No abstract available.
Cyclophosphamide* ; Hypersensitivity*

Tularemia is a major laboratory acquired zoonoses caused by Francisella tularensis that have high virulence, and usually transmitted to humans from direct contact with infected wild animals like rabbits or insect vectors like ticks. Clinical tularemia can be divided with 6 major syndromes that are delineated by the mode of organism aquisition, in which ulceroglandular type is the most common. F. tularensis have 3 different biogroups which have homogeneous antigenecity, type A (biogroup tularensis), type B (biogroup palearctica) and biogroup novicida, and can be confirmed by serology most frequently. In the domestic area, there was no reports of tularemia in humans or presence of bacteria in the reservoirs. Authers experienced a case of tularemia which is suspected as F. tularensis type B, ulceroglandular type. A healthy 40-year-old man admitted the hospital for lymph node swelling in both axillary and upper arm area and for furuncles in both forearm and palm. He contacted with dead rabbit and eated it after cooking before 20 days from admission day. In laboratory cultures, F. tularensis did not grow in any of the routine or anaerobic culture media except for one blood agar plate at 5 days. After subculturing that to cystine containing chocolate agar plate at 37C degree, 5% CO2 incubator, we could see the accelerating growth of colony. In microbiological test, it was oxidase and urease negative. In acid production in cystine trypticase agar base, it was glucose positive and sucrose, maltose, glycerol negative. In agglutinating test, F. tularensis antiserum titer (Difco, USA) with isolates was 1:160 or over and antibody titer to F. tularensis antigen (Difco, USA) was 1:320 or over. Anti-F. tularensis-IF assay and Anti-F. tularensis-indirect-EIA with isolates were positive.
Adult ; Agar ; Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Arm ; Bacteria ; Cacao ; Cooking ; Culture Media ; Cystine ; Forearm ; Francisella tularensis* ; Francisella* ; Furunculosis ; Glucose ; Glycerol ; Humans ; Incubators ; Insect Vectors ; Lymph Nodes ; Maltose ; Oxidoreductases ; Rabbits ; Sucrose ; Ticks ; Tularemia* ; Urease ; Virulence ; Zoonoses

Percutaneous transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects as a therapeutic alternative in appropriate patients provides superior cosmetic results, is less invasive, and allows for shorter hospital stays. Unfortunately, however, such percutaneous procedures can be associated with catastrophic procedure complications that may require immediate surgical intervention. We report a case of aorta-to-right atrial fistula two months after transcatheter occlusion of an atrial septal defect by an Amplatzer septal occluder. Revealed by dyspnea, palpitation and hemolysis, this complication needed an emergency surgical operation. The fistula between the noncoronary Valsalva sinus of the aorta and the right atrium was repaired. The atrial septal defect was closed by patch. The cause of this serious complication appears to be erosion into the aorta by the right atrial disk.
Aorta* ; Dyspnea ; Emergencies ; Fistula* ; Heart Atria* ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial* ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Prostheses and Implants ; Septal Occluder Device ; Sinus of Valsalva

PURPOSE: Effectiveness of the performance of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has a decisive impact on the outcomes for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients who receive it. After initial CPR education, CPR performance for those trained declines over time. Public education in CPR is commonly recommended to be repeated every 2 years. In this study, we evaluated the willingness of those who have been CPR trained to perform CPR as impacted by their training experience. METHODS: The staff of a small firm received 2 hours of primary CPR education. Two years later, their CPR training was repeated in an identical manner. Participants answered a questionnaire regarding their willingness to perform bystander CPR. Those who answered that they wouldn't perform bystander CPR were asked to select their reason. We also inquired about what they viewed as the most difficult phase of CPR performance, and collected their opinions about the overall necessity and appropriate time period for re-education. RESULTS: Those who answered 'definitely yes' to 'willingness to perform to CPR' increased from 36.6% before primary CPR education to 74.2% afterward. But 2 years later and before re-education, only 30.1% answered 'definitely yes' to 'willingness to perform CPR'. Meanwhile, 41.2% and 29.4% answered that 'fear of legal liability' and 'fear of poor knowledge/performance' were the reasons why they would not perform bystander CPR. Ventilation was the most difficult stage in CPR identified by 34% of the participants, and 18.4% answered that chest compression was the most difficult stage in CPR. 93.6% answered that they should receive CPR re-education. CONCLUSION: The willingness to perform bystander CPR declined significantly after 2 years. Therefore routine public re-education for bystander CPR is necessary.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Humans ; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Thorax ; Ventilation

