BACKGROUND: Compared with conventional routes of delivering potent analgesics to postoperative patients, transdermal administration of fentanyl offers the advantages of simplicity and noninvasiveness. The analgesic efficacy and safty of transdermal fentanyl patch (TDFP) were evaluated postoperatively. METHOD: TDFP releasing 25 mcg/hr (Group 1) or placebo (Group 2) were applied to 40 women 6 hours before total abdominal hysterectomy under the general anesthesia. Postoperatively, self-administered intravenous fentanyl was maintained with a 20-mcg incremental dose and a 10-min. locking interval. Each group was assessed following 48 hours with respects to vital signs, VAS pain scores, hourly-used fentanyl doses, satisfaction scores and side effects. RESULT: VAS observed 24 hours, 36 hours after operation were significantly lower in group 1 than group 2. Hourly-used fentanyl doses were significantly lower in group 1 than group 2 at 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours after operation. The incidence of side effects were similar between group 1 and group 2. CONCLUSION: TDFP-25 mcg applied 6 hours before operation provides supplementary analges-ia after the postoperative period without significant side effects such as respiratory depression.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia, General ; Female ; Fentanyl* ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Incidence ; Postoperative Period ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Vital Signs

PURPOSE: To evaluate the factors which contribute to the time of the first stool and the first urine passage. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a chart of 1,221 infants > or = 34 weeks of gestational age admitted to the normal newborn nursery of Il Sin Christian Hospital, Busan, from November 2004 to April 2005. We compared the time to first stool and urine according to maternal factors(maternal age, parity, mode of delivery, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and maternal diabetes) and infant factors (gender, Apgar score, gestational age, type of feeding during first 24 hours, age at the first feeding, number of feeds during the first 12 hours and age at discharge). RESULTS: In total, 95.3 percent of our infants had passed their first stool by 24 hours and 99.8 percent of them had a stool by 36 hours. A total of 95.8 percent of our infants had passed urine by 24 hours of age and 98.3 percent of them by 36 hours. Comparing preterm and term infants, the time to first urine is 6.5+/-5.8 hours and 12.1+/-6.6 hours, respectively(P=0.000). The time to first stool is 20.7+/-13.5 hours and 10.0+/-6.3 hours, respectively(P=0.000) Early-fed infants were significantly earlier in time to first urine(P=0.023) and first stool(P=0.012). There was no statistically significant relationship between the number of feeds in 0-12 hours, mode of delivery, Apgar score, parity, gender, type of feeding, maternal diabetes and the time of the first urine and first stool. CONCLUSION: Gestational age, birth weight and age at first feeding were significantly related to the time of the first urine and first stool passage. When there is delayed passage of the first urine and first stool, we should consider close observation of other associated symptoms and other factors previously mentioned, to avoid extensive evaluation and intervention.
Amniotic Fluid ; Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Busan ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Nurseries ; Parity ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The staging of bladder carcinoma is a major determinant of operative management. CT of bladder carcinoma has been widely used to diagnose external extension (pT3b and over), but tumors confined to the bladder wall (from pT1 to pT3a) are poorly delineated. The authors describe CT findings of the superficial bladder carcinoma (below T1, stage A) in thin section CT with air insufflation technique (air insufflation-CT) to facilitate early detection and to aid correct staging of the superficial bladder carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The materials consisted of proved 24 cases (1'9 patients, single tumor: 16 patients, multiple tumors :3 patients) of stage A bladder carcinomas. Air insufflation-CT was performed by the infusion of approximately 200 mL of air into the bladder via a Foley catheter. After the routine pelvic CT, bladder tumors were re-scanned with 1.5 to 5 mm thickness and intervals. RESULTS: The superficial bladder carcinomas were detected as nodular(5 cases, 20.8%), papillary(15 cases, 62.5%), pyramidal(2 cases, 8.3%), and domed(2 cases, 8.3%) forms on air insufflation CT. These tumors were classified into three types according to the size of the tumoral neck:type I(pedundulated polypold tumor:4 cases, 16.6%), type II(polypid tumor with short neck :13 cases, 54.2%), and type Ill(sessile tumor :7 cases, 29. 2%). The mean size(tumoral width x height x base o, neck/stalk) of the tumors was 22 x 20 x 16mm. The average tumoral sizes according to each type of the superficial tumors were type 1:22 x 25 x 6mm, type 11:23 x 22 x 18mm, and type III :18 x 15 x 18mm. The mean width of the type I--II tumoral necks was 15mm. The mean length of the type I tumoral neck(pedicle) was 2.5mm. Papillary fronds of the tumors were seen in 10 cases(41.7%) of 24 superficial tumors. Outer margin of the involved bladder wall was smooth in all cases. CONCLUSION: Thin-sectin CT with air insufflation technique for bladder carcinoma was useful in tumoral demonstration, and characteristics of the superficial bladder carcinomas were small polypold tumors had a short neck mostly and smooth outer wall of the involved bladder wall.
Catheters ; Humans ; Insufflation* ; Neck ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

