Clinical Study of Neonatal Pelvicectasia

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the different cause of pelvicectasia and its clinical outcome. The most important management of pelvicectasia consist of the early diagnosis and evaluation of the pathologic abnormalities of congenital pelvicectasia. This will help to offer the guideline on management of neonatal pelvicectasia. METHODS: We examined one hundred and seventy-one live neonates who were hospitalized and diagnosed with pelvicectasia at Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital from January 2008 to December 2008. A retrospective study was carried out in these patients for last three years. Renal ultrasonography was repeated at 1 month after birth and then 3 months interval. Diuretic renal scan with (99m)Tc-labeled diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid augmented with furosemide and voiding cystourethrogram was done after 4 to 6 weeks of first renal ultrasonography. Patients were followed-up for 1 to 30 months (average, 7.2 months). RESULTS: Pelvicectasia was postnatally detected in 171 cases (33.7%) among 507 neonates. Males were twice than females. Additional imaging studies revealed that normal kidney structure was the most common postnatal diagnosis (97.1%), followed by ureteropelvic obstruction, vesicoureteral reflux, multicystic kidney, ureteric duplication. Spontaneous regression of pelvicectasia was revealed in 165 renal units (67.6%). CONCLUSION: There are many cause of spontaneous regression in mild to moderate pelvicectasia. Urinary tract infection occurs in many neonates with pelvicectasia. Mild to moderate neonatal pelvicectasia without vesicoureteral reflux is clinically much less significant. Accordingly, close observation with serial renal ultrasonography may be sufficient.

Effect of Video-Education on Pre-Procedure Anxiety / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: The value of endoscopy is more increasing as a tool of the cancer screening, and many studies are now progressed for decreasing the inconvenience of patients who undergo the endoscopy. There are some overseas studies that the video-education before procedures like colonoscopy or coronary angiography increases the satisfaction and decreases the anxiety of the patients. But in Korea, there is lack of studies about the methods of decreasing the anxiety of the patients before procedures especially endoscopy. METHODS: We carried out the survey with 95 patients underwent the endoscopy in the medical health checkup center of National Health Insurance Medical Center during 19 July 2008 to 8 September 2008. The patients who had the medical history of gastrectomy, had pains due to another diseases and had a prescription about psychiatric medicine including hypnotics were excluded. RESULTS: Statistically there are no differences between two groups of the video-education and the paper-education according to age, sex, height, weight, body mass index, numbers of former endoscopy, smoking history and educational standard. The video-education is more effective than the paper-education in decreasing the anxiety index between before and after the education. CONCLUSION: The prior video-education for the patients awaiting endoscopy can decrease the anxiety about procedure. Moreover, it can decrease the suffication of the patients and increase the satisfaction of physicians. If the patients feeling the prior anxiety are educated with the video before undergoing endoscopy, the video-education is very effective to decrease the prior anxiety of the patients.

Obstructive Fibrinous Tracheal Pseudomembrane After Tracheal Intubation: A Case Report

Obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane is a rare, but potentially fatal complication associated with endotracheal intubation. It has been known that the formation of tracheal pseudomembrane is related with intracuff pressure during endotracheal intubation or infectious cause. But in the patient described in this case, pseudomembrane formation in the trachea was associated with subglottic epithelial trauma or caustic injuries to the trachea caused by aspirated gastric contents during intubation rather than tracheal ischemia due to high cuff pressure. We report a patient with obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane after endotracheal intubation who presented with dyspnea and stridor and was treated successfully with mechanical removal using rigid bronchoscopy.

Inter-arm arterial pressure difference caused by prone position in the thoracic outlet syndrome patient: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Thoracic outlet syndrome has neurologic symptoms caused by compression of brachial plexus, blood vessel symptoms are caused by compression of the artery or vein. The authors report a case of sudden decrease in blood pressure of the left arm after turning the patient from supine position to prone position. They confirmed that the patient had thoracic outlet syndrome after performing computed tomography.

Uncontrollable hyperthermia in acute cerebral injury: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

A 39 year old man arrived at the hospital with semi-comatose state as a result of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). For emergency craniectomy and hematoma removal, general anesthesia with desflurane and vecuronium was planned. Before the induction of anesthesia, the body temperature and end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) levels were 38.3degrees C and 38 mmHg, respectively. The body temperature and ETCO2 increased during surgery. After 2 hours of anesthesia, the temperature had increased to 41degrees C, despite bladder irrigation and body cooling. After 3 hours of anesthesia, the temperature reached 43.5degrees C and cardiac arrest developed. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was attempted, but the patient expired.

Effect of the Disability Prevention Program on Students' Self-efficacy and Practice-confidence in Elementary School

OBJECTIVE: To identify the effect of the 'disability prevention program' for elementary school students. METHOD: Our disability prevention program was a 60 minutes program composed of watching an education video for disability prevention and having a conversation with disabled speakers in wheelchairs. A questionnaire to measure the effect of the education was administered among 5,315 students in the 4th to 6th grades. The questionnaire was administered at 7 days before and after education. The questionnaire was to measure the changes in self-efficacy and in confidence to follow safety regulation. Also the questions on satisfaction about program were asked. RESULTS: The result showed that only 9.7% of bicycle owners, 18.9% of inline skate owners wore helmets, 9.3% of quick board (or skateboard) owners wore helmets, and only 47.6% of students fastened seat-belts in a car. After the program was conducted, there were significant improvements in self-efficacy and practice-confidence to wear protective device and to fasten seat belt in a car (p<0.01). The most impressive part of the program for students was 'conversation with disabled speaker' and the next was 'watching the video'. After program was conducted, 51.5% of students answered "I will keep safety regulations in mind and practice it" and 10.1% of students answered "I could learn a better understanding of the disabled and I also want to help them". CONCLUSION: The 'disability prevention program with disabled speakers in wheelchair' was effective in improving the self-efficacy and practice-confidence for safety regulation.

Nocturnal Penile Tumescense and Rigidity Testing for Evaluation of Erectile Dysfunction in Men with Spinal Cord Injury

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate erectile dysfunction in patients with spinal cord injury and the relationship between patient's subjective answers and the results of objective tests regarding erectile dysfunction. METHOD: Twenty-one male patients with erectile dysfunction after spinal cord injury were administered with nocturnal penile tumescense and rigidity testing (NPTR) using Rigiscan(R) over 2 consecutive nights. NPTR using Rigiscan(R) at second night was performed after oral administration of sildenafil 50 mg. Answer of the global efficacy question (GEQ) after oral administration of sildenafil 50 mg and the parameters of NPTR were compared. RESULTS: After oral administration of sildenafil 50 mg, number and duration of erectile episodes, and duration of rigidity greater than 60% on NPTR improved significantly (p< 0.05). Sixteen out of seventeen patients (94.1%) who showed improved nocturnal erection after oral administration of sildenafil 50 mg answered that they had an improved erectile function after sildenafil. All four patients (100%) who showed no improvement in nocturnal erection after sildenafil answered that their erectile function was not improved after oral administration of sildenafil 50 mg. CONCLUSION: We expect NPTR using Rigiscan(R) might be useful for the evaluation of erectile dysfunction in men with spinal cord injury.

