Background: Due to impaired cell-mediated immunity, solid organ transplantation (SOT) recipients are at increased risk of developing nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD). However, the clinical course of NTM-PD in SOT patients and the impact of SOT on the prognosis of NTM-PD remain unclear. Methods: We analyzed patients who developed NTM-PD after receiving SOT between January 2001 and December 2020, at a tertiary referral hospital in South Korea. Baseline characteristics, clinical course, and prognosis were evaluated. Propensity score-matched analysis was performed to assess the impact of SOT on long-term survival in patients with NTM-PD. Results: Among 4,685 SOT recipients over 20 years, 12 patients (median age, 64 years;interquartile range [IQR], 59–67 years; men, 66.7%) developed NTM-PD. Seven (58.3%) and five (41.7%) patients underwent kidney and liver transplantation, respectively, before the diagnosis of NTM-PD. The incidence of NTM-PD was 35.6 cases per 100,000 person-years among kidney transplant recipients and 28.7 cases per 100,000 person-years among liver transplant recipients. The median time between transplantation and the diagnosis of NTMPD was 3.3 (IQR, 1.5–10.8) years. The most common mycobacterial species was Mycobacterium avium (50.0%). Antibiotic treatment was initiated in five (41.7%) patients, and two patients (40.0%) achieved microbiological cure. Two patients died during a median follow-up of 4.2 (IQR, 2.3–8.8) years and NTM-PD was assumed to be the cause of death in one patient. When matched to patients without a history of SOT, patients with a history of SOT did not show worse survival (P value for log-rank test = 0.62). Conclusion The clinical course of NTM-PD in SOT recipients was comparable to that of patients without SOT, and SOT did not increase the risk of all-cause mortality in patients with NTM-PD.

Purpose: Native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the first choice for hemodialysis access; however, the maturation failure rate remains high. Hence, balloon-assisted maturation (BAM) is increasingly being used to overcome maturation failure. This study evaluated the outcomes of BAM and compared the differences between radial-cephalic (RC) and brachial-cephalic (BC) AVF. Materials and Methods: Between January 2013 and December 2017, 1,622 new AVFs were created. BAM was considered if the AVF did not satisfy the criteria for hemodynamic maturation (6-mm diameter and 500-mL/min flow rate within 8 weeks after the operation). Results: Of the 1,622 AVFs, BAM was performed in 142 patients (8.75%). There were 92 RC and 50 BC AVFs. Multivariate analyses revealed that ipsilateral central vein catheter history was the sole risk factor for maturation failure after BAM. Oneyear functional primary patency (FPP) and functional secondary patency (FSP) in RC AVFs were higher than those in BC AVFs without statistical significance (FPP, RC vs. BC: 70.9% vs. 50.9%, P=0.099; FSP, 95.5% vs. 81.1%, P=0.146). Further, based on the multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors for FPP in the RC and BC AVFs were the number of BAMs (odds ratio [OR], 3.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-8.37; P=0.03) and age (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00-1.07; P=0.04), respectively. Conclusion BAM is a relatively good salvage method with tolerable patency. However, the risk factors for patency and the outcomes of BAM differ between RC and BC AVFs.

Purpose: Native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the first choice for hemodialysis access; however, the maturation failure rate remains high. Hence, balloon-assisted maturation (BAM) is increasingly being used to overcome maturation failure. This study evaluated the outcomes of BAM and compared the differences between radial-cephalic (RC) and brachial-cephalic (BC) AVF. Materials and Methods: Between January 2013 and December 2017, 1,622 new AVFs were created. BAM was considered if the AVF did not satisfy the criteria for hemodynamic maturation (6-mm diameter and 500-mL/min flow rate within 8 weeks after the operation). Results: Of the 1,622 AVFs, BAM was performed in 142 patients (8.75%). There were 92 RC and 50 BC AVFs. Multivariate analyses revealed that ipsilateral central vein catheter history was the sole risk factor for maturation failure after BAM. Oneyear functional primary patency (FPP) and functional secondary patency (FSP) in RC AVFs were higher than those in BC AVFs without statistical significance (FPP, RC vs. BC: 70.9% vs. 50.9%, P=0.099; FSP, 95.5% vs. 81.1%, P=0.146). Further, based on the multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors for FPP in the RC and BC AVFs were the number of BAMs (odds ratio [OR], 3.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-8.37; P=0.03) and age (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00-1.07; P=0.04), respectively. Conclusion BAM is a relatively good salvage method with tolerable patency. However, the risk factors for patency and the outcomes of BAM differ between RC and BC AVFs.

