Clinical analysis of Bell's palsy in pregnancy / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: Although Bell's palsy is not common in pregnancy, it is more prevalent among pregnant women than among non-pregnant women. Since the exact clinical characteristics of this condition are not fully understood, we evaluated the epidemiology, pathophysiology, onset time, as well as the recovery rate according to treatment modality of Bell's palsy in pregnancy, and compared them to those of the non-pregnant population in this study. METHODS: Between March 1996 and February 2006, we identified 43 patients who suffered from Bell's palsy during pregnancy and postpartum with a minimum 6 month follow up at Kyung Hee University Hospital. We conducted retrospective medical records analysis and compared them to similary chosen Bell's palsy case in non pregnant women who were matched for age. RESULTS: The median gestational age at the onset of Bell's palsy was 32 weeks. Among the 43 patients who had been diagnosed with Bell's palsy in pregnancy, 81.4% (35 of 43) showed a satisfactory outcome. Among the 36 patients with complete palsy, 77.8% (28 of 36) showed a satisfactory recovery. Recovery rate according to treatment modality in pregnant patients with Bell's palsy were 28/35 (80.0%) in the acupuncture group, 3/3 (100%) in the steroid therapy group, and 4/5 (80.0%) in the combined acupuncture and steroid therapy group, respectively. CONCLUSION: We did not detect any difference in clinical characteristics of Bell's palsy in the pregnant group compared with the non-pregnant group. Further study will be needed to select the method of treatment for Bell's palsy in pregnant women.

Metallic EndoCoilTM Stent Application for Patients with Malignant Obstructive Jaundice / 대한소화기내시경학회지

We report our experience in five patients with malignant obstructive jaundice with a new self expandable metallic stent, a coil spring made from nickel-titanium alloy. Endoscopic biliary drainage(EBD) is a safe and effective noninvasive biliary drainage method and is indicated with malignant obstructive jaundice. In order to avoid being limited by the size of the instrumentation channel of the endoscope, expandable stents have been developed. The main problems with these expandable metal stents are tumor ingrowth leading to reobstruction, migration of the stent from its original position, and epithelial trauma by the distal hard edges of the stent. The new super-elastic metallic coil stent which has a very strong radial force (EndoCoil'" stent, Instent Co.) was developed to solve the above mentioned problems. The stent which is constricted over an introducing catheter is inserted by transduodenal approach. It expands spontaneously after release to its original 8 mm diameter. During the last 6.5 rnonths, 5 stents were inserted in patients with cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma and cancer of the ampulla of Vater to releave jaundice. Clinical improvement was achieved in all the patients except in one who died from multiple organ metastasis. After a mean follow-up of 6 month., patients had no evidence of biliary reobstruction. Although follow-up is short, these results are encouraging, and this new metallic stent seems to have several advantages over the current commercially available ones.

Self - Expanding EsophaCoilTM Esophageal Prosthesis for Malignant Esophageal Stenosis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Endoscopic endoprosthesis is well established as a cheap, fast and durable procedure for palliation of malignant dysphagia. But the placement of conventional endoprosthesis is difficult and is associated with significant complications such as hemorrhage, perforation and dysfunction of the prosthesis. Recently, self -expand- able metal prosthesis have also been utilized for malignant esophageal stenosis, and palliation of this modality seems to be more effective than other modalities. However the main problems with these metal stents are tumor ingrowth leading to reobstruction, migration, and eophageal trauma by the distal, hard skirt of the stent. EsophaCoil stent is a simple coil with close loops made from a single flat wire of nickel titanium alloy. The radial force of this material is much stronger than stainless steel, expansion time is faster and the stent is able to dilate even extremely resistant strictures. This new metalic stent seems to have several advantages over the current commnerically available ones. We report our experiences with this EsophaCoil stent and review of literature.

A Case of Multiple Esophageal Diverticula with Mucosal Bridges / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Mucosal bridge, endoscopically observed as a cord-like mucosal connection across the lumen, looking like a bridge, may infrequently arise anywhere from the esophagus to the colon. Mucosal bridges have been more frequently reported in the colon than in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. The causes of the mucosal bridge are congenital origin or acquired origin as the inflammatory diseases. We experienced a 49-year-old male patient who had multiple esophageal diverticula with mucosal bridges. We report this case with a review of relevant literatures.