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and gynecologic pelviscopy need to induce pneumoperitoneum to allow visualization of the operative field, but the former requires a head-up position whereas the latter needs a Lithotomy-Trendelenburg position. The authors observed hemodynamic changes using an esophageal doppler monitor in both cases. METHODS: Eight females planned for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were assigned to Group 1 and 10 females for gynecologic pelviscopy were assigned to Group 2. Thiopental (5 mg/kg) and vecuronium (0.1 mg/kg) were used to induce general anesthesia. 50% O2-N2O and 1.5 vol.% isoflurane were used to maintain anesthesia. Mechanical ventilation was used with a tidal volume of 10 ml/kg and a respiratory rate of 12 breaths per minute. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, end-tidal CO2 and peak airway pressure were measured and cardiac output, corrected flow time, and peak velocity were monitored using an esophageal doppler monitor in each group after inducing anesthesia, CO2 inflation, position change, and CO2 deflation. RESULTS: Mean arterial pressure increased in each group while changing position. No significant changes in the heart rate were observed in each group. End-tidal CO2 increased in each group after changing position, and remained elevated even with position reversal and deflation. Peak airway pressure was elevated in each group after CO2 inflation and increased more so with changing posture in group 2 (post inflation: 18.5 +/- 1.4 cmH2O, after position change: 21.4 +/- 2.0 cmH2O). Cardiac output and cardiac index were reduced after the induction of pneumoperitoneum in each group, and reduced more on changing posture in group 2 (CO: 5.9 +/- 2.0 L/min vs. 4.4 +/- 1.5 L/min, CI: 3.7 +/- 1.4 L/min/m2 vs. 2.7 +/- 1.1 L/min/m2). Stroke volume also reduced after changing posture in each group. Corrected flow time was not changed, but peak velocity decreased after CO2 inflation in each group (group 1: 97.4 +/- 30.0 cm/s vs. 78.9 +/- 27.3 cm/s, group 2: 111.9 +/- 14.1 cm/s vs. 88.3 +/- 12.6 cm/s). CONCLUSIONS: The Lithotomy-Trendelenburg position can augment the hemodynamic changes resulting from pneumoperitoneum. Therefore, additional caution is required in patients with cardiovascular disease who are undergoing gynecologic pelviscopy.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Inflation, Economic ; Isoflurane ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Posture ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Rate ; Stroke Volume ; Thiopental ; Tidal Volume ; Vecuronium Bromide

The surgical management of patients with transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, and pulmonary stenosis remains a challenge. The Rastelli operation or Lecompte operation is the preferred surgical procedure, but its long-term results are not optimal because of a warped left ventricular outflow tract through a space-occupied intraventricular tunnel and a contrived right ventricular outflow tract. We performed a half-turned truncal switch operation as an alternative surgical procedure in a 3-year-old boy (weighing 9.6 kg) with this anomaly. Postoperative echocardiography showed laminar flow through straight and nonobstructive aortic and pulmonary ventricular outflow tracts.
Arteries ; Child, Preschool ; Echocardiography ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis* ; Transposition of Great Vessels*

