Increasing interest and use of arterial conduits is based on the better patency of left internal thoracic artery(LITA) than that of saphenous vein(SV) graft. We compared the early result of coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) using LITA and radial artery(RA group) with CABG using LITA and SV only(SV group).

We compared the early operative results of 6 cases in RA group with 18 cases in SV group selected from 24 cases that had CABG between January 2006 and December 2006. We analyzed each group on the preoperative risk factors and operative results.

We can't find significant differences in clinical and hemodynamic characteristics before surgery. There were no statically significant difference between two groups in operative mortality and each morbidities(postoperative intraaortic balloon pump insertion, bleeding, stroke, perioperative myocardial infarction, wound dehiscence), respectively. However, the overall incidence of conventional CABG using cardiopulmonary bypass was higher in RA group compared to SV group(p=0.016). Accordingly, RA group had longer duration of ventilation time(p=0.004) and ICU stay(p=0.003) than SV group with statically significant difference between two groups in hospital stay. The graft patency on postoperative coronary angiography or computerized tomographic angiography at 7-14 days after operation in both group patients were 100%(includeing LITA, RA and SV).

We had early good operative results in RA group and SV group.

There are several types of research methodology in the medical research papers. Each of these research methodologies establish their proper purposes in the medical resarches. This study was performed to examine the frequencies and types of research methodologiy for the purpose of providing the prospective aspects.

We reviewed 765 research papers in the Ewha Medical Journal, from 1978 to 1995. The research paper were included all kinds of papers in the Ewha Medical Journal such as review articles, oiginal articles, case reviews and so on. And we classified the research metho-dologies into case study, clinical trial, observational study, experimetal study and study for di-agnostic methods.

Case study was most commonly used study design(332 papers,43.4%), followed by experimental study(185 papers, 24.2%). In the 1970s, case report(44.1%) was the most com-monly used study design and enxt was experimental study(17.7%). In the 1980s, also the most commonly used study design was case report(48.7%) and experimental study(24.9%) was mark-edly increased than 1970s. Not only the experimental study(24.8%)but also clinical trial(16.1%)was outstandingly increased in the 1990s. Especially experimental study and clinical trial in the clinical research papers were increased more and more to the 1990s. The most common paper volume was December(35.9%)in the Ewha Medical Journal. The differences of research metho-dology among basic science, medical part and surgical part were significant(p<0.01).

The authors suggested that the Ewha Medical Journal have been changed in the aspects of methodology, but have more qualitative arguementations on research metho-dology which are indispensable activities of prospective the Ewha Medical Journal.

This study was performed to know the safety and efficacy of limited min-ithoracotomy, which is a new method of operative procedure modified from minithoracotomy.

Eleven consecutive patients who underwent a limited minithoracotomy for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax from Jan.1.1994 to Dec.31.1995 were reviewed with medical records, laboratory and x-ray findings, and followed by reaching patient by phone or interviewing at the outpatient department.

The indication of these consecutive 11 patients were recurrent pneumothrorax 4 cases, continuous air leaking 7 cases, and visible bullae on chest x-ray or chest CT 2 cases. There were 12 limited minithoracotomies in 11 patients including on bilateral limited minithoracotomy. Average operative time was 54 minutes. There was no conversion to extended thoracotomy from limited minithoracotomy. No postoperative bleeding or infection was oberved. One patient showed prolonged air leak after operation who had multiple bullae resected from his left upper and lower lung, and was discharged 18 days after operation with good condition. Another patient experienced air sucking during chest tube removal on 4th postoperative day and discharged on 9th day after operation. Other patients wre discharged within 5th postoperative day. Average hospital stay after operation was 5.4 days. All eleven patients were followed up for 12±7.7months. There was no recurrences of pneumothorax.

These results suggest that limited minithoracotomy is choice of treatment when primary spontaneous pneumothorax patient requires surgery.