A Case of Primary Gastric Choriocarcinoma / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Gastational choriocarcinoma is a malignant neoplasm of trophoblast. It may occur after hydatidiform mole, spontaneous abortion, normal pregnancy, and even an ectopic pregnancy. Extragenital choriocarcinoma is a rare tumor which attracts interest because of its controversial pathogenesis. It has been reported to occur within the lung, mediastinum, breast, prostate, thymus, pineal, nose, liver, bladder, and biliary tree, as well as most parts of the gastrointestinal tract. We experienced a case of primary choriocarcinoma of stomach with a metastasis to the liver of a 54-year-old man. So, we present a case with a review of literature.

A Case of Gallbladder Perforation Treated By Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholecystic Drainage and Percutaneous Peritoneal Drainage / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Perforation of gallbladder is a serious complication of acute cholecystitis with alarmingly high mortality rate. These high mortality and morbidity rates were caused by delay in prompt diagnosis and adequate therapy. Especially, mortality and morbidity rates rise markedly in the elderly patient with severe systemic illness. In the patients of gallbladder perforation who are poor candidate for general anesthesia and major operation, percutaneous cholecystic drainage procedure is good alternatives. We experienced a case of gallbladder perforation which was treated successfully by non-operative percutaneous transhepatic cholecystic drainage(PTCCD) in 65-year-old female. She couldn't be a candidate for cholecystectomy or operative chlecystostomy because of severe adhesion of gallbladder to adjacent organ and tissue due to previous gallbladder empyema. We decided to take non-operative percutaneous transhepatic cholecystic drainage and percutaneous peritoneal drainage of abdominal abscess. Thereafter, we examined gallbladder by percutaneous transhepatic cholecystoscopylPTCCS)and rule out gallstone and gallbladder malignancy. So, we presented the case with the brief review of the literatures.

Colonoscopic Diagnosis of Whipworm Infection / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Trichuriasis is an intestinal infection of human beings caused by Trichuris trichiura, more commonly known as whipworm because of its whip-like appearance. It is characterized by the invasion of the colonic mucosa by the adult trichuris. It is prevalent throughout the world, especially in tropical areas. Diagnosis is made typically by the identification of characteristic barrel-shaped eggs in the feces, although adult worms may be seen rarely at sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. We report five cases of whipworm infection that was diagnosed on colonoscopic examination.

Endoscopic Variceal Ligation by Use of Transparent Endoscopic Elastic Band Ligating Device / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL) is effective in both emergent and elective treatment of esophageal varices and can be used as a safe alternative to sclerotherapy. However, as yet no transparent ligating device is widely available, the endoscopic view through the present commercial ligating device is so narrow that it is often difficult to both approach the target and accurately define and position the bleeding site. To assess the benifit of transparent EVL device, total 143 patients, 632 sessions, underwent EVL treatment. In 545 sessions the non-transparent, conventional-type ligating devices (Stigmann-Goff ligating devices) were used, whereas in 87 sessions the transparent ligating devices used. 35 patients underwent EVL under active bleeding conditions; in 29 patients a conventional ligation devices, whereas in 6 patients a transparent ligating devices were used. The remaining l08 patients were either electively treated by EVL. The visual fields decreased to 20-30% with the conventional devices, but no change of visual fields were noted with the transparent devices. In electively treated cases by EVL, the times need to ligate one band were not significantly different in the conventional devices (average, 18.5 sec) compared with that in the transparent devices (average, 16.7 sec), but in active bleeding conditions it took a significantly longer times in the conventional devices (mean, 30.7 sec) compared with that in the transparent devices (average, 19.4 sec). The hemostatic success rates in active bleeding conditions were 89.7%(26/29) using the conventional devices, 100%(6/6) using the transparent devices. In conclusion this newly developed transparent ligating device provides an improved visual field and shortens ligating time, especially in active bleeding condition. Therefore EVL using transparent device is more effective method in treatment of esophageal varices, especially active bleeding conditions.