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

Microinvasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix(FIGO stage IA) has been reported as highly curable disease even with conservative surgery such as conization and simple hysterectomy. Nevertheless, the surgical management for microinvasive carcinomas has been proposed varying from conservative surgery to radical hysterectomy with pelvic nodes dissection according to different diagnostic criterias for microinvasive carcinoma. We reviewed 512 patients who had been diagnosed as microinvasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Cheil Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center from Jan. 1988 to Dec. 1995. Among them, 376 patients were included in this study satisfying guided criterias such as proper management and follow up more than at least one year, and they were analyzed retrospectively based on the clinicopathologic characteristics, pattern of surgical management and postoperative status. (continue)
Cervix Uteri* ; Conization ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diagnosis* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Obstetrics ; Retrospective Studies

Monitoring temporal trends of antimicrobial resistance can provide useful information for the empirical selection of antimicrobial agents to treat infected patients and for the control of nosocomial infections. In this study, we analyzed antimicrobial resistance of clinically relevant bacteria in 2003 at Korean hospitals and at a commercial laboratory. The following organism-antimicrobial agent resistance combinations were very prevalent: oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (68%), expanded-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (25%), and fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli (33%), Acinetobacter spp. (58%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (40%). Moreover, gradual increases in vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (20%), cefoxitin-resistant E. coli (10%) and K. pneumoniae (23%), and imipenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (20%) and Acinetobacter spp. (13%) were also observed. The resistance rates of Acinetobacter spp. to most antimicrobial agents at hospitals and at the commercial laboratory were similar. Among the Acinetobacter spp. isolated at a tertiary-care hospital, 46.2% were multidrug-resistant to 9-12 of 13 antimicrobial agents, and 18.3% were panresistant. The exclusion of duplicate isolates at a tertiary-care hospital significantly lowered the proportion of oxacillin-resistant S. aureus, vancomycin-resistant E. faecium, and fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli.
Vancomycin Resistance ; Vancomycin/pharmacology ; Population Surveillance ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Korea/epidemiology ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects/isolation & purification ; Klebsiella Infections/drug therapy/epidemiology/microbiology ; Imipenem/pharmacology ; Humans ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/drug therapy/epidemiology/*microbiology ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/drug therapy/epidemiology/*microbiology ; Gammaproteobacteria/*drug effects/isolation & purification ; Fluoroquinolones/pharmacology ; Enterococcus faecium/*drug effects/isolation & purification ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Amikacin/pharmacology ; Acinetobacter Infections/drug therapy/epidemiology/microbiology ; Acinetobacter/drug effects/isolation & purification

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the early and mid-term results for repair of Ebstein's anomaly. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January 1989 and June 2004, 29 patients underwent repair of Ebstein's anomaly. The median age was 11.4 years (4 days-50 years). Tricuspid insufficiency equal to or greater than grade 3 was present in 21 (72.4%) patients. Surgical techniques included tricuspid valve repair with vertical plication of the atrialized ventricle (n=14), Carpentier's technique (n=7), tricuspid valve replacement (n=4), systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunt (n=2), tricuspid valve repair (n=1), and Fontan operation (n=1). Bi-directional cavopulmonary shunt (BCPS) was required in 5 patients. Among the 2 neonates, one patient underwent successful biventricular repair, and the other patient underwent systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunt. Follow-up was possible in 21 patients (75%), and the average follow-up was 37.6 months (3 months~11.3 years). RESULT: There were 1(3.4%) early and 1 late deaths. Reoperation was required in 4 patients. Two patients underwent tricuspid valve re-replacement, and the other 2 tricuspid valve repair. At recent follow-up, only 2 patients showed tricuspid insufficiency equal to or greater than grade 3, and most patients showed clinical improvement. Excluding the patients who underwent tricuspid valve replacement, the actuarial rate of freedom from reoperation at 1 and 5 years were 94.7% and 79.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Tricuspid valve repair was possible in most patients with good mid-term outcome. Most patients showed clinical and hemodynamic improvement. Indications for the BCPS should be clarified.
Ebstein Anomaly* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fontan Procedure ; Freedom ; Heart Bypass, Right ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Reoperation ; Tricuspid Valve