PURPOSE: To compare the Doppler velocity waveform pattern of ophthalmic artery of hypertensive patients with that of normotensive subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Doppler velocity waveform was obtained from ophthalmic artery in 45 hypertensive patients and 60 normotensive subjects. Both hypertensives and normotensive subjects were classified according to age into those younger than and those older than 45 years. Doppler indices[pulsatility index(PI), resistance index(RI), the first systolic peak/the second systolic peak(S1/S2), the first sytolic peak/diastolic peak (S1/D)] measured in hypertensive patients were compared with normotensive subjects. RESULTS: Among the various doppler indices, only S1/S2 showed significant difference(p < 0.05) between the hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects younger than 45 years. Doppler velocity waveform of hypertensive patients older than 45 years showed no significant difference from that of normotensive subjects with corresponding age. CONCLUSION: Doppler velocity waveform of ophthalmic artery in hyopertensive patients younger than 45 years shows pattern with S2 higher than that of normotensive subjects. High S2 component(reflective-wave) may represent increased vascular impedance ~ue to vasococonstriction of retinal arterioles in hypertensve patients.
Arterioles ; Electric Impedance ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Artery ; Retinaldehyde ; Ultrasonography*

Recently, accumulation of knowledge on cerebrovascular microanatomy and its hemodynamics and advances in interventional equipments, especially microcatheters, could make superselective embolization as well as for an adjunctive preoperative procedures The authors performed superselective angiography and embolization with Tracker microcatheter in 25 procedures out of 15 patients with brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Complete embolization was done in 7 prtients (46.7%), nearly complete embolization in 6 patients(40.4%), and partial embolization in 2 patients (13.3%). The overall curative success rate of embolization was 86.7%. Five patients showed no complication at all. Mild complications, however, were observed in 7 patients (46.8%). Severe complications such as AVM or Tracker rupture were observed in 3 patients (20%). In conclusion, superselective embolization is and effective method for the treatment of brain AVMs, and multiple session embolizations could reduce the complication rate and increase the success rate.
Angiography ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Brain* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Methods ; Preoperative Care ; Rupture

We experienced a case of transient right-sided heart failure after angioplasty of membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava confirmed by sonography and an inferior vena cavogram. Angioplasty involved the use of a self-expandable metallic stent, but after successful recanalization of the obstruction , the patient became dyspneic. Chest radiography revealed mild cardiomegaly with pulmonary congestion, but this was resolved spontaneously. For the prevention of serious heart failure, we recommend preprocedural evaluation of cardiac function.
Angioplasty* ; Cardiomegaly ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Heart Failure* ; Humans ; Radiography ; Stents ; Thorax ; Vena Cava, Inferior*

Treatment of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been controversial. Although there have been several anecdotal reports on the efficacies of corticosteroids or cytotoxic agents such as methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, and D-penicillamine for the treatment of ILD associated with RA, no controlled studies have been performed. To date, corticosteroids have been a central agent for the treatment of this disease, but their effects are partial and temporary in most cases. In addition, the adverse effects of these agents are considerable. On the other hand, limited information is available on the cyclosporine use in ILD associated with RA. We describe a 49-yr old female patient with RA and ILD that had initially responded to high dose prednisolone and cyclophosphamide intravenous pulse therapy, and the lung disease was aggravated with the tapering of prednisolone. After 10 months of follow-up loss, the patient was successfully treated with low dose cyclosporine without high dose corticosteroids.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; Antirheumatic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/complications/*drug therapy/radiography ; Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use ; Cyclosporine/*therapeutic use ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/complications/*drug therapy/radiography ; Middle Aged ; Prednisolone/therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Behcet's disease is a nonspecific vasculitis characterized by exacerbations and remissions of unpredictictable duration. The commom clinical features in most patients are orogenital ulcers, uveitis and skin lesions-especially erythema nodosum-like lesions or positive pathergy test. Among the systemic manifestations of Behcet's disease, pulmonary involvement is very rare and only a few cases have been documented. The main event of pulmonary involvement is vasculitis forming multilocular aneurysms and thrombosis of the pulmonary artery. The commom pulmonary manifestations are hemoptysis, dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, cough and fever. The prognosis of pulmonary vasculitis is very poor. A 30-year-old male patient with Behcet's disease presented with fever and dyspnea for 10 days. In the past years, his vision of the left eye was lost due to chorioretinitis. He took right hemicolectomy because of the perforation of colonic ulcer. Also he has been suffered from left hemiparesis due to multiple cerebral infarction. We describe a case with Behcet's disease with pulmonary infarction improved with prednisolone and cyclosporine.
Adult ; Aneurysm ; Cerebral Infarction ; Chest Pain ; Chorioretinitis ; Colon ; Cough ; Cyclosporine ; Dyspnea ; Erythema ; Fever ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Paresis ; Prednisolone ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Pulmonary Infarction* ; Skin ; Thrombosis ; Ulcer ; Uveitis ; Vasculitis

