Yonsei medical journal
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Yonsei medical journal · Mar 2016
Intrathecal Morphine Infusion Therapy in Management of Chronic Pain: Present and Future Implementation in Korea.
Intrathecal morphine pump (ITMP) infusion therapy is efficient in managing malignant and nonmalignant chronic pain refractory to standard treatment. However, the high cost of an ITMP is the greatest barrier for starting a patient on ITMP infusion therapy. Using the revised Korean reimbursement guidelines, we investigated the cost effectiveness of ITMP infusion therapy and conducted a patient survey. ⋯ The high cost of initiating ITMP infusion therapy is challenging; however, the present results may encourage more patients to consider ITMP therapy.
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Yonsei medical journal · Mar 2016
Factors Influencing Outcomes after Ulnar Nerve Stability-Based Surgery for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: A Prospective Cohort Study.
Simple decompression of the ulnar nerve has outcomes similar to anterior transposition for cubital tunnel syndrome; however, there is no consensus on the proper technique for patients with an unstable ulnar nerve. We hypothesized that 1) simple decompression or anterior ulnar nerve transposition, depending on nerve stability, would be effective for cubital tunnel syndrome and that 2) there would be determining factors of the clinical outcome at two years. ⋯ An ulnar nerve stability-based approach to surgery selection for cubital tunnel syndrome was effective based on 2-year follow-up data. Older age, worse preoperative grip strength, and worse two-point discrimination were associated with worse outcomes at 2 years.
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Yonsei medical journal · Mar 2016
Early Experience of Novel Oral Anticoagulants in Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: Efficacy and Safety Comparison to Warfarin.
Compared with warfarin, novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are convenient to use, although they require a blanking period immediately before radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). We compared NOACs and uninterrupted warfarin in the peri-procedural period of AF ablation. ⋯ Pre-procedural anticoagulation duration was shorter and intra-procedural heparin requirement was higher with NOAC than with uninterrupted warfarin during AF ablation. Although the peri-procedural thromboembolism and bleeding incidences did not differ, minor stroke occurred in two cases in the NOAC group.
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Yonsei medical journal · Mar 2016
Clinical Prognostic Factors in 86 Chinese Patients with Primary Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Trisomy 8: A Single Institution Experience.
The objective was to determine the characteristics and prognostic factors of 86 Chinese patients with trisomy 8 aberrations and compare the prognostic value of International Prognostic System (IPSS) and Revised IPSS (IPSS-R) in this cohort. ⋯ This study confirmed the influence of clinical factors on the prognosis of 86 Chinese MDS patients with trisomy 8. In addition, IPSS-R can further refine prognostic discrimination in the IPSS risk categories.