Atrial flutter is and infrequent, but potentially unstable tachyarrythmia that occurs in pediatric ages. Transesophageal atrial pacing was used for treatment of 10 episodes of atrial flutter in 7 patients. At the time of atrial flutter conversion, patients were 6 days to 14 years old. 6 patients had associated with congenital heart disease. The atrial cycle length of atrial flutter ranged from 140 to 280 msec with variable atrioventricular conduction. Transesophageal atrial pacing was performed using a bipolar 4 F transesophageal electrode catheter. Atrial flutter conversion was accomplished with stimulation bursts using about 5 seconds of stimuli, 10 msec in duration at 20 to 27 mA. Pacing cycle length was 45 to 110 msec less than the atrial cycle length of tachycardia in 6 episodes. But in a neonate, underdrive pacing converted atrial flutter to sinus rhythm. Conversion attempts were unsuccessful on 2 occasions. Transesophageal atrial pacing is a safe and effective, minimally invasive technique for treatment of atrial flutter in infants and children.
Adolescent ; Atrial Flutter* ; Catheters ; Child* ; Electrodes ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Tachycardia

BACKGROUND: Valve replacement in children has many problems such as the durability of prosthetic valve, thomboembolism and hemorrhage. But recently, the necessity of valve replacement in children increased and the above problems were solved party. So the number of valve replacement in children increased progressively. RESULTS: Valve replacement in 47 children were done at Seooul National University Chidren's Hospital from March 1986 to July 1991. The patients were composed of 25 males and 33 females. 25 patients had congenital heart disease and 22 patients rheumatic heart disease. 45 patients received single valve repalcement, 2 patients double valve repalcement, and among all of them, 2 patients redo-replacement. The major valve lesion was mitral insufficiency and post-operative status in view of NYHA functinonal class was improved in most patients. The mechanical valves were applied to 45 patients and tissue valves to 2 patients. The indication of valve replacement were progressive increase in ventricular volume, major regurgitant fraction over grade III decrease in exercise tolerance and vegetation. The overall early mortality was 8.5% and late mortality 0%. There were post-operative complication rate of 30% and late complication rate 14%, and among the later, valve faliure was reported in 2 pantients and thromboembolism in 1 patient. The complication-free rate was 97.7% at post-operative 1 month, 91.3% at 12 months, 90% at 36 months and 60% at 48 months. 43 patients received anticoagulation and/or antiplatelet therapy, but there was no critical indication for this. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that cardiac valve replacement in children have been effective therapeutic modality even though various problems still remain, but we propose that sufficient long-term follow-up and clinical research be needed.
Child* ; Exercise Tolerance ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Valves* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mortality ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; Thromboembolism

PURPOSE: This research was designed to evaluate the chronic effect of isolated lung perfusion (ILP) with cisplatin on dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen dogs were divided into three groups. Group I was in ILP without cisplatin, group II with 2.5 mg/kg and group III with 5.0 mg/kg of cisplatin for 30 minutes respectively. Serial blood samples were taken before and after ILP for quantitative analysis of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and blood urea nitrogen/creatinine (BUN/Cr). The specimens from the lung were obtained 2 weeks after ILP. RESULTS: There were no statistic significant differences in LDH concentration according to the time interval among the groups. The LDH concentration peaked at 1 week after ILP and declined thereafter to the pre-ILP concentration. The concentration of BUN/Cr was in normal range. Histologic examination showed no pathologic change. No significant histopathologic differences were found in the pulmonary parenchyme and vasculature among the groups. All of the dogs survived without complication 2 weeks after ILP. CONCLUSION: In ILP with cisplatin of 5.0 mg/kg in normal dog, the toxicity of cisplatin itself was not observed. With further study about the technique of ILP with cisplatin it would be effective to deliver high concentration of cisplatin into the target tissue minimizing lung damage.
Animals ; Cisplatin* ; Dogs* ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Lung* ; Perfusion* ; Reference Values ; Urea

We experienced tracheobronchial stenosis caused by malrotation of the heart in a 3-year-old girl. Malrotation of the heart is induced by the decreased right lung volume, which was the result of right lung hypoplasia and herniation of the left thoracic cavity. We corrected the right lung volume and location of the heart to treat tracheobronchial stenosis.
Child, Preschool ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Female ; Heart* ; Humans ; Lung ; Thoracic Cavity ; Tracheal Stenosis

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications in immunocompromised patients are often fatal. Empirical treatment is usually applied based on the clinical and radiological findings because of the risk of the aggressive diagnostic procedures such as open lung biopsy. However, recent advancements in operative procedures and perioperative management has decreased the procedure-related risks. We have prospectively analyzed the risks and benefits of the early application of open lung biopsy in such patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Forty-two consecutive immunocompromised patients with critical pulmonary complications were included from June, 1996 to December, 1999. The definition of the immunocompromised is as those with chemotherapy and/or other modality for hematologic disorders, with usage of immunosuppressive drug after transplantation, with usage of steroid for more than 1 month, and with primary immunodeficiency disorders. The indication of open lung biopsy was those with no significant improvement after a week of aggressive application of empirical treatment or with rapidly aggressive process. The underlying disease included hematologic disorder(31 patients), post-transplantation(3 patients), chemotherapy for solid tumor(2 patients), and others(6 patients). Operations were done through thoracotomy(conventional or mini-) or VATS. RESULT: One patient died on the first postoperative day and seven patients died in the hospital after the operation but none was related to the operation. Preoperative usage of steroid and preoperative mechanical ventilator-dependency was significantly related to the in-hospital mortality but the other factors such as thrombocytopenia and neutropenia had no relation to the in-hospital mortality. There was no major or minor surgical complication except for prolonged air leak(1 patient). Postoperative diagnosis included infectious diseases (26 diagnoses; fungal, 20; pyogenic bacteria, 3; mycobacteria, 2; viral, 1), inflammatory disorders(6 diagnoses), malignancy(2 diagnoses), and nonspecifically-defined disorders(13 diagnoses). In 35 patients(81.4%) treatment plans were changed after open lung biopsy and 30 patients(69.8%) improved after change of treatment. CONCLUSION: Open lung biopsy in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary complications can be done with acceptable risk and significant benefit. For accurate diagnosis, adequate treatment, and better prognosis, the early application of open lung biopsy should be considered when the empirical treatment does not improve the patient's condition.
Bacteria ; Biopsy* ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host* ; Lung Diseases ; Lung* ; Neutropenia ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thrombocytopenia

We report a case of the isolation of the Aspergillus versicolor complex, initially misidentified by morphological characteristics as the Scopulariopsis species, from a homograft with a bicuspidalized pulmonary valve. An eighteen-month-old female, who had critical pulmonary stenosis, underwent pulmonary valve replacement. On postoperative day 8, she developed a fever, which did not respond to empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics. While no definitive source was identified, a filamentous fungus was isolated from the thawed homograft tissue culture prior to implantation on the operation day. The colonies were powdery green with white edges on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Microscopic examination showed septate hyphae with branched conidiophores and chains of spiny conidia, which suggested Scopulariopsis species. After direct sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the fungus was identified as the A. versicolor complex. To our knowledge, the isolation of the A. versicolor complex from a homograft valve has not been previously described. This case shows that laboratory staff should be aware that microscopic morphology of the A. versicolor complex can resemble that of a number of other genera, including Scopulariopsis species.
Agar ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aspergillus ; Bicuspid ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Fever ; Fungi ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Pulmonary Valve ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Scopulariopsis ; Spores, Fungal ; Transplantation, Homologous

Esophageal duplication is a rare congenital disorder. Although infrequent, complications such as infection, bleeding, and perforation have been reported. Surgical resection is the standard treatment for esophageal duplication cysts. We report the case of a 45-year-old female with an esophageal duplication cyst that presented with dysphagia, with a review of the literature.
Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities ; Deglutition Disorders ; Endosonography ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the surgical outcomes of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy followed by canalicular trephination and silicone stenting in patients with distal or common canalicular obstructions. METHODS: The medical records of 29 patients (31 eyes) from January 2001 to December 2009 who underwent endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy followed by canalicular trephination and silicone tube insertion for the treatment of distal or common canalicular obstructions were retrospectively reviewed. The level of obstruction was confirmed by intraoperative probing. The outcome of the surgery was categorized as a complete success, partial success, or failure according to the functional and anatomic patency. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 52 years. The duration of silicone intubation ranged from 4 to 11 months with an average of 5.7+/-1.6 months. The follow-up period after stent removal ranged from 4 to 15 months with an average of 8.2+/-3.3 months. Complete success was achieved in 25 out of 31 eyes (80.6%), partial success in 4 out of 31 eyes (12.9%), and failure in 2 out of 31 eyes (6.5%). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy followed by canalicular trephination and silicone stent intubation may be safe and considered as an initial treatment of patients with distal or common canalicular obstructions.
Dacryocystorhinostomy ; Endoscopes ; Eye ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intubation ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Silicones ; Stents

BACKGROUND: Validated simple calcium questionnaires are available to assess the intake of calcium and vitamin D in western countries, but they are not appropriate for Koreans since dairy products are not the major source of calcium and vitamin D in Korea. Thus, the objective of the present study was to develop and validate a simple and easy food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) of calcium and vitamin D for Korean. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-six women were asked to complete the validated FFQ used by the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and a newly developed FFQ, the Korean Calcium Assessment Tool (KCAT), which contain the 7 food groups with 24 categories of 45 food items that are consumed frequently by Koreans. RESULTS: Calcium intake was not significantly different between the two methods; Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.98 indicated a positive correlation, and Cohen's kappa coefficient of 0.78 indicated the subjects were correctly classified. Bland-Altman plot also showed that the mean differences of the calcium intake as assessed by the two methods were in high agreement. However, the vitamin D intake assessed by KCAT was significantly higher than that assessed by the FFQ used in KNHANES. The vitamin D intakes as assessed by the two methods were positively correlated but the two methods were in moderate agreement. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that the newly developed KCAT was a valid tool for assessing the calcium intake in Korean women, but it might overestimate the vitamin D intake.
Calcium* ; Dairy Products ; Diet Surveys ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Methods ; Nutrition Surveys ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECT: To evaluate changes in the diameter of bronchi and pulmonary arteries during respiration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ratio of the diameter of matched inner bronchi and accompanying pulmonary arteries was calculated from full inspiration and expiration HRCT of healthy men. RESULTS: In 106 pairs of matched bronchi and pulmonary arteries, the brohchial-arterial ratios were 0.61+/-0.18(upper lung), 0.72+/-0.21(lower lung), and0.65+/-0.20(total) at full inspiration and 0.51+/-0.32(upper lung), 0.52+/-0.15(lower lung), and 0.51+/-0.26(total) atfull expiration HRCT, denoting a statistically significant increase in bronchial diameter of the entire lung atfull inspiration. The inner diameter of the bronchus was larger than the diameter of the accompanying pulmonary artery by 0.1% at full expiration and 8.5% at full inspiration. CONCLUSION: The result of this study would be helpful in understanding the physiology of the lung during respiration.
Adult* ; Arteries ; Bronchi ; Bronchiectasis ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Physiology ; Pulmonary Artery ; Respiration*