No abstract available.
Varicose Veins

No abstract available.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study analyzing 73 patients treated by decompression, pedicular screw instrumentation and posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) for lumbosacral spondylolithesis and symptomatic spinal stenosis. we used laminected laminar and spinous process instead of iliac bone. OBJECTIVES: This is to evaluate fusion rate and clinical results of PLIF with laminected laminar and spinous process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PLIF in 73 patients with lumbosacral disorders who carried out at Pohang St. Mary's Hospital from March 1994 to January 1996. Fusion rate was evaluated by simple X-ray and dynamic view. Clinical effect was evaluated by Kirkaldy-Willis criteria. RESULTS: The solid fusion was achieved at 67 cases(91.8%) and the average period of fusion was 6.4 months. Complications were 2 cases of superficial skin infection and 3 cases of root irritation. The functional results by Kirkaldy-Willis were as follows ; excellent 40 cases, good 23 cases, fair 9 cases and poor 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: This PLIF procedure combined with transpedicular instrumentation showed sufficient fusion rate and excellent clinical results and improvement in vertebral alignment.
Decompression ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Spinal Stenosis

Sweat gland carcinoma is the uncommon neoplasm, with few cases reported in the literatures. In a review of literatures, the most commonly used term is malignant nodular hidradenoma; however, similar cases also have been known as a malignant clear cell hidradenoma, malignant clear cell myoepithelioma, clear cell eccrine carcinoma and malignant clear cell acrospiroma. It is difficult to differentiate clinically between sweat gland carcinomas and other skin lesion, such as keloids, sebaceous cyst, dermatofibroma, lymphoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Thus, a preoperative diagnosis of sweat gland carcinoma is rarely made and histologic examination is the only means of diagnosis. Most sweat gland carcinomas are found on the scalp, face, upper extremities, and axilla. The lesions are typically small, very slow growing, painless nodules. However, it is aggressive, infiltrative, and has highly recurrent rate. Lymph node metastases are frequent and overall survival is poor. So, that must be treated with wide local excision of the lesion and primary regional node dissection is recommended.We have experienced of a case of malignant nodular hidradenoma in cheek area. It was widely excised by total parotidectomy and covered by scapula fasciocutaneous free flap. We report this case with the review of the literature.
Acrospiroma* ; Axilla ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cheek ; Diagnosis ; Epidermal Cyst ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; Keloid ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphoma ; Myoepithelioma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Scalp ; Scapula ; Skin ; Sweat Glands ; Upper Extremity

Sweat gland carcinoma is the uncommon neoplasm, with few cases reported in the literatures. In a review of literatures, the most commonly used term is malignant nodular hidradenoma; however, similar cases also have been known as a malignant clear cell hidradenoma, malignant clear cell myoepithelioma, clear cell eccrine carcinoma and malignant clear cell acrospiroma. It is difficult to differentiate clinically between sweat gland carcinomas and other skin lesion, such as keloids, sebaceous cyst, dermatofibroma, lymphoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Thus, a preoperative diagnosis of sweat gland carcinoma is rarely made and histologic examination is the only means of diagnosis. Most sweat gland carcinomas are found on the scalp, face, upper extremities, and axilla. The lesions are typically small, very slow growing, painless nodules. However, it is aggressive, infiltrative, and has highly recurrent rate. Lymph node metastases are frequent and overall survival is poor. So, that must be treated with wide local excision of the lesion and primary regional node dissection is recommended.We have experienced of a case of malignant nodular hidradenoma in cheek area. It was widely excised by total parotidectomy and covered by scapula fasciocutaneous free flap. We report this case with the review of the literature.
Acrospiroma* ; Axilla ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cheek ; Diagnosis ; Epidermal Cyst ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; Keloid ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphoma ; Myoepithelioma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Scalp ; Scapula ; Skin ; Sweat Glands ; Upper Extremity