Thyroid carcinogenesis is traditionally thought to originate 'de novo'. However, it is debatable whether a malignant transformation can possibly arise from a benign thyroid nodule, as suggested for the malignant transformation of a thyroid adenoma. To the best of our knowledge, no studies have been performed addressing the malignant transformation of nodular hyperplasia in the thyroid gland. Here, we report a case of nodular hyperplasia with focally malignant degeneration.
Carcinogenesis ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia ; Hyperplasia* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroid Nodule

PURPOSE: Nurses' resilience plays an important role in overcoming the challenges that nurses often encounter at clinic, and many factors have been examined which influence on nurses' resilience levels. Through this study, those factors were systematically searched and quantitatively synthesized. METHODS: In order to find relevant studies, both English and Korean academic databases were searched, and, finally, a total of 33 articles were identified and included in this analysis. RESULTS: The effect size on the protective variables was large and that of the risk variables was medium. In the protective variable group, the job variable group showed a larger effect size compared to the organizational variable group. Among the protective variables, compassion satisfaction showed the highest contribution on enhancing the resilience level of nurses. In the risk variable group, the personal variable group showed the highest effect size, which was followed by the organizational and job variables. Among the risk variables, the personal stress response showed the highest contribution to decreasing the level of resilience of nurses. CONCLUSION: This study provides a meaningful data for future studies in terms of developing evidence-based interventions to enhance the levels of resilience among Korean nurses.
Empathy ; Humans

Placenta increta is a kind of placental adhesion which can cause severe postpartum hemorrhage and life-threatening condition. It might necessitate a hysterectomy, but conservative management can be considerable for preserving reproductive potential when possible. A 34-years-old woman in her 41st week of pregnancy had normal full term spontaneous delivery. Retained placenta after removal by placenta forceps resulted in mild bleeding. Placenta increta was clinically diagnosed on computerized tomography. Remnant placenta in situ was nearly disappeared 2 months later after five-time intramuscular injection of 50 mg methotrexate and three-times curettage was done for conservative management.
Curettage ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Methotrexate ; Placenta ; Placenta Accreta ; Placenta, Retained ; Postpartum Hemorrhage ; Pregnancy ; Surgical Instruments