PURPOSE: The prevalence and treatment patterns of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) vary according to ethnicity and region. This study analyzed nationwide data on the epidemiology, practice patterns, and mortality rates of AAA in Korea.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from patients treated for AAA from 2012 to 2016 were extracted from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) database.RESULTS: A total of 30,766 patients in Korea had treatment codes for AAA and 2,618 patients were treated for ruptured AAA. Of the 6,356 patients treated surgically, 1,849 and 4,507 underwent open surgical aneurysmal repairs (OSAR) or endovascular aneurysmal repairs (EVAR), respectively. The number of surgical treatments performed annually for AAA increased from 1,129 cases in 2012 to 1,501 cases in 2016. The number of EVAR cases increased from 753 to 1,109 during these five years, while the number of OSAR cases remained similar, at 376 and 392, respectively. The 30-day mortality rates after EVAR and OSAR were 4.2% and 10.6%, respectively. The mortality rates were significantly higher in patients with hypertension, dyslipidemia, chronic renal disease, diabetes mellitus, and congestive heart failure. There were significant differences in the prevalence, proportion of EVAR, and mortality rates according to the regional area.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of AAA and the proportion of EVAR in Korea increased in the past 5 years, while the rupture rate and the proportion of OSAR remained similar. To minimize mortality and regional discrepancies, nationwide registry and treatment standardization are needed.
Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dyslipidemias ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Mortality ; National Health Programs ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Rupture

OBJECTIVES: Length of in-hospital stay (LOS) is often regarded as a surrogate marker of efficiency in medical care. A shorter stay can redistribute medical resources to more patients if patient outcomes would not be worsened. However, the adequate LOS remains largely understudied for a complex head and neck cancer (HNC) surgery and free flap reconstruction. METHODS: Active management of LOS (14-day LOS program) included detailed preoperative surgical planning, intensive wound care, postoperative early ambulation and positive psychological encouragement. It was applied to 43 patients undergoing HNC surgery and free flap reconstruction. Outcomes such as noninferior oncological results, rates of timely adjuvant treatments and complications were compared with those of 125 patients without active management of LOS. In addition, the medical costs of shortened LOS were compared with those of the control group. Cases undergoing HNC surgery as a salvage treatment were excluded from both groups for analyses. RESULTS: Active management of LOS resulted in less in-hospital period compared to the control group (15.0 vs. 21.0 days, P=0.001), and reduced medical costs significantly. Incidence of postoperative complications was comparable between the two groups. Oncological outcomes did not differ significantly according to LOS. In all patients in both groups, initial high T status (T3–4) and occurrence of postoperative complications were independent risk factors for long LOS (>30 days). CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing HNC surgery with free flap reconstruction as an initial treatment, a 14-day LOS could be safe in terms of comparable oncological outcomes and postoperative complications. To achieve this goal safely, careful management for T3–4 tumors and prevention of postoperative complications seem to be necessary.
Biomarkers ; Early Ambulation ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; National Health Programs ; Postoperative Care ; Postoperative Complications ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Risk Factors ; Salvage Therapy ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: Limb salvage surgery with vascular reconstruction is currently considered as the standard treatment for extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS), showing equivalent oncologic outcome compared with amputation. In this retrospective study, the surgical and functional outcomes after arterial or venous reconstruction in limb salvage surgery for STS were analyzed. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent vascular resection and reconstruction as part of limb salvage surgery for extremity STS from July 2009 to June 2015 were included in this study. Incidence of surgical complication, graft patency, and patients' functional outcome were reviewed. RESULTS: During the study period, 14 arteries and 13 veins were reconstructed in 17 patients (artery only in 4, vein only in 3, artery and vein in 10). Autologous great saphenous vein (GSV) was the most commonly used vascular conduit in both arterial and venous reconstruction (78.6% and 77.0%). The patency of synthetic graft was significantly lower than that of the autologous vein conduit (log rank test, P = 0.001). Among 15 patients with tumors in lower extremity, 13 were ambulatory after limb salvage surgery. During median follow up of 23.3 months (interquartile range 39.9 months), 2 patients (11.7%) needed amputation of the initially salvaged limb due to local recurrence. CONCLUSION: Limb salvage surgery of soft tissue tumor combined with vascular reconstruction showed favorable functional outcome with good local control. Autologous vein conduit is preferred over synthetic graft both in arterial and venous reconstruction.
Amputation ; Arteries ; Blood Vessels ; Extremities* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Limb Salvage* ; Lower Extremity ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Saphenous Vein ; Sarcoma* ; Transplants ; Veins

