Cerebral Air Embolism after Removal of Subclavian Venous Catheter: A case report

We experienced a patient who developed a cerebral air embolism after subclavian venous catheter removal. The patient underwent gastric antrectomy under impression of gastric cancer. After surgery, right subclavian venous catheter was removed while the patient was kept in supine position for 15 minutes. When he changed to sitting position, he became agitated and O2 saturation was dropped to 72%. Im-mediately 100% O2 was administered via air mask. Computed tomography of brain showed multiple focal air densities in the cerebral vessels. Three days after the event, he slowly regained consciousness with persistent left hemipareis. After rehabilitation, he was able to walk with quadcane and gained functional improvement.

The Effect of Hyperglycemia at Admission on Clinical Outcomes after Acute Stroke

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the issues about the importance of hyperglycemia in the acute stage of stroke as a poor predictor of clinical outcome, we analyzed the relationship between the glucose level in admission and clinical outcome in the acute stroke patients. METHOD: Twenty-five patients with sudden onset of acute stroke with focal neurological deficit were included in this study. Clinical assessments consisted of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) for neurological impairment and the Korean modified Bathel index (KMBI) for functional status. NIHSS and K-MBI were assessed at admission and at discharge. Plasma glucose level was measured at admission in all patients. Acute hyperglycemia at admission was defined as fasting plasma glucose level more than 140 mg/dl. Statistical analysis were used to compare variables and clinical outcome scores between the normoglycemic and hyperglycemic groups. RESULTS: For the patient with hyperglycemia at admission, the odds ratio for neurological improvement decreased (beta=-0.604) and the odds ratio for functional improvement decreased (beta=-0.553). However, control of the glucose level during the acute stroke was not significantly related to neurological and functional recovery (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In patients with acute stroke, hyperglycemia at admission was associated with neurological and functional impairments. Therefore, we expect that strict control of hyperglycemia during the acute stroke would improve clinical outcomes.

Iatrogenic Iliopsoas Abscess after Trigger Point Injection : A case report

After slip down, a 64 years old female had pain on the left buttock and the back without weakness or sensory change. Physical examination revealed tender points on left buttock and quadratus lumborum muscle. Straight leg raising test was 40degrees/20degrees. After trigger point injection on tender points, her symptoms were improved. Magnetic resonance imaging showed central extruded disc at L3-S1. After systemic steroid therapy was started, fever was developed about 39.3degrees C and laboratory evaluation showed inflammatory sign. Systemic steroid injection was stopped. Physical examination revealed a palpable and painful mass on the left lower quadrant of the abdomen. Ultrasonography and computerized tomography of abdomen and pelvis showed a large (7x5 cm) irregular shaped cystic mass along left iliopsoas muscle. Percutaneous catheter was inserted for drainage. Thick turbid yellow-greenish pus (300 cc) was drained. Intravenous antibiotics were administered and the patient's symptoms gradually improved. Culture of the pus revealed Streptococcus agalactiae.

Mean Platelet Component Change according to Stage in Stroke Patients

OBJECTIVE: Decrease of platelet density by degranulation of activated platelet is well correlated with decrease of mean platelet component (MPC) value. We intended to investigate the change of MPC, mean platelet volume, and platelet count according to the stroke stage and difference between ischemic and hemorrhagic infarction. METHOD: Thirty eight patients (ischemic stroke 28 men, hemorrhagic stroke 10 men) and twenty age-matched healthy persons were included in this study. They were divided into acute stage group and subacute stage group. Each of them were sampled by venously and investigated about mean platelet component, mean platelet volume, and platelet counts. RESULTS: In ischemic stroke, there was statically (p <0.05) meaningful decrease of MPC value in acute stage (27.5+/-1.7) compared to control group (28.8+/-0.9). And MPC value in subacute stage showed meaningful increase (28.1+/-1.3) compared to acute stage but still remained in statically lower value compared to control value. In hemorrhagic stroke, there was no meaningful difference of MPC value in acute stage group (28.6+/-2.0) and subacute stage group (27.9+/-1.1) compared to control group. CONCLUSION: In ischemic stroke patients, MPC value in acute stage decreased meaningfully and this change might be useful as a landmark in predicting the activity of infarction.

The Effect of Vacuum-Assisted Closure (V.A.C.) Therapy in Pressure Ulcer

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Vacuum-Assisted Closure (V.A.C.) therapy in stage 3 or 4 pressure ulcers refractory to traditional saline wet gauze dressing. METHOD: Ten patients who had stage 3 or 4 pressure ulcers which were failed to heal with saline wet gauze dressing over 4 weeks were investigated. We treated these subjects with V.A.C. therapy. The length, width and depth of pressure ulcers were evaluated every week for 3 weeks. Soft tissue biopsy from pressure ulcer was taken before starting V.A.C. therapy and after the scheduled therapy was done. RESULTS: The sizes of length, width and depth in pressure ulcer were significantly decreased after one week of V.A.C. application. And then healthy granulation tissue was formed. The length, width and depth of the pressure ulcer were decreased of 40.2%, 42.7% and 79.8% of their original size. Soft tissue biopsy in pressure ulcers was taken in 4 cases, the number and size of capillaries were more increased and inflammatory cells were decreased. CONCLUSION: V.A.C. therapy promoted wound healing and revealed favorable histological changes in pressure ulcers refractory to traditional dressing. We suggest that V.A.C. therapy can be used for the effective management of pressure ulcer.

