BACKGROUND: There is paucity of data on the use of blood and its products with regard to the diagnoses of recipients in Korea. The objective of this study is to report the characteristics of the recipients and the usage in relation to diagnoses among Koreans. METHODS: We assessed the blood usage of adult patients (18 years or older) in a tertiary teaching hospital during the past 2 years (1998-2000). The red blood cells (RBCs), fresh frozen plasmas (FFPs) and platelets (PLTs, platelet concentrates and apheresis platelets) were evaluated in relation to the characteristics of the recipients and the discharge diagnoses according to the International Classification of Diseases (10th Ed). Data were extracted from the hospital information system. RESULTS: Approximately twenty percent of the hospitalized patients were transfused. RBCs, FFPs and PLTs were transfused 18.9%, 4.8% and 3.2% of hospitalized patients, respectively. Fifty-six percent of 54,049 RBCs and 64.9% of 19,549 FFPs were transfused in the patients with nonhematological neoplasms, disorders of the digestive system, injury and poisoning. Sixty-two percent of 50,621 PLTs were transfused in the patients with hematological and non-hematological neoplasms and disorders of the digestive system. CONCLUSIONS: This survey showed the trends of the transfusion practice as different from those for Caucasians and the usage of FFPs and PLTs was restricted for some recipients. These results could help in predicting the blood needs and medical costs for a variety of patients.
Adult* ; Blood Component Removal ; Blood Platelets ; Diagnosis* ; Digestive System ; Erythrocytes ; Hospital Information Systems ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; International Classification of Diseases ; Korea ; Plasma ; Poisoning

No abstract available.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Needle ; Bone Marrow/metabolism ; Bone Marrow/pathology ; Bone Marrow Diseases/diagnosis ; Bone Marrow Examination* ; Comparative Study ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hematologic Diseases/diagnosis* ; Human ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/pathology

Ten feet from 6 idiopathic congenltal clubfoot patients which had failed to respond to conservative mearsured were treated by aggreasive posteromedial release during infancy with generally good results. A modltication of Denis-Browne splint by splitting both aides and using dial lock to hold the foot still ln correeted position was found quite useful for post-operative maintenance.
Clubfoot ; Foot ; Humans ; Splints

Ilizarov technique has been successfully applied to limb lengthening for several decade, one of its main drawback is, however, long application of external fixator over 6 months. To lessen this time, simultaneous intramedullary fixation which convert later to static fixation by insertion of interlocking screws has been proposed. The indication for surgical limb lengthening includes familial short stature below the 3rd percentile. We compared the results of thirteen tibial lengthening with Ilizarov method to that of eleven hybrid methods. The hybrid system is composed of an unreamed AO intramedullary nail (IM) and ring fixator. Once the lengthening is completed, distal interlocking screws were inserted. In the group who were treated by hybrid system, the mean lengthening of tibia was 7.1cm (range, 6.3-9.5), the mean of external fixation period 7 months (range, 5-9), the mean healing index 1.2 month/cm (range, 1.1-1.4). On the other hand, the mean lengthening of tibia was 7.5cm (range, 5-10.3), the mean of external fixation period 9.8 months (range, 6-15), the mean healing index 1.4 month/cm (range, 1.1-1.8) in the group treated by Ilizarov method. Mean follow-up period was 23 months (range 14-47). There was no rotational or angular deformities and no loss of lengthening in the hybrid group. However we experienced three cases of angular deformity at the distraction site during lengthening in Ilizarov group. There was no deep infection in both groups. In the hybrid group we found several advantages such as no deformity, no loss of lengthening, and less scar by early removal of fixator, but some disadvantages such as need of subsequent procedures and limitation in intramedullary nailing.
Cicatrix ; Congenital Abnormalities ; External Fixators ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary* ; Hand ; Ilizarov Technique* ; Tibia

No abstract available.
Peripheral Arterial Disease*

No abstract available.
Holoprosencephaly*

A patient with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) due to predominance of immunoglobulin A (IgA) with an Rh specificity, considered to be the first case in Korea, is described. A 13-yr-old male patient with severe hemolytic anemia showed a weak reactivity (1+) in the direct antiglobulin test (DAT) by using anti-IgG antiglobulin reagent. This finding, however, could not fully explain the patient's severe AIHA. When anti-IgA reagent was used for the DAT, strong reactivity (4+) was observed and free anti-E and anti-c autoantibodies were also detected by anti-IgA and anti-IgG reagents. The patient's hemoglobin began to rise with the administration of steroids. Because RBCs coated with multiple types of immunoglobulins are associated with more severe hemolysis than those only with IgG, the DATs using anti-IgA and other reagents are needed for the correct diagnosis when the result of DAT is not compatible with patient's clinical manifestations.
Adolescent ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune/diagnosis/*immunology ; Antibody Specificity ; Autoantibodies/*blood ; Coombs' Test ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/*blood ; Korea ; Male ; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System/immunology

No abstract available.
Ureter*

A clinical observation was made randomely selected 30 of 78 cases of balanced anesthesia consist of Demerol, Valium and N2O-O2, inhalation, performed from January to March 1980 at Eul-Ji General Hospital, Seoul, Korea. After pre-oxygenation, all cases received 5 mg of d-Tubocurarine, 5 mg/Kg of thiopental sodium, orotracheal intubation was facilitated with l.5 mg/kg of succinylcboline chloride intravenously and N2O-O2, (2:1 L/min) inhalation was carried out with semiclosed circle absorber system and 1 mg/kg of Demerol and 0. 2 mg/kg of Valium were intermittently injected intravenously. 0.04 mg/kg of pancuronium bromide, 0.4 mg/kg of succinylcholine chloride intravenously or 0.1% succinylcholine chloride by way of dripping was given and maintained controlled respiration. The following results were observed; 1) Systolic blood pressure was decreased 6. 5% at 5 minutes following anesthesia initiated, and maintained initial pressure at 30 minutes, at the end of anesthesia, and in recovery room. 2) Diastolic blood pressure was increased 4. 5% at 5 minutes, 7. 9% at 30 minutes following anesthesia initiated, however maintained the pressure at the end of anesthesia and in recovery room. 3) Pulse rates were maintained 5 minutes. 3.7% increased 30 minutes following anesthesia was initiated, maintained same rates at the end of anesthesia and in the recovery room. 4) 26% of anesthetized patients required narcotics for pain up to 4 hours of staying recovery room. 5) Jerking movement and psychosis were not observed following anesthesia. 6) Respiratory assistance and antidotes were not needed for all patients.
Anesthesia ; Antidotes ; Balanced Anesthesia* ; Blood Pressure ; Diazepam* ; Heart Rate ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Intubation ; Korea ; Meperidine* ; Narcotics ; Pancuronium ; Psychotic Disorders ; Recovery Room ; Respiration ; Seoul ; Succinylcholine ; Thiopental ; Tubocurarine

No abstract available.
Hemangioma, Cavernous* ; Urinary Bladder*