• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.305-309
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• 2021

Microsurgical procedures are time-consuming and sometimes fatigue-inducing. However, a skilled assistant and scrub nurse can help surgery be performed more smoothly and rapidly. Three microsurgical simulation courses were held for perioperative nurses at our institution. Each course consisted of two lectures and two practice microsurgical sessions, and was evaluated with a post-course survey. The respondents all felt that their knowledge of microsurgical instruments, sutures, microscope set-up, and microsurgical skills had improved following the course. Many felt that their ability to predict what the surgeon would request during a microsurgical case improved, and that they were able to handle instruments and sutures better. The nurses also reported improved confidence in assisting with microsurgical procedures and tolerance of the long operative time in some microsurgical cases. Based on our experience, a basic microsurgery course for nurses can play a significant role in training effective and competent microsurgical scrub nurses.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2008

Objective : Both endovascular coil embolization and microsurgical clipping are now firmly established as treatment options for the management of cerebral aneurysms. Moreover, they are sometimes used as complementary approaches each other. This study retrospectively analyzed our experience with endovascular and microsurgical procedures as complementary approaches in treating a single aneurysm. Methods : Nineteen patients with intracranial aneurysm were managed with both endovascular and microsurgical treatments. All of the aneurysms were located in the anterior circulation. Eighteen patients presented with SAH, and 14 aneurysms had diameters of less than 10 mm, and five had diameters of 10-25 mm. Results : Thirteen of the 19 patients were initially treated with endovascular coil embolization, followed by microsurgical management. Of the 13 patients, 9 patients had intraprocedural complications during coil embolization (intraprocedural rupture, coil protrusion, coil migration), rebleeding with regrowth of aneurysm in two patients, residual sac in one patient, and coil compaction in one patient. Six patients who had undergone microsurgical clipping were followed by coil embolization because of a residual aneurysm sac in four patients, and regrowth in two patients. Conclusion : In intracranial aneurysms involving procedural endovascular complications or incomplete coil embolization and failed microsurgical clipping, because of anatomical and/or technical difficulties, the combined and complementary therapy with endovascular coiling and microsurgical clipping are valuable in providing the best outcome.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.391-395
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• 2010

Purpose: Given that the critical nature of the microvascular anastomosis to what is often a long and difficult reconstructive operation, trainees need to have a high level of microsurgical competence before being allowed to perform microsurgery on patients. Some artificial substitutes and dead or live animal models have been used to improve manual dexterity under the operating microscope. Yet, most surgeons are not equipped with such models, so search for easy available and appropriate microsurgical practice model have been an issue. Umbilical artery, placental vessels and gastroepiploic arteries have been previously suggested as a microsurgical training model, which involves other surgical departments. The purpose of this article is to introduce that saphenous vein specimen obtained from varicose vein surgery is useful and has many advantages as training model for the practice of microvascular anastomosis. Methods: The conventional technique using perforation/inversion method with a metallic stripper is widely performed for varicose vein patients. The stripper is inserted through disconnected safeno-femoral junction and retrieved at the knee or the medial side of ankle. The length of saphenous vein specimens removed is about that of one's leg and inversed from inside out. Obtained saphenous vein specimens are re-inversed and cleansed with normal saline, to be readily available for microsurgical practice. Preserved in a squeezed wet saline gauze and refrigerated, frozen or glycerated specimens were investigated into their comparative quality for microsurgical practice. Results: Varicose vein surgery remains one of the common operations performed in the field of plastic surgery. Convenient informed consent regarding the vessel donation can be easily signed. The diameter of the obtained saphenous vein is as variable as 1.5 to 6 mm, which is already stripped, and is in sufficient length corresponding to that of patient's leg. Vessels specimens were available for microsurgical practice within 1 week period when preserved with squeezed wet saline gauze, and the preservation period could be extended monthly by freezing it. Conclusion: Saphenous vein obtained from varicose vein patients provide with variable size of vessel lumen with sufficient length. The practice can be cost effective and does not require microsurgical laboratory. Additionally there is no need of involving other surgical departments in acquiring vessel specimens. Furthermore, simple preservation method of refrigerating for a week or freezing with squeezed wet saline gauze for a month period, allow the saphenous vein obtained after varicose vein surgery as an excellent model for the microsurgical practice.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2007

Objective : Cerebral palsy may induce harmful spastic hip adduction. We report the result of microsurgical selective obturator neurotomy, performed on 12 spastic hip adductions of 6 patients, followed clinically for at least 26 months postoperatively. Methods : Microsurgical selective obturator neurotomies, involving microsurgical resection of the anterior obturator nerve branches were performed on 6 patients from January 2000 through June 2003. All patients presented with the inability to sit and 2 patients complained of persistent, intractable pain. We used intraoperative bipolar stimulation to identify selected motor branches. Results : The procedure was performed bilaterally in all patients. In the 3 patients in whom contractures were present, microsurgical selective obturator neurotomies were accompanied by an additional tenotomy of the adductor muscles. Selective tibial neurotomy was performed on three of six patients who originally presented with a spastic ankle. Postoperatively, all spastic hip adductions were corrected more than 60 degrees in passive abduction-adduction amplitude. However, one patient who did not receive active postoperative physiotherapy demonstrated a decreased passive abduction-adduction amplitude upon follow-up. There were no surgical complications. Conclusion : We think microsurgical selective obturator neurotomy may be an effective procedure in the treatment of localized, harmful spastic hip adduction after failure of well conducted conservative treatment. As muscular contractions are often associated with spasticity of the hip adductors, an adjunctive tenotomy may be an option. Comprehensive postoperative physiotherapy is essential to improve long-term results.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.199-206
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• 2010