A 56-year-old male with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) underwent surgical resection of the tumor. Nine months after surgery, imatinib therapy was initiated because of the discovery of metastatic tumors in the left adrenal gland and in a lymph node of the peritoneum. Seventeen months later, the patient achieved complete remission (CR) and imatinib therapy was continued. However, 48 months after initiation of imatinib therapy, computed tomography scans revealed a left adrenal gland metastasis and the patient underwent left adrenalectomy. Immunohistochemical staining indicated that the spindle-shaped cells of the resected tumor were positive for C-kit, thus confirming metastasis of the GIST. This is the first report from Korea of an adrenal gland metastasis from a GIST. Worldwide, only two such cases have been reported. Here, we describe the first case of a distant recurrence of a GIST in the left adrenal gland after CR had been achieved with the aid of surgical resection and imatinib therapy.
Adrenal Glands* ; Adrenalectomy ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Peritoneum ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVE: To determine pathologic variables associated with overall survival and disease free survival of patients with endometrial cancer. METHODS: Survival of 81 endometrial cancer patients treated with primary surgery between January 1997 and December 2003 at our center was compared about various histopathologic variables. All patients underwent complete surgical staging including pelvic +/- paraaortic lymph node dissection. Survival analyses were performed by the Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test. Independent prognostic factors were determined by Cox's proportional hazards model using likelihood-ratio statistics based on the conditional parameter estimate (Conditional). RESULTS: With regard to disease free survival, univariate analysis revealed no significant differences in subgroups according to age category, grade and adjuvant radiotherapy. However, significant differences in disease free survival were found between stage I+II and stage III, and between endometrioid type and the others type. Among these significant subgroups, the Cox-proportional hazards model showed that stage was the only independent prognostic factor. There were no significant differences in the overall survival of patients in subgroups according to age category and adjuvant radiotherapy. But, significant differences in overall survival were found in subgroups according to stage, histology and grade. Multivariate analysis revealed that stage was the only independent significant adverse prognostic effect. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that only stage was an independent prognostic factor of disease free survival and overall survival in endometrial cancer patients.
Disease-Free Survival ; Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Multivariate Analysis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical results of 44 high myopic eyes with cataracts which had minus diopter IOLs (Intraocular lenses) implanted during cataract surgery. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was done on 44 eyes in 33 patients who had undergone cataract extraction and minus diopter posterior chamber lens implantation. The IOL power was calculated using the SRK-T formula, and ACR6D SE(R) (Corneal SA, France) IOL was implanted in all cases. We evaluated pre-operative target refraction, post-operative refraction at six months, pre-operative visual acuity with and without correction, and post-operative visual acuity with and without correction. The relationships between axial length and refractive error and between the diopter of IOLs and refractive error were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean postoperative hyperopic refractive error compared to the preoperative target refraction was +1.04+/-1.05D, which was statistically significant (p<0.01). The longer the axial length and the larger the minus diopter lens inserted, the larger the hyperopic error. However, there were no statistically significant differences between them. CONCLUSIONS: Satisfactory results in visual acuity were obtained after cataract surgery in high myopic patients. However, when choosing the IOL power in high myopic patients, the possible development of postoperative hyperopic error should be considered.
Cataract ; Cataract Extraction ; Eye ; Humans ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Myopia ; Refractive Errors ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

L-thyroxine (LT4) withdrawal prior to radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation therapy is a commonly used method for successful treatment of patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). However, a prolonged period of hypothyroidism induced by LT4 withdrawal is sometimes associated with impaired quality of life and cardiopulmonary dysfunction in PTC patients. Furthermore, LT4 withdrawal may have a trophic effect on residual cancer by means of increased thyrotropin. We report on 2 cases of metastatic PTC patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) whose disease showed rapid worsening after LT4 withdrawal and RAI therapy. The first case is a 65-year-old woman who had PTC with multiple distant metastases and MPE. During LT4 withdrawal for RAI therapy, MPE showed rapid worsening, and the patient required repetitive therapeutic thoracentesis. The second case is a 49-year-old woman with PTC who underwent 3 additional operations for cancer recurrence in the neck lymph nodes and 6 times of RAI treatments. While preparing for the 7th RAI treatment by withdrawing LT4, she developed MPE which became progressively aggravated after RAI therapy. Both patients experienced increased pleural effusion during the LT4 withdrawal period and a rise in the thyroglobulin level was observed after RAI therapy. MPE was not controlled with therapeutic thoracentesis and pleurodesis. Eventually, both patients died of rapid disease progression after RAI therapy. In summary, LT4 withdrawal may have an adverse effect on metastatic PTC patients, particularly those with MPE.
Aged ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Iodine ; Lymph Nodes ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Pleural Effusion ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant* ; Pleurodesis ; Quality of Life ; Recurrence ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyrotropin ; Thyroxine