BACKGROUND/AIMS: Paracentesis is an acceptable therapeutic modality for the symptomatic relief of dyspnea or abdominal fullness due to tense ascites in patients with cirrhosis. Whereas studies about the effects of paracentesis focused on the changes about hemodynamics, electrolytes and renal function in great detail, the effects of paracentesis on the changes about respiratory system have undergone limited investigations which are defined large-volume paracentesis. METHODS: We performed pulmonary function tests with arterial blood gas analysis just before and 24 hr after paracentesis. The paracentesis of average 2,300ml was carried out in ten liver cirrhosis patients with tense ascites who were free from underlying cardiopulmonary impairment. RESULTS: 1. The results of pulmonary function test just before paracentesis were as followings; FVC( functional vital capacity), FEV1(forced expiratory volume in 1 sec), FEF25 75(forced expiratory effort 25% 75%) and TLC(total lung capacity) were decreased as 78%, 79%, 62.3% and 89% of normal control value respectively, whereas RV(residual volume) was not decreased. DLCO(lung diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide)was decreased as 61.6%. 2. The results of pulmona function test 24 hr after paracentesis were as followings,' The symptomatic relief of dyspnea was achieved in all participated ten patients. Among lung volume parameters, FVC and VC were increased significantly(p=0.003, p=0.004). Whereas TLC was increased without statistical significance(p=0.228), and RV and FRC(functional residual capacity) showed no change. FEV1 was increased significantly(p=0.039), but FEF25 75 and the ratio of FEF1/FVC showed no change. DLCO was not increased. PaOy(partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood) was impr'oved without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the patients of liver cirrhosis with ascites have restrictive ventilatory impairment with additional obstructive ventilatory impairment. After paracentesis, the restrictive ventilatop impairment is improved by the relief of diaphragmatic motion limitation caused by ascites. Also, paracentesis of(not large volume, like 5000ml, but) relatively small volume, of 2000 3000ml can achieve objective improvement of dyspnea due to tense ascites.
Ascites ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Carbon ; Diffusion ; Dyspnea ; Electrolytes ; Fibrosis* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Lung ; Oxygen ; Paracentesis* ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory System ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

Portal vein occlusion has previously been considered as a contraindication for TIPS placement. Several recent reports have suggested that placement of TIPS may be effective in patients with occluded portal veins to embolize varices and recanalize venous obstruction. We experienced a case of variceal bleeding associated with portal vein thrombosis who was successfully treated with TIPS placement. So we report the case with a brief review of literatures.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Humans ; Portal Vein* ; Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical* ; Varicose Veins ; Venous Thrombosis*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of timing of tourniquet release on blood loss in navigation assisted total knee arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 63 consecutive patients, who underwent navigation assisted total knee arthroplasty, were divided into two groups; 31 patients (31 knees, group I) were operated with tourniquet release after wound closure and applied compression dressing, and another 32 patients (32 knees, group II) were operated with tourniquet release and hemostasis before implantation of the polyethylene insert. We examined hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit at three points in time, preoperatively, 24 hours and 48 hours postoperatively. We compared the two groups of patients in terms of total blood loss, postoperative drained blood loss, hidden blood loss, visible blood loss and operation time. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in the hemoglobin concentration at 24 hours and 48 hours postoperatively (p=0.371, p=0.247), and hematocrit at 24 hours and 48 hours postoperatively (p=0.428, p=0.125). No statistically significant differences between the two groups in the postoperative drained blood loss (p=0.381) and total blood loss (p=0.126) were found. We found statistically significant differences in the visible blood loss (p=0.023), hidden blood loss (p=0.045) and operation time (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: The releasing time of tourniquet have no effect on the actual total blood loss, and postoperative drained blood loss in navigation assisted total knee arthroplasty. We concluded that compared with intraoperative tourniquet release, postoperative tourniquet release are useful for making the broader operation field and less operation time.
Arthroplasty ; Bandages ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Knee ; Polyethylene ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; Tourniquets

