BACKGROUND/AIMS: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is one of the potentially life-threatening complications for patients with liver cirrhosis, and it has a mortality rate of over 20%. Early diagnosis of SBP and immediate use of an adequate antibiotic therapy are very important for achieving a better prognosis. The aim of our study was to assess the usefulness of reagent strips for making the rapid diagnosis of SBP. METHODS: A diagnostic paracentesis procedure was performed upon hospital admission in 257 cirrhotic patients (187 males, 70 females; mean age: 54 years) with ascites. Each fresh sample of ascitic fluid was tested using a reagent strip, and the result was scored as 0, 1+, 2+ or 3+. The leukocyte count, polymorphonuclear cell count, blood bottle culture, and chemistry of ascites were also done. RESULTS: We diagnosed 79 cases of SBP and 2 cases of secondary bacterial peritonitis by means of the polymorphonuclear cell count and the classical criteria. When a reagent strip result of 3+ was considered positive, the test's sensitivity was 86% (70 of 81), the specificity was 100% (176 of 176), and the positive predictive value was 94%. Furthermore, when a reagent strip result of 2+ or more was considered positive, the test sensitivity was 100% (81 of 81), the specificity was 99% (174 of 176), and negative predictive value was 99%. CONCLUSIONS: The use of reagent strips is a very sensitive and specific tool for the rapid diagnosis of SBP in cirrhotic patients. A positive result should be an indication for empirical antibiotic therapy, and a negative result may be useful as a screening test to exclude SBP.
Aged ; Ascitic Fluid/chemistry/cytology ; Bacterial Infections/*diagnosis/microbiology ; English Abstract ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritonitis/*diagnosis/etiology/microbiology ; Predictive Value of Tests ; *Reagent Strips ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMT) of the pancreas is a spectrum of conditions ranging from benign to malignant. It is known that the biologic behavior of IPMT is slower and less aggressive than that of pancreatic ductal carcinoma. We report a case of IPMT of pancreas resected 5 years after diagnosis. The carcinoma remained localized without evident stromal invasion or lymph node metastasis with the background of adenoma, suggesting a adenomacarcinoma sequence. This is a case report that may be helpful to study the natural history of IPMT, particularly slow progression of IPMT.
Adenoma ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; Diagnosis* ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucins* ; Natural History ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas*

The mucin-hypersecreting bile duct tumor is rare and its clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features are not well known. We report the case of mucin-hypersecreting biliary papillomatosis with malignant transformation including review of 11 korean literatures. A 65-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with fever, chills, and right upper quadrant pain. A CT scan showed marked dilatation of left intrahepatic duct with intraductal filling defects. During endoscopic retrograde cholangiograpy, mucin from the ampulla was observed and dilated common bile duct with multiple amorphous filling defects was noted. Cholangioscopy revealed muliple coral-like mucosal papillary projections with large amount of mucin in the left intrahepatic ducts. The patient underwent left lobectomy, and the biopsy revealed intraductal papillary adenocarcinoma in the background of papillary adenoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Papillary ; Adenoma ; Aged ; Bile Ducts ; Biopsy ; Chills ; Common Bile Duct ; Dilatation ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Mucins ; Papilloma* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Treatment with flumazenil results in rapid reversal from sedation. In addition, the use of flumazenil can prevent accidents or memory loss after endoscopy. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of flumazenil according to dose. METHODS: A total of 150 consecutive outpatients were randomly allocated into three groups: patients given normal saline (control group), patients given 0.25 mg flumazenil (0.25 mg flumazenil group) and patients given 0.5 mg flumazenil (0.5 mg flumazenil group). Flumazenil or normal saline was injected 10 minutes after the completion of endoscopy. We evaluated the recovery time, time to discharge, patient satisfaction, and memory loss after discharge. RESULTS: The control group consisted of 44 subjects, the 0.25 mg flumazenil group consisted of 46 subjects and the 0.5 mg flumazenil group consisted of 45 subjects. The recovery time was significantly shorter in the two flumazenil groups as compared to the control group (28.5+/-15.0 min, 13.8+/-3.7 min, 12.4+/-1.7 min for the control group, 0.25 mg flumazenil group and 0.5 mg flumazenil group, respectively)(p<0.001). The time to discharge after an examination was shorter in the flumazenil groups and showed dose-dependency (41.2+/-20.5 min, 22.1+/-10.9 min, 16.4+/-2.2 min for the control group, 0.25 mg flumazenil group and 0.5 mg flumazenil group, respectively) (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in patient satisfaction among the three groups. The degree of memory recall was better in the 0.5 mg flumazenil group than in the other two groups (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Flumazenil reversal of midazolam sedative endoscopy results in fast recovery and is helpful to minimize memory loss after an examination without interference of satisfaction.
Endoscopy ; Flumazenil ; Humans ; Memory ; Memory Disorders ; Midazolam ; Outpatients ; Patient Discharge ; Patient Satisfaction

Gallstone ileus is a mechanical obstruction caused by the impaction of one or more gallstones within the lumen of any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Gallstone ileus is frequently proceeded by an episode of acute cholecystitis. The resulting inflammation and adhesions facilitate the erosion of the offending gallstone through the gallbladder wall forming a cholecystoenteric fistula and allowing the passage of the gallstone. Fifty five-year-old, 71-year-old, and 74-year-old female patients were admitted to the Asan Medical Center for nausea, vomiting, and nonspecific abdominal pain. Erect abdominal plain film revealed several moderately dilated loops of small bowel with air fluid levels. Computed tomography showed the classic triad of findings of gallstone ileus. Dilated loops of small bowel, air in the biliary tree and an ectopic stone in the ileum were demonstrated. These impacted stones were removed by surgical intervention.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Biliary Tract ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Female ; Fistula ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Ileum ; Ileus* ; Inflammation ; Nausea ; Vomiting