A Case of Tension Pneumothorax Complicating Duodenal Microperforation after ERCP / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has become a commonly performed endoscopic procedure for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatobiliary disease. ERCP is a relatively safe procedure. However, there are chances of potentially severe complications such as pancreatitis, hemorrhage, infection and perforation. Duodenal perforation is an uncommon, but serious complication of ERCP, and this has occurred in 0.3 to 1.1% of most of the previous series. There are various clinical course and treatments depending on the cause of perforation. However, the development of pneumothorax in patients undergoing ERCP is rare. There are no reports of tension pneumothorax complicating ERCP in Korea. We experienced a case of tension pneumothorax with complicating duodenal microperforation following ERCP, and the patient (a 77 year old female with suspicious dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi) was treated with conservative treatment.

A Case Report of a Bronchogenic Cyst Misconceived to Lung Cancer / 결핵

Bronchogenic cysts are generally presented as a well defined mass that have thin and smooth wall in the intrapulmonary or mediastinal area by simple chest radiographs. We present the case of a 20-year-old man with a ill-defined left upper lobe mass, found by chest radiographs. At the preoperative examinations, chest computed tomography showed ill-defined mass with Hounsfield Number 26, and nonspecific findings were shown by the bronchoscopy and percutaneous needle aspiration. The patient was undertaken the left upper lobectomy. The surgical specimen contained a ill-defined mass, measuring 2x3 cm. On the section of the mass, a cyst containing dark brown thick materials was noted. The cyst was unilocular, and the wall showed a trabeculation. Microscopically, the cystic mass was lined with ciliated pseudostratified columnar epitheliums and surrounded by smooth muscle and cartilage.

Comparison Study of the Pulmonary Function and Serum Carboxyhemoglobin Level Between the Traffic Policmen and Clerk Policemen / 결핵

BACKGROUND: A large number of pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and ozone influence on the body. These pollutants put a burden on the lung and the sequelae resulting from the oxidative stress are thought to contribute to the development of fibrotic lung disease, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and lung cancer. Also, carbon monoxide generated from the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing compounds is an important component of air pollution caused by traffic exhaust fumes and has the toxic effect of tissue hypoxia and produce various systemic and neurologic complications. The objective of this study is to compare the difference of pulmonary function and serum carboxyhemoglobin(CO-Hb) level between the traffic policemen and clerk policemen. METHODS: Three hundred and twenty-nine of traffic policemen, and one hundred and thirty clerk policemen were included between 2001 May and 2002 August. The policemen who took part in this study were asked to fill out a questionnaire which included questions on age, smoking, drinking, years of working, work-related symptoms and past medical history. The serum CO-Hb level was measured by using carboxyoximeter. Pulmonary function test was done by using automated spirometer. Additional tests, such as elecrocardiogram, urinalysis, chest radiography, blood chemistry, and CBC, were also done. RESULTS: FEV1(%) was 97.1+/-0.85%, and 105.7+/-1.21%(p<0.05). FVC(%) was 94.6+/-0.67%, and 102.1+/-1.09%, respectively(p<0.05). Serum CO-Hb level was 2.4+/-0.06%, and 1.8+/-0.08%(p<0.05). After correction of confounding factors (age, smoking), significant variables were FVC(%), FEV1(%) and serum CO-Hb level(%)(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Long exposure to air pollution may influence the pulmonary function and serum CO-Hb level. But, further prospective cohort study will be needed to elucidate detailed influences of specific pollutants on pulmonary function and serum carboxyhemoglobin level.

Clinical study of rhabdomyolysis developed after the training / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: It is important to recognize rhabdomyolysis in clinical settings, because 10~30% of rhabdomyolysis patients develop acute renal failure as a complication and patients with such complication have risk of high mortality. Recently, there have been frequent reports about healthy people who developed rhabdomyolysis after heavy exercise, but few prospective studies on exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis have been reported. METHODS: To evaluate the degree of muscle cell necrosis during the regular combat-police training, we examined the level of creatine kinase, plasma myoglobin and bone scan in 173 combat-police before the training and on fourth day after the training. Average ambient temperature and humidity during the study were 25degrees C and 78%, respectively. RESULTS: From the laboratory findings, 98 out of 173 combat-police were diagnosed as having rhabdomyolysis. Upon regressional analysis, an increase in amount of exercise correlated with the elevation of the levels of plasma creatine kinase and myoglobin. Among variables related to rhabdomyolysis only the levels of myoglobin, aspartate aminotransferase were significantly elevated. The level of plasma creatinine was elevated along with the elevation of plasma myoglobin. Bone scan not only provided detailed information on the location and degree of muscle cell damage, but also could be of diagnostic value in patients whose creatine kinase had been normalized. CONCLUSION: In people who developed rhabdomyolysis after heavy exercise, the level of plasma creatinine was elevated along with the elevation of plasma myoglobin. So early diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis and early detection of acute renal failure may be useful with monitoring of plasma myoglobin level.