Cavernous hemangioma is a congenital, benign vascular tumor occurring in the deep dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Scrotal involvement is rare. A case of cavernous hemangioma of scrotum in a 2-year-old child is reported here with review of the literature.
Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Dermis ; Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Cavernous* ; Humans ; Scrotum* ; Subcutaneous Tissue

We report a case of Rasmussen aneurysm diagnosed by helical CT that well shows vascular imaging. Coil embolization of Rasmussen aneurysm stopped the bleeding successfully.
Aneurysm* ; Embolization, Therapeutic* ; Hemorrhage ; Tomography, Spiral Computed*

PURPOSE: All procedures for the removal of retained intrahepatic stones were performed on inpatient basis. We evaluated the advantage of the procedures performed on inpatient basis compared with outpatient basis in terms of the success rate, causes of failure and the complication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Percutaneous removal of retained intrahepatic stones was performed in 58 patients through a T-tube tract on inpatient basis from April 1990 to December 4992. Stones were exclusively intrahepatic in 28 patients, whereas 30 patients had combined stones in common bile duct. Preshaped catheters, baskets, and balloon catheters were used to remove the stones and dilate the strictures of the ducts. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and choledochoscopy with electrohydraulic lithotripsy were used to crush the impacted stones. RESULTS: The stones were completely removed in 34 (58.6%) of 58 patients and most of the stones were removed in 17 patients (29.3%). The overall success rate was 87.9%. The complications (cholangitis in 13% and pancreatitis in 0.8% per session) were found and successfully managed by appropriate care. CONCLUSION: Better success rate could be achieved by more aggressive appraoch on inpatient basis when compared with previous reports on outpatient basis. We suggest that the procedures should be performed on inpatient basis especially in a case with severe strictures or impacted stones.
Catheters ; Common Bile Duct ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Lithotripsy ; Outpatients ; Pancreatitis ; Shock

Traumatic amputation of a penis is an unusual injury. Amputation of the penis occurs most commonly as an act of self-emasculation, but has also been reported as resulting from assaults or accidental dismemberments. We report a case of successful clinical replantation of an amputated penis resulting from assaults by using a microvascular surgery.
Amputation ; Amputation, Traumatic ; Male ; Penis ; Replantation*

A 42 year-old male with a history of multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis suddenly developed massive hemoptysis. Embolization of a bronchial artery branch and the collateral systemic arteries did not resolve the recurrent bleeding. Spiral computerized tomography(spiral CT) of the chest showed contrast enhanced nodules within a large cavity at the left lower lobe in the arterial phase suggesting a Rasmussen aneurysm. A pulmonary angiogram showed abnormal vascular nodules at that site. Coils were deployed at both the proximal and distal vessels of this aneurysmal sac for embolization. Transcatheter arterial embolization is a safe and effective means of controlling bleeding from this pulmonary arterial pseudoaneurysm. Here we report a case of a Rasmussen aneurysm diagnosed by spiral CT, which was successfully treated by pulmonary arterial embolization with a coil.
Aneurysm* ; Aneurysm, False ; Arteries ; Bronchial Arteries ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Hemoptysis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Thorax ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary