PURPOSE: Recently developed BMS(TM) (Zassi Bowel Management System(TM): Hollister Inc., Illinois, USA) can provide effective nonsurgical fecal diversion without the risks associated with colostomy creation and subsequent closure. Our aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of the BMS in diverting feces from the perianal wide surgical wound in patients with Fournier's gangrene. METHODS: BMS(TM) was applied in five patients (male: 2, median age; 44) with Fournier's gangrene from January 2000 to September 2001. The treatments consist of three times a day wound dressing after wide surgical debridement and intravenous antibiotic therapy. For evacuation of feces, twice daily warm saline irrigation was administered via BMS(TM) or low daily doses of polyethylene glycol solutions were orally taken in. An endoscopic and anorectal manometric study was done to evaluate possible mucosal complications and anorectal functional changes. RESULTS: The average duration of the BMS application was 41 (range, 22~63) days. The result of a manometric study after immediate removal of the BMS(TM) showed a decreased mean resting pressure (range: 22~36 mmHg) and a decreased mean squeezing pressure (range: 32~39 mmHg). After 3 days, the sphincter pressure had improved markedly: mean resting pressures of 38, 45, 60, and 63 mmHg and mean squeezing pressure of 78, 89, 91, and 101 mmHg respectively. Fecal incontience was not noted in any patient. Other possible mucosal complications were not noted. There were no mortalit. CONCLUSIONS: BMS(TM) application in Fournier's gangrene patients after surgery successfully avoids a defunctioning colostomy. Furthermore, no significant complications were noted over a prolonged period up to 63 days.
Bandages ; Colostomy ; Debridement ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing ; Feces ; Fournier Gangrene ; Humans ; Illinois ; Polyethylene Glycols

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

Osteoblastomas were originally thought to be lesions that could be controlled with minimal local therapy, including curettage. However, at least some of the osteoblastomas with an unexpectedly active clinical course had histologic features which differed from ordinary osteoblastomas, and the term aggressive osteoblastoma was given to these lesions. In the aggressive osteoblastoma the osteoblasts are cytologically atypical. In addition, the well organized trabecular patterns of typical osteoblastoma is partly lacking, especially in the areas that are rich in atypical osteoblasts. The case report deals a case of aggressive osteoblastoma of the left iliac wing in a 44 year old male. The interesting radiologic manifestationa(plain x-ray CAT and radionuclide bone scan) and characteristic histologic findings are presented along with review of pertinent literatures.

This erratum is being published to correct of affiliation and add an acknowledgement.

Congenital indifference to pain is a rare disorder chsracterized by absence of normal subjective and objective responses to noxious stimuli in patients with intact central and peripheral nervous system. It is attributed to an abnormal affective response rather than to defective perception. Sensory apparatus of the patient was intact as far as can be determined. We experieneed a csse of congenital indifference to pain with decreased sweating.
Humans ; Pain Insensitivity, Congenital ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Sweat ; Sweating

BACKGROUND: Lidocaine's sedative effect has not been known well. The purpose of this study was to evaluate its sedative and cardiovascular effects during induction of anesthesia. METHODS: Twenty patients were randomly allocated to group I or II, with or without lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg intravenously (IV) before induction, respectively. The BIS, blood pressure and heart rate were measured at before and 2 minutes after lidocaine IV injection, preintubation, and 1, 2, 3 and 5 minutes after tracheal intubation. The enflurane concentrations were continuously maintained at 2 volume%. RESULTS: The BIS of group I was more decreased at 1 and 2 minutes after intubation than those of group II. The systolic blood pressures of group I were less increased at 1 and 2 minutes after intubation than those of group II. The diastolic blood pressures and heart rates of group I were not different from those of group II at each stage of the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Lidocaine reduced BIS and blunted the intubation-induced systolic hypertensive response. In addition it is thought that it has a sedative effect and is effective to maintain cardiovascular stability after tracheal intubation.
Anesthesia ; Blood Pressure ; Enflurane ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives* ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Lidocaine*

Mishaps related to valve malfunction in a self-inflating bag-valve unit can lead to fatal complications. We report a case of severe hypotension that resulted from the locking of the Laerdal valve in the inspiratory position during transport in the operating room. A 36 year old man had undergone an off-pump coronary artery bypass graft. Immediately before leaving the operating room, severe hypotension developed abruptly. But an EKG showed only a reduction of heart rate. We started closed cardiac massage with an intravenous bolus injection of epinephrine 0.5 microgram and reconnected the anesthesia breathing circuit. The patient was manually ventilated using the anesthesia reservoir bag. Vital signs immediately recovered. At that time, the patient's abdomen was distended and we suspected an expiratory abnormality. The self-inflating bag-valve unit was tested with an anesthesia reservoir bag as a test lung. Expiration did not occur. Another self-inflating bag-valve unit was substituted and normal ventilation was restored. It is essential that before use, a self-inflating bag-valve unit should be tested for proper function during both expiration and inspiration using a test lung such as, an anesthesia reservoir bag.
Abdomen ; Adult ; Anesthesia ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; Electrocardiography ; Epinephrine ; Heart Massage ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypotension* ; Lung ; Operating Rooms ; Respiration ; Resuscitation ; Transplants ; Ventilation ; Vital Signs

