Twin pregnancies represent a high risk obstetric population with perinatal morbidity and mortality much greater than that of singleton pregnancies. A retrospective dinical evaluation was attempted to analyse 211 cases of twin pregnancies in Chunchon Sacred Heart Hospital of Hallym University from Jan. l. 1988 to Dec. 31. 1997. The results were as follows. 1) The incidence of twin pregnancy was 1 in 93.9 deliveries. 2) The age of mother ranged from 19 to 42 years and predominant age group was 26-30 which covers 43.1% of all. 3) Nullipara was 61.1% and multipara was 38.9%. 4) The predominant gestational age group at delivery was 36-37 weeks, 33.2%. 5) In presentation, both cephalic combination was 46.4%, cephalic-breech was 26.1%. 6) The birth weight was less than 2500gm in 64.9% of the 1st babies and 70.6% of the 2nd babies, respectively. 7) The rate of cesarean section was 89.0%. The indications of cesarean section were malpresention (48.9%), elective cesarean section(38.8%), and toxemia(9.0%). 8) In 23 cases of vaginal delivery, the average duration of labor was 7.0 hours and 43.5% of 2nd baby was delivered within 5 min after 1st baby delivery, 9) The most frequent maternal complications during pregnancy were anemia(36.0%), preterm labor(34.6%) and preeclamsia(17.5%). 10) The perinatal mortality rate of the first and second twins was 10.4% and 12.3%, respectively. The main causes of perinatal death were prematurity(52.1%) and stillborn(22.9%). 11) Both female was 43.6%, both male was 39.3%, and opposite sex was 17.1% in infant.
Birth Weight ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Gestational Age ; Heart ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Male ; Mortality ; Mothers ; Perinatal Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin* ; Retrospective Studies

Acetabular fracture can result in severe limitation of the motion of the hip joint, which supports totalweight of human body. Beause of different methods of surgical approach a ccording to fracture type, preciseinterpretation of X-ray films of acetabular fracture is required. We reviewed 38 cases of simple X-ray filmsshowing acetabular fracture. The results were as follows: 1. Almomst 60% of the cases-were in their 2nd and 3rddecades. 2. Twenty cases were male, and 18 cases were female. 3. The most common cause of the injury was trafficaccident(33 cases, 86.8%), followed by fall down (4 ases, 10.5%) and slip down(1 case, 2.7%). 4. Elementaryfractures were 21 cases(55.3%) and associated fractures were 17 cases(44.7%). 5. Among elementary fractures,posterior wall fractures were 9 cases(23.7%), followed by anterior column fractures(8 ases, 21.1%), anterior wallfractures(4 cases, 10.5%). 6. Among associated fractures, T-shaped fractures were 8 cases(21.1%), followed by bothcolumn fractures(6 cases, 15.8%), anterior and hemitransverse fractures(3 cases, 7.8%). 7. Other pelvic bonefractures associated with the acetabular fracture were as follows: farcture of contralateral pubic rami(6 ases,15.8%) contralateral iliac bone (1 case, 2.6%) and ipsilateral iliac bone (1 case, 2.6%). 8. Injuries of otherorgans adjacent to the acetabulum were as follows: rupture of the bladder (3 cases, 7.9%), urethra(2 cases, 5.3%)and uterus (1 cases, 2.6%).
Acetabulum ; Female ; Hip Joint ; Human Body ; Humans ; Male ; Rupture ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterus ; X-Ray Film

