BACKGROUND: To prevent sudden unexpected movement of patients during surgery, muscle relaxants are used to maintain intense neuromuscular blockade.They are administered by intermittent bolus or continuous infusion.Rocuronium is often used for continuous infusion because it is known to lack cumulative effects. The purpose of this study was to compare recovery times from intense neuromuscular block to reappearance of muscle twitches after 0.1 Hz single twitch stimulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy five patients were randomized to one of 3 groups.Patients in group 1 were administered a single bolus of rocuronium; groups 2 and 3 were given continuous infusion of rocuronium for 1 and 2 h, respectively.During anesthesia, neuromuscular blockade was monitored by TOF-watch(R) and regulated so as not to exceed more than 5 (PTC) during the infusion. After infusion, PTC was counted every 5 min until single twitch heights had reappeared and the time till the twitch reappeared was calculated. RESULTS: There was a good correlation between the time it took to observe a PTC and the first response of TOF time in each group.In a parallelism test, there were no significant differences. There were also no significant differences in recovery times from PTC to the reappearance of a single twitch between groups. CONCLUSIONS: There are no significant differences in recovery times-from deep neuromuscular blockade to reappearance of single twitch-regardless of the infusion time.When a PTC occurs during deep neuromuscular blockade, it may predict the remaining time of reappearance of a single twitch response.
Androstanols ; Anesthesia ; Factor IX ; Humans ; Muscles ; Neuromuscular Blockade

High-pressure (HP) injection injury to the upper extremity often causes a very serious clinical problem, leading to poor outcomes, including amputation, so that a true surgical emergency is required. The outcomes can be improved with emergent wide surgical debridement. However the diagnosis of these injuries is often delayed due to underestimated evaluation at first appearance and lack of common knowledge of the seriousness of this injury. The type and pressure of the infecting material is an important factor in prognosis and organic solvents infected pressure injury can cause poor outcome and increased amputation rate. In this case, we report on reconstruction of HP oilbased paint injection injuries of the finger using T-shaped pedicles and multiple venous anastomoses. In this concept, arterial flow can be maintained by the reverse flow of distal anastomosis when there is difficulty with the proximal anastomosis. And venous flow can be preserved by deep and superficial vein anastomosis. This concept has various advantages including preserving patency of the pedicle in chronic vasculopathy or trauma cases and maintaining the arterial flow by the reverse flow of distal anastomosis and can improve the free flap survival by a two vascular anastomosis system.
Amputation ; Debridement ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Fingers* ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Paint* ; Prognosis ; Solvents ; Upper Extremity ; Veins

The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene DD homozygote has been suggested to be a significant risk factor for the progression of diabetic nephropathy. We analyzed clinical parameters and ACE genotype distribution between type 2 diabetic patients at the extremes of renal risk, i.e. an end-stage renal failure (ESRF) group (n = 103, group 1) who were on dialysis therapy due to progression of diabetic nephropathy, and a no progression group (n = 88, group 2) who had maintained normal renal function and normoalbuminuria for more than 15 years. There were no significant differences in age, sex, body mass index, HbA1c level, or lipid profiles between the two groups (p > 0.05). Group 1 had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension [group 1: 82.5% (85/103) vs. group 2: 50.0% (44/88), p < 0.05] and diabetic retinopathy [group 1: 103/103 (100%) vs. group 2: 28/88 (31.8%), p < 0.05] than group 2. Daily urinary albumin excretion was also higher in group 1 than in group 2 [group 1: 2873 +/- 2176 mg/day vs. 12 +/- 7 g/day, p < 0.05]. The frequencies of the DD, ID, and II genotypes of the ACE gene in group 1 and group 2 were 26.2%, 47.6%, and 26.2%, and 7.9%, 57.9%, and 34.2%, respectively. The ACE genotype frequencies between the two groups were significantly different according to a chi-square test with Bonferroni's correction (p = 0.004). The presence of the DD genotype increased the risk of ESRF 4.286-fold compared to the II genotype [odds ratio 4.286, 95% CI 1.60- 11.42, p = 0.005]. The frequency of the D-allele was higher in both male and female patients in group 1 compared to group 2, but reached statistical significance only in males [male, group 1: 50.8% vs. group 2: 35.0%, p = 0.018, female, group 1: 48.8% vs. group 2: 39.5%, p = 0.231]. This study, although limited by sample size, showed that type 2 diabetic ESRF patients more frequently expressed the DD genotype. These findings may substantiate the previously noted relationship between the ACE DD genotype and the progression of diabetic nephropathy in Korean type 2 diabetic patients.
Renal Dialysis ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/*genetics/metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/diagnosis/*genetics ; Humans ; Homozygote ; Gene Frequency ; Female ; Diabetic Nephropathies/diagnosis/*genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/diagnosis/*genetics ; Aged

