all P for trends < 0.001). In the online survey, half of the respondents stated that over the past year they performed less than one procedure per month. The fewer the procedures performed within the last year, the more likely collaboration with other departments was viewed as a recent obstacle (Spearman correlation coefficient, r s = −0.740, P = 0.003) and recent administrative difficulties were encountered (r s = −0.616, P = 0.019). Conclusion This study demonstrated that the number of patients undergoing rigid bronchoscopy has been increasing, especially among cancer patients. For this procedure to be used more widely, it will be important for beginners to systematically learn about the procedure itself as well as to achieve multidisciplinary consultation.

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate changes in Achilles tendon (AT) characteristics of asymptomatic tendons in patients with acute AT ruptures on the contralateral side by using ultrasonography. Methods: From January 2016 to December 2018, 31 patients were enrolled. The contralateral asymptomatic ATs were assessed: (1) fluid collection of paratenon, (2) echogenicity, and (3) thickness. The ATs were divided into the distal, middle, and proximal thirds for evaluation and were assessed before the surgery, as well as at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the surgery. At each time, pain in the tendons was recorded. Results: In all cases, it was observed that there was a hypoechoic lesion or fluid collection of the paratenon, which did not show a significant change over time. There was no significant difference in tendon thickness according to the period in the distal and proximal areas, and significant differences were observed only in the middle area (p＜ 0.05). A new pain around the tendon occurred most often at 6 weeks after surgery (eight cases of 31 cases, 25.8%). Eight cases of pain (47.1%) remained at 12 months after surgery. Conclusion In patients with acute AT rupture, ultrasonographic hypoechoic lesions or fluid collections of the paratenon were initially observed on the contralateral tendon, but this did not show significant changes over time. A significant change in tendon thickness was observed in the middle area, but this did not show a close association with pain.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of surgical template guides to assist mandibular osteotomies in craniofacial microsomia.Methods:Ten children diagnosed with craniofacial microsomia (Pruzansky Ⅱ) from May 2018 to November 2018, at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, were selected for this study. First, pre-operative CT scans were prescribed, osteotomy plans were designed by Mimics 19.0, and individualized template guides were manufactured before surgery. Under the guidance of the surgical template, distraction osteotomy of craniofacial microsomia and distractor implantation surgeries were performed until the proposed length was reached. Then, another CT scan was performed. Based on the registration of pre- and post-surgery mandible statistics harvested by Geomagic Control, six points were randomly chosen on the osteotomy surface to estimate deviations, the mean value of which was calculated as distance deviation between the osteotomy surfaces. Meanwhile, the angle between the osteotomy surfaces was considered as angular deviation. Considering the deviation of 2 mm in distance and 5 degrees in angles as references, a single-sample t-test was conducted in SPSS 25.0 and it was considered as statistically significant when P<0.05. Results:A total of 10 children, six males and four females, diagnosed with craniofacial microsomia, with an average age of 4.9 years, were included in this study. The left-to-right ratio of the afflicted mandibles was 3∶7. The implantation surgeries were successfully conducted on all the patients and no complications were observed. All patients underwent follow-up visits for one year. The results were consistent with the pre-surgery designs, including satisfactory effects of distraction osteogenesis, obvious improvements of facial asymmetries, and corrections of occlusal surface inclinations. The deviation distribution before and after the surgeries could be distinctly visualized, in which the deviation of two matching groups of mandibles was (0.94±0.92) mm, the distance deviation between the osteotomy surfaces was (2.05±0.40) mm, and the angular deviation was (4.76±1.95)°. Compared with references, all the deviations were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Metal surgical template guides are applicable to assist mandibular osteotomies of craniofacial microsomia with relatively high accuracy, which is beneficial to the intraoperative application of preoperative design so that satisfying effects could be achieved after surgeries.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of surgical template guides to assist mandibular osteotomies in craniofacial microsomia.Methods:Ten children diagnosed with craniofacial microsomia (Pruzansky Ⅱ) from May 2018 to November 2018, at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, were selected for this study. First, pre-operative CT scans were prescribed, osteotomy plans were designed by Mimics 19.0, and individualized template guides were manufactured before surgery. Under the guidance of the surgical template, distraction osteotomy of craniofacial microsomia and distractor implantation surgeries were performed until the proposed length was reached. Then, another CT scan was performed. Based on the registration of pre- and post-surgery mandible statistics harvested by Geomagic Control, six points were randomly chosen on the osteotomy surface to estimate deviations, the mean value of which was calculated as distance deviation between the osteotomy surfaces. Meanwhile, the angle between the osteotomy surfaces was considered as angular deviation. Considering the deviation of 2 mm in distance and 5 degrees in angles as references, a single-sample t-test was conducted in SPSS 25.0 and it was considered as statistically significant when P<0.05. Results:A total of 10 children, six males and four females, diagnosed with craniofacial microsomia, with an average age of 4.9 years, were included in this study. The left-to-right ratio of the afflicted mandibles was 3∶7. The implantation surgeries were successfully conducted on all the patients and no complications were observed. All patients underwent follow-up visits for one year. The results were consistent with the pre-surgery designs, including satisfactory effects of distraction osteogenesis, obvious improvements of facial asymmetries, and corrections of occlusal surface inclinations. The deviation distribution before and after the surgeries could be distinctly visualized, in which the deviation of two matching groups of mandibles was (0.94±0.92) mm, the distance deviation between the osteotomy surfaces was (2.05±0.40) mm, and the angular deviation was (4.76±1.95)°. Compared with references, all the deviations were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Metal surgical template guides are applicable to assist mandibular osteotomies of craniofacial microsomia with relatively high accuracy, which is beneficial to the intraoperative application of preoperative design so that satisfying effects could be achieved after surgeries.