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery (HALS) with the HandPort system. The surgeon inserts the nondominant hand into the abdomen while the pneumoperitoneum is maintained. The hand assists laparoscopic instruments and is helpful in complex laparoscopic surgery. This approach provides an excellent means to explore, to retract safely, and to apply immediate hemostasis when needed. METHODS: A prospective study was performed in patients who had undergone surgical intervention with the HandPort system at Ewha Womans University Mok-Dong Hospital. The surgeon was free to test the device in any situation where they expected a potential advantage over conventional laparoscopy. The surgeon inserted the nondominant hand into the abdomen while the pneumoperitoneum was generally maintained at 13 mmHg. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were entered in the study. Operations included radical gastrectomy in 8 cases, subtotal gastrectomy in 1 case, hemicolecotmy in 2, distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy in 1, nephrectomy with splenectomy in 1. The mean incision size for the HandPort device was 7.5 cm for the nondominant hand. None of the patients required conversion to open surgery as a result of an unmanageable air leak. There were no postoperative problems and no cases of mortality. CONCLUSION: HALS with the HandPort system is helpful in complex laparoscopic surgery and appeared to be useful in minimally invasive procedures considered too complex for,a laparoscopic approach.
Abdomen ; Conversion to Open Surgery ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Hand ; Hand-Assisted Laparoscopy* ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Mortality ; Nephrectomy ; Pancreatectomy ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Prospective Studies ; Splenectomy

Colonoscopy is a frequently performed procedure used for colorectal cancer screening. Most frequent complication is colonic perforation and bleeding. Other visceral injuries are very rare, but injuries to the spleen and liver have been described. We report on 66-yr-old female who presented with abdominal pain after uneventful colonoscopy. Abdominal CT scan revealed a band at previous hysterectomy site and dilated small bowel suggesting strangulated loop. A broad based knowledge of the different complication is necessary to decrease the risk of associated morbidity and mortality.
Abdominal Pain ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Liver ; Mass Screening ; Spleen

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of lamotrigine for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children with epilepsy. METHODS: Pediatric patients newly diagnosed with epilepsy (n=90 [61 boys and 29 girls]; mean age, 9.1±3.4 years) were enrolled. All patients were evaluated with the Korean ADHD rating scale (K-ARS)-IV before treatment with lamotrigine and after doses had been administered. The mean interval of ADHD testing was approximately 12.3 months. The initial dosage of lamotrigine was 1 mg/kg/day (maximum 25 mg/day for the first 2 weeks), and increased by 1 mg/kg every 2 weeks until titrated up to 7 mg/kg/day (or maximum 200 mg/day). RESULTS: The mean ADHD test score of the 90 subjects was 17.0±1.8 at baseline. It was slightly reduced to 15.6±1.7 after lamotrigine monotherapy (P >0.01). Prior to treatment, a total of 31 patients (34.4%) met the diagnostic criteria for ADHD according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision, Of these 31 patients, 27 (87.1%) had significantly improved ADHD scores with lamotrigine monotherapy (28.0±1.6 reduced to 18.1±2.6, P<0.001). Among these 27 patients, 25 (92.6%) showed normalized electroencephalogram (EEG) and 26 (96.3%) achieved total freedom from seizures within 12 months of the initiation of lamotrigine monotherapy. CONCLUSION: The results from our study show that lamotrigine had a positive effect in pediatric epilepsy patients by reducing ADHD symptoms, preventing seizures, and normalizing EEG. However, further research is required to determine whether lamotrigine is efficacious against ADHD symptoms independent of its effects on epileptic seizures.
Anticonvulsants ; Child ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy* ; Freedom ; Humans ; Seizures

