Self-Management Knowledge, Self-Management, Physiological Indexes, and Symptoms Experience according to Dialysis Methods / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was a cross-sectional study comparing differences in self-management knowledge, self-management, physiologic indexes, and symptoms experience for two methods of dialysis. METHODS: Participants were 90 patients on hemodialysis and 91 on peritoneal dialysis at A hospital. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups for knowledge of self-management. A comparison of the categories in the evaluation of self-management showed that patients in the peritoneal dialysis group took better care of their dialysis access route (F=17.61, p < .001) and dialysis schedule (F=4.30, p=.040). The physiologic indexes between the two dialysis groups showed that hemoglobin levels were higher in the hemodialysis group (F=5.28, p=.023). The product of serum calcium and phosphate was higher in the peritoneal dialysis group (F=11.42, p=.001). Serum sodium level was also higher in the peritoneal dialysis group (t=5.36, p < .001) while serum albumin level (t=−3.36, p=.001) and mean arterial blood pressure (t=−2.50, p=.013) were higher in hemodialysis patients. There were no significant differences in the proportion of uncomfortable experiences between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Medical personnel should consider differences in self-management knowledge/self-management, physiologic indexes, and symptoms experience for hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis populations, and should provide adequate education accordingly and promote behavioral change to improve physiologic indexes and reduce symptoms.

Is CT Effective in Diagnosing the Acute Appendicitis?: Focus on Comparison of Unenhanced CT with Barium Enema

PURPOSE:To evaluate the role of unenhanced CT in diagnosing the acute appendicitis. METHOD AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively analyzed conventional contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans of 197 normal patients and barium enemas of 26 out of the 197 patients. Additional unenhanced CT scans of right lower abdomen were performed on 30 patients who were suspected of having acute appendicitis;barium enema was performed in 26 patients. RESULTS: in the analysis of the conventional CT scans, we could detect 132(67%) normal appendicies. On barium enema of 26 out of 197 patients, abruptly narrowed appendix was visualized in 5 cases and luminal irregularity in 4 cases but all 26 cases showed normal appendix on CT. In the 30 cases of unenhanced CT, all appendicies were visualized. Among 12 Cases which were proved as acute appendicitis, barium enenma was done in 10 case;abruptly narrowed appendix was shown in 3 and luminal irregularity in 1. Among 18 cases which were diagnosed as normal appendix, nonvisualization of appendix' was in 1 case, abruptly narrowed lumen in 3, and luminal irregularity in 9. CONCLUSION:Unenhanced CT in the area of the cecum may be an effective and safe diagnostic tool for acute appendicitis.

Pulmonary Consolidation Pattern on the Chest CT: Malignant vs Benign

PURPOSE: It is not easy to determine the cause of pulmonary consolidative lesion. Even without any definite mass, malignancy cannot be ruled out. And sometimes, it is difficult to differentiate tuberculosis from pneumonia. To differentiate malignant consolidative lesion from benign one, we studied patterns of air bronchogram, mucoid impaction, and computed tomographic anglogram etc. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty seven cases of pulmonary consolidative lesions(23 cases of malignancy,34 cases of benign lesion) were retrospectively reviewed by three radiologists. RESULTS: Among the 28 cases which showed a little air bronchogram(less than 1/3 of the whole lesion in volumetric measure with the eye) 19 cases were malignancy and nine cases were benign lesions. All of the 12 cases which showed profound air bronchogram over 2/3 of the whole lesion were benign lesions. Bronchiectasis was detected in 31 cases(four of malignancy and 27 of benign lesions). Among the 20 cases which didn't show the mucoid impaction five cases were malignancy and 15 cases were benign lesions. Out of eight cases with mucoid impaction filling the long segments(branching tree shape), seven cases were malignancy and one case was benign lesion. So called CT anglogram was detected in nine cases of malignancy and two cases of benign lesions. All of nine cases of malignancy showed CT anglogram which was like arborizing tree. CONCLUSION: Scanty air bronchogram, profound arborizing mucoid impaction and/or CT angoigram within consolidative lesion could suggest malignancy.