Acute Purulent Staphylococcal Pericarditis with Cardiac Tamponade in a Hemodialysis Patient / 대한신장학회지

Purulent pericarditis is a rare disease in both end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and the general population. We report herein a case of acute purulent staphylococcal pericarditis with cardiac tamponade managed by intravenous antibiotics and pericardiocentesis with drainage. A 54-year-old man with ESRD, who had been on hemodialysis (HD) for the previous six months, was admitted to the hospital because of fever. He had a history of a recent episode of staphylococcal bacteremia associated with venography for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) malfunction. On the sixth day after admission, severe intradialytic hypotension arose during HD. Echocardiography showed a large pericardial effusion with hemodynamic significance. Emergency pericardiocentesis with drainage was performed. Acute purulent staphylococcal pericarditis with cardiac tamponade was diagnosed and intravenous vancomycin was administered for four weeks. On the 23rd day, the patient was discharged from the hospital after the drainage catheter's removal. Ten days after discharge, however, he was re-admitted because of dyspnea on exertion. Eventually, the patient expired because of heart failure caused by progressive constrictive pericarditis. We suggest that acute purulent pericarditis should be considered in dialysis patients who develop fever and severe hypotension during HD, especially after known staphylococcal infections.

A Case of Anticoagulant Ileus Diagnosed by Double Balloon Enteroscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Anticoagulant ileus is a rare complication that is caused by an intramural hematoma, and the hematoma is due to excessive anticoagulant therapy. The features of anticoagulant ileus vary from slight abdominal pain to vomiting, severe abdominal pain and abdominal rebound tenderness that are due to intestinal obstruction. Anticoagulant ileus is sometimes accompanied by gastrointestinal bleeding, peritoneal bleeding and panperitonitis due to intestinal perforation. The diagnosis of anticoagulant ileus has been made using such radiographic methods as enhanced abdominal computed tomography and small bowel follow-through. We were able to confirm a case of anticoagulant ileus with bleeding by performing double balloon enteroscopy. We report on this case and we review the relevant literature.

Usefulness of Semi-quantitative Procalcitonin Assay in Critically Ill Patients with Bacterial Pneumonia / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: In pulmonary infection, serum procalcitonin levels increase rapidly, probably in response to sepsis-related cytokine release from neuroendocrine cells of bronchial epithelium and inflammatory cells. We applied procalcitonin assay in critically ill patients with bacterial pneumonia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and show diffuse infiltrations in their chest X-ray were included. Quantitative bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) culture (> or =10(4) CFU/mL) was performed in all cases on the 5th day of ICU admission. We excluded patients with structural lung disease, non-infectious lung infiltrations, and atypical infections such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pneumocystis jiroveci, and viruses. Serum procalcitonin levels were measured semi-quantitatively by using PCT-Q kit. RESULTS: A total of 28 adult patients (M:F=23:5) were included: 11 (39.3%) medically-ill patients, 7 (25%) surgically-ill patients, and 10 (35.7%) burn patients. Serum procalcitonin level was or =0.5 ng/mL in the remaining half of the cases. Compared to those with serum procalcitonin level of or =0.5 ng/mL had more frequent mechanical ventilation, higher CRP/APACHE II scores/number of organ failure (P or =0.5 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: High serum procalcitonin level seems to be closely associated with the severity and poor prognosis in critically ill patients with bacterial pneumonia. However, pneumonia could not be excluded with low level of procalcitonin among ICU patients.

Usefulness of Semi-quantitative Procalcitonin Assay in Critically Ill Patients with Bacterial Pneumonia / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: In pulmonary infection, serum procalcitonin levels increase rapidly, probably in response to sepsis-related cytokine release from neuroendocrine cells of bronchial epithelium and inflammatory cells. We applied procalcitonin assay in critically ill patients with bacterial pneumonia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and show diffuse infiltrations in their chest X-ray were included. Quantitative bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) culture (> or =10(4) CFU/mL) was performed in all cases on the 5th day of ICU admission. We excluded patients with structural lung disease, non-infectious lung infiltrations, and atypical infections such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pneumocystis jiroveci, and viruses. Serum procalcitonin levels were measured semi-quantitatively by using PCT-Q kit. RESULTS: A total of 28 adult patients (M:F=23:5) were included: 11 (39.3%) medically-ill patients, 7 (25%) surgically-ill patients, and 10 (35.7%) burn patients. Serum procalcitonin level was or =0.5 ng/mL in the remaining half of the cases. Compared to those with serum procalcitonin level of or =0.5 ng/mL had more frequent mechanical ventilation, higher CRP/APACHE II scores/number of organ failure (P or =0.5 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: High serum procalcitonin level seems to be closely associated with the severity and poor prognosis in critically ill patients with bacterial pneumonia. However, pneumonia could not be excluded with low level of procalcitonin among ICU patients.

A Case of Hemosuccus Pancreaticus Mistaken for Hemobilia / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Hemosuccus pancreaticus is a rare cause of chronic and intermittent chronic gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and this condition cannot be easily detected by endoscopy. We report here on a 51-year-old woman with obstructive jaundice and a history of acute pancreatitis and chronic alcoholism. Abdominal computed tomography showed a dilated distal common bile duct. We performed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography to decompress the bile duct and we found a blood clot on the orifice of the ampulla of Vater. Hemobilia with massive bleeding was seen during the examination. Angiography for controlling the hemorrhage showed the pseudoaneurysm of the pancreaticoduodenal artery. Angiographic embolization was successful for controlling the arterial hemorrhage. The patient remained symptom-free and he was discharged without complications.

Delayed Diagnosis of a Traumatic Diaphragmatic Injury / 결핵및호흡기질환

Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture is uncommon, but requires a prompt diagnosis and repair. Diaphragmatic injury is most commonly associated with automobile accidents. The diagnosis is difficult and may be delayed because there are no specific symptoms, signs, or radiographic studies that are pathognomic for diaphragmatic injury. The most important factor in the diagnosis is a high suspicion and the use of proper diagnostic studies. We report a case involving the delayed presentation of diaphragmatic rupture in a 54 year old man, requiring surgical repair 12 days following multiple blunt trauma. It should be noted that early recognition for diaphragmatic injury is important in patients with multiple trauma to avoid the potential fatal complications.