Malignant tumor originated from external auditory canal (EAC) is very rare with an annual incidence of around 1 per million. Pathologically, squamous cell carcinoma is incidentally most common, and adenoid cystic carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma follow in decreasing order. Due to the rarity of malignant tumor of EAC, there is no widely accepted treatment modality yet. But basal cell carcinoma, known to be less aggressive tumor, can be removed with a minimal safety margin and have better treatment results. Recently we experienced a case of basal cell carcinoma in the EAC, confined in the cartilaginous portion of EAC, presenting with intermittent otorrhea for several years. The patient was treated with a sleeve resection of the EAC with a safety margin reconstructed with a split-thickness skin graft. No tumor recurrence or complication was noted in the first postoperative year.
Aminocaproic Acids ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Ear Canal ; Humans ; Incidence ; Melanoma ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Transplants

Embolization of the bronchial artery is a well-established treatment for patients with hemoptysis. To our know ledge, a case involving an aberrant bronchial artery from the common carotid artery has never been reported. The authors describe a case in which an aberrant bronchial artery from the left common carotid artery was a potential hazard during embolization of the bronchial artery.
Angiography ; Bronchial Arteries* ; Carotid Artery, Common* ; Hemoptysis ; Humans

The oculocardiac reflex is provoked by pressure applied to the globe of the eye or traction on the surrounding structures. It has been known that children and adults undergo eye muscle surgery under general anesthesia are most susceptible. When it occurs the most common manifestation is sinus bradycardia and other arrhythmia including atrioventricular block, ventricular premature beat and cardiac arrest. Endoscopic sinus surgery has been used popularly for treatment of chronic paranasal sinusitis. However endoscopic sinus surgery can be difficult for narrow visual field and anatomical variations. Oculocardiac reflex during endoscopic sinus surgery is rare case but potentially it can be life threatening event. The authors report the case of oculocardiac reflex during endoscopic sinus surgery with a review of literature.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrioventricular Block ; Bradycardia ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; Child ; Eye ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Muscles ; Reflex ; Reflex, Oculocardiac ; Sinusitis ; Traction ; Visual Fields

BACKGROUND: The skin temperature is often decreased during anesthesia because of a cool ambient temperature in the operating room. Contractility of the muscles may be affected by lowering the muscle temperature. This study was designed to verify that efforts to maintain normothermia on the monitored arm can make recovery from deep neuromuscular blockade more reliable. METHODS: A total of 60 patients were enrolled in this study. Each patient was randomly assigned to group 1 (the monitored arm was shielded with a passive warming protector) or group 2 (the monitored arm was was exposed to the ambient operating room temperature). Conventional inhalation anesthesia was induced with propofol and alfentanil, and this was maintained with O2, N2O and isoflurane. The twitch response of the adductor pollicis muscle was recorded. After calibration of the TOF watch(R), 0.6 mg/kg of rocuronium was injected. During anesthesia, the post tetanic count (PTC) was checked every 5 to 6 minutes until the first response to a train-of-four (TOF) stimulations appeared. The ambient operating room temperature, the core temperature and the skin temperature were checked simultaneously. RESULTS: The skin temperature of group 2 was lower than that of group 1 (33.89 +/- 0.81 degreesC and 35.41 +/- 0.45 degreesC, respectively, P < 0.05). When the data was plotted with the equation y=be(-ax), this equation well represented the data of group 1 (R2 = 0.82), but it did not well represent the data of group 2 (R2 = 0.54). CONCLUSIONS: During recovery from deep neuromuscular blockade with using rocuronium, it may be desirable to maintain normothermia at the thenar area for a better recovery time from a given PTC.
Alfentanil ; Androstanols ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Inhalation ; Arm ; Calibration ; Factor IX ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Isoflurane ; Monitoring, Intraoperative ; Muscles ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Operating Rooms ; Propofol ; Skin Temperature

