As regard to the treatment modality and its prognosis following the treatment, there are some differences between the thoracolumbar compression fracture and bursting fracture. If bursting fracture is accompanied by nerve injury, especially if the fracture fragment is compressing the spinal cord, it is reported that decompression with early surgical intervention would achieve a much better prognosis. Therefore, the authors tried to suggest an overall statistics on the patient's age, mechanism of injury and injured site and to compare the sensitivity of tools used in diagnosing bursting fracture radiologically, as well as the sensitivity of posterior vertebral body angle, which is used in diagnosing subtle bursting fracture. Three hundred forty three patients admitted to emergency center of Yongdong Severance Hospital with a thoracolumbar fracture from 1992. Jan. to 1994. Dec. Of the 343 patients, minor fracture and those with insufficient X-ray films and clinical notes were excluded from the study. The study was done with 199 patients in retrospective method. All the 199 patients had plain X-ray and computed tomography taken. the results were as follows 1. The male to female ratio was 114 to 85 with average age being 47.1 years old(14-93 years old). 2. The mechanisms of injury were falling down, traffic accident, slipped down, sprain and confusional injury in the order written. 3. There were 67 cases of compression fracture and 132 cases of bursting fracture. 157 cases had I level injury in the order of Ll, T12, and L2, 33 cases had 2 level injury, and 8 cases were injured in 3 level of the spine. 4. Of the factors determining the radiological diagnosis of bursting fracture, the disruption of posterior cortical line had the highest sensitivity. 5. Of the 45 cases of 1 level injured subtle bursting fracture, those with posterior vertebral body angle of more than 100 degree radiographically had a sensitivity of 82%. Of the thoracolumbar fractured patient admitted to the emergency room, searching for disruption of posterior cortical line in plain film helped in diagnosing bursting fracture, and calculating the posterior vertebral body angle helped in determining whether further computed topography was needed in subtle bursting fracture.
Accidents, Traffic ; Decompression ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord ; Spine ; Sprains and Strains ; X-Ray Film

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostatic peripheral 10-sites biopsy method for the diagnosis of prostatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TRUS guided biopsy of peripheral 10-sites, including routine sextant and 4 far lateral regions (lateral mid-lobes and bases), was performed in 78 patients with suspicious prostatic cancer. The patients were categorized into 2 groups; the benign disease group and the prostatic cancer group, according to the pathologic results. Various parameters were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Prostatic cancer was detected in 32 patients (41%). The median age and PSA of the prostatic cancer group, 70.5 years and 25ng/ml, respectively, were significantly higher than those of the benign disease group, 63.5 years and 9.7ng/ml, respectively (p<0.05). The average Gleason scores and number of cancer positive biopsies of the prostatic cancer group were 7.3 (4-10) and 4.5 (1-10), respectively. A far lateral region only tumor was discovered in 1 (3.1%) of the 32 patients. The cancer detection rate increased with increasing PSA level (p<0.05). Patients with a prostate volume of less than 50cc showed significantly higher cancer detection rates than those with a prostate volume of more than 50cc (p<0.05). Fifty-four patients (69%) experienced complications and 4, with symptomatic urinary tract infection, recovered uneventfully with the application of parenteral antibiotics on admission. CONCLUSIONS: There was a 3.1% increase in the cancer detection rate with the use of a peripheral 10-sites biopsy compared to the sextant method. The use of additional biopsies, including those of the far lateral apex region, with the 10-sites biopsy method is suggested would increase detection rates.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopsy* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract Infections