The Selection of Exercise Stress Test in Hemiplegic Patients

OBJECTIVE: To suggest the standard tool for the selection of exercise stress tests (EST) by analysis of the initial evaluation factors affecting EST. METHOD: Twenty-two hemiplegic patients carried out treadmill, arm and bicycle ergometer ESTs. Treadmill EST using modified Harbor protocol was performed without taking off AFO. The velocity of the arm and bicycle ergometer was set in 50 rpm, and the resistance was increased up to 5 W at each stage. Each EST was completed at 80% of maximal heart rate. RESULTS: Brunnstrom stage of lower extrimity, Medical Research Council (MRC) scores [hip flexor, knee extensor, finger flexor] and standing balance of twelve patients completing treadmill EST were superior to those of failed group (p<0.05). Twelve patients completing bicycle ergometer EST showed significant differences in MRC scores [hip flexor, knee extensor] and sitting balance (p<0.05). Brunnstrom stage of lower extremity hip flexor and knee extensor power contributed mostly to the completion of treadmill EST (p<0.01). The completion of bicycle ergometer EST was mostly dependent on hip flexor and knee extensor power (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: For bicycle ergometer EST, hip flexor and knee extensor power should be higher than 3 and 4, respectively. Treadmill EST can be suggested when Brunnstrom stage of lower extremity, hip flexor and knee extensor power are above 4, 4 and 3, respectively. The completion rate of treadmill EST can be increased when standing balance ability and Brunnstrom hand score higher than 4 and 2, respectively.

The Importance of Motivation and Dropping Out from Treatment in Constraint-induced Movement Therapy for Stroke Patients

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of motivation for treatment and to find out causes of dropping out from treatment in performing the constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT). METHOD: Forty six stroke patients were treated with CIMT for 2 weeks. Prior to and after treatment, Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (FMA), Wolf motor function test (WMFT), box and block test (BBT), and 9 hole peg test, motor activity log (MAL) were performed, and for the evaluation of treatment motivation, motivation score (MS) was assessed in 24 patients. RESULTS: After 2 weeks of CIMT treatment, the mean value of FMA increased by 15.1%, WMFT by 19.5%, BBT by 35.8%, the time of 9 hole peg test decreased by 20.2%, and the "How well" sub-score of the increased MAL was 59.6% (p<0.05). Larger improvement of FMA score was observed in patients with high MS (p<0.05). Twelve out of 46 patients were dropped, 5 patients (18.5%) among 27 right side hemiplegic patients and 7 patients (38.9%) of 19 left side hemiplegic patients gave up the treatment in the middle, and the MS score of the quitted patients (35.3 point) was lower than that of patients who did not quit (40.5 point) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: After 2 weeks of CIMT treatment, larger improvement of movement capacity was observed in patients with high motivation. Among patients with low treatment motivation and old age, many patients were dropped out during CIMT.

A Case of Tuberculous Psoas Abscess Caused by Tuberculous Lymphadenopathy / 결핵및호흡기질환

A tuberculous psoas abscess is a frequently described complication of tuberculous spondylitis. Although rare, a tuberculous psoas abscess can develop without any demonstrable spinal involvement. In patients with no evidence of sponylitis, the abscess may result from direct spread from the involved lymph node or via a hematogeous route. The treatment of a psoas abscess is either drug therapy or surgical intervention in conjunction with drug therapy. Image-guided percutaneous drainage in conjunction with drug therapy is also a safe and effective treatment for a tuberculous psoas abscess. We report an unusual case of bilateral tuberculous psoas abscesses without any concomitant spinal involvement. The tuberculous psoas abscess may have formed by fistulization between the necrotic lymph node and psoas sheath. The diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography and a histology examination of the biopsy sample. The patient improved after administering anti-tuberculous agents for 2 years along with surgical and percutaneous drainage of the abscess.

The Effect of Task-Related Circuit Training in Old Aged Stroke

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effect of task-related circuit training in old aged stroke patients. METHODS: Twenty-four old aged stroke patients were randomly assignedto the experimental or the control group. Experimental groups participated in task-related circuit training three times a week and conventional physical therapy twice a week for 6 weeks. Control groups participated in conventional physical therapy five times a week for 6 weeks. Task-related circuit training was designed into a circuit with a series of workstation to improve the performance of functional tasks and motivation. Functional improvement was evaluated by measuring Brunnstrom stage, Berg Balance Scale, step test, 6min walking test, and Modified Barthel index. Subjects were surveyed for the their respective program. RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated significant improvement(p<0.05) in Berg Balance Scale, step test, 6min walking test, Modified Barthel index but no significant difference between experimental and control group. Subjects participated in task-related circuit training were more satisfied with their program in motivation and functional improvement, but not significantly compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Task-related circuit training improves flexibility, balance, endurance and functional capacity of activity of daily living in old aged stroke patients.

The Effect of Kanamycin on Rocuronium Neuromuscular Blockade in Rat Hemidiaphragm-phrenic Nerve Preparations / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Kanamycin has been shown to block neuromuscular transmission by reducing acetylcholine can release or blocking postsynaptic receptors. This study was undertaken to investigate whether kanamycin can potentiate rocuronium neuromuscular block. METHODS: Hemidiaphragm-phrenic nerve preparations were obtained from male Sprague-Dawley rats (150-250 g). Preparations were bathed in Kreb's solution of (mM): NaCl 118, KCl 5, CaCl2 2.5, NaHCO3 30, KH2PO4 1, MgCl2 1 and glucose 11 maintained at 32oC and aerated with a mixture of 95% O2 and 5% CO2. Isometric forces generated in response to 0.1 Hz and 50 Hz for 1.9 seconds with supramaximal electrical stimulation (0.2 msec, rectangular) to the phrenic nerve, were measured using a force transducer. The effects of drugs on single twitch tension (ST) and peak tetanic tension (PTT) were calculated as % inhibition of control and tetanic fade (TF), as % increase. Each preparation (n = 20) was exposed to one of 4 kanamycin concentrations (0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 mM), and an adequate volume of rocuronium solution was cumulatively added to the tissue bath to achieve a 80-90% reduction in ST. An adequate volume of kanamycin solution was cumulatively added to the other 5 preparations to achieve a 80-90% reduction in ST. The effect of kanamycin or rocuronium at each concentration was allowed to reach a steady state before tension parameters were measured. EC5, EC25, EC50, EC75, and EC95 of rocuronium and kanamycin for ST, PTT and TF were calculated using a probit model. Drug interactions were drawn using Berenbaum's additive isobole at 25% isobole, 50% isobole, and 75% isobole. Differences between EC50's of rocuronium at different kanamycin concentrations were tested using one way ANOVA with Tamhane post hoc analysis, P values of < 0.05 were regarded significant. RESULTS: Kanamycin shifted cumulative concentration-response curves to the right. The interactions of these drugs varied from additive to antagonistic or synergistic according to the magnitude of neuromuscular block, concentration of the drugs and the frequency of the stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Kanamycin lowered the effective concentration of rocuronium, but the interaction between rocuronium and kanamycin was variable.

A Case of Omental Paragonimiasis / 감염

Paragonimiasis is a lung fluke of human and usually found in the lungs but may be found in many unusual locations such as pleura, abdominal wall and brain etc. A 16-year old female patient visited department of Gynecology due to abdominal pain and distension. She took an examination with ultrasonography for ascites or pelvic cystic mass evaluation, diagnostic laparoscopy with omental biopsy for tissue diagnosis, and parasite specific antibody test (ELISA) for paragonimiasis. We made the diagnosis of Omental Paragonimiasis based on P. westermani eggs in eosinophils containing granuloma by laparoscopic mesenteric lymph node biopsy and specific IgE antibody to P. westermani. She was treated with praziquantel for three days and discharged. Here, we report a case of omental paragonimiasis with literature review, because this rarely involves the omentum and may be confused with other abdominopelvic inflammatory diseases, particularly intestinal tuberculosis in Korea.

Anesthetic Management for Cervicothoracic Sympathectomy in a Patient with Congenital Long QT Syndrome / 대한마취과학회지

A 23-year-old female patient was diagnosed with congenital long QT syndrome, discovered when she visited our cardiac department due to chest discomfort, because she had a prolonged QTc interval on ECG, history of syncopal attacks and seizures several times every year, and ingestion of anticonvulsants for several years. It is well known that the long QT syndrome is associated with sudden death secondary to ventricular tachyarrhythmia or fibrillation at a young age. Moreover cardiac arrests during induction, maintenance, and awakening of anesthesia of these patients have been reported, and may be due to asymmetrical adrenergic stimuli in the heart, especially in the unrecognised case. This case report describes the anesthetic management of a patient with congenital long QT syndrome, who presented for cervicothoracic sympathectomy for a more permanent control of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, and reviews the related literature.

