Purpose: There are few reports on outcomes following surgical repair of recurrent rectal prolapse. The purpose of this study was to examine surgical outcomes for recurrent rectal prolapse. Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study of patients who underwent surgery for recurrent rectal prolapse. This study used data collected by the Korean Anorectal Physiology and Pelvic Floor Disorder Study Group. Results: A total of 166 patients who underwent surgery for recurrent rectal prolapse were registered retrospectively between 2011 and 2016 in 8 referral hospitals. Among them, 153 patients were finally enrolled, excluding 13 patients who were not followed up postoperatively. Median follow-up duration was 40 months (range, 0.2–129.3 months). Methods of surgical repair for recurrent rectal prolapse included perineal approach (n = 96) and abdominal approach (n = 57). Postoperative complications occurred in 16 patients (10.5%). There was no significant difference in complication rate between perineal and abdominal approach groups. While patients who underwent the perineal approach were older and more fragile, patients who underwent the abdominal approach had longer operation time and admission days (P < 0.05). Overall, 29 patients (19.0%) showed re-recurrence after surgery. Among variables, none affected the re-recurrence. Conclusion For the recurrent rectal prolapse, the perineal approach is used for the old and fragile patients. The postoperative complications and re-recurrence rate between perineal and abdominal approach were not different significantly. No factor including surgical method affected re-recurrence for recurrent rectal prolapse.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the relationships among the lifetime incidence of trauma, internalizing symptoms, and quality of life (QoL) in out-of-school youths (OSYs). METHODS: We recruited 50 OSYs in South Korea. Participants completed the following surveys: completed Lifetime Incidence of Traumatic Events for children, Youth Self Report, and The KIDSCREEN-27 QoL measure for children and adolescents. Mediation analysis was conducted to test the research hypotheses. RESULTS: The mean lifetime incidence of traumatic events among OSYs was 3.27 (standard deviation, 2.41). Internalizing symptoms significantly mediated the lifetime incidence of trauma and QoL. OSYs with fewer internalizing symptoms exhibited a better QoL in the domain of psychological well-being, although their lifetime incidence of trauma was higher. CONCLUSION: The results of current study suggest that assessment and therapeutic intervention with regard to internalizing symptoms are needed to increase the QoL of OSYs.
Adolescent* ; Anxiety ; Child ; Depression ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Korea ; Negotiating ; Quality of Life* ; Self Report ; Student Dropouts

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychological effects of an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), a newly emerged infectious disease, on doctors. METHODS: After the MERS outbreak was over, we conducted an online survey of doctors who worked at the hospitals in which exposure to MERS cases had been confirmed or who were directly involved in MERS diagnosis and treatment. The Patient Health Questionnaires-9 (PHQ-9) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) assessment methods were used to assess the severity of depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms among the 64 doctors participating in the survey. RESULTS: The results of the survey indicate that 26.6% (n=17) of participants exhibited depressive symptoms and 7.8% (n=5) had post-traumatic stress symptoms. The doctors employed at hospitals with MERS cases had higher PHQ-9 and IES-R mean scores than those in doctors were not so employed. In contrast, there was no significant difference in those test scores between doctors who participated directly in MERS diagnosis and treatment and those doctors who did not. CONCLUSION: The survey demonstrated that 28.1% (n=18) of doctors involved in MERS care suffered from depressive or posttraumatic stress symptoms, even though the MERS infection was being controlled. Working at a hospital with MERS cases was the primary determinant of the adverse psychological outcomes among doctors ; however, direct participation in the diagnosis and care of MERS patients was not significantly related to such outcomes.
Communicable Diseases ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging ; Coronavirus Infections* ; Depression ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Middle East*