Essential Osteolysis: A case report

Essential osteolysis is very rare, slowly progressive disease. Its etiology and pathophysiology is still unknown. Only one case has been reported in Korea. We experienced one case of essential osteolysis associated with renal insufficiency involving bilateral carpal, metacarpal, tarsal, metatarsal bones, elbow, ankle. We report a case of 24-year-old female who had manifestations of essential osteolysis with renal insufficiency with brief review of literatures.

The Effect of Spinal Manipulation for Patients with Acute Low Back Pain

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of spinal manipulation for the patients with acute low back pain. METHOD: Twenty patients with acute low back pain have been received spinal manipulation 3 times per week. The 10-point scale and the distance of the fingertips from the floor on maximum forward flexion (fingertip-flexion test) were checked pretreatment, immediately posttreatment, 2 days posttreatment, 1 week posttreatment, and 2 weeks posttreatment. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) The 10-point scale at pretreatment, immediately posttreatment, 2 days posttreatment, 1 week posttreatment, and 2 weeks post-treatment were 10.0+/-0.0, 5.8+/-1.4, 2.2+/-1.0, 1.1+/-0.2, and 1.0+/-0.0, respectively (P<0.01). 2) The fingertip-flexion test at pretreatment, immediately posttreatment, 2 days posttreatment, 1 week posttreatment, 2 weeks posttreatment were 35.4+/-8.4 cm, 22.4+/-7.0 cm, 14.1+/-4.9 cm, 7.4+/-3.6 cm, and 5.4+/-4.6 cm, respectively (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: In our study, the spinal manipulation for the patients with acute low back pain offered significant efficacy and appeared to be a reasonable therapeutic option. But the effectiveness of this method leaves a critical aspect that should be dealt with in future studies.

Study for Acromial Type, Acromial Tilt and Subacromial Distances in Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To study the acromial type, acromial angle, acromial tilt and subacromial distances which known as extrinsic factors of subacromial impingement syndrome in groups of subacromial impingement syndrome and normal control. METHOD: The radiography of shoulder named shoulder series composed of AP view, arch view and impingement view was performed in thirty patients with subacromial impingement syndrome and ninety persons with normal adult and we measured the acromial type, acromial angle, acromial tilt, subacromial distances and subacromial spur. RESULTS: Mean subacromial distances of impingement group were 11.3+/-2.4 mm in AP view, 11.1+/-2.5 mm in arch view and those of normal control group were 11.1+/-2.2 mm in AP view, 10.4+/-1.9 mm in arch view. Incidences of acromial type I,II,III in impingement group were 15 (50%), 10 (33.3%), 5 (16.7%) respectively and those in normal control group were 20 (22.2%), 46 (51.1%), 24 (26.7%) respectively. Incidence of subacromial spur was 19 (63.3%) in impingement group and 52 (57.8%) in normal control group. Mean subacromial spur size was 10.0+/-5.4 mm in impingement group and 12.4+/-4.5 mm in normal control group. Mean acromial angle was 27.1+/-8.3 degree in impingement group and 29.1+/-8.7 degree in normal control group. Mean acromial tilt was 28.0+/-6.39 degree in impingement group and 31.8+/-3.4 degree in normal control group. CONCLUSION: No significant statistical difference between subacromial impingement syndrome group and normal control group in acromial type, acromial angle, acromial tilt and subacromial distance known as extinsic factors of subacromial impingement syndrome.

The Effect of Closed-Needle Irrigation of Knee in Patients with Osteoarthritis

To determine the therapeutic effect of closed-needle irrigation of knee for pain from osteoarthritis(OA), we conducted a randomized, single blind, 8 week prospective trial study. A comparison was done between the closed-needle irrigation of knee and standard conservative treatment in 30 patients with non-end stage OA of the knee. Statistically significant differences (P<0.05) favoring closed-needle irrigation of knee over conservative treatment were noted by the Visual Analog Scale for pain in these patients. Overall assessments on effectiveness of therapy by patients(Patient's global assessment) and physician(Knee rating scale) were also statistically superior among closed-needle irrigation group. We conclude that the closed-needle irrigation of knee for the treatment of pain from osteoarthritis is an effective treatment and is superior than the traditional conservative treatment in therapeutic effect.