Fractional Flow Reserve in Coronary Artery Disease: Comparison with Intravascular Ultrasound

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Precise assessment of lesion severity is fundamental for the clinical decision making in the patients with coronary artery disease. Coronary angiography has limitation to projection imaging techniques. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has been known to be a gold standard of morphological severity of coronary stenosis. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is known to be a lesion specific functional index of epicardial stenosis that can be derived from intracoronary pressure assessed during maximal vasodilation. The objective of this study was to investigate the validity of fractional flow reserve for stenosis severity in comparison with IVUS. METHODS: The study population consisted of 24 patients with angina pectoris (M:F=19:5, age: 58+/-12 yrs). The IVUS and intracoronary pressure wire performed at 26 lesions after diagnostic coronary angiography. We measured angiographical diameter stenosis (DST), minimal luminal diameter (MLD), minimal luminal area (MLA) and reference area stenosis (r-AST). FFR was defined by the ratio of distal mean coronary pressure (Pd) to aortic mean pressure (Pa). RESULTS: FFR showed significant correlation with both r-AST (r=-0.93, p<0.00001) than DST (r=-0.79, p<0.0001). When the lesions with MLD less than 1.1 mm were excluded, considering the limitation of IVUS for the thickness of its catheter, FFR showed excellent correlation with r-AST with higher correlation coefficient (r=-0.96, p<0.00001). FFR showed significant correlation with MLA (r=0.87, p=0.0001) or MLD (r=0.83, p=0.0005). CONCLUSION: FFR with excellent correlation with r-AST measured by IVUS seems to be a useful lesion specific functional index for the assessment of coronary stenosis in angina patients.

Midazolam Pharmacokinetics in Patients Undergoing Lung Surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The nature of operation alters the volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss) of drug. The hepatic extraction ratio of midazolam (0.3~0.7) could be influenced by hepatic blood flow (HBF), and hepatic enzyme activity. The pharmacokinetics of intravenous midazolam were determined in patients undergoing lung surgery. METHODS: Midazolam, 0.2 mg/kg, was administered to five patients undergoing lung surgery at 30 minutes after induction of anesthesia. Anesthesia was maintained with O2-enflurane for one lung ventilation. Blood samples from artery were drawn at increasing intervals for 12 h. Plasma midazolam concentrations were measured by gas chromatography. Computer simulations of the times required for 20%, 50%, and 80% decreases in midazolam concentrations were performed. RESULTS: A three compartment model best described the concentration versus time data. The volume of the central compartment (Vc) and volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss) were 4.3 2.8 l and 59.9 20.1 l, respectively. The elimination half-life was 3.4 2.2 h. Simulations indicate that under all the situations, the concentrations would decrease more rapidly in our patients in spite of similar Vdss and elimination half-life of patients undergoing minor gynecological surgery. CONCLUSION: The elimination half-life was in the range of previously reported values. The shorter recovery time is apparently due to relatively faster redistrubution, and relatively greater capacity for redistribution.

