A volvulus of the colon is a twisting of a redundant segment of the colon at its narrow mesentery. A sigmoid volvulus is the most common type. This disorder may spontaneously reduce and recur as a chronic problem. However, it more frequently becomes acute as a result of an obstruction, which can lead to strangulation and gangrene with a high mortality if not treated promptly. Colonoscopic reduction and decompression is the preferred initial treatment for patients with a sigmoid volvulus who show no signs of bowel strangulation, which may be the cause of the high mortality associated with emergency surgery. We experienced 2 cases of a sigmoid volvulus in a 44-year-old female and a 51-year-old male. The sigmoid volvulus was diagnosed by simple abdominal film and treated successfully by an emergency colonoscopic reduction. We report our experience on the use of colonoscopy to treat sigmoid volvulus with a reviews of the relevant literlature.
Female ; Humans ; Mortality

PURPOSE: We wanted to describe the practice and results of applying the day-hospital system in an interventional radiology clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From Oct. 2004 to Dec. 2005, the day-hospital system was applied to various interventional procedures with using a part of the recovery room of an angiography suite as a facility for hospital admission. The study included 91 cases in 73 patients. The source of the patient referral, the procedures, hospital courses and complications were analyzed and questionnaire surveys were conducted for the available 55 patients. RESULTS: Among the patients, 70% (n=64) were referred from other departments, 5% (n=5) from other hospitals, 5% (n=4) were new patients and 20% (n=18) were re-admissions. The procedures included gastrointestinal, biliary, urinary, hemodialysis related- and implantable port related interventions. 96% (n=87) of the patients were successfully discharged in a day and admission to the general ward was only 4% (n=4). Minor complications occurred after discharges in 3% (n=3). The questionnaire survey revealed that 96% (n=53) of the patients were satisfied with the service and they were not anxious after discharge. CONCLUSION: Most of common interventional procedures were safely done under the day-hospital system with the patients being highly satisfied. The day-hospital system can be a good tool for establishing admitting privileges for an interventional radiology clinic.
Angiography ; Humans ; Patients' Rooms ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Radiology, Interventional ; Recovery Room ; Referral and Consultation ; Renal Dialysis

PURPOSE: We wanted to describe the practice and results of applying the day-hospital system in an interventional radiology clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From Oct. 2004 to Dec. 2005, the day-hospital system was applied to various interventional procedures with using a part of the recovery room of an angiography suite as a facility for hospital admission. The study included 91 cases in 73 patients. The source of the patient referral, the procedures, hospital courses and complications were analyzed and questionnaire surveys were conducted for the available 55 patients. RESULTS: Among the patients, 70% (n=64) were referred from other departments, 5% (n=5) from other hospitals, 5% (n=4) were new patients and 20% (n=18) were re-admissions. The procedures included gastrointestinal, biliary, urinary, hemodialysis related- and implantable port related interventions. 96% (n=87) of the patients were successfully discharged in a day and admission to the general ward was only 4% (n=4). Minor complications occurred after discharges in 3% (n=3). The questionnaire survey revealed that 96% (n=53) of the patients were satisfied with the service and they were not anxious after discharge. CONCLUSION: Most of common interventional procedures were safely done under the day-hospital system with the patients being highly satisfied. The day-hospital system can be a good tool for establishing admitting privileges for an interventional radiology clinic.
Angiography ; Humans ; Patients' Rooms ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Radiology, Interventional ; Recovery Room ; Referral and Consultation ; Renal Dialysis

Biliary strictures can be caused by various diseases. Intrahepatic duct (IHD) strictures are usually related to IHD stones and cholangitis. However, focal IHD strictures without IHD stones often create diagnostic problems. Parasitic diseases such as clonorchiasis can be a rare cause of an IHD stricture. Human clonorchiasis (Clonorchis sinensis infection) is an endemic parasitic disease in Eastern Asia, including Korea, and patients acquire the infestation by eating raw fish. On radiological examinations, clonorchiasis shows typically diffuse, minimal, or mild dilatation of the small IHD, particularly in the periphery, without dilatation of the extrahepatic duct. However, diagnosis of clonorchiasis can sometimes be difficult when radiological changes are atypical. We report a case of focal left IHD dilatation caused by clonorchiasis that was confused with a malignancy.
Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangitis ; Clonorchiasis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dilatation ; Eating ; Far East ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Neoplasms ; Parasitic Diseases ; Cholangiocarcinoma