Objective : Paraclinoid segment internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms have historically been a technical challenge for neurovascular surgeons. The development of microsurgical approach, advances in surgical techniques, and endovascular procedures have improved the outcome for paraclinoid aneurysms. However, many authors have reported high complication rates from microsurgical treatments. Therefore, the present study reviews the microsurgical complications of the extradural anterior clinoidectomy for treating paraclinoid aneurysms and investigates the prevention and management of observed complications. Methods : Between January 2004 and April 2008, 22 patients with 24 paraclinoid aneurysms underwent microsurgical direct clipping by a cerebrovascular team at a regional neurosurgical center. Microsurgery was performed via an ipsilateral pterional approach with extradural anterior clinoidectomy. We retrospectively reviewed patients' medical charts, office records, radiographic studies, and operative records. Results : In our series, the clinical outcomes after an ipsilateral pterional approach with extradural anterior clinoidectomy for paraclinoid aneurysms were excellent or good (Glasgows Outcome Scale : GOS 5 or 4) in 87.5% of cases. The microsurgical complications related directly to the extradural anterior clinoidectomy included transient cranial nerve palsy (6), cerebrospinal fluid leak (1), worsened change in vision (1), unplanned ICA occlusion (1), and epidural hematoma (1). Only one of the complications resulted in permanent morbidity (4.2%), and none resulted in death. Conclusion : Although surgical complications are still reported to occur more frequently for the treatment of paraclinoid aneurysms, the permanent morbidity and mortality resulting from a extradural anterior clinoidectomy in our series were lower than previously reported. Precise anatomical knowledge combined with several microsurgical tactics can help to achieve good outcomes with minimal complications.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2002

The central pain in patient with spinal cord injury is a common and disabling sequela. The microsurgical DREZ(Dorsal Root Entry Zone)otomy is a surgical procedure effective in the treatment of intractable pain and spasticity in spinal cord injured patients. It consists of a microsurgical lesions performed in the ventrolateral region of the dorsal root entry zone at the selected levels. This report presents one case with incomplete paraplegia patient, who had chronic central neuropathic pain ineffective to many conservative treatments in bilateral T10 and right T11 segments and both lower extremities, is relieved from the pain after microsurgical DREZotomy. In conclusion, microsurgical DREZotomy is one method of effective treatments for spinal cord injured patients with intractable central neuropathic pain.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.69-73
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• 2006

Objective : The optimal surgical treatment for symptomatic middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts is controversial. Therapeutic options include endoscopic fenestration, excision, cyst shunting, and craniotomy for fenestration of basal cistern. We reviewed the results of surgically treated middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts. Methods : We performed a retrospective study in 18 cases of middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts who had been treated with microsurgical fenestration between 1995 to 2003. The analysis was based on the results of the patients' age, sex distribution, developed area, clinical symptoms, treatment method, and complications. Results : Eighteen surgical treated middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts patients were evaluated. The age range of cyst development was between 2 years and 44 years with the average of 16.4 years. The follow-up periods averaged 31.48 months. There were 15 male and 3 female patients, with significantly more cyst development in males than females. The most common clinical symptom was headache, followed by seizure. In the entire series, 77.8% of patients demonstrated a decrease in cyst size In serial imaging studies. Of them, 67.3% demonstrated a complete cyst effacement. Overall, 100% of patients with Grade I cysts, 81.8% of patients with Grade II cysts, 60% of patients with Grade III cysts exhibited evidence of decrease in cyst size during long-term monitoring. Complications included headache, meningitis, and hydrocephalus. Conclusion : Patients who were treated with microsurgical fenestration showed good outcome with acceptable complications. We concluded that microsurgical fenestration is a safe and effective surgical method for middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.320-326
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• 2013

Robotically assisted microsurgery or telemicrosurgery is a new technique using robotic telemanipulators. This allows for the addition of optical magnification (which defines conventional microsurgery) to robotic instrument arms to allow the microsurgeon to perform complex microsurgical procedures. There are several possible applications for this platform in various microsurgical disciplines. Since 2009, basic skills training courses have been organized by the Robotic Assisted Microsurgical and Endoscopic Society. These basic courses are performed on training models in five levels of increasing complexity. This paper reviews the current state of the art in robotically asisted microsurgical training.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.213-217
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• 2014

The widespread use of microsurgery in numerous surgical fields has increased the need for basic microsurgical training outside of the operating room. The traditional start of microsurgical training has been in undertaking a 5-day basic microsurgery course. In an era characterised by financial constraints in academic and healthcare institutions as well as increasing emphasis on patient safety, there has been a shift in microsurgery training to simulation environments. This paper reviews the stepwise framework of microsurgical skill acquisition providing a cost analysis of basic microsurgery courses in order to aid planning and dissemination of microsurgical training worldwide.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.75-78
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• 2009

Purpose: Microsurgery is an essential technique in plastic and reconstructive surgery. However, microsurgical suturing and handling of the instrument are difficult for beginners, and who requires a steep learning curve. Therefore, methods for improving the technical skill are needed. The authors describe the value of a small stereoscopic microscope as a training tool. Materials and Methods: A small stereoscopic microscope was used to help improve the microsurgical skill. Monofilament 10-0 Nylon and a surgical rubber globe were used as a suture material and education material, respectively Result: Stereoscopic view of the operation field was obtained and basic microsurgical suture was possible. Conclusion: The stereoscopic microscope is an effective training tool for beginners of microsurgery with benefits in cost and usefulness in small place.