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Korea; it is the second most common cancer in men and the third most common in women. The incidence rate in Korea has continuously increased since 1999 when the National Cancer Registry statistics began. Currently; there are several screening modalities; that have been recommended by expert societies, including fecal occult blood test, colonoscopy, computed tomographic colonography The annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT) has been used in adults aged 50 and older as part of the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea since 2004. Although several study results from regional or national colorectal cancer screening programs in other countries have been reported, the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea has not yet been evaluated with evidence-based methods. Herein report the consensus statements on the National Screening Guideline for colorectal cancer developed by a multi-society expert committee in Korea, as follows: 1) We recommend annual or biennial FIT for screening for colorectal cancer in asymptomatic adults, beginning at 45 years of age and continuing until 80 years (recommendation B). 2) There is no evidence for the risks or benefits of FIT in adults older than 80 years (recommendation I). 3) Selective use of colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening is recommended, taking into consideration individual preference and the risk of colorectal cancer (recommendation C). 4) There is no evidence for the risks or benefits of double-contrast barium enema for colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic adults (recommendation I). 5) There is no evidence for the risks or benefits of computed tomographic colonography for colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic adults (recommendation I).
Adult ; Barium ; Colonography, Computed Tomographic ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Consensus ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Enema ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Occult Blood

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This retrospective study assessed the clinical outcome of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure for managing portal hypertension in Koreans with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: Between January 2003 and July 2013, 230 patients received a TIPS in 13 university-based hospitals. RESULTS: Of the 229 (99.6%) patients who successfully underwent TIPS placement, 142 received a TIPS for variceal bleeding, 84 for refractory ascites, and 3 for other indications. The follow-up period was 24.9+/-30.2 months (mean+/-SD), 74.7% of the stents were covered, and the primary patency rate at the 1-year follow-up was 78.7%. Hemorrhage occurred in 30 (21.1%) patients during follow-up; of these, 28 (93.3%) cases of rebleeding were associated with stent dysfunction. Fifty-four (23.6%) patients developed new hepatic encephalopathy, and most of these patients were successfully managed conservatively. The cumulative survival rates at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months were 87.5%, 75.0%, 66.8%, and 57.5%, respectively. A high Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was significantly associated with the risk of death within the first month after receiving a TIPS (P=0.018). Old age (P<0.001), indication for a TIPS (ascites vs. bleeding, P=0.005), low serum albumin (P<0.001), and high MELD score (P=0.006) were associated with overall mortality. CONCLUSIONS: A high MELD score was found to be significantly associated with early and overall mortality rate in TIPS patients. Determining the appropriate indication is warranted to improve survival in these patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; End Stage Liver Disease/pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage/etiology ; Hepatic Encephalopathy/etiology ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal/*diagnosis/mortality/surgery ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; *Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: In surgeries involving the upper extremities and breast, the blood pressure is frequently measured at the ankles. As the blood pressure is used as a pain indicator in the full surgical anesthesia, the ankle blood pressure higher than the brachial blood pressure may be misinterpreted by the anesthesiologist, in determining the depth of the anesthesia. This paper investigated whether the ankle blood pressure is significantly higher than the brachial blood pressure before the anesthesia induction, during induction, and after tracheal intubation. METHODS: Two hundred seventeen patients requiring general anesthesia for elective surgery were included in this study. Ankle and brachial blood pressure were simultaneously measured before the anesthesia induction, during induction, and after tracheal intubation. RESULTS: The ankle blood pressure was higher than the brachial blood pressure before induction, during induction, and after tracheal intubation. Ankle-brachial blood pressure differences were significantly higher before induction and after intubation as compared to that during induction. The correlation coefficient between the systolic ankle-brachial blood pressure difference before induction and that after tracheal intubation was 0.623. In 33 child patients with an ankle-brachial blood pressure index > or =1 before induction, there were no significant differences in the ankle-brachial blood pressure during induction. The brachial systolic blood pressure could be predicted by simple and multiple regression equations (R2 = 0.349-0.828). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggest that the anesthesiologists need to consider the ankle-brachial blood pressure differences in monitoring the anesthesia, in cases where the brachial blood pressure cannot be measured during surgery.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Ankle ; Blood Pressure ; Breast ; Child ; Humans ; Intubation ; Upper Extremity

