To assess prophylatic antibiotic usage and the value of an intraoperative bile culture in biliary tract surgery, intraoperative bile cultures were taken in 276 biliary surgical patients during the period from Jan. 1991 to Dec. 1995. The results of bile culture, the isolation of organisms, susceptibility of the microorganisms to antibiotics, and the relationship between a positive culture and postoperative complications were analyzed. The positive culture rate was 56.5%, and the highest culture rate(100%) was seen in patients with combined stones in the gallbladder, the common bile duct and the intrahepatic duct. The most common gram negative microorganism was E. coli(44%), and Enterococcus was the most common among the gram positive microorganisms. The effective antibiotics for gram negative organisms were Amikacin, Gentamicin, Tobramycin, and Chloramphenicol; for gram positive organisms, they were Amikacin, Tetracycline, Gentamicin, and Tobramycin in order of effectiveness. The frequency of wound infection was larger in positive cultures(11.5%) than in negative cultures (2.5%), and the risk factors for positive cultures were old age, obstructive jaundice, a high serum SGOT/SGPT level, and previous biliary tract surgery. In conclusion, we recommend that prophylactic antibiotic treatment be done during the perioperative period for old patients with leukocytosis, obstructive jaundice, cholangitis, or a history previous biliary tract surgery. Antibiotic prophylaxis in biliary tract surgery reduces postoperative infectious complications.
Amikacin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antibiotic Prophylaxis* ; Bile* ; Biliary Tract* ; Chloramphenicol ; Cholangitis ; Common Bile Duct ; Enterococcus ; Gallbladder ; Gentamicins ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Leukocytosis ; Perioperative Period ; Postoperative Complications ; Risk Factors ; Tetracycline ; Tobramycin ; Wound Infection

BACKGROUND: Primary focal hyperhidrosis is characterized by overactivity of the sympathetic nervous function, and this has been effectively treated with endoscopic thoracic sympathetic denervation (ESD). The imbalance of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system that's created by ESD may affect the heart, lung and other thoracic organs. We analyzed the heart rate and ECG changes after performing ESD at our hospital, and this is the first such study that has been conducted on this. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Of the 263 patients who underwent ESD between October 1996 and October 2006, 130 had ECG before and after ESD, and they were classified into 3 groups according to the level of ESD: Group I (n=40) patients underwent ESD at the 2nd rib (T2ESD), Group II (n=80) at the 3rd rib (T3ESD) and Group III (n=10) at the 4th rib (T4ESD). RESULT: There was no mortality or major morbidity. Heart rate (HR) was significantly decreased from 71.6+/-10.6/min to 66.8+/-10.2/min after ESD (p<0.01); however, the PR (from 148.6+/-21.2 msec to 152.8+/-20.5 msec) and QTc (from 399.2+/-15.4 msec to 404.0+/-15.1 msec) intervals were significantly increased after ESD in the patients who suffered with primary hyperhidrosis (p<0.01). According to the level of ESD, there were significant changes in the HR and QTc interval in group I (T2ESD), the HR and PR interval in group II and the QTc interval in Group III. CONCLUSION: There were significant changes in the heart rate and ECG findings after ESD. The thoracic sympathetic denervation of T2, T3 and T4 affected the electrical activity of the heart at the resting state.
Electrocardiography ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; Lung ; Parasympathetic Nervous System ; Ribs ; Sympathectomy