The purpose of this study was to investigate the operational characteristics of the contract-managed highschool foodservice and to analyze the factors to effect the menu price. The data was collected from 249 highschools in Seoul. The results are as follows; Those surveyed highschools were established as 1 national, 74 public, and 174 private institution. Highschools were classified as 176 academic, 66 vocational, and 7 specific purposed institution. Students were organized as 70 boys', 23 girls', and 41 coeducational highschools. Most highschool started contract-managed highschool foodservice from 1999 and the period of foodservice contract was most 3 years and the operation styles in food distribution were 96 classrooms, 105 dining halls and 17 classrooms combined dining halls. The scale of contract foodservice management companies was 63.1% small and medium and 36.9% large enterprises. The surveyed highschools had the average meal price 2,141 won per meal and they had 1,518 pupils on the register. The participating rate to the foodservice was 68.5%. The facilities investment cost of the contract foodservice management company was 179,204,230 won for private institutions and was 138,119,010 won for national&public institutions. The period of the contract was 3.22 years in private institutions, which was significantly higher than national&public institutions which showed 2.85 years. The commissary foodservice schools had higher facilities investment cost than conventional foodservice schools. Classrooms foodservice had higher participating foodservice rate than Dining halls. The investment cost for facilities showed high in order of girls', boys', and coeducational high schools, and the number on the register and the number participating in the foodservice showed high in order of boys', girls', and coeducational high schools. The number on the register showed the highest in academic and vocational schools, specific purposed institutions in sequence, and the number participating in the foodservice showed high in order of academic schools, specific purposed institutions and vocational. However, the participating foodservice rate showed high in specific purposed institution, academic and vocational schools in order, and the meal price, the investment cost for facilities showed high in specific purposed institution, academic and vocational schools in sequence. Regionally, the district south of Han river had the average meal price 2,266.13 won, which showed higher in the eastern part which had 2,033.33 won. The western part had the average investment cost for facilities of 233,331,060 won, and the central district 126,137,140 won. The number on the register showed 1845.68 in the eastern part and 1308.00 in Dong-Jak area, that had clear differences among areas. When the period of the contract went longer, the investment cost for facilities had a tendency to increase. The significant differences were existed among meal price, the investment cost for facilities, the number on the register, the number participating in the foodservice, and the participating foodservice rate. The investment cost for facilities had increased according to the number participating in the foodservice and the participating foodservice rate. And the large enterprises showed higher participating foodservice rate than the small and medium enterprises.
Costs and Cost Analysis ; Humans ; Investments ; Meals ; Pupil ; Rivers ; Seoul*

Pylephlebitis is defined as an inflammation of the portal system, which is a rare but dreaded complication of intra-abdominal inflammatory processes. In the past it was observed as a sequela of neglected or complicated appendicitis. With earlier diagnosis, modern surgical technique and antibiotics, the incidence has declined even further. In addition, thrombosis in portal system (pylethrombosis) can complicate the pylephlebitis, followed by obstruction of the portal system, leading to portal hypertension in the late stage. Proper recognition of early thrombosis and an accompanying intra-abdominal inflammatory process should arouse the suspicion of septic thrombophlebitis and lead to the early institution of adequate therapy to prevent the almost universally fatal outcome. We report the case of woman who had pylephlebitis and presented with fever of unknown origin, probably associated with acute appendicitis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Appendicitis ; Diagnosis ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Fever of Unknown Origin* ; Fever* ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Portal System ; Portal Vein* ; Thrombophlebitis* ; Thrombosis

BACKGROUND: In aortic surgery, division and ligation of the left brachiocephalic vein(LBV) may improve exposure of the aortic arch but controversy continues about the safety of this division and whether a divided vein should be reanastomosed after arch replacement was completed. The safety of LBV division and the fate of the left subclavian venous drainage after LBV division were studied. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From November 1998 to January 2001, planned division and ligation of the LBV on the mid-line after median sternotomy was performed in 10 patients during the aortic surgery with the consideration of local anatomy and distal aortic anastomosis. Assessment for upper extremity edema and neurologic symptoms, measurement of venous pressure in the right atrium and left internal jugular vein, and digital subtraction venography(DSV) of the left arm were made postoperatively. RESULT: In 10 patients there was improvement in access to the aortic arch for procedures on the ascending aorta or aortic arch. The mean age of patients was 62 years(range 24 to 70). Follow-up ranged from 3 weeks to 13 months. One patient died because of mediastinitis from methicilline-resistant staphylococcus aureus strain. All patients had edema on the left upper extremity, but resolved by the postoperative day 4. No patient had any residual edema or difficulty in using the left upper extremity during the entire follow-up period. No patient had postoperative stroke. Pressure difference between the right atrium and left internal jugular vein was peaked on the immediate postoperative period(mean peak pressure difference = 25mmHg), but gradually decreased, then plated by the postoperative day 4. In all DSV studies left subclavian vein flowed across the midline through the inferior thyroid venous plexus. CONCLUSION: We conclude that division of LBV is safe and reanastomosis is not necessary if inferior thyroid vein, which is developed as a main bridge connecting the left subclavian vein with right venous system, is preserved.
Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Arm ; Brachiocephalic Veins* ; Drainage ; Edema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; Ligation ; Mediastinitis ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Sternotomy ; Stroke ; Subclavian Vein ; Thyroid Gland* ; Upper Extremity ; Veins* ; Venous Pressure

OBJECTIVE: Posture-induced radial neuropathy, known as Saturday night palsy, occurs because of compression of the radial nerve. The clinical symptoms of radial neuropathy are similar to stroke or a herniated cervical disk, which makes it difficult to diagnose and sometimes leads to inappropriate evaluations. The purpose of our study was to establish the clinical characteristics and diagnostic assessment of compressive radial neuropathy. METHODS: Retrospectively, we reviewed neurophysiologic studies on 25 patients diagnosed with radial nerve palsy, who experienced wrist drop after maintaining a certain posture for an extended period. The neurologic presentations, clinical prognosis, and electrophysiology of the patients were obtained from medical records. RESULTS: Subjects were 19 males and 6 females. The median age at diagnosis was 46 years. The right arm was affected in 13 patients and the left arm in 12 patients. The condition was induced by sleeping with the arms hanging over the armrest of a chair because of drunkenness, sleeping while bending the arm under the pillow, during drinking, and unknown. The most common clinical presentation was a wrist drop and paresthesia on the dorsum of the 1st to 3rd fingers. Improvement began after a mean of 2.4 weeks. Electrophysiologic evaluation was performed after 2 weeks that revealed delayed nerve conduction velocity in all patients. CONCLUSION: Wrist drop is an entrapment syndrome that has a good prognosis within several weeks. Awareness of its clinical characteristics and diagnostic assessment methods may help clinicians make diagnosis of radial neuropathy and exclude irrelevant evaluations.
Arm ; Diagnosis ; Drinking ; Electrophysiology ; Female ; Fingers ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Neural Conduction ; Paralysis ; Parasomnias ; Paresthesia ; Posture ; Prognosis ; Radial Nerve ; Radial Neuropathy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke ; Wrist*

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for decortication or debridement in the management of empyema thoracis has increased the available treatment options but requires validation. We present and evaluate our technique and experience with thoracoscopic management of pleural empyema, irrespective of chronicity. MATERIAL AND METHOD: VATS debridement or decortication was performed with endoscopic shaver system in 40 consecutive patients presented with pleural space infections. A retrospective review was performed and the effect of this technique on perioperative outcome was assessed. RESULT: VATS evacuation of infected pleural fluid and decortication was successfully performed in 35 of 40 patients. The mean duration of preoperative symptoms before referral was 23 +/- 1.8 days. The mean duration of hospitalization before transfer was 13.5 +/- 1.5 days. Blood loss was 250 to 200 mL. Intercostal drainage was required for 5 +/- 3 days. The postoperative hospital stay was 5 +/- 0.7 days. There were no operative mortalities. CONCLUSION: Video-assisted evacuation of infected pleural fluid and decortication is an effective modality in the management of the fibropurulent stage of empyema. An organized empyema should be approached thoracoscopically, but may require open decortication.
Debridement ; Drainage ; Empyema* ; Empyema, Pleural ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thoracoscopy