Biliary strictures can be caused by various diseases. Intrahepatic duct (IHD) strictures are usually related to IHD stones and cholangitis. However, focal IHD strictures without IHD stones often create diagnostic problems. Parasitic diseases such as clonorchiasis can be a rare cause of an IHD stricture. Human clonorchiasis (Clonorchis sinensis infection) is an endemic parasitic disease in Eastern Asia, including Korea, and patients acquire the infestation by eating raw fish. On radiological examinations, clonorchiasis shows typically diffuse, minimal, or mild dilatation of the small IHD, particularly in the periphery, without dilatation of the extrahepatic duct. However, diagnosis of clonorchiasis can sometimes be difficult when radiological changes are atypical. We report a case of focal left IHD dilatation caused by clonorchiasis that was confused with a malignancy.
Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangitis ; Clonorchiasis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dilatation ; Eating ; Far East ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Neoplasms ; Parasitic Diseases ; Cholangiocarcinoma

Amyloidosis is a disorder resulting from extracellular deposition of insoluble fibrils and causes dysfunction in many organs. Secondary amyloidosis, caused by chronic infectious and inflammatory disease, may involve the kidneys, liver, bone marrow and gastrointestinal tract. Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is common and presents various symptoms according to location. Amyloidosis as a complication of Crohn's disease is a rare but serious complication that may worsen the prognosis. We report a case of gastrointestinal amyloidosis in a 59-year-old male patient with Crohn's disease that was diagnosed with an endoscopic forceps biopsy of the stomach, terminal ileum and colon.
Amyloidosis ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Colon ; Crohn Disease ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Ileum ; Kidney ; Liver ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Stomach ; Surgical Instruments

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis, especially toenail onychomycosis has become one of the common fungal infection and has historically been regarded as a cosmetic rather than medical problem by many patients, even by physicians. Recently, however, there are several reports that this is a refractory disease which may cause a deleterious effect on patients' quality of life (QOL). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of toenail onychomycosis on QOL in Korea and to assess the changes of QOL after treatment. METHODS: Total 1004 patients with toenail onychomycosis which was confirmed by clinical findings and KOH preparation were enrolled at 47 dermatologic centers in Korea, and interviewed with standardized QOL questionnaire before and after systemic antifungal treatment. Responses to the questionnaire were scored by f-point scale (0~4) and averaged, and were analyzed for 5 dimensions of emotional impact, social impact, symptom and functional impact, patients' views concerning treatment, and relationship with doctor. RESULTS: 1. Before and after treatment, the most serious impact was emotional dimension showing 1.90 and 1.30 in average score (AS), and social (AS: 1.14 and 0.83) and symptom and functional impact (AS: 1.05 and 0.92) was also affected. 2. In female rather than male, statistically more significant impact on patients' QOL was observed in all dimensions. 3. After treatment, 3 of 5 dimensions were improved significantly - emotional dimension (AS: from 1.90 to 1.30), social dimension (AS: from 1.14 to 0.83), patients' view concerning treatment(AS: from 1.34 to 1.02) 4. The degree of patients' satisfaction at the therapeutic effect was very high - 62.4% (immediately after. treatment) and 65.8% (9 months after initiation of treatment) of patients answered excellent or good. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that toenail onychomycosis has significant Impact on the overall QOL of patients. Also the effect of antifungal therapy on patients' QOL were satisfactory. Therefore, both doctor and patient should pay more attention to the treatment of onychomycosis.
Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Nails* ; Onychomycosis* ; Quality of Life* ; Social Change ; Surveys and Questionnaires