BACKGROUND: In ambulatory surgery, which is of short duration, anesthesiologists often do not use a muscle relaxant, or any other induction technique which could facilitate muscle relaxation for endotracheal intubation.Incomplete muscle relaxation, however, results in vocal cord movement and the possibility of damage to the vocal cords and adjacent structure.The aim of this study was to evaluate the macroscopic sequelae of intubation on vocal cord and laryngeal structure and assess postoperative sore throat or hoarseness. METHODS: 100 patients with class I or II ASA physical status were enrolled in this study.It was divided into two groups, Group C (conventional intubation dose of rocuronium; 0.6 mg/kg) and group L (low intubation dose 0.45 mg/kg).Anesthesia was induced with 10microgram/kg of alfentanil and 2.0 mg/kg of propofol i.v.Intubation was performed 90 second after rocuronium injection and the intubation condition was checked.Macroscopic sequelae ofthe laryngeal structure were evaluated using a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope. After completion of surgery, the patient was asked to report sore throat or hoarseness. RESULTS: Macroscopic sequelae, such as erythema or hemorrhage, were statistically different between the two groups.There were no cases of minimal hemorrhage of either vocal cords or of the arryepiglottic folds in group C whereas there were two cases in group L.There was no statistical difference in incidence and severityof sore throat or hoarseness between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although there were more macroscopic effects in the vocal cords and aryepiglottic folds, a low intubation dose of rocuronium can be used during surgery of short duration without fear of any significant sore throat or hoarseness after surgery.
Alfentanil ; Ambulatory Surgical Procedures ; Androstanols ; Bronchoscopes ; Erythema ; Hemorrhage ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation ; Muscle Relaxation ; Muscles ; Pharyngitis ; Propofol ; Vocal Cords

Cardiac arrest during pregnancy is an uncommon event, occurring only about once in every 30,000 late pregnancies. Survival from such an event is exceptional. This case involves sudden cardiac arrest of a 32 weeks pregnant woman. The patient was found at unresponsive state and transferred to emergency center by EMS. At arrival, her EKG rhythm was asystole and we had no patient information. Upon initiation of ACLS, abdominal ultrasonography was done and we detected a fetal heart beat. Timely emergency caesarean section delivery was done and the 1-minute APGAR score of neonate is 0. After endotracheal intubation and respiratory assist, 3-minute APGAR score was recoverd to 3 and neonate was admitted to neonate ICU. The mother did not responsed to resuscitation efforts. Physiologic and anatomic changes occur during normal pregnancy, necessitating a modification of standard BLS and ACLS methods for successful resuscitation. When arrest does occur during the latter part of pregnancy, perimortem caesarean delivery may improve the outcome for both the fetus and the pregnant woman.
Apgar Score ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Cesarean Section ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies* ; Female ; Fetal Heart ; Fetus ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Mothers ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Resuscitation ; Ultrasonography

Background: Both direct microscopic examination and fungal culture are standard diagnostic methods for tinea unguium diagnosis. However, the accuracy of these tests is low and the results tend to be dependent on the skills of the performer. The Dermatophyte Test Strip, a newly developed diagnostic tool that is used to detect dermatophytes, facilitates the diagnosis of tinea unguium using immunochromatography.
Objective
We compared the diagnostic capacity of the Dermatophyte Test Strip and conventional diagnostic methods for the detection of dermatophytes in clinically suspected tinea unguium specimens in Korea. Methods: Direct microscopic examination and the Dermatophyte Test Strip were performed on all specimens. If the results differed between the two methods, we used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis to confirm the dermatophyte presence. Results: Of the 120 specimens, 77 (64.2%) showed positive results on the Dermatophyte Test Strip and 66 (55.0%) on the direct microscopic examination. PCR analysis was performed on the 27 specimens whose results differed between the two tests, and all these specimens showed positive results on PCR analysis. When comparing the results of direct microscopy adjusted with PCR with those of the Dermatophyte Test Strip, the positiveegative/overall concordance rates were 100%, 81.4%, and 93.3%, respectively, while the kappa coefficient was 0.85 (95% confidence interval, 0.75∼0.95). Conclusion This study suggests that the Dermatophyte Test Strip, a practical diagnostic kit that detects dermatophytes without using other technical instruments, may be a valuable diagnostic tool for tinea unguium and may reduce the unnecessary use of antifungal agents.