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysms are rare cardiac anomalies. They can be congenital or acquired, and mainly involve the right or non-coronary sinuses. Unruptured aneurysms are usually asymptomatic unless they compress other structures or produce thrombi. A sinus of Valsalva aneurysm can also produce myocardial infarction through thrombus formation secondary to the turbulent flow in the Valsalva aneurysm. We report a case of a huge sinus of Valsalva aneurysm involving the noncoronary sinus, which was diagnosed as the presumed source of acute myocardial infarction.
Aneurysm ; Heart Atria ; Myocardial Infarction ; Sinus of Valsalva ; Thrombosis

Infective endarteritis in the pulmonary artery is unusual. However, congenital heart disease such as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) could be a predisposing factor of infective endarteritis. We report a patient with PDA complicated by infective endarteritis and large pulmonary artery vegetation. After three weeks of antibiotic treatment, the patient underwent surgical closure of the PDA and removal of the vegetation.
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Endarteritis ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a new era of minimally invasive surgery which has the potential to offer scarless surgery. So far, numerous reports on various routes to peritoneal organs in NOTES have been published. In case of transgastric approach, it is more inconvenient than transcolonic approach to access upper abdominal organs because of retroflexion. However, most data were subjective and there was no report examining the best access route for the exploration of peritoneal organs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the best access route according to the abdominal organs objectively. METHODS: Six female pigs weighing 30 to 35 kg were placed under general anesthesia. Incisions were made on both anterior wall of stomach body and rectosigmoid colon 15 to 20 cm above anal verge, respectively. Then, via each incision site, we evaluated the endoscopic visibility and checked the elapsed time to access abdominal organs in sequence (gallbladder (GB), spleen, bladder, uterus, and ovary). RESULTS: On comparison of the mean time to approach each organs, GB and ovary showed statistical difference in the mean time to approach between transgastric and transcolonic approaches. It took relatively shorter time to access GB via transcolonic route than transgastric route (352.3+/-80.1 sec vs. 222.2+/-82.0 sec, p=0.021). Next, we evaluated the time to access upper organs (GB and spleen) and lower organs (bladder, uterus and ovary). In case of lower organs, it showed no difference in time between transgastric and transcolonic approaches. However, to explore upper organs, transcolonic route was more favorable than transgastric route (351.8+/-80.7 sec vs. 273.3+/-110.3 sec, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: For exploration of lower organs, there is statistically no significant difference in time between transgastric and transcolonic approaches. But, in case of upper organs, transcolonic approach is superior to transgastric approach.
Animals ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; *Laparoscopy ; Models, Animal ; Peritoneal Cavity/*surgery ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive ; Swine ; Time

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Severe acute pancreatitis occurs in about 20% of the patients with acute pancreatitis and can be associated with multiorgan failure and local complications. In patients with predicted severe acute pancreatitis, overall mortality rates are about 15-30%. The aim of this study was to determine the factors correlated with mortality in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. METHODS: We reviewed five hundread and seventy two consecutive cases of acute pancreatitis from January, 2000 to December, 2005. Of them, 109 patients who fulfilled the criteria of Atlanta classification for severe acute pancreatitis were enrolled. Data were collected by chart reviews including age, gender, etiology, body mass index (BMI), modified Glasgow score, APACHE II score, APACHE III score, Balthazar CT index, and other laboratory parameters performed within 48 hours after the initial admission. RESULTS: Severe acute pancreatitis was most commonly caused by alcohol. Overall mortality rate was 20.2% in severe acute pancreatitis and 10 (45%) deaths occurred within the first week. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified serum creatinine, corrected calcium concentrations, and CT index as predictors of mortality in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. The risk score (R) was calculated by combining 3 prognostic values with regression coefficients; R=2.512 log(e) (creatinine mg/dL)+1.729 log(e) (CT index)-4.780 log(e) (corrected calcium mg/dL). The AUC for this score was 0.877 and a cutoff level of 0 was determined to predict the mortality with 83.3% sensitivity and 89.5% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The newly designed risk score comprising 3 parameters can be used as the significant early predictor for hospital mortality in severe acute pancreatitis.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Organ Failure/etiology ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreatitis/complications/diagnosis/*mortality ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Survival Analysis