Arterial cannulation for constant monitoring of arterial pressure and blood gase analyses has become commonplace in the care of the critically ill patients. The radial artery is often regarded as causing a negligible complication risk because of extensive collateral arterial flow in the hand. One of other alternative sites for arterial cannulation is femoral artery. Femoral artery cannulation has a high degree of success in very small, critically ill children. It should be considered an acceptable alternative to small-vessel cannulation when the latter is not technically achievable, or in the unstable patient where rapid establishment of reliable artery access is necessary. Arterial cannulation may cause many complications: arterial catheters can directly injure the vessels, resulting in thrombosis, occlusion, distal embolization or ischemia. Local insertion site complications, such as hematoma, hemorrhage, and infection may occur. Arterial catheter may also be a source of systemic sepsis. We report an unusual case of unintentional release of a catheter fragment into the external iliac artery in a 7-month (7.8 kg) male patient with tetralogy of Fallot, which was inadvertently inserted during right femoral artery cannulation. The catheter fragment was successfully retrieved with the Amplatz Goose Neck microsnare under fluoroscopy without any problems.
Arterial Pressure ; Arteries ; Catheterization* ; Catheters* ; Child ; Critical Illness ; Femoral Artery* ; Fluoroscopy ; Hand ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Iliac Artery* ; Ischemia ; Male ; Neck ; Radial Artery ; Sepsis ; Tetralogy of Fallot ; Thrombosis

With the development of gray scale ultrasonography, detection and evaluation of hepatic parenchymal diseaseincluding space occupying lesions are easitly performed and frequently used in the world. Thirty-five cases ofhistopathologically proven and ultrasonographically suggested hepatocellular carcinoma are retrospectivelystudied. The results were as follows; 1. Ultrasonographic findings of hepatocellular carcinoma show hyperechoicpattern in 22 cases (63%), hypoechoic pattern in 2 cases (6%), and mixed pattern in 11 cases (31%). 2. The marginof tumor is ill-defined in 19 cases (54%) and well defined in 16 cases (46%). 3. The size of tumor by sonographicmeasurement was larger than 5cm in diameter in 33 cases (94%). 4. The number of tumor is solitary in 19 cases andmultiple in 16 cases. The sites of involved lobe were right lobe in 22 cases (63%), left lobe in 2 cases (6%), andboth lobes in 11 cases (31%). 5. Associated sonographic findings were hepatomegaly with focal contour change in 25cases (71%), splenomegaly in 16 cases (46%), cirrhosis of liver in 15 cases (43%), ascites in 11 cases (31%) andtumoral thrombosis in portal vein in 8 cases (23%). 6. The sex ratio is 6:1 male predominence and the age rangesfrom 32 to 76 years with highest incidence in 5th and 6th decades.
Ascites ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Fibrosis ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Male ; Portal Vein ; Sex Ratio ; Splenomegaly ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most common complaints following laparoscopic surgery, and being female is a risk factor for PONV. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine if the incidence of PONV is associated with variations in the blood concentration of female hormones that occur during different stages of the menstrual cycle. METHODS: We recruited 103 women who were undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia and met all of the inclusion criteria for this study. A menstrual history was taken from each patient during the preoperative anesthetic visit and blood samples were collected from all patients to determine the concentration of female hormones (estradiol, progesterone). We then assessed the nausea rating scale (NRS) and the occurrence of retching and vomiting at 0-2 hours, 2-6 hours, and 6-24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: The overall incidence of PONV was 60.2% within the first 24 hours following surgery. However, no significant differences in the incidence of PONV were observed in women in different menstrual phases (follicular phase, 63.5% vs. luteal phase, 56.9%). In addition, there was no significant difference observed in the female hormonal concentration of the blood of patients who experienced PONV and those that did not, and there was no correlation between the NRS and the blood concentration of female hormones. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that female hormones (estradiol, progesterone) are not associated with the occurrence of PONV following gynecological laparoscopic surgery.
Anesthesia, General ; Estradiol ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laparoscopy ; Luteal Phase ; Menstrual Cycle ; Nausea ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Progesterone ; Risk Factors ; Vomiting