The Incidence of Cardiac Arrhythmias is Lower in Isoflurane than Enflurane / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: There is difference between isoflurane and enflurane in the myocardial sensitization to catecholamines, and their actions on the heart. Enflurane reduces cytoplasmic calcium more than isoflurane. The hypothesis could be suggested that these two volatile anesthetics might cause the different incidences and natures of cardiac arrhythmias. METHODS: The anesthesia was induced by the intravenous injection of thiopental(6 mg, kg-1) and pipecuronium(0.1 mg, kg-1). Two groups were randomly allocated to the patients(n=80) in the maintenance: Group I inhaled isoflurane(1~2%), O2(2 L), and N2O(2 L), Group II, enflurane (1.5~2.5%). Continuous electrocardiographic recordings with Holter monitor were made of those undergoing tympanoplasty during anesthesia. The tapes recorded were scanned using analyzer, and we read out ECG complexes on the screen. Results were categorized as induction, maintenance, and emergence, and inferred from unpaired t-test, and X2-test with p<0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) The total incidence of cardiac arrhythmias was 65.0%. Isoflurane(52.5%) was lower than enflurane(77.5%) in the incidence. 2) During maintenance and emergence, isoflurane was lower than enflurane in the frequency of supraventicular arrhythmias. 3) Ventricular arrhythmias most frequently occurred in induction. 4) The frequency of supraventricular arrhythmias was more than two times that of ventricular ones. The arrhythmias at the AV junction were the most common, and VPC's the second. CONCLUSIONS: Greatest caution should be paid during peri-induction. It could be suggested that compared to enflurane, isoflurane better be administered for those to whom arrhythmias could be harmful.

Effect of Speed of Injection on Spinal Anesthesia with 0.5% Plain Bupivacaine / 대한마취과학회지

To observe the anesthetic characteristics of two different speeds of injection using 0.5% plain bupivacaine during spinal anesthesia, 40 patients undergoing lower extremity surgery were allocated randomly into two groups. In one group, 3 ml of 0.596 plain bupivacaine was administered into the subarachnoid space using 25 gauge Quincke spinal needle to the patients with a lateral horizontal position at duration of 10 seconds. In the other group, the duration was 180 seconds. There were no statistically significant differences between two groups in maximal level and its onset time of sensory blockade, hemodynamic changes, onset time to grade 3 Bromage motor blockade. We concluded that the speed of injection does not affect the anesthetic characteristics of spinal anesthesia using 0.5% plain bupivacaine.

Cardiac Arrhythmias under General Anesthesia Using Enflurane / 대한마취과학회지

The large part of pathophysiology of cardiac arrhythmias has been clarified but still arrhythmias have bothered anesthesiologists. This study was done in order to investigate the incidence and nature of arrhythmias using Holter monitor for complete study during enflurane anesthesia. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups. Group I received succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg, and Group II vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg, intravenously for intubation. Continuous electrocardiographic recordings on magnetic tape were made in 34 patients undergoing tympanoplasty during general anesthesia (thiopental(5 mg/kg)-muscle relaxants induction, and N2O(50%)-O2-enflurane(1.2%)-pancuronium maintenance). After completion of the recordings, the tapes were scanned to detect changes in rhythm using the analyzer. Complexes were further studied by readouts on standard ECG paper. The results were as follows: 1) The number of patients(n=14) who exhibited arrhythmias during anesthetic maintenance was significantly greater than that(n=4) during induction. 2) The incidence of occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias was 64.7%. There was no difference between two groups. If sinus tachycardia included, the incidence reached at 94.1%. 3) The frequency of supraventricular arrhythmias was more than two times that of ventricular ones. The arrhythmias occuning at the AV junction were the most common, and VPCs the second most common 4) There was no effect on the frequency in arrhythmia occurrence, of age, gender, preoperative ECG findings, intraoperative serum K(+), and intraoperative PaCO2 The discrepancy in the incidence of arrhythmia occurrence between complete and incomplete studies tells that great caution should be paid perioperatively, especially to the patients who have cardiovascular disorders.

Cases Report of Classic Celiac Plexus Block and Transaortic Celiac Plexus Block / 대한마취과학회지

To relieve intractable upper abdominal cancer pain using 75% alcohol, Celiac Plexus Blocks (C.P.B.) were performed by means of the classic two needle technique in 7 cases and by single needle transaortic method in 3 cases under fluroscopic guidance. Both methods relieved the pain effectively and there was no significant hemorragic, neurologic and other complications. The degree of pain relief estimated by Graphic Rating Scale (GRS) and the incidence of complication were similar between two methods but the single needle transaortic method was more simple, easier and effective with just one third of alcohol used in the classic method.