Oral Antibiotics for Community–acquired Pneumonia with Chest- indrawing in Children Aged Below Five Years: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of oral antibiotics in under-five children with pneumonia and chest indrawing. Methods: We included controlled clinical trials (randomized or quasi randomized) that compared the efficacy of oral antibiotics versus parenteral antibiotics for treatment of community- acquired pneumonia with chest-indrawing (severe pneumonia as defined by the World Health Organization’s guidelines) in children below 60 months of age. Data were extracted and managed using RevMan software. Main outcome variables were: treatment failure rate, relapse rate, death rate, need for hospitalization, and severe adverse effects. Results: We identified four randomized controlled trials involving 4400 children who were diagnosed to have severe pneumonia but were feeding well and not hypoxic. Baseline characteristics of children in the two treatment arms (oral and parenteral antibiotics) were similar. In two studies, oral antibiotics were administered on an ambulatory basis, while in two, oral antibiotics were used in hospitalized children. Failure rate in children receiving oral antibiotics was 13% (288/2208) while that in children receiving parenteral antibiotics was 13.8% (302/2183) (OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.78, 1.11). Failure rates were not affected by the type of oral antibiotic, or presence of wheeze. Relapse rates, hospitalization or serious adverse events were similar in the two groups. Conclusion: Children with tachypnea with chest-indrawing without signs/symptoms of very severe pneumonia may be treated with oral antibiotics.

An Annual Audit Of The Ear Foreign Bodies in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Foreign bodies or objects in the ear are one of the most common problems encountered by otorhinolaryngologist (ORL) with attendant complications, removal of which requires expertise. Patients with this problem who sought treatment in the otorhinolaryngology clinic of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) were studied for duration of one year from January 2010 to December 2010. Specifically, the clinical presentation, type of foreign body and management outcome were analysed. 72 patients were reviewed - 44 (61.1%) males and 28 (38.9%) females. The age range was one year to 75 years with 59.8% being children below 10 years old. Ear pain (56.9%) was recorded as the most common and persistent symptom and insects (54%) were the commonest foreign body encountered. 95% (69) of the foreign bodies were removed under clinic setting with only three (4.2%) cases requiring general anaesthesia. Post-removal complications were noted in only one patient (1.4%). Repeated attempts by untrained personnel should be avoided and timely referral is vital to avoid undesirable complications.

Management Outcome and Prognostic Factors of Patients who Underwent Decompressive Craniectomy for Space-Occupying Cerebral Infarction / 대한뇌혈관외과학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was to assess management outcome of patient undergoing decompressive craniectomy for space-occupying cerebral infarction refractory to medical treatment and to identify risk factors associated with unfavorable outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1999 and June 2004, total 20 patients were analyzed. The preoperative consciousness was rated using Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The clinical outcome was rated using Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at 3 months follow up and divided into 2 groups;favorable outcome group (GOS> or =3) and unfavorable outcome group (GOS<3). The prognostic factors were analyzed multivariately. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were men and six patients were women (mean age, 58.7 yrs). Seventeen patients had right hemispheric infarction, and three patients had left hemispheric infarction. 16 patients had only middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction, and 2 patients had combined anterior cerebral artery (ACA) or posterior cerebral artery (PCA) infarction respectively. Eleven patients showed anisocoria preoperatively. The mean time interval between symptom onset of infarction and operation was 61.5 hrs. 8 patients showed favorable outcome, and 12 patients showed unfavorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The existence of preoperative anisocoria and low preoperative GCS score were statistically significant prognostic factor related to unfavorable outcome.

Management Outcome of Poor Grade Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the treatment strategies for the poor grade patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) with respect to the timing of surgery. METHODS: We have analyzed 51 patients of Hunt and Hess grade IV and V at admission among 140 SAH patients who were managed during recent three years. They were devided into two groups according to the interval between SAH and surgery: 30 early treatment group(operated within 3 days) and 21 delayed treatment group(6 delayed operation cases and 15 unoperated cases). RESULTS: Clinical outcome of early surgery group was favorable(Good or Fair) in 23 cases(76.7%) and unfavorable in 7 cases(23.3%, 2 Poor, 5 Dead). On the contrary, those of delayed surgery group or without surgery group was favorable in 4 cases(19.1%) and unfavorable in 17 cases(80.9%, 1 Poor, 16 Dead). Overall management outcome of poor grade SAH patients was favorable in 27 cases(52.9%), unfavorable in 24 cases(47.1%) and mortality rate was 41.2%. Unfavorable outcome in poor grade SAH patients was largely affected by the initial hemorrhage and subsequent development of intractable intracranial hypertension(Hunt and Hess grade IV: 5 cases, grade V: 8 cases), cerebral infarction(grade IV: 3 cases, grade V: 1), rebleeding(grade IV: 3 cases), and surgical complication(4 cases). CONCLUSION: An active treatment policy including early surgery might achieve a better outcome of poor grade SAH patients.

Management Outcome of Poor Grade Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the treatment strategies for the poor grade patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) with respect to the timing of surgery. METHODS: We have analyzed 51 patients of Hunt and Hess grade IV and V at admission among 140 SAH patients who were managed during recent three years. They were devided into two groups according to the interval between SAH and surgery: 30 early treatment group(operated within 3 days) and 21 delayed treatment group(6 delayed operation cases and 15 unoperated cases). RESULTS: Clinical outcome of early surgery group was favorable(Good or Fair) in 23 cases(76.7%) and unfavorable in 7 cases(23.3%, 2 Poor, 5 Dead). On the contrary, those of delayed surgery group or without surgery group was favorable in 4 cases(19.1%) and unfavorable in 17 cases(80.9%, 1 Poor, 16 Dead). Overall management outcome of poor grade SAH patients was favorable in 27 cases(52.9%), unfavorable in 24 cases(47.1%) and mortality rate was 41.2%. Unfavorable outcome in poor grade SAH patients was largely affected by the initial hemorrhage and subsequent development of intractable intracranial hypertension(Hunt and Hess grade IV: 5 cases, grade V: 8 cases), cerebral infarction(grade IV: 3 cases, grade V: 1), rebleeding(grade IV: 3 cases), and surgical complication(4 cases). CONCLUSION: An active treatment policy including early surgery might achieve a better outcome of poor grade SAH patients.

Management Outcome and Clinical Manifestation of Posterior Circulation Aneurysms VS. Anterior Circulation Aneurysm

OBJECT: With the recent variable treatment modalities and the development of microsurgical techniques, outcomes of surgical and medical management of aneurysm have shown much progress in the last 10 years. However, the management of posterior circulation aneurysm is still a debatable due to its difficulty in limited surgical approach, complicated anatomical structure and many small perforators to vital structure. The purpose of this study is to compare the results of clinical manifestation and outcome of surgery with respect to anterior and posterior circulation aneurysms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated the 33 patients with PCAs(posterior circulation aneurysm) and 359 patients with ACAs(anterior circulation aneurysm) treated between 1994 and 1999, retrospectively. RESULTS: Posterior circulation aneurysms showed higher tendency(5 cases, 14.7%) to have unusual shapes, such as dissecting or fusiform compared with anterior circulation aneurysm(15 cases, 4.2%). There were more multiple aneurysms in posterior circulation aneurysm(8 cases, 26.5%) than anterior circulation aneurysm(59 cases, 16.2%). The number of patients with Hunt-Hess grade III or IV on admission were 91(25.3%) in anterior circulation aneurysms, and 14(42.4%) in posterior circulation aneurysms. There were higher incidences of vasospasm and acute hydrocephalus in patients with posterior circulation aneurysm. In cases of anterior circulation aneurysm, neck clipping was possible in 97%. But, in posterior circulation aneurysm, neck clipping was possible only in 67.7% of each. Two hundred forty four cases(85.0%) of all anterior circulation aneurysms and 22 cases(78.6%) of all posterior circulation aneurysms showed good recovery(GR) or moderate disability(MD). The postoperative mortality rates of anterior and posterior circulation aneurysms were 4.9% and 10.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that there exist substantial differences with respect to that there were few difference in the aspect of surgery and management outcome between posterior circulation aneurysms and anterior circulation aneurysms.

