Propofol as Premedication for Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Benzodiazepine is generally used when sedation is required for endoscopy, while propofol, a phenol-derived intravenous anesthetic agent, appears to have a more suitable phamacokinetic profile. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of propofol as premedication for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. METHODS: Between July 1998 and October 1998, 44 male patients and 70 female patients were involved in this study. The relative ease of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, patient's tolerance, and amnestic effects on 64 patients with propofol was compared with 50 patients with non-sedation. Pulse rate and arterial oxygen saturation was monitored. The endoscopist and patients replied to a questionnaire. RESULTS: Patients receiving propofol tolerated endoscopy much more than patients with non-sedation (p<0.01). The change in pulse rate was less variable but arterial oxygen saturation showed a statistically significant decrease in patients receiving propofol (p<0.01). Propofol induced complete amnesia in 93.7% of the patients and partial anesthesia in 4.7%. Most of the patients receiving propofol accepted the same sedative methods in their next endoscopy (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Propofol is highly effective, with a short recovery time and satisfaction of the patients, but careful monitoring is recommended because of its untoward effect of hypoxia. It is recommended that propofol be used as a premedication especially in patients who are apprehensive about a repeated endoscopy.

Four Cases of Gastric Mucosal Tear after Blunt Abdominal Trauma / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The incidence of abdominal trauma has increased in recent decades as the frequency of traffic accidents increased. Early symptoms and signs of blunt abdominal trauma may be absent and associated injuries frequently detract physicians from early diagnosis of abdominal trauma. Delayed diagnosis has been shown to be associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Gastrointestinal tract is the third most commonly injured organ from blunt abdominal trauma. Gastric ruptures after blunt abdominal trauma were reported occasionally, but reports of upper gastrointestinal bleeding by gastric mucosal tear were very rare. Four cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to gastric mucosal tear after blunt abdominal trauma are herein reported with a review of related literatures.

A Case of Congenital Factor VII Deficiency Associated with Intraventricular Hemorrhage and Hydrocephalus

Congenital factor Vll deficiency is a rare bleeding disorder with an estimated incidence of 1 in 500,000. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive pattern with variable expression and high penetrance. In severely affected patients, repeated hemarthroses, chronic crippling hemarthropathy, and dangerous hematomas can occur. Other types of hemorrhage include epistaxis, menorrhagia, hematuria, gastrointestinal and gingival bleeding. Fetal cerebral hemorrhage has been reported, although less frequently than in severe hemophilia A or B. It is characterized by normal partial thromboplastin time and prolonged prothrombin time. Definitive diagnosis rests on a specific assay for factor Vll clotting activity. Replacement therapy is necessary to control the hemorrhage. Conventional prophylaxis and therapy in this disorder have consisted of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or prothrombin complex concentrate. We experienced a case of intraventricular hemorrhage and hydrocephalus in a 4-year-old girl who had been diagnosed with congenital factor Vll deficiency during her neonatal period. She presented with episodes of frontal headache, frequent vomiting and malnutrition. We report this case with a brief review and related literatures.

A Case of Double Duodenal Web Associated with Peptic Ulcer

Duodenal web is a very rare congenital anomaly which usually causes clinical features of intestinal obstruction from early infancy. It shows characteristic findings in the radiologic contrast study or endoscopy. But in the cases with large openings, preoperative diagnosis of web is difficult and often is overlooked until adolescence or adulthood because of delayed onset of symptoms. Duodenal web is usually single near the ampulla of Vater and may be multiple. Only a few cases of double duodenal webs have been reported in the literature. We experienced a case of double duodenal web in a 15 year-old girl who complained of peptic ulcer-associated symptoms including epigastric pain and bloody stool. She had suffered from longstanding abdominal symptoms, malnutrition and iron-deficiency anemia. We propose that duodenal web should be kept in mind for patients with a history of chronic gastrointestinal obstructive symptoms and atypical peptic ulcer.

Immunohistochemical Study of Bcl-2 Oncoprotein Expression in Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to assess the clinicopatholgical significance of Bcl-2 oncoprotein expression in childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). METHODS: We have assessed 16 cases of childhood NHL during last 6 years from 1990 to 1995. Bcl-2 oncoprotein expression has been semiquantitatively analyzed in paraffin sections from 16 cases of childhood NHL with 39 control cases of adult NHL. The expression of Bcl-2 oncoprotein was correlated with histologic grade, immunophenotype, proliferative activity as measured by immunostain of Ki-67 antigen, clinical stage, and survival rate (event free survival rate, EFS). RESULTS: 1) Bcl-2 oncoprotein expression significantly decreased according to increase of histological grade (P0.05). 5) EFS of patients was significantly correlated with Bcl-2 oncoprotein expression, that is, reduced EFS was demonstrated in the patients with low Bcl-2 oncoprotein expression (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Thus Bcl-2 oncoprotein, as demonstrated immunohistochemically in routinely paraffin embedded tissue, can be restrictively used in prediction of prognosis and grade of childhood NHL, in aggrement with the role of Bcl-2 oncoprotein in blocking of apoptosis and indirect contribution to increase of cellular proliferative activity of NHL.

Pain Sensation in Neonatal Circumcision

No abstract available.

One Case of Neonatal Peritonitis Complicated by Anal Stenosis

The anorectal anomaly is not rarely seen in the neonatal period. But, If it is not accompanied with a fairly large fistula, it presents an urgent problem, so should be managed with perianal anoplasty or colostomy. Neonatal peritonitis is very grave and is caused by various conditions listed in Table 1. In Korea, no case of neonatal peritonitis caused by anorectal has yet been reported in the literature. With brief review of the literature, we present a case of neonatal peritonitis which appeared 36 hours after birth by perforation of the colon due to anorectal stenosis.

One case of Infectious Mononcleosis

A case of infectious mononucleosis was presented. She was admitted to the hospital with the anterior cervical lymphadenopathy. Erythematous skin rashes on both low extermities, and splenomegaly. Her chief complaints were fever and sore throat. She showed atypical lymphocytes in peripheral blood smear with relative lymphocytosis. Mono-spot test was positive. She received symptomatic therapy and discharged without any complications. So, we report this case and review the brief literatures of infectious mononucleosis with the respect to etiology, clinical course, and histological characteristics of the disease.

One case of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

We reviewed one case of AHA in 14 year old female child which followed a chronic course. The patient showed hypergammaglobulinemia with elevated IgM, positive direct coomb's test and positive cold aggutinin test. The patient improved with steroid therapy, and over the past six months has showen a fair course. We have presented a review of the literature briefly and given our report.