Tuberous sclerosis is reported rarely and is associated with systemic lesions including central nervous system, skin, heart, eye and kidney. Approximately 5-15% of individuals with tuberous sclerosis will develop brain neoplasia, almost invariably subependymal giant-cell astrocytoma (SGCA). We experienced a case of SGCA with tuberous sclerosis operated by the transcallosal approach and report with literature review.
Astrocytoma* ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Heart ; Kidney ; Skin ; Tuberous Sclerosis*

BACKGROUND: Bone cement implantation syndrome is characterized by hypotension, hypoxemia, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, or any combination of these complications. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of methylmethacrylate bone cement on cardiopulmonary variables during cemented hip arthroplasty in the elderly patients. METHODS: Twenty patients, aged over 65, undergoing cemented hip arthroplasty under general anesthesia were evaluated. Various cardiopulmonary variables with pulmonary and radial artery catheter, analysis of arterial blood gases, and capnography were measured at pre- and post-prosthetic insertion. RESULTS: The application of methylmethacrylate bone cement and femoral prosthesis resulted in an increase in pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance, but there were no significant changes in blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, and systemic vascular resistance. Cemented hip arthroplasty was also associated with increased PaCO2 and dead space ventilation. Decreased PaO2 (1 atient) and hypotension (2 patients) were noted just after implatation of bone cement and prosthesis. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, hip arthroplasty with methylmethacrylate bone cement is associated with substantial risk in the elderly patients. We make recommendations of measures for the prevention and the management against hypotension and hypoxemia during cemented hip arthroplasty in the elderly patients.
Aged* ; Anesthesia, General ; Anoxia ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arthroplasty* ; Blood Pressure ; Capnography ; Cardiac Output ; Catheters ; Gases ; Heart Arrest ; Heart Rate ; Hip* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Methylmethacrylate ; Prostheses and Implants ; Pulmonary Artery ; Radial Artery ; Vascular Resistance ; Ventilation

A 33-year-old woman who was diagnosed as medullary carcinoma by fine needle aspiration of thyroid mass is presented. The smear revealed dispersed pattern and small clusters of cells without follicular or papillary structures. The nuclei were round, oval or spindle shaped and eccentrically located. The cytoplasm was abundant and showed red-stained cytoplasmic granulation and tail-like projection with indistinct border. Clumps of amorphous, light-green material were intermingled with tumor cells.
Adult ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; Child* ; Cytoplasm ; Female ; Granular Cell Tumor ; Humans ; Hypercalciuria* ; Mass Screening* ; Thigh ; Thyroid Gland

PURPOSE: The aim of this pilot study was to determine the relationship between the beta-fibrinogen G/A-455 single nucleotide polymorphism and the risk of ischemic stroke in Korea because there are racial differences in polymorphisms and Koreans have never been studied before. METHODS: From March to September 2003, we compared 80(male : female=1.2 : 0.8) patients who were diagnosed with ischemic stroke at Kyung Hee university hospital emergency center had been to 150 control subjects. The genotypes of the beta-fibrinogen G/A-455 polymorphism were confirmed by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by HaeIII restriction enzyme digestion. RESULTS: The results showed that the patient group had a much higher rate of heterozygotism (GA or AG). A statistical analysis of the genotype frequency showed chi2 to be 6.24, indicating a significant difference between the patient and the control groups (p=0.044). For the allele frequency, the odds ratio was 1.88(95% CI 1.16-3.04), indicating a significant difference between the two groups, and also allele frequency in ischemic stroke patient with or without hyperfibrinogenemia, male sex and smoking history showed odds ratio to be 2.38(95% CI 1.26~4.49), 1.78(95% CI 1.01~3.14)and 1.94(95% CI 1.12~3.35) indicating significant difference. CONCLUSION: The high rate of polymorphisms of the AA genotype of beta-fibrinogen G/A-455 in ischemic stroke patients in our study leads us to the belief of the possibility that beta-fibrinogen G/A-455 polymorphisms in males with a smoking history and hyperfibrinogenemia, if found in advance, could lead to an improved prognosis and reduced clinical expenses by allowing early diagnosis and preventive management.
Digestion ; Early Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Pilot Projects* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Prognosis ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke*

OBJECTIVE: Recently, laparoscopic operations are widely used for the resection of uterine myomas and the method for extraction of resected tissue leiomyoma is chiefly used with the morcellator or minilaparotomy. We investigated the feasiblity of colpotomy for the extraction of myoma tissue in the laparoscopic myomectomy. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed from May 2004 to July 2007 after a review of the medical records of 75 patients who have undergone myomectomy utilizing colpotomy. The patients profiles characteristics included myoma size, operation time, amount of blood loss, and complications in the Hanyang University Guri Hospital. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were involved. The mean age of the patients was 40.5 (27-53) years, multiparity was found in 55 (73%) patients, the mean weight of the myomas was 204.3 (30-890) gm, the mean operation time was 2.47 (1.1-5.8) hours, the mean decrement of hemoglobin was 2.98 (0.2-5.9) gm/dL, the number of patients that needed transfusion was 8 (10.6%) and the number of the cases experiencing complications was one (0.01%). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that colpotomy for the extraction of myoma tissue in laparoscopic myomectomy is a safe procedure in aspects of risk and cosmetic outcome and on an individual basis, can be used as an alternative to the usage of morcellator or minilaparotomy.
Colpotomy ; Cosmetics ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Leiomyoma ; Medical Records ; Myoma ; Parity ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: A rapid increase in isoflurane concentration induces tachycardia and hypertension and increases plasma catecholamine concentration. The current study examined the effects of the rate of increase in inhaled isoflurane concentration on the circulatory responses. METHODS: Unpremedicated sixty three ASA physical status 1 patients, aged 20-40 years, scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia were randomly allocated into one of three groups. In each group, the inspired concentration of isoflurane via mask was increased up to 5 vol% at the rate different from other groups. The inspired concentration of isoflurane via mask was increased to 5.0 vol% abruptly (group 1), for 100 seconds (group 2), or 200 seconds (group 3). The target was to produce an end-tidal concentration of isoflurane (ETisof) of 2.6 vol% which was maintained until the end of the study by adjusting the vaporizer setting, when necessary. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), ETisof, end-tidal concentration of carbon dioxide, and peripheral oxygen saturation were measured at baseline and every 30 seconds for 5 minutes after inhalation of isoflurane and for 2 minutes after intubation. RESULTS: HR and MAP were significantly increased in all three groups compared with baseline, but significant differences in maximum values were not observed in three groups. There were significant differences among the groups in time from the onset of isoflurane inhalation to the maximal effect on HR and MAP. However, there were no significant differences among the groups of the ETisof at the maximal HR and MAP were seen. CONCLUSIONS: The high concentration of isoflurane transiently increase HR and MAP during inhaled anesthesia induction. However, the rate of increase in inhaled isoflurane concentration does not affect the circulatory responses.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Carbon Dioxide ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Inhalation ; Intubation ; Isoflurane* ; Masks ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Oxygen ; Plasma ; Tachycardia

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the myocardial enhancement patterns in patients with myocardial infarction using two-phase contrast-enhanced multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with clinically proven myocardial infarction (17 acute myocardial infarction [AMI] and 6 chronic myocardial infarction [CMI]) were examined with two-phase contrast-enhanced ECG-gated MDCT. The presence, location, and patterns of myocardial enhancement on two-phase MDCT images were compared with infarcted myocardial territories determined by using electrocardiogram, echocardiography, thallium-201 single photon emission computed tomography, catheter and MDCT coronary angiography. RESULTS: After clinical assessment, the presence of myocardial infarctions were found in 27 territories (19 AMI and 8 CMI) of 23 patients. Early perfusion defects were observed in 30 territories of all 23 patients. Three territories not corresponding to a myocardial infarction were detected in three patients with AMI and were associated with artifacts. Fourteen of perfusion defects were in the left anterior descending artery territory, four in the left circumflex artery territory, and nine in the right coronary artery territory. Delayed enhancement was observed in 25 territories (17 AMI and 8 CMI) of 21 patients. Delayed enhancement patterns were variable. Transmural early perfusion defects (n =12) were closely associated with transmural late enhancement (n = 5) and subendocardial residual defect with subepicardial late enhancement (n = 5). CONCLUSION: Myocardial infarction showed early perfusion defects and variable delayed enhancement patterns on two-phase contrast-enhanced MDCT. Delayed enhancement technique of MDCT could provide additional information of the location and extent of infarcted myocardium, and could be useful to plan appropriate therapeutic strategies in patients with AMI.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Contrast Media ; Coronary Angiography ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Iohexol/analogs & derivatives/diagnostic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/*radiography ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods