We performed hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery for a 67-year-old male with a 5.6 cm sized abdominal aortic aneurysm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in Korea. After an initial hand dissection of the abdominal aorta under laparoscopy, we performed proximal anastomosis and distal abdominal aorta suture ligation through a 6 cm abdominal incision. Distal anastomosis was done at the bilateral common femoral arteries. He resumed his oral intake 6 hours after the surgery and discharged at the 4th postoperative day.
Aged ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Femoral Artery ; Hand ; Hand-Assisted Laparoscopy ; Humans ; Korea ; Laparoscopy ; Ligation ; Male ; Sutures

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic gastrectomy requires a reverse-Trendelenburg position and prolonged pneumoperitoneum and it could cause significant changes in cerebral homeostasis and lead to cognitive dysfunction. We compared changes in regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2), early postoperative cognitive function and hemodynamic variables in patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy with those patients that underwent conventional open gastrectomy. METHODS: Sixty patients were enrolled in this study and the patients were distributed to receive either laparoscopic gastrectomy (laparoscopy group, n = 30) or open conventional gastrectomy (open group, n = 30). rSO2, end-tidal carbon dioxide tension, hemodynamic variables and arterial blood gas analysis were monitored during the operation. The enrolled patients underwent the mini-mental state examination 1 day before and 5 days after surgery for evaluation of early postoperative cognitive function. RESULTS: Compared to baseline value, rSO2 and end-tidal carbon dioxide tension increased significantly in the laparoscopy group after pneumoperitoneum, whereas no change was observed in the open group. No patient experienced cerebral oxygen desaturation or postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Changes in mean arterial pressure over time were significantly different between the groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Both laparoscopic and open gastrectomy did not induce cerebral desaturation or early postoperative cognitive dysfunction in patients under desflurane anesthesia. However, rSO2 values during surgery favoured laparoscopic surgery, which was possibly related to increased cerebral blood flow due to increased carbon dioxide tension and the effect of a reverse Trendelenburg position.
Anesthesia ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Carbon Dioxide ; Gastrectomy* ; Head-Down Tilt ; Hemodynamics ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Oxygen* ; Pneumoperitoneum

Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) has become an increasingly common procedure. Serious complications of the procedure, such as cardiac migration, are rare, and usually occur <72 hours after device placement. In this report, we present the case of a patient who underwent successful surgical treatment for the migration of an ASD occluder device to the thoracic aorta 12 months after ASD closure.
Aorta, Thoracic* ; Foreign-Body Migration ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Humans ; Septal Occluder Device*

No abstract available.
ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma/complications/diagnostic imaging/surgery ; Adenoma/complications/diagnostic imaging/surgery ; Adolescent ; Biomarkers/urine ; Biopsy ; *Circadian Rhythm ; Creatinine/*urine ; Cushing Syndrome/*diagnosis/*urine ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone/*urine ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinalysis

Vasoplegic syndrome occurs in 8~10% of patients following cardiac surgery, and this happens in part because of inducing the inflammatory response. Nitric oxide and guanylate cyclase play an important role in this response, and this is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. For our case, we administered methylene blue (MB), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, early after performing cardiopulmonary bypass in a patient with vasoplegic syndrome. The patient recovered immediately after MB administration and maintained an optimal blood pressure without the aid help of any vasopressors.
Blood Pressure* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Endocarditis* ; Guanylate Cyclase ; Heart* ; Humans ; Methylene Blue* ; Mortality ; Nitric Oxide ; Thoracic Surgery* ; Vasoplegia*

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic surgery has been considered to be contraindicated for obstructive colorectal cancer. However, endoscopic stent insertion for obstructive colorectal cancer has recently allowed elective laparoscopic surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and the short-term clinical outcomes of laparoscopic surgery following endoscopic stent insertion for management of malignant colorectal obstruction at a single center. METHODS: The medical records of patients who had undergone endoscopic stent insertion for colorectal cancer obstruction, followed by laparoscopic colorectal resections, from August 2004 to August 2008 were reviewed. To evaluate the surgical and clinical outcomes, we analyzed the clinical and pathologic data. RESULTS: Thirty-six endoscopic stent insertions were successfully performed during the study period. Of those 36, the 28 treated by laparoscopic surgery were enrolled in this study. The mean interval between stent insertion and surgery was 7.4+/-2.3 days. Two cases were converted to open surgery. The mean operative time was 185.5+/-53.1 min, and the mean blood loss was 77.0+/-72.9 mL. Flatus was passed on the mean 2nd postoperative day, and patients started to eat on the mean 4th postoperative day. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 11.2+/-4.4 days. Anastomosis leakages occurred in two cases and were treated by a secondary operation with a transient ileostomy. There were morbidities in five cases, but no mortalities. CONCLUSION: A combined endoscopic stent insertion and laparoscopic surgery is an effective and safe, minimally invasive operation for malignant colorectal obstruction.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Flatulence ; Humans ; Ileostomy ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Operative Time ; Stents