Manangement Outcome of 372 Patients with Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms / 대한뇌혈관학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to provide management strategy and to improve management outcome of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The authors reviewed the database as sources for identifying and analyzing patients, and analyzed the management outcome of patients with UIA. From June 1979 to June 1999, among total of 1,801 patients treated for intracranial aneurysms, 372 patients with 437 unruptured aneurysms were treated by surgery (335 patients) or neurointervention (37 patients). One hundred and forty - three patients with 158 UIA had no history of SAH from a different aneurysm (group 1), and 229 patients with 279 UIA had a ruptured aneurysm that have been repaired simultaneously or before treatment of UIA (group 2). We reviewed the rate of favorable (good, fair) and unfavorable (poor or dead) outcome one year after the treatment. RESULTS: The rate of favorable and unfavorable outcome in group 1 was 96.5% and 3.5% respectively. In Group 2, the rate was 93.5% and 6.5%. However, the most of the unfavorable outcome in group 2 came from treatment of the ruptured aneurysm, or SAH. The only significant factor contributed to unfavorable outcome in group 1 was size of UIA. Those of group 2 were age, Fisher grade, Hunt - Hess grade, and aneurysm number. Complications attributable to surgical or endovascular treatment of UIA that occurred in 38 of 372 patients (10.2%) were cerebral infarction (17), intracerebral hemorrhage (10), epidural hematoma (4), cranial nerve injury (3), infection (2), venous infarction (1), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (1). CONCLUSION: Rupture of an intracranial aneurysm is a devastating event. The safe size below which rupture is unlikely is unclear. There appears to be increased risk from unruptured aneurysms discovered in SAH patients. All unruptured aneurysms in healthy patients as well as in patients with history of SAH should be repaired.

Management of Poor-grade Patients with Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysm

To formulate treatment strategies for poor-grade patients after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH), medical records were analyzed for 166 patients who were in Hunt and Hess grade IV or V among 588 consecutive aneurysmal SAH patients admitted during the past 5 years. Causes for unfavorable outcome(poor or dead) in these 166 patients were carefully evaluated to improve the management outcome. Overall management results were favorable(good or fair) in 71(42.8%), and unfavorable in 95(78 dead, 17 poor). Direct clipping was performed in 90 patients, and the surgical results were favorable in 69(76.7%) and unfavorable in 21(23.3%). Surgery was not performed in 76 patients because of moribund state on arrival in 41, neurological deterioration due to rebleeding in 15, massive brain swelling in seven, serious medical illness in five, severe delayed ischemic deficit in one, and massive cerebral infarction following angiography in one, and refused surgery in six. Seven patients survived from non-surgery group(2 fair, 5 poor). Direct effects of aneurysm rupture(34.8%) and early rebleeding(34.8%) were the causes of unfavorable outcome in grade IV patients, while it was direct effect of aneurysm rupture(91.8%) in grade V patients. It is suggested that since rebleeding is the only preventable factor of unfavorable outcome, urgent management seems necessary to prevent rebleeding, especially for grade IV patients. Grade IV patients should be treated aggressively with direct clipping for non-complex aneurysms or for patients with hematoma, and with coil embolization for complex aneurysms without hematoma.

Calcium Antagonist in the Management of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patient

To evaluate the effectiveness and to find out which grade(clinical and computed tomography) of subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) patients are most effected with the medication of the calcium antagonist, we did this study. We selected 339 cases(study cases) among a total of 603 cases of SAH who were admitted to our hospital from Sept. 1982 to Aprial 1991. The criteria of study cases are patients who were admitted and who had a brain computed tomography(CT) taken within 3 days after the SAH and who had a clinical grade(Hung & Hess) on admission between I-IV. We divided study cases into 3 groups. Group I:surgery was done more than 7 days after the SAH and together with non-surgical patients, no medication was used(N=126). Group II:surgery was done more than 7 days after teh SAH and together with non-surgical patients medication of the calcium antagonist was given orally(N=120). Group III:surgery was done more than 7 days after the SAH and together with non-surgical patients, medication of nimodipine intravenously was given, and also patients, medication of nimodipine intravenously was given, and also patients who received surgery did within 3 days after the SAH were given intravenous injection and cisternal irrigation of nimodipine(N=93). We compared the overall management outcome and the incidence of delayed ischemic dificit(DID) and unfavorable outcome due to DID in each group. We also analyzed the causes of unfavorable outcome according to the clinical grade on admission and the amount of blood in the cistern seen on the brain CT in each group. The results of this study showed that overall management outcome was improved by using the calcium antagonist. The calcium antagonist reduced the incidence of DID as well as the unfavorable outcome related to DID. In clinical grade III patients on admission, the unfavorable outcome due to DID was significantly lower in group II and III than in I(group I vs. II:p<0.05, group I vs. III:P<0.01). In cases with a large amount of blood in the cistern seen on the brain CT, the unfavorable outcome was significantly lower in groups II and III than in I(group I vs. II:p<0.01, group I vs. III:p<0.05). We conclude that the overall management outcome of aneurismal SAH patients may be improved by using a calcium antagonist and the effect of the calcium antagonist is prominent in clinical grade III patients on admission and patients with a large amounts of blood in the cistern seen on the brain CT.

Study on Timing of Surgery for Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

The optimum timing of surgery for ruptured intracranial aneurysms still remains controversial. In order to compare the total management outcome between early and late surgery a retrospective analysis was carried out. Of 159 patients, 97 patients were selected according to the entry criteria and were divided into two groups ; group I(46pts.) was early surgery planned patients and group II(51 pts.) was late surgery planned patients. The results obtained are as follows ; 1) The incidence of a good recovery for the early surgery planned group was 74%, and that of the late surgery planned group was 67%, but there was no statistically significant difference between two groups. 2) The incidence of a delayed ischemic deficit was 24% for the early surgery planned group, and 29% for the late surgery planned group, with no statistically significant difference. But, the incidence of rebleeding was 2% for the early surgery group, and 14% for the late surgery planned group, so there was a statistically significant difference here. 3) The total management outcome of the early and late surgery planned group was similar, but early surgery was advantageous for the prevention of rebleeding.

Early Surgery Extraventricular Drainage, Cisternal Drainage with Nimodipine Irrigation and Intravenous Nimodipine for Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

During the eleven months from September, 1989 to July, 1990, a total of 118 subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) patients were admitted. Among these, in 2 cases, the etiology was unknown and another 8 cases of Hunt & Hess clinical grade V patients died in the emergency room or intensive care unit within 24 hours after admission. The remaning 108 cases were managed with protocol as follows. 1) Surgery was done within 9 days after the SAH(total 67 cases) : Extraventricular drainage(EVD) was performed and a cisternal drainage(CD) catheter was positioned during surgery. EVD, CD nimodipine irrigation(0.4mg) through the CD catheter, and intravenous injection(IV) of nimodipine(1~2mg/hr)continued for 13days after the SAH. 2) Surgery was done after the 9th SAH day due to late transfer neurology or other hospitals or posterior circulation aneurysms(32 cases), and 9 cases refused surgery : Nimodipine was used orally(240mg/day) in 35 cases and an IV route(1~2mg/hr) in 6 cases. Total management outcome and results were obtained as follows. 1) A total unsatisfactory management outcome was 18.52%(serve disabled : 4.63%, vegetative : 0.93%, death : 12.96%. In the surgical cases only, 40.8%, 1.02%, 9.19%, respectively). 2) An unsatisfactory surgical outcome in cases following surgery after the 9th SAH day was 6.24%(severe disabled : 3.12%, death : 3.12%). 3) An unsatisfactory management outcome in cases of admission grades I & II following surgery within the 9th SAH day or those non-surgical patients was 19.15%(severe disabled : 4.25%, death : 14.89%. In surgical cases only 2.33%, 9.30%, respectively). 4) An unsatisfactory management outcome in cases of admission grades III & IV with surgery within the 9th SAH day or non-surgical patients was 29.63%(severe disabled : 7.41%, vegetative : 3.70%. death : 18.52%. In surgical cases only 9.09%, 4.55%, 13.64%, respectively). One case of admission grade V died. 5) Causes of unsatisfactory outcome were vasospasm : 9 cases(8.33%), SAH itself : 4 cases, rebleeding : 3 cases, surgical complication : 1 case, medical complication : 1 case, anesthesia : 1 case, and head trauma : 1 case. 6) Complications in management protocol with EVD, CD, CD nimodipine irrigation, and IV of nimodipine were transient hypotension(1 case) and meningitis(5 cases). These complications were improved without sequelae with discontinuing the IV of nimodipine and using antibiotics. We concluded that this protocol may improved the total management outcome of aneurysmal SAH patients, especially poor grade patients(Hunt & Hess grade III & IV) without significant complications. However, in spite of this protocol, the leading cause of an unsatisfactory outcome is vasospasm.