It is well known that intracranial pressure (ICP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) are increased by laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation during induction of general anesthesia, and it may be very dangerous in neurosurgical patients who had increased ICP. Therefore, this study was performed to know the range of ICP increase during induction of the conventional general anesthesia with intubation following thiopental and succinylchohne injections. Intracranial pressure and MAP were measured in 13 patients who underwent craniotomy. All the patients were monitored cerebral epidural ICP and intraarterial pressure preoperatively. The results were as follow: 1. Intracranial pressure was increased of 7.1±7.23 mmHg. 2. Arterial pressure was increased of 43.5±25.46 mmHg. 3. Cerebral perfusion pressure was increased of 33.3±27.53 mmHg. It is stressed that certain procedures are necessary to prevent from further increase of ICP due to induction of general anesthesia in patients with increased ICP.
Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Craniotomy ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure* ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Laryngoscopy* ; Thiopental

PURPOSE: There have been numerous retrospective and uncontrolled study of laparoscopic appendectomy. Although most of these have concluded that the laparoscopic appendectomy is at least as good as open appendectomy, there has been considerable controversy as to whether laparoscopic appendectomy is superior. METHODS: We performed total 47 cases of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) during one year from January 1997 to December 1997 and these were compared with 50 cases of open appendectomy (OA) in same period to assess the clinical usefulness. RESULTS: The sex, male to female ratio and severity of appendicitis were similar in both groups. The anesthetic time was longer in the LA group (P<0.05) but operative time was similar. Gas-passing time and diet-intake time in postoperative period were earlier in LA group (P<0.05). The LA group required less analgesics in postoperative period. In LA group, no case was converted to open appendectomy and overall complication rate was lower in LA group but this was not statistically significant. Among the postoperative complication, the wound infection rate was absolutely lower in LA group (P<0.05). The diagnostic rate for acute abdomen including acute appendicitis was superior in LA group, especially in reproductive women. The hospital stay was shorter in LA group (P<0.05) and hospital charges was not different in both group. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic appendectomy offers considerable advantages over open appendectomy because this has ability to reduce postoperative complications and shorten recovery times and is useful for detecting the cause of acute abdomen other than acute appendicitis. So we expect this technique will be alternative operation or new standard operation in selected cases for suggestive acute appendicitis.
Abdomen, Acute ; Analgesics ; Appendectomy* ; Appendicitis ; Female ; Hospital Charges ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Wound Infection

Three cases of giant hydronephrosis containing 9,800 cc, 3,800cc, and 1,300cc, Developed in the Korean soldiers are presented. The important clinical, laboratory and x-ray features are discussed. Brief review of literature was also made.
Humans ; Hydronephrosis* ; Military Personnel

No abstract available.
Femoral Neck Fractures* ; Femur Neck* ; Humans ; Young Adult*

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Foreign Bodies*

Between May 1982 and October 1983, arthroscopic meniscectomy had been performed in 54 knees between ages of 11 and 70 years. There were 32 male patients and 22 female patients in this series. The mean follow-up was 20 months, ranging from 15 months to 33 months. Postoperative complications developed were retropatellar tenderness and effusion. No infection, thrombophlebitis or instability occurred postoperatively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the various possible prognostic factors upon the developtnent of the above mentioned complications. The factors included were 1) shape of tear, 2) ligamentous injury, 3) degenerative arthritia, 4) discoid lateral meniscus, 5) quadriceps atrophy, 6) sites of meniscus(medial or lateral) & extent of excision, 7) preoperative retropatellar tenderness and 8) method of rehabilitation. The findings were statistically analyzed by the Chi-square test (df-1) & Fisher's direct probability method. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The rate of development of postoperative effusion was significantly high in cases of quadriceps atrophy (P<0.01) and preoperative retropatellar tenderness(P<0.01). 2. The rate of deveopment of postoperative retropatellar tenderness was significantly high in case of discoid lateral meniscus (P <0.01). 3. There was no significant correlation between complications and other factors including shape of tear, preoperative degerative arthritis, site of meniscus & extent of excision and methods of rehabilitation.
Arthritis ; Atrophy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Male ; Menisci, Tibial ; Methods ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Rehabilitation ; Tears ; Thrombophlebitis

Metformin is widely marketed medication for the treatment of diabetes, but its pharmacological effect on diabetic peripheral neuropathy remains unclear. In this study, the effect of metformin on peripheral nerves in diabetic rats was investigated using diverse neuronal parameters of nerve fibers.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the findings and the role of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in avascular necrosis of femoral head. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with avascular necrosis of femoral head were examined with MRI. Tl-weighted and T2-weighted images and contrast-enhanced Tl-weighted images were obtained. Enhancing characteristics of the necrotic area and synovium were determined. Also a change of the disease extent after enhancement was assessed. RESULTS: Twenty seven avascular necrosis of the femoral head including 11 cases of bilateral lesion were detected. Fifteen cases revealed collapse of the femoral head. The portions of the lesion with low signal intensity on Tl-weighted images and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images showed contrast enhancement in 15 cases. However, the portions with low signal intensities both on T1 and T2-weighted images showed enhancement in one case. There was no significant change of the disease extent after enhancement. Synovium showed enhancement in 18 cases, and joint effusion was detected in 23 cases. CONCLUSION: Contrast enhanced MR images may be helpful in predicting histopathologic findings of avascular necrosis of the femoral head, but not useful for evaluating the extent of disease.
Head* ; Humans ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Necrosis* ; Synovial Membrane

A 29 year old woman with unresectable leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cave extending into the right atrium of the heart was presented. The upper and middle inferior vena cava involved and there were both intrinsic and extrinsic tumor growth components. The diagnosis was made by a combination of radiological studies including ultrasound, CT, inferior vena cavography and arteriography and the diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasound guided rumor biopsy. The clinical and radiological presenting features were reviewed.
Angiography ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Ultrasonography ; Vena Cava, Inferior*

A 29 year old woman with unresectable leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cave extending into the right atrium of the heart was presented. The upper and middle inferior vena cava involved and there were both intrinsic and extrinsic tumor growth components. The diagnosis was made by a combination of radiological studies including ultrasound, CT, inferior vena cavography and arteriography and the diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasound guided rumor biopsy. The clinical and radiological presenting features were reviewed.
Angiography ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Ultrasonography ; Vena Cava, Inferior*