PURPOSE: It has been reported that in colorectal cancer, the positive rate of the cytological examination of ascites is low and that the cytologically positive result of the cancer cell influences its prognosis; nonetheless, not many studies on the correlation of the formation of peritoneal effusion and cancer have been done yet. Thus, this study on the correlation of clinico-pathological findings with peritoneal effusion was initiated. METHODS: The study population, includes a total of 191 patients who underwent an operation for colon cancer and rectal cancer from May 1, 2004, to December 31, 2005. Peritoneal effusion considered to be present in cases with more than 10 cc of body fluid retained in the Douglas pouch, and a cytological test was performed on patients whose retained fluid was more than 50 cc. In all patients, the correlation of the clinico-pathological findings with peritoneal effusion was analyzed, and the volume of effusion and the positive result of peritoneal cytology were compared. RESULTS: Among the 191 patients, patients without peritoneal effusion numbered 133 (69.6%) and patients with peritoneal effusion numbered 58 (30.4%). Between the two groups, the presence of intestinal obstruction due to cancer (P<0.001), perineural involvement (P=0.025), lymph node metastasis (P=0.004), lymph-node stage (P=0.001), distal metastasis (P=0.012), macroscopic peritoneal dissemination, and stage (P=0.017) were statistically significantly different. In the multivariate analysis, only the presence of intestinal obstruction and lymph-node disease stage correlated statistically significantly to the formation of peritoneal effusion (P=0.009, 0.004). Twenty patients (34.5%) had peritoneal effusion of more than 50 cc, and among them, malignant cells were detected in 3 patients (15%). Based on 50-cc peritoneal effusion, more or less effusion and the detection of malignant cells by peritoneal cytology did not correlate with the clinico- pathological outcomes (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For colorectal cancer patients with peritoneal effusion, but without co-morbid medical diseases inducing such peritoneal effusion, by regarding peritoneal effusion itself as meaningful, the range of lymphadenectomies, adjuvant chemotherapy, and other additional therapy should be considered.
Ascites ; Ascitic Fluid* ; Body Fluids ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Douglas' Pouch ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may cause changes in the shape of the thoracic cage by increasing lung volume and hyperinflation. This study investigated changes in thoracic cage dimensions and related factors in patients with COPD. METHODS: We enrolled 85 patients with COPD (76 males, 9 females; mean age, 70.6±7.1 years) and 30 normal controls. Thoracic cage dimensions were measured using chest computed tomography at levels 3, 6, and 9 of the thoracic spine. We measured the maximal transverse diameter, mid-sagittal anteroposterior (AP) diameter, and maximal AP diameter of the right and left hemithorax. RESULTS: The average AP diameter was significantly greater in patients with COPD compared with normal controls (13.1±2.8 cm vs. 12.2±1.13 cm, respectively; p=0.001). The ratio of AP/transverse diameter of the thoracic cage was also significantly greater in patients with COPD compared with normal controls (0.66±0.061 vs. 0.61±0.86; p=0.002). In COPD patients, the AP diameter of the thoracic cage was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) and 6-minute walk test distance (r=0.395, p<0.001 and r=0.238, p=0.028) and negatively correlated with increasing age (r=−0.231, p=0.034). Multiple regression analysis revealed independent correlation only between BMI and increased ratio of AP/transverse diameter of the thoracic cage (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with COPD exhibited an increased AP diameter of the thoracic cage compared with normal controls. BMI was associated with increased AP diameter in these patients.
Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Spine ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) is a common congenital heart defect in adults. Patients with ASDs at high risk of cardiovascular complications undergo either surgical repair or percutaneous device closure. CASE REPORT: We report the case of an 85-year-old male with unusual recurrent cerebral infarctions. The patient has undergone repair of secundum ASD 12 years ago. Evaluation by transesophageal echocardiography revealed a mobile mass at the patch repair site in the left atrium. The mass was surgically removed due to recurrent stroke during the anticoagulation. CONCLUSION: This case emphasizes the importance of regular cardiac checkup and the need to consider cardioembolic source as being part of the etiology of stroke recurrence, even if the event occurs many years after intracardiac shunt closures.
Adult ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cerebral Infarction ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Heart Atria ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Humans ; Male ; Recurrence ; Stroke

BACKGROUND: Infectious conditions may increase the risk of venous thromboembolism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factor for combined infectious disease and its influence on mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE).METHODS: Patients with PE diagnosed based on spiral computed tomography findings of the chest were retrospectively analyzed. They were classified into two groups: patients who developed PE in the setting of infectious disease or those with PE without infection based on review of their medical charts.RESULTS: Of 258 patients with PE, 67 (25.9%) were considered as having PE combined with infectious disease. The sites of infections were the respiratory tract in 52 patients (77.6%), genitourinary tract in three patients (4.5%), and hepatobiliary tract in three patients (4.5%). Underlying lung disease (odds ratio [OR], 3.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.926–7.081; p<0.001), bed-ridden state (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.390–5.811; p=0.004), and malignant disease (OR, 1.867; 95% CI, 1.017–3.425; p=0.044) were associated with combined infectious disease in patients with PE. In-hospital mortality was higher in patients with PE combined with infectious disease than in those with PE without infection (24.6% vs. 11.0%, p=0.006). In the multivariate analysis, combined infectious disease (OR, 4.189; 95% CI, 1.692–10.372; p=0.002) were associated with non-survivors in patients with PE.CONCLUSION: A substantial portion of patients with PE has concomitant infectious disease and it may contribute a mortality in patients with PE.