It is difficult to perform endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) in case of early gastric cancer involving duodenal bulb. To achieve complete resection, we applied a new METHOD: that is, EMR with an insulation-tipped diathermic knife (IT knife) was peformed by the retroflexion of endoscope in the bulb. This method was tried in 4 patients. For the antral side of the tumor, EMR was done using a needle knife or IT knife. The duodenal side of the tumor was resected by IT knife with the retroflexion of endoscope in the bulb. The complete resection was performed in 2 patients, an incomplete resection in one patient, and the laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy was performed in the remaining one patient because reconstruction of partitional resection was very difficult and adenocarcinoma was found to involve the muscularis mucosa. We think that EMR with IT knife by endoscopic retroflexion in the bulb is effective for some cases of early gastric cancer involving the duodenal bulb.
Adenocarcinoma ; Duodenum* ; Endoscopes ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Needles ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Duplications of the gastrointestinal tract are rare congenital malformations that are usually present during the first decade of life. However, a smaller number of cases may remain occult until adulthood. Overall, the colon is the least common site of congenital gastrointestinal duplications. Colonic duplications can present with symptoms of diverticulitis and can be confused with acquired giant cysts or masses. We present a rare case of a duplication cyst of the colon in a female adult. Although the preoperative evaluations, including an abdominal CT scan and colonoscopy, were suggestive of a gastrointestinal tumor of the colon, the final diagnosis was a colonic duplication cyst based on the histopathologic examination of the resected specimen. Even if intestinal duplication cysts are uncommon, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intestinal masses.
Adult ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Digestive System Abnormalities ; Diverticulitis ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) arises from germline mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene. FAP is characterized by the occurrence of hundreds to thousands of adenomas throughout the colorectum, and there is nearly a 100% risk of colorectal cancer. In addition to polyposis coli, patients with FAP can develop a variety of extracolonic manifestations. Recent advances in screening and surgery have reduced the colon cancer occurrence and death in FAP patients, leaving desmoid tumors as a leading cause of their morbidity and mortality. Treatment of desmoid tumors is generally considered to be challenging for both the doctor and the patient. We report here on an 18 year old man with resectable intra-abdominal desmoid tumor that developed after total colectomy due to FAP and we include a review of the relevant literature.
Adenoma ; Adenomatous Polyposis Coli* ; Adolescent ; Colectomy* ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive* ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Mortality

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of an educational intervention that includes information sharing about absolute fracture risk on the knowledge of osteoporosis and modifiable risk factors among Korean patients with osteoporosis. METHODS: Adults aged >50 years who visited the outpatient clinic for osteoporosis were recruited. Subjects with trauma-related fractures or pathological fractures were excluded. The anthropometric data and clinical risk factors for fracture were collected at baseline. The participants completed the survey questionnaire that measured their knowledge regarding osteoporosis at baseline and then received information about the risk of fracture and individual education. Fracture risk was classified into five groups according to degree. The post-survey was conducted 3 months later. The pretest results were compared with the posttest results. RESULTS: In this study, 179 subjects (15 men and 164 women) were enrolled. After the educational intervention, the mean osteoporosis knowledge score significantly increased from 10.6±5.7 at pre-education (baseline) to 11.7±6.3 at post-education (P < 0.001). When comparing the pre- and post-education Korean fracture risk scores, a negligible difference was found between the “very low risk” and “low risk” groups. However, the scores in the “very high risk” and “high risk” groups decreased from 77.6% to 76.0%. We found a difference over time only in physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Simple educational intervention is effective in increasing osteoporosis knowledge among Korean patients with osteoporosis. It may confer some benefit by providing information about osteoporotic fracture risks to improve knowledge and awareness regarding osteoporosis.
Adult ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Education ; Fractures, Spontaneous ; Humans ; Information Dissemination ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Osteoporosis* ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors

Liver transplantation is an accepted and successful mode of treatment for pediatric end-stage liver disease. A living related liver transplatation(LRLT) in a child has certain potential advantages, such as short cold ischemic time, accurate graft size, and vessel diameter match based on elective preoperative preparations. Recently, microvasular surgery techniques have been introduced in hepatic artery reconstruction but still the possibility of hepatic artery thrombosis remains. Herein, We report an LRLT case, which showed hepatic artery stenosis postoperatively, successfully dilated by balloon angioplasty technique.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Child ; Cold Ischemia ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Hepatic Artery* ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Thrombosis ; Transplants

Liver transplantation is an accepted and successful mode of treatment for pediatric end-stage liver disease. Living related liver transplatation(LRLT) in child has certain potential advantages, such as short cold ischemic time, accurate graft size and vessel diameter match based on elective preoperative preparations. Recently, introduction of microvasular surgery technique to hepatic artery reconstruction has been used, but still remained the possibility of hepatic artery thrombosis. Herein, We report a LRLT case, which showed hepatic artery stenosis postoperatively, successfully dilated by ballon angioplasty technique.
Angioplasty ; Child ; Cold Ischemia ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Hepatic Artery ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Transplantation ; Thrombosis ; Transplants