No abstract available.
Mortality*

The ingestion of foreign bodies into the gastrointestinal tract is common, and most are passed out spontaneously without causing any problems. However, a perforation can cause a variety of complications involving considerable morbidity and mortality. Moreover, clinical presentation of a perforation can vary and patients are often unaware of the episode. Hence, a pre-operative diagnosis is difficult under these circumstances. We report an unusual case of a liver abscess that developed secondary to a toothpick that had penetrated the gastric wall and migrated to the liver. The liver abscess was treated successfully with internal drainage by inserting an endoscopic pigtail catheter through the hepato-gastric fistula. The toothpick was removed using an endoscopic snare.
Mortality

No abstract available.
Mortality*

BACKGROUND/AIM: Sedated endoscopy performed for higher compliance requires close monitoring and long recovery time. In addition, several side effects including even mortality could occur. This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of unsedated 6.5 mm endoscopy compared with sedated standard endoscopy. METHODS: One hundred eight patients were randomized into 2 groups (unsedated or sedated); unsedated endoscopy with 6.5 mm endoscope (58 patients); sedated endoscopy with standard endoscope (50 patients). Vital sign, time to recover walking ability and degree of amnesia were evaluated. The endoscopists' and patients' satisfaction and complication were estimated in terms of endoscopic score, visual analogue scale and complication score. RESULT: Oxygen saturation during the procedure significantly decreased in the sedated group. No difference was noted in endoscopists' and patients' satisfaction, but complication score was significantly decreased in the 6.5 mm scope group. The time for the induction of sedation was 3.4 minutes and the time to recover through walking ability was 36 minutes. CONCLUSION: From these results, there was no difference in either the endoscopists' or the patients' satisfaction between two groups, but complication and recovery time were significantly reduced in 6.5 mm group. Unsedated 6.5 mm endoscopy could be considered as a substitution for the sedated standard endoscopy.
Mortality

No abstract available.
Mortality*

Since the operative mortality rate of the Acute aortic dissection has been reducing, a more extensive primary repair of the dissected aorta is preferred for acute aortic dissection to reduce the needs of secondary procedures. We performed a total aortic arch replacement with distal stent-grafting in acute type A aortic dissection. The patient was a 50-years old man. He recovered from the operation and was followed up for 7 months. The pseudolumen in the descending aorta was obliterated with the stent.
Mortality

BACKGROUND: Erythropoietin therapy is known to be associated with reduction of cardiovascular complication and mortality as well as correction of anemia in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). But, it is uncertain whether EPO therapy improves renal function in patients with CRF. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether EPO therapy is a significant factor affecting renal progression in predialysis patients with CRF. METHODS: We analyzed medical records of 35 predialysis patients (18 EPO users and 17 non-users) with serum creatinine 1.4 to 5.0 mg/dL or MDRD (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease) GFR<60 mL/min/ 1.73m2 and compared the change of MDRD GFR and serum creatinine. Rssults: Baseline serum creatinine in EPO users and non-users were not different (2.98+/-0.89 mg/dL vs 2.42+/-0.97 mg/dL, p=0.084), but MDRD GFR was lower in EPO users (21.16+/-6.90 mL/min/1.73m2 vs 32.92+/-14.86 mL/min/1.73m2, p=0.007). Mean follow up duration was 29.22+/-14.49 and 30.71+/-19.10 months in EPO users and non-users, respectively (p=NS). Baseline hemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly lower in EPO users (9.20+/-1.10 g/dL, 26.93+/-3.25%) compared to non-users (13.18+/-1.90 g/dL, 38.68+/-5.89%). During follow up period, there was no significant difference in mean BP, hemoglobin, hematocrit, fasting blood glucose and HbA1C in diabetic patients and the amount of proteinuria between the two groups. The slope of 1/Cr decrease (-0.0021+/-0.0036 dL/mg/month vs -0.0088+/-0.0123 dL/mg/month, p= 0.033) and of GFR decrease (-0.143+/-0.229 mL/min/ 1.73m2/month vs -0.678+/-1.002 mL/min/1.73 1.73m2/ month, p=0.046) were significantly lower in EPO- users than non-users. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that EPO therapy in predialysis patients with CRF can retard progression of renal failure.
Mortality

BACKGROUND: Erythropoietin therapy is known to be associated with reduction of cardiovascular complication and mortality as well as correction of anemia in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). But, it is uncertain whether EPO therapy improves renal function in patients with CRF. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether EPO therapy is a significant factor affecting renal progression in predialysis patients with CRF. METHODS: We analyzed medical records of 35 predialysis patients (18 EPO users and 17 non-users) with serum creatinine 1.4 to 5.0 mg/dL or MDRD (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease) GFR<60 mL/min/ 1.73m2 and compared the change of MDRD GFR and serum creatinine. Rssults: Baseline serum creatinine in EPO users and non-users were not different (2.98+/-0.89 mg/dL vs 2.42+/-0.97 mg/dL, p=0.084), but MDRD GFR was lower in EPO users (21.16+/-6.90 mL/min/1.73m2 vs 32.92+/-14.86 mL/min/1.73m2, p=0.007). Mean follow up duration was 29.22+/-14.49 and 30.71+/-19.10 months in EPO users and non-users, respectively (p=NS). Baseline hemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly lower in EPO users (9.20+/-1.10 g/dL, 26.93+/-3.25%) compared to non-users (13.18+/-1.90 g/dL, 38.68+/-5.89%). During follow up period, there was no significant difference in mean BP, hemoglobin, hematocrit, fasting blood glucose and HbA1C in diabetic patients and the amount of proteinuria between the two groups. The slope of 1/Cr decrease (-0.0021+/-0.0036 dL/mg/month vs -0.0088+/-0.0123 dL/mg/month, p= 0.033) and of GFR decrease (-0.143+/-0.229 mL/min/ 1.73m2/month vs -0.678+/-1.002 mL/min/1.73 1.73m2/ month, p=0.046) were significantly lower in EPO- users than non-users. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that EPO therapy in predialysis patients with CRF can retard progression of renal failure.
Mortality

No abstract available.
Mortality*

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum is morphologically heterogeneous, and the surgical outcome remains suboptimal compared to other complex congenital heart defects. We evaluated the long-term results for repair of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. MATERIAL NAD METHOD: Between January 1992 and June 2004, 38 patients underwent repair of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. The average age was 18 days (2~382 days). The average Z-value of the tricuspid annulus diameter was -3.1 (-5.6~0.8). Thirteen (36%) patients had right ventricle-to-coronary artery fistulas, and 4 (11%) patients had right ventricle-dependent coronary circulation. Average follow-up was 55 months (3 months~12.2 years). RESULT: Twenty-four patients underwent initial right ventricle (RV) decompression and 14 patients underwent systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunt only. The average size of the tricuspid annulus of the patients who underwent RV decompression was significantly larger than that of the patients who underwent systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunt only (Z-value -2.2 vs. -4.8, p= 0.000). There were 5 (13%) early and 1 late deaths. Early deaths occurred in 3 patients who had undergone RV decompression, and in 2 patients who had undergone systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunt only (p=1.0). Biventricular repair was achieved in 12 (32%) patients, single ventricular repair in 8 (21%), and one and a half ventricular repair in 4 (11%) patients. Nine (24%) patients are waiting for the definitive repair. Kaplan-Meier survival at 5 and 8 years was 83.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Most of the deaths occurred after the initial palliation. Overall long- term survival was satisfactory. Early mortality should be reduced with careful preoperative evaluation and proper surgical strategy.
Mortality