BACKGROUND: Currently, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is used for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) prophylaxis, but it is associated with frequent adverse effects. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the current protocol and proposes an individualized risk-based prophylaxis protocol. METHODS: The PJP incidence and risk factors during the first 6 months (early PJP) and afterwards (late PJP) was assessed in renal transplant recipients with (prophylaxis group) and without (no-prophylaxis group) 6-month PJP prophylaxis. RESULTS: In 578 patients, there were 39 cases of PJP during a median follow-up of 51 months. Renal adverse events were encountered frequently during trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis, leading to premature discontinuation. Patients without the prophylaxis had a significantly higher incidence of early PJP (n=27, 6.6%) compared to patients with the prophylaxis (n=0). The incidence of late PJP was 2.2%, without between-group differences. The factors associated with early PJP were preoperative desensitization and acute rejection within 1 month, whereas late PJP was associated with age, deceased donor transplant, and acute rejection requiring antithymocyte globulin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the simulation results of several risk-based scenarios, the authors recommend universal prophylaxis up to 6 months post-transplant and extended selective prophylaxis in patients aged ≥57 years and those with a transplant from deceased donors.
Antilymphocyte Serum ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Pneumocystis jirovecii* ; Pneumocystis* ; Pneumonia* ; Risk Factors* ; Tissue Donors ; Transplant Recipients ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

PURPOSE: Intermittent claudication is the most common early symptom of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Walking impairment questionnaire (WIQ) is a short, inexpensive, easy-to-complete questionnaire to assess intermittent claudication and can provide data of usual walking. The purpose of this study is to validate the new Korean version of WIQ. METHODS: Total 51 patients with claudication were enrolled. While 4 patients were dropped out, 47 patients with claudication into were divided groups based on the treatment received: surgery (n = 33) and medication (n = 14). The surgery group was subdivided into the bypass (n = 13) and intervention (n = 20) groups. WIQ score, ankle-brachial index (ABI), and treadmill test scores were assessed initially and after 12 weeks. RESULTS: The WIQ scores were significantly correlated with ABI and pain-free walking distance (PFWD) and maximum walking distance (MWD) in all groups (except for MWD in the intervention group). Speed and stair-climb scores (2 WIQ domains) were well correlated with ABI, PFWD, and MWD. Distance scores were mostly correlated with ABI, PFWD, and MWD in all groups except ABI in the bypass and intervention groups and MWD in the bypass group. Reproducibility was observed in all groups (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.8). CONCLUSION: The Korean version of the WIQ is valid and reproducible, and can be effectively used to assess Korean patients with intermittent claudication.
Ankle Brachial Index ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; Exercise Test ; Humans ; Intermittent Claudication ; Korea ; Peripheral Arterial Disease* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Walking*

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair has been widely used for the treatment of AAA as a safe and efficient method, but endoleaks causing persistent expansion of aneurysm sac may cause aneurysmal rupture and death. Type 3 endoleak is rare but a predominant cause of late rupture. Type 3b endoleak can be misdiagnosed as type 2 endoleak, which is more frequent. Here we report two cases of type 3b endoleak mimicking type 2 endoleak, which were successfully treated by open surgery of partial explantation of the stent-graft and endoaneurysmal interposition graft replacement.
Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm* ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Endoleak* ; Endovascular Procedures ; Methods ; Rupture ; Transplants

Although endovenous heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT) is frequently reported after endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), the incidence and timing of occurrence of EHIT are not fully understood. We present a case of EHIT successfully treated with a combination of surgical and endovascular treatments. A 57-year-old woman, two months post bilateral EVLA, presented with a swollen leg. Deep vein thrombosis was diagnosed by Doppler ultrasonography and computerized tomographic venography. We treated the patient with catheter-directed thrombolysis with urokinase after insertion of an inferior vena cava filter. After thrombolytic treatment, we performed surgical venous thrombectomy, due to the presence of a large thrombus in the femoral vein. During the operation, we found organized old thrombus at the great saphenous vein which connected to the deep femoral vein. From these findings, we confirmed the presence of EHIT despite a long time having passed after EVLA. The patient was placed on anticoagulation therapy with oral rivaroxaban for three months.
Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Femoral Vein ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laser Therapy ; Leg ; Middle Aged ; Phlebography ; Rivaroxaban ; Saphenous Vein ; Thrombectomy* ; Thrombosis* ; Ultrasonography, Doppler ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; Vena Cava Filters ; Venous Thrombosis