PURPOSE: This study aimed to verify the safety of low-dose topiramate on language development in pediatric patients with migraine. METHODS: Thirty newly diagnosed pediatric patients with migraine who needed topiramate were enrolled and assessed twice with standard language tests, including the Test of Language Problem Solving Abilities (TOPs), Receptive and Expressive Vocabulary Test, Urimal Test of Articulation and Phonology, and computerized speech laboratory analysis. Data were collected before treatment, and topiramate as monotherapy was sustained for at least 3 months. The mean follow-up period was 4.3±2.7 months. The mean topiramate dosage was 0.9 mg/kg/day. RESULTS: The patient's mean age was 144.1±42.3 months (male-to-female ratio, 9:21). The values of all the language parameters of the TOPs were not changed significantly after the topiramate treatment as follows: Determine cause, from 15.0±4.4 to 15.4±4.8 (P>0.05); making inference, from 17.6±5.6 to 17.5±6.6 (P>0.05); predicting, from 11.5±4.5 to 12.3±4.0 (P>0.05); and total TOPs score, from 44.1± 13.4 to 45.3±13.6 (P>0.05). The total mean length of utterance in words during the test decreased from 44.1±13.4 to 45.3±13.6 (P<0.05). The Receptive and Expressive Vocabulary Test results decreased from 97.7±22.1 to 96.3±19.9 months, and from 81.8±23.4 to 82.3±25.4 months, respectively (P>0.05). In the articulation and phonology validation in both groups, speech pitch and energy were not significant, and all the vowel test results showed no other significant values. CONCLUSION: No significant difference was found in the language-speaking ability between the patients; however, the number of vocabularies used decreased. Therefore, topiramate should be used cautiously for children with migraine.
Child* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Language Development ; Language Tests ; Migraine Disorders* ; Problem Solving ; Vocabulary

Primary malignant melanoma arising from the leptomeninges is a rare entity. We report two cases of primary intracranial melanoma developed in one aged 65 years female and the other 70 years male. One case died 2 years after the operation, and the other case is still living more than 1 year after operation. Both cases seems to have a relatively long survival. The literature on this subject is briefly reviewed.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Melanoma*

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) in pediatric and adolescent patients is rare, and it is associated with various clinical symptoms. We introduce the case of an 8-year-old boy with ACC who presented with peripheral precocious puberty at his first visit. He displayed penis enlargement with pubic hair and facial acne. His serum adrenal androgen levels were elevated, and abdominal computed tomography revealed a right suprarenal mass. After complete surgical resection, the histological diagnosis was ACC. Two months after surgical removal of the mass, he subsequently developed central precocious puberty. He was treated with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist to delay further pubertal progression. In patients with functioning ACC and surgical removal, clinical follow-up and hormonal marker examination for the secondary effects of excessive hormone secretion may be a useful option at least every 2 or 3 months after surgery.
Acne Vulgaris ; Adolescent ; Adrenocortical Carcinoma* ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Hair ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; Puberty, Precocious* ; Virilism

Kawasaki disease is an acute systemic inflammatory disorder, the etiology of which has not yet been established. The clinical manifestations are non-specific and are common to many pediatric infectious and immunologic diseases. In 2 cases presenting fever, cervical lymphadenopathy, and retropharyngeal abscess-like lesions on the neck shown in a computerized tomography (CT) scan, the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease was delayed. The patients were not responsive to antibiotic therapy, and fluid collection was not found during retropharyngeal aspiration. They showed typical Kawasaki manifestations over time and atrioventricular valve regurgitation in the echocardiogram. A diagnosis of Kawasaki disease should be considered in similar cases of fever and cervical lymphadenopathy. A CT scan that shows a retropharyngeal abscess-like lesion on the neck can be a false positive finding, and other laboratory exams, including echocardiography, should be performed as early as possible to avoid unnecessary medical and surgical procedures.
Echocardiography ; Fever ; Humans ; Immune System Diseases ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Neck ; Retropharyngeal Abscess

Congenital thoracic ectopic kidney is a very rare developmental disorder and the rarest type of ectopic kidney. This condition is usually asymptomatic and detected incidentally on routine chest radiography. Most cases of thoracic ectopic kidney develop in adulthood and during the neonatal period, and congenital thoracic ectopic kidney rarely develops in children. Most patients are asymptomatic, and the treatment depends on the diagnosis. Herein, we report a rare case of ectopic thoracic kidney associated with a diaphragmatic hernia in a 15-month-old male infant, who presented with periodic severe irritability. The thoracic ectopic kidney was detected as a mass in the right base of the chest on routine chest radiography.
Child ; Diagnosis ; Hernia, Diaphragmatic* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Kidney* ; Male ; Radiography ; Thorax