ABSTRACT
Carbon dioxide (CO2) poisoning is rare, but its clinical features of acute exposure include cardiovascular, respiratory, neurologic and metabolic aspects. CO2 can also have a direct toxicological effect. At very high concentrations (>9%), CO2 induces respiratory depression and narcotic-like effects on the central nervous system. Especially, acute poisoning from dry ice is caused by CO2 gas inhalation and asphyxiation, and may impose excess load on the myocardium. This case was an acute CO2 poisoning from dry ice gas inhalation. In spite of an initial severe status, the male patient rapidly improved with no complications following the application of highly concentrated oxygen and fluid therapy.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Carbon , Carbon Dioxide , Central Nervous System , Dry Ice , Fluid Therapy , Inhalation , Myocardium , Oxygen , Respiratory InsufficiencyABSTRACT
Facial scar is one of the most common problems in plastic surgery department. Many various methods are attempted to improve facial scars, but there is no definite satisfactory method on scar revision. Authors have been interested in a tendency to show good results when traumatic lacerations were accompanied by abrasions. The improved appearance of the scars with this situation is the result that there were fewer elevations and depressions, and no break in continuity of the epidermal covering on both sides of the scar. But mechanical or other dermabrasive methods have a risk of hyperpigmentation. Authors suggest the scar revision with frostbite using dry ice. This method has little hyperpigmentation due to the sensitivity of melanocytes to cold injury. And the tissue destruction is progressed selectively because of the resistance of collagen against the cold injury and the preserved dermal fibrous network as the structural framework. These characteristics of cryotherapy improve the result of scar revision with fewer side effects rather than other dermabrasive methods. We performed this method to 349 patients from 1993 to 2003 and obtained high patients' satisfaction (85.9% more than fair). Moreover, this method is simple, cheap and handy. In conclusion, the scar revision with frostbite using dry ice is very useful method to improve facial scars.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cicatrix , Collagen , Cryotherapy , Depression , Dry Ice , Frostbite , Hyperpigmentation , Lacerations , Melanocytes , Surgery, PlasticABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cryosurgical treatment for nevus of Ota could be effective and cheap, but has not been introduced too much in detail. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to evaluate the clinical efficacy according to its determinants, and the complications of cryosurgery. METHODS: 109 patients with nevus of Ota were treated with hard chalk dry ice which contacted the skin consistently of was rolled fast. Accessible patients were evaluated by phone or direct interview. RESULTS: Satisfactions assessed by patients after cryosurgery were excellent 21%, moderate 51%, fair 17% and poor 11%, respectively. Satisfactions assessed by doctor were quite higher than those by patient. Satisfactions assessed by patients were affected by clinical determinants such as age over 40 and color of the lesion, but not by clinical type, number of sessions, and combinations with laser. Complications were in the following order : textural change, hypopigmentation, hypertrophic scar, persistent erythema, hyperpigmentation, infection and milia formation. CONCLUSION: Cryosurgery using dry ice for the treatment of nevus of Ota was quite effective but technical improvements for decreasing complications or combinations with Q switched laser and other surgical techniques might be required.