A study was carried out to figure the cases and to observe the endemic status of clonorchiasis and metagonimiasis in endemic areas in Korea. Total 13,373 inhabitants living in 40 villages along 7 main rivers and 9 small streams were subjected to stool examination. They were selected randomly among the riverside population. Their specimens were examined both by cellphane thick smear method and Stoll's egg countung technique. This study was performed during the period from May 1979 to April 1980. The results obtained are as follows: The egg positive rate of any kind of helminths was 58.7% out of 13,373 examned cases, and the egg positive rates by each helminth were; Clonorchis sinensis 21.5%, Metagonimus yokogaqai 4.8%, large type Metagonimus eggs 0.4%, Ascaris lumbricoides 22.9%, Trichuris trichiura 35.2%, hookworm 0.2%, Taenia sp. 0.5%, Hymenolepis nana 0.07%, Paragonimus westermani 2 cases, Fasciola sp. 4 cases, Echinostoma sp. 1 case and Hymenolepis diminuta 1 case respectively. Many endemic foci of clonorchiasis were revealed along the 7 major rivers. The egg positive rates of each river basin differed from each other significantly; Nagdonggang 40.2%, Yeongsangang 30.8%, Seomjingang 17.3%, Hangang 15.7%, Tamjingang 15.9%, Geumgang 12.0% and Mangyeonggang 8.0%. The cases of clonorchiasis were estimated in range 830,000 to 890,000 in riverside areas of the 7 rivers. By grading the infection intensity, 64.7% was in Grade I(EPG 0-900), 28.6% in Grade II (EPG 1000-9,900), 5.5% in Grade III (EPG 10,000-29,900) and 1.3% in Grade IV (EPG over 30,000). The proportion of the cases in Grade III and IV was 6.8% among positive cases. Therefore 60,000 cases at least were regarded to suffer from it clinically. Males of 30-60 years of age showed higher positive rate and heavier burden of infection. This makes clonorchiasis more important socially because the patients lose their social productivity. A few endemic foci of metagonimiasis were detected newly by egg detection; Samcheong 28.5% egg positive rate, Uljin 21.3%, Yeuongdeog 46.3%, Milyang 6.7%, Yeongil 9.2% and Geoje 18.2%. The mean EPG values were in range of 320-7, 120 by the focus. The egg positive rate and proportion of EPG Grade varied greatly by the area, and mean proportion of the positive cases were 69.7% in Grade I, 24.1% in Grade II, 5.0% in Grade III and 1.2% in Grade IV. Males of 30-60 years were infected in higher rate also. The large sized eggs of Metagonimus were found also in upper basin of Hangang and Geumgang mainly. They were regarded as eggs of M. takahashii which is mediated by the cyprinid fishes. Its significance should be studied further. Clonorchiasis and metagonimiasis should be realized as important public health problems in Korea by their wide distribution, high prevalence rate and heavy infection intensity. Comprehensive measures against them are needed urgently.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; clonorchiasis ; metagonimiasis ; Clonorchisis sinensis ; Metagonimus yokogawai ; epidemiology

Dieulafoy's lesion is an unusual cause of massive gastrointestinal bleeding resulting from the erosion of an abnormally large submucosal artery. Recently, improvement of endoscopic techniques has made effective hemostasis possible in most cases of Dieulafoy's lesion. Aspirin, which is an anti-inflammatory agent, increases the incidence of major upper gastrointestinal complications. Gastroduodenal mucosal injury associated with aspirin therapy in patients in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease is a rare complication that may require urgent medical intervention. We experienced a rare case of active bleeding from Dieulafoy's lesion in the stomach who was treated with oral aspirin in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease. If there is massive hematemesis during the treatment of Kawasaki disease, Dieulafoy's lesion should be considered even though it is rare.
Arteries ; Aspirin ; Child* ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage* ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Stomach

PURPOSE: CA19-9 is the most widely used pancreatic-tumor marker, and has become the standard against which other makers. However, the CA19-9 level is increased in conditions such as gallbladder cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, gallbladder polyp, acute cholangitis, and chronic pancreatitis. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the CA19-9 positive rate of the above diseases in Korea. METHODS: A positive result was considered if the upper limit of normal was 37~40 U/ml. The CA19-9 level was measured in 53 patients with pancreatic cancer, 72 with cholangiocarcinoma, 41 with common bile duct cancer, 27 with gallbladder cancer, 35 with hepatocellular cancer, 70 with acute pancreatitis, 93 with chronic pancreatitis, and 30 with a gallbladder polyp from September 1998 to December 2000 in the Severance hospital. RESULTS: When the cut-off value was >40 U/ml, a positive result was found in 79.2% (42/53) of pancreatic cancer patients, 58.3% (42/72) of cholangiocarcinoma patients, 37% (10/27) of gallbladder cancer patients, 31.7% (13/41) of common bile duct cancer patients, 19.7% (14/70) of acute pancreatitis patients, 14.2% (5/35) of hepatocellular cancer patients, 16% (5/93) of chronic pancreatitis patients, and the 3.3% (1/30) of patients with a gallbladder polyp. CONCLUSION: The highest positive rate was 79.2% in the pancreatic cancer patients. We confirmed that the Lewis phenotype distribution indieates that pancreatic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, and chronic pancreatitis show high frequency in Le(a-b-) group when they were statistically compared with a healthy control group, but that acute pancreatitis showed a stastically higher frequency in the Le(a-b-) group than chronic pancreatitis.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangitis ; Common Bile Duct ; Gallbladder ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Neoplasms ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pancreatitis ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; Phenotype ; Polyps

BACKGROUND/AIMS: For the investigation of the efficacy and safety of intravenous levofloxacin, The clinical study was carrried out in 30 patients with abdominal operation, especially in hepatobiliary and pancreatic division. METHODS: Randomly chosen patients received intravenous levofloxacin (250mg bid) for only 7 days. Clinical and microbiological evaluation were conducted on the day of starting and finishing levofloxacin treatmeat except for the case of combined use of antibiotics. RESULTS: The most commonly isolated organism was staphylococcus aureus(33%, 3/9). The overall bacteriologic eradication rate was 67%, (6/9) with clinical success rate was 96%(29/30), There were no significant dverse effects to stop the administration of the drug. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that intravenous levofloxacin is effective and safe antibiotics in the fields management of abdominal operation especially in hepatobiliary and pancreas surgery.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Humans ; Levofloxacin* ; Pancreas ; Staphylococcus

PURPOSE: Chemoradiation therapy prior to pancreaticoduodenectomy has several effects. First, it ensures that patient who undergo resection subsequently complete multimodality therapy and helps to avoid resection in patients with rapid progressive disease. Second, it allows radiation therapy to be delivered to well oxygenated cells before surgical devasculation. Finally, in such cases there is a chance of resection of unresectable pancreatic cancer by downstaging. METHODS: A patient with cytologic proof of localized adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head recieved preoperative chemoradiation (Taxol, 50 mg/m2 IV for 3 hours weekly 3 cycles, Gemcytabine 1,000 mg/m2/day IV for 3 days weekly 2 cycles, 4,500 cGy) with the intent of proceeding to resection, Restaging was performed by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging every months from 5 weeks due to the ongoing decreasing of tumor size following the completion of chemoradiation. Upon laparotomy, the patient was found to not have any suspected metastatic disease and the tumor size was 2 3 cm on the pancreas head infiltrating to the portal vein approximately 3 cm in length along right side. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed with partial portal vein and superior mesenteric vein resection followed by reconstruction of the vascular anastomosis by using the right side internal jugular vein. Perioperative complication did not occur. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Preoperative chemoradiation of localized advanced pancreatic has a low incidence of operative complication and enhanced resectability.
Incidence ; Adenocarcinoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms

PURPOSE: Pain is the most distressing feature of cancer patients. Thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy, first performed in 1993, has caused a resurgence of interest in surgical treatment of such excruciating pain. We wish to introduce a method of splanchnicectomy. METHODS: Five patients underwent a splanchnicectomy for intractable cancer pain, over a period of 11 months. We evaluated the type of splanchnicectomy performed and the results. The procedure was done using a double lumen catheter to deflate the lung at the operation side under general anesthesia with the patient in the lateral decubitus position. A small opening was made with scissors in the pleura of the 5th intercostal space to expose the terminal branch of the greater splanchnic nerve. Six-Seven branches of splanchnic nerve were cut downward until the splanchnic nerve trunk and then cut. A left thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy was done in one case, and a bilateral thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy in four cases. RESULTS: The splanchicectomy appears to result in significant reduction of abdominal pain in all cases. There were no postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: As a conclusion, thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy is the treatment of choice for intractable intraabdominal cancer pain, affording drug cessation and recovery of daily activity in most patients.
Abdominal Pain ; Anesthesia, General ; Catheters ; Humans ; Lung ; Pleura ; Postoperative Complications ; Splanchnic Nerves ; Thoracoscopy

No abstract available.
Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Polycythemia Vera* ; Polycythemia*

The purpose of this research was to understand the current status of hospital information system(HIS) in Korea. Our main interests were when hospitals adopted each component of HIS and how they developed and managed the system. Structured questionnaires were applied to the department of each hospital in charge of managing information system. All hospitals, 276 in 1997, were included, and among them 93.5% responded. The HIS has been rapidly developed to include medical record management system, order communication system, laboratory information system, and picture archiving and communication system. The software for HIS was developed extramurally in more than half of all hospitals, and usually hardware was secured by buying than leasing them. Recently more hospitals has separated departments for His as independent units in hospital.
Clinical Laboratory Information Systems ; Hospital Information Systems* ; Information Systems ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Surveys and Questionnaires