PURPOSE: We reviewed surgical results in a group of women after Raz bladder neck suspension using questionnaire based outcomes analysis. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Of 71 patients who underwent Raz bladder neck suspension 55 had completed the questionnaire. Interviewees mean age was 54 years(range: 41-72 years) and mean observation time was 26.2 months(range: 3-77 months). RESULTS: According to outcomes analysis 39 patients(70.9%) were cured, 4(7.2%) improved, 11(20%) same and 1(1.8%) became worse. Overall improvement was found to be 43 patients(78.2%). 40(72.7%) patients replied 'satisfactory' for the Raz bladder neck suspension. Overall 'success rate' was estimated as 74.5%. No significant statistical correlation was found between success rate of Raz bladder neck suspension and various factors such as patients age, urge incontinence or follow up length. Of the 55 patients 7(12.7%) reported daily pad use. CONCLUSIONS: With these questionnaire based outcome analysis there was an overall success rate of 74.5%. We strongly emphasize the need for standardized questionnaire based outcome analyses for the evaluation of incontience surgery.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neck* ; Surveys and Questionnaires* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Urinary Incontinence, Urge

Biliary obstruction due to advanced hepatic hilar malignancy is difficult to treat, both surgically and non-surgically, using endoscopic or percutaneous drainage. Since only about 10% to 20% of patients are eligible for resection of hepatic hilar malignancies, most patients receive palliative rather than curative treatment. Percutaneous palliation of advanced hepatic hilar malignancies can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Percutaneous bilateral metallic stent placement may be a reasonable option in patients with hilar malignancies to preserve the functional volume of the liver during the course of chemotherapy and to prevent procedure-related cholangitis of a contaminated undrained lobe. Percutaneous bilateral stent-in-stent placement using wide-mesh or open-cell design stents is a feasible and effective method of achieving bilateral drainage. Moreover, unilateral covered or uncovered metallic stent placement in the lobe with patent portal vein is safe and effective method for palliative treatment in patients with contralateral portal vein occlusion caused by hilar malignancies, obviating the need for bilateral stent placement in these patients.
Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangitis ; Drainage ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Liver ; Methods ; Palliative Care ; Portal Vein ; Stents

We report successful outcomes after endovascular placement of a stent graft in a 74- and a 77-year-old men, both of whom had malignant superior vena cava syndrome caused by squamous cell carcinoma. In each patient, successful palliation of the malignant superior vena cava syndrome was achieved by placement of a stent graft. No procedure-related complications were observed. The patients were asymptomatic until their deaths, seven and 14 months after stent graft placement, respectively.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Bronchoscopy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/*therapy ; *Endovascular Procedures ; Humans ; Male ; Palliative Care ; *Stents ; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome/diagnosis/pathology/*therapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

An epiglottic cyst is a common form of laryngeal cysts which are rare causes of upper airway obstruction. A congenital laryngeal cyst always causes neonatal respiratory distress, but an acquired cyst shows very wide spectrum of symptoms such as no specific complaints, dysphagia, respiratory difficulty, or even death according to its size, location, or age. From anesthesiologists' point of view, an asymptomatic undiagnosed laryngeal cyst is a major concern. Unexpectedly, it can cause difficult airway such as 'cannnot intubate' or 'cannot intubate and cannot ventilate' situation during anesthesia. Recently we discovered an undiagnosed epiglottic cyst obscuring laryngeal inlet, leading to difficult intubation during general anesthesia for decompression and fusion of lumbar vertebrae. Fortunately, mask ventilation was possible, and after failed attempts of direct laryngoscopy, we could perform oral fiberoptic bronchoscope-aided intubation. He was discharged 10 days later with no harmful events.
Airway Obstruction ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Bays ; Bronchoscopes ; Decompression ; Deglutition Disorders ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laryngoscopy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Masks ; Ventilation

Lipiodol brain embolism is a rare complication associated with transcatheter arterial cheomoembolization (TACE). The present case describes a patient with lipiodol brain embolism who presented with several symptoms, including drowsy mental state, right facial palsy, and weakness in the right upper and lower limbs. The patient's non-enhanced computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings revealed multifocal lipiodol deposition and an acute infarction of the brain. A retrospective review of the angiography findings revealed a right inferior phrenic artery-pulmonary vein shunt, which was not observed during the previous TACE. Three days after TACE, the patient's symptoms improved; however, the extent of the brain hyperintensity had widened further on the following MRI. The patient gradually recovered and was finally discharged.
Angiography ; Brain ; Ethiodized Oil ; Facial Paralysis ; Humans ; Infarction ; Intracranial Embolism ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Veins

BACKGROUND: The present study aims to compare the pulmonary function of residents of Seoul special city (Seoul) and Jeju special self-governing province including Jeju city and Seogwipo city (Jeju), characterized by vastly different annual average airborne particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less ≤10 μm (PM10) concentrations, with the annual average PM10 concentration in Seoul being significantly higher than that in Jeju. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed the pulmonary function test results and sociodemographic data of Korean adults ≥19 years of age derived from the 4th KNHANES, 2007–2009. A total of 830 individuals residing in Seoul or Jeju were included in this study. T-tests were used to analyze predicted values of forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1p), predicted values of forced vital capacity (FVCp) and FEV1/FVC ratio (FEV1/FVC), as dependent variables, to examine the differences in the subjects’ pulmonary function according to the city of residence. Stratified analysis was then performed to adjust for variables potentially affecting pulmonary function. The analysis was performed on subjects as a group and also following stratification according to sex and other variables. RESULTS: Seoul residents had a significantly lower FVCp than that of the Jeju residents (difference: 3.48%, p = 0.002). FEV1p, FVCp and FEV1/FVC of male Seoul residents were significantly lower than those of male Jeju residents (difference: 6.99, 5.11% and 0.03, respectively; p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.001). In male subjects, statistically significant results were obtained even after adjusting the influence of other variables through stratified analysis. CONCLUSION: The present analysis was based on cross-sectional data collected at one point in time. Therefore, unlike longitudinal studies, it does not establish a clear causal association between the variables. Nevertheless, this study found that pulmonary function among subjects residing in Seoul was significantly decreased compared to that of subjects residing in Jeju.
Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Korea ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Particulate Matter ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Seoul ; Vital Capacity

Owing to improvements in surgical techniques and medical care, living-donor liver transplantation has become an established treatment modality in patients with end-stage liver disease. However, various vascular or non-vascular complications may occur during or after transplantation. Herein, we review how interventional radiologic techniques can be used to treat these complications.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are rare, but the frequency of detection is constantly increasing due to recent advances in diagnostic technology. Since liver metastasis (LM) of PNETs is highly correlated with long-term survival, active treatment is important. Liver-directed treatment is recommended for patients with unresectable LM from PNET if symptomatic or progressing despite medical management. Liverdirected intervention treatment, including locally ablative techniques and hepatic arterial embolotherapy has a vital role in controlling symptoms and improving overall survival rates. The purpose of this article is to address the recent advances in liverdirected intervention treatments for the treatment of LM of PNETs.