Rectovagianl fistula(RVF) is a congenital or acquired communication between the two epithelial-lined surface of the rectum and the vagina. We present our experience with 62 patients with RVF. There were various etiologies and repair methods of rectovaginal fistula. The purpose of this study was to retospectively review the clinical course of the patients we treated and to evaluate the efficacy of various treatment options. The mean age was 40.5 yr, The type of RVF was classified to one of two(simple and complex), according to their location, size and etiology. RVF was developed most commonly after radiotherapy due to cervical cancer(n=17), then after pelvic surgery due to malignancy(n=16), obstetric trauma after episiotomy at delivery(n=7), congenital malformation(n=4), inflammatory bowel disease(n=1), Bechet's disease(n=1), infections such as perianal fistula or abscess(n=2), direct invasion of carcinoma(n=3), after chemotherapy(n=1), and idiopathic(n=6). Three cases of them associated with rectovesicovaginal fistula. Surgical therapeutic option was divided to local repair, abdominal approach and tissue transposition by the type of RVF. Most simple RVFs were repaired with local approach through the vagina or rectum. Most complex RVFs were repaired through abdominal approach or tissue transposition. With an average follow up of 20 months, the treatment results were as follows: completely healed(n=36, 58.1%), persistent symptom(n=6, 9.7%), recurrence after repair(n=5, 8.1%), loss of search or death(n=15, 24.1%). Therefore we assist that the management of RVF depends on size, location, and cause. anal sphincter function and overall health status of the patient. Careful preoperative assessment of the fistula, surrounding tissues, and anal sphincter and exclusion of associated disease are essential. With through evaluation, thoughtful consideration of treatment options, and meticulous operative technique, patient can be assured of an optimal outcome.
Anal Canal ; Episiotomy ; Female ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Radiotherapy ; Rectovaginal Fistula* ; Rectum ; Recurrence ; Vagina

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an hereditary autosomal dominant disease characterized by development of hundreds to thousands of adenomatous polyps in the colon and rectum. The common symptoms are bloody stool, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The average age at onset of symptoms is 33 years. Because of inevitable progression to malignancy, it is necessary to remove the entire colonic and rectal mucosa. Current surgical options are total proctocolectomy with permanent ileostomy, trans-abdominal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis (IRA), and restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). Recently IPAA can give optimum control of colorectal polyposis in FAP patients with an acceptable incidence of postoperative complications and satisfactory functional results. We experienced one case of FAP who had malignacy in the remained rectum after subtotal colectomy. IPAA was done and the result was satisfactory.
Abdominal Pain ; Adenomatous Polyposis Coli* ; Adenomatous Polyps ; Colectomy* ; Colon ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Ileostomy ; Incidence ; Mucous Membrane ; Postoperative Complications ; Proctocolectomy, Restorative ; Rectum*

INTRODUCTION: There was increase in a fall injury at the field of construction work, nowadays. There was also increase in penetrating injury by an iron reinforcing bar associated with a fall or slip injury. But this is not widely discussed in the surgical literature. The purpose of this study was to define the characteristics of injury, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of the penetrating injury by an iron reinforcing bar associated with a fall or slip injury. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed retrospectively medical records of 17 patients who admitted and managed at Yongdong Severance hospital, Yonsei university college of medicine due to penetrating injury by an iron reinforcing bar associated with a fall or slip injury from Nov. 1987 to Dec. 1996. RESULTS: The penetrating injuries by an iron reinforcing bar associated with a fall or slip injury were 5 cases of a slip injury and 12 cases of a fall injury. The insertion site of an iron reinforcing bar was perineum in all of a slip injury. In a fall injury, insertion site was flank and back in 5 cases, perineum 4 cases, chest 2 cases and abdomen 1 case. In a fall injury, 9 patients had two or more organ injuries. CT scan was taken in 3 cases, sigmoidoscopy 3 cases and fistulogram 1 case in a slip injury. CT scan was done in 5 cases, sigmoidoscopy 1 case, cystogram 2 cases and intravenous pyelogram 1 case in a fall injury. 2 cases was cured conservatively, and operation was done in 3 cases in a slip injury in contrast to 2 cases of conservative management and operation 10 cases in a fall injury. There was no negative celiotomy. Complication was only one wound infection in a slip injury. There were wound infection 6 cases, pulmonary complication 4 cases, sepsis 1 case, necrotizing fascitis 1 case, anal sphincter injury 1 case, intraabdominal abscess 1 case and neurogenic bladder 1 case in a fall injury. There was no mortality. CONCLUSION: The penetrating injuries by an iron reinforcing bar associated with a fall or slip injury had characteristics of both penetrating and blunt injury. The chest and abdominal penetrating injuries lead to multiple organ injury. In perineal penetrating injury, we should evaluate the injury of urinary bladder, rectum and genital organ.
Abdomen ; Abscess ; Anal Canal ; Diagnosis ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Iron* ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Perineum ; Prognosis ; Rectum ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Wound Infection ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating

BACKGROUND: In patients with coronary artery disease, dysfunctional hypoperfused myocardium at rest may represent either nonviable or viable hibernating myocardium. Two-dimensional echocardiography can detect regional wall motion abnormalities resulting from myocardial ischemia by dobutamine infusion. The purpose of the present study was to identify the prediction of improvement of regional left ventricular (LV) function after surgical revascularization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with chronic regional LV dysfunction underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) (dobutamine: baseline, 5, 10, 20microgram/kg/min) before coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and underwent echocardiography at least 2 months after CABG. RESULTS: All patients were male with mean age of 58 years ranging from 42 to 73 years. The mean LV ejection fraction was 41.8% with a range from 19% to 55%. During DSE, there were no complications, also, there were no operative morbidities or mortalities. Improvement of wall motion within the dysfunctional myocardium was found in 8 (50%) of 16 patients in DSE. Among them, 6 patients (75%) showed functional recovery after CABG. Another 8 patients did not show improvement of wall motion in DSE. But among them, 3 patients (38%) showed functional recovery after CABG. 84 dysfunctional segments were found in 256 segments of 16 patients. Improvement of wall motion was found in 34 of 84 segments in DSE. Among them, 23 segments (74%) showed functional recovery after CABG. Another 53 segments did not show improvement of wall motion in DSE. But among them, 12 segments (23%) showed functional recovery after CABG. The sensitivity and specificity of DSE for the prediction of postoperative improvement of segmental wall motion were 66% and 84%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive value of DSE were 74% and 77%, respectively. In patients with chronic regional LV dysfunction, think that DSE is a good predictor of the improvement of dysfunctional segments after CABG.
Coronary Artery Bypass* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels* ; Dobutamine* ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Stress* ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardium* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Cerebral dural sinus thrombosis(CDST) has been described as a rare disease with a variety of patho-etiological factors. The diagnosis of CDST is difficult due to various symptoms and signs, none of which is specific to CDST. But timely diagosis is critical for effective management. The introduction and widespread use of computed tomography(CT), magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and cerebral angiography made early diagnosis of CDST possible. In particular, MR venography is the most useful tool for establishing a correct diagnosis quickly. In early literature, mortality ranked between 30% and 50% but in more recent series it is between 5.5% and 30%. With the advent of diagnostic and therapeutic tools, early diagnosis and proper management has made the prognosis better. The appropriate therapy for CDST, however, has been the subject of much cortroversy. Individual variations of the venous system and collateral vessels are key factors to decide the proper treatment. In this report, we present two cases with symptomatic CDST treated without open surgical or direct endovascular interventions with good outcome.
Cerebral Angiography ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Mortality ; Phlebography ; Prognosis ; Rare Diseases ; Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial*

Epidermal cysts are commonly encountered, slow-growing superficial cysts in the hair-bearing areas of the body, and are usually discovered in the second and fourth decades of life. These cysts tend to be superficial, meaning that they can be easily found by ultrasound and digital palpation at a moderate degree of growth. However, we found a huge testicular cyst that went undetected until old age. In this report, we describe the interesting case of a patient in whom the right testis was totally replaced with an epidermal cyst. The cyst was found by ultrasonography and further evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging. We performed orchiectomy under the impression of an epidermal cyst. The pathologic report confirmed this clinical impression. Over 24 months of follow-up, we did not find any recurrence of a growing mass on the testis.
Aged, 80 and over ; Epidermal Cyst* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Orchiectomy ; Palpation ; Recurrence ; Testicular Neoplasms ; Testis* ; Ultrasonography

Pressure controlled ventilation has been proposed to recruit closed alveolar units and improve oxygenation through changing the inspiratory flow pattern from a square wave as used with volume controlled ventilation to a rapidly exponentially decaying curve and through maintaining airway pressure at a constant level throughout the inspiratory phase. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cardiorespiratory efficacy of pressure controlled ventilation in severe respiratory failure. Cardiorespiratory values were measured in ten patients with severe respiratory failure on volume controlled and pressure controlled ventilation. Tidal volume, ventilatory rate, PEEP, inspiratory:expiratory ratio and FIO2 were maintained at the same level for both ventilatory modalities. Changing from volume controlled ventilation to pressure controlled ventilation was associated with significant improvement in PaO2 and decrease in peak inspiratory pressure. There were no significant changes in other cardiorespiratory values, such as arterial blood pressure, heart rate, inspiratory pause pressure and static compliance. These results suggest that pressure controlled ventilation may be a beneficial ventilatory modality in the treatment of severe respiratory failure compared to volume controlled ventilation.
Arterial Pressure ; Compliance ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Respiratory Insufficiency* ; Tidal Volume ; Ventilation*

No abstract available.
Hemangioma* ; Polyhydramnios*

Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare malignancy arising from the mesenchymal tissues of the spermatic cord, epididymis, testis, and testicular tunica, and accounts for approximately 7% of all rhabdomyosarcomas. It often occurs in children but is known to have a better prognosis than disease at other urogenital sites. Patients typically present with painless unilateral scrotal swelling like a solid testicular tumor. However, we report an unusual case of delayed diagnosis of paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma accompanied by epididymitis manifesting an painful scrotal swelling.
Child ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Epididymis ; Epididymitis ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; Spermatic Cord ; Testis

Problems related to agitation in the ICU patients include cardiorespiratory instability, ina bility to cooperate with nursing care, failure to maintain op timal positioning in bed, dis- ruption of life sustaining tubes and catheters, and injuries to patients and hospital person- nel. Thus, the ability to provide safe, controllable, and reversible sedation can be important in the care of critically ill patients. Midazolam is a water soluble imidazobenzodiazepine with a rapid onset of ac tion and short elimination half life compared with diazepam or lorazepam. We evaluated the use of midazolam by continuous infusion for prolonged sedation of critically ill adult patients. The results were as follows ; 1) Midazolam infusion effectively controlled severe agitation in all patients. 2) No episodes of cardiovascular depression due to midazolam occur red during the study period. 3) In one patient, tolerance was developed 6 days after infusion. 4) Mean time to alertness was 2.23 hours. 5) In a renal failure patient, there was no significant prolongation of time to alertness. These results suggest that midazolam infusion provides safe, controllable, and reversible sedation in the care of critically ill patients.
Adult ; Catheters ; Critical Illness ; Depression ; Diazepam ; Dihydroergotamine ; Half-Life ; Humans ; Lorazepam ; Midazolam* ; Nursing Care ; Renal Insufficiency