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic gynecologic surgery is a standard procedure today for its small skin incision and short hospital admission stay. However pneumoperitoneum (PP) and Trendelenberg position induce adverse effects in hemodynamics and pulmonary gas exchange. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of propofol compared with enflurane for pulmonary gas exchange in the Trendelenberg position and pneumoperitoneum. METHODS: Twenty women were randomly allocated to either the enflurane (n = 10) or propofol (n = 10) with fentanyl-N2O/O2 anesthesia. PaCO2, PaO2, PETCO2 were checked at pre-PP, 10 min after PP, 30 min after PP, and 10 min after CO2 deflation. In addition the Vd/Vt ratio was calculated according to the Bohr equation. Vital sign and peak airway pressure were checked at each stage. RESULTS: PaCO2 and PETCO2 increased and PaO2 decreased significantly during PP in both groups. Vd/Vt increased significantly in the enflurane group at 30 min after PP. Peak airway pressure increased significantly in both groups. Blood preassure and heart rate were not changed significantly. All of the parameters were not significantly different between groups. CONCLSIONS: Propofol compared with enflurane did not show any advantage in gas exchange during gynecologic laparoscopic surgery under Trendelenberg position and PP.
Anesthesia* ; Enflurane* ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Propofol* ; Pulmonary Gas Exchange ; Skin ; Vital Signs

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the usefulness of a handheld digital pulse oximetry in the detection of lower extremity arterial disease. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Pulse oximetry is a well-established method for noninvasive evaluation of arterial oxygenation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Retrospective study was performed in 45 patients with lower extremity arterial disease. We compared the accuracy of a handheld digital pulse oximetry and the ankle brachial index (ABI). Digital pulse oximetry was conducted for 42 patients with 84 limbs to measure the SaO2 of their index fingers and big toes in supine position. The ABI was defined as abnormal if it was less than 0.9. Pulse oximetry of big toes was defined as abnormal if the SPO2 was less than 96% or it was more than 2% lower than that of the index finger. RESULTS: Digital pulse oximetry had a sensitivity of 47%(95% CI, 34-60%) and specificity of 86%(95% CI, 64-96%). ABI had a sensitivity of 49%(95% CI, 34-64%) and specificity of 95%(95% CI, 72-99%). Positive predictive values were 91%(95% CI, 74-98%) for digital pulse oximetry and 96%(95% CI, 77-99%) for ABI. Negative predictive values were 37%(95% CI, 24-51%) for digitial pulse oximetry and 43%(95% CI, 25-72%) for ABI. In 22 cases with acute ischemicwere the sensitivity 73%, the specifity 100%, the positive predictive value 100% and the negative predictive value 79%. CONCLUSIONS: Handheld digital pulse oximetry of the big toes seems as accurate as ABI to detect lower extremity arterial diseases. The combination of both will help to distinguish low extremity arterial disease and spinal radiculopathy.
Ankle Brachial Index ; Extremities ; Fingers ; Humans ; Lower Extremity* ; Oximetry* ; Oxygen ; Radiculopathy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Supine Position ; Toes

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) generally involves a single semicircular canal (single canal BPPV) but it has been reported that more than one semicircular canal on either the same or the opposite side can be involved in 6.8-20% of the cases (multiple canal BPPV). In this study, the clinical characteristics of multiple canal BPPV were analyzed and compared to those of single canal BPPV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on 1054 consecutive patients diagnosed with BPPV. Multiple canal BPPV was diagnosed when the combination of typical nystagmus was provoked by the Dix-Hallpike and supine head roll tests. Canalith repositioning maneuver was performed sequentially starting with the semicircular canal causing more severe nystagmus or symptoms. Clinical characteristics and the treatment course were statistically compared between single canal BPPV and multiple canal BPPV. RESULTS: Among the 1054 patients, single canal BPPV was diagnosed in 1005 patients (95.4%) while multiple canal BPPV was diagnosed in 49 patients (4.6%). BPPV involving semicircular canals on the same side was more common (79.6%) than BPPV with bilateral involvement. The most common combination of the involved canals was ipsilateral posterior and horizontal semicircular canals (63.3%). Multiple canal BPPV was significantly more associated with underlying otologic diseases, especially labyrinthitis. Multiple canal BPPV required more treatment sessions and longer duration of treatment to achieve resolution of nystagmus and symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: As all cases of multiple canal BPPV were treated successfully although a longer duration of treatment and more treatment sessions were required compared to single canal BPPV, the results of our study could aid in making an accurate diagnosis and providing appropriate treatment of multiple canal BPPV.
Diagnosis ; Ear Diseases ; Ear, Inner ; Head ; Humans ; Labyrinthitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Semicircular Canals* ; Vertigo*