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of computed tomography (CT) scans compared with plain radiographs on detecting the involvement of the sigmoid notch. METHODS: This study involved 121 cases diagnosed as the intra-articular distal radius fracture and performed post-reduction CT scans. We determined the presence of the sigmoid notch involvement with both plain radiographs and CT scans and compared findings of plain radiographs with CT scans about the incidence and the pattern of injuries. And the differences of results between arbeitsgemeinschaft fur osteosyntheses (AO) type C2 and C3 were compared. RESULTS: The incidences of sigmoid notch involvement detected in plain radiographs were 81 cases (66.9%), whereas CT scans were 99 cases (81.9%). The sensitivity of plain radiographs compared with CT scans was 74.7%, the specificity was 68.2%, the positive predictive value was 91.4%, the negative predictive value was 37.5%, the false negative value was 25.3%, and the false positive value was 31.8%. In comparison between AO type C2 and C3, the incidence of sigmoid notch involvement was not a significant difference, but the displacement of fracture fragment showed a significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: The intra-articular distal radius fracture usually accompanies the sigmoid notch involvement. Considering that the evaluation of sigmoid notch involvement by plain radiography often results in misinterpretation or underestimation, performing CT scan in intra-articular distal radius fracture is thought to be beneficial.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Intra-Articular Fractures/*radiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Radius Fractures/*radiography ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of computed tomography (CT) scans compared with plain radiographs on detecting the involvement of the sigmoid notch. METHODS: This study involved 121 cases diagnosed as the intra-articular distal radius fracture and performed post-reduction CT scans. We determined the presence of the sigmoid notch involvement with both plain radiographs and CT scans and compared findings of plain radiographs with CT scans about the incidence and the pattern of injuries. And the differences of results between arbeitsgemeinschaft fur osteosyntheses (AO) type C2 and C3 were compared. RESULTS: The incidences of sigmoid notch involvement detected in plain radiographs were 81 cases (66.9%), whereas CT scans were 99 cases (81.9%). The sensitivity of plain radiographs compared with CT scans was 74.7%, the specificity was 68.2%, the positive predictive value was 91.4%, the negative predictive value was 37.5%, the false negative value was 25.3%, and the false positive value was 31.8%. In comparison between AO type C2 and C3, the incidence of sigmoid notch involvement was not a significant difference, but the displacement of fracture fragment showed a significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: The intra-articular distal radius fracture usually accompanies the sigmoid notch involvement. Considering that the evaluation of sigmoid notch involvement by plain radiography often results in misinterpretation or underestimation, performing CT scan in intra-articular distal radius fracture is thought to be beneficial.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Intra-Articular Fractures/*radiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Radius Fractures/*radiography ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to compare and analyze the clinical outcomes of the percutaneous and open repair of acute Achilles tendon ruptures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study on 24 patients (group 1) managed with percutaneous repair, and 21 patients (group 2) managed with open repair for acute Achilles tendon rupture. The postoperative evaluations were done by an Arner-Lindholm scale and AOFAS score. Postoperative overall satisfaction and cosmetic satisfaction were also evaluated. RESULTS: By Arner-Lindholm scale and AOFAS score, there was no difference between two groups (p<0.05). As for postoperative overall satisfaction, 5 cases were very satisfied, 16 cases were satisfied and 3 cases were fair in group 1. In group 2, 12 cases were very satisfied, 9 cases were satisfied. For postoperative cosmetic satisfaction, 13 cases were satisfied, 11 cases were fair in group 1. In group 2, 9 cases were very satisfied, 12 cases satisfied. In open repair group, a case of deep wound infection and three cases of skin necrosis were reported as complication. 2 cases of sural nerve injury were seen in percutaneous repair group and were recovered within 3 months. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous repair of acute Achilles tendon ruptures have high level of cosmetic satisfaction compared with open repair without any significant difference in clinical outcomes.
Achilles Tendon ; Cosmetics ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Organic Chemicals ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Skin ; Sural Nerve ; Wound Infection

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pegylated interferon (peginterferon) and ribavirin combination therapy is less effective and associated with a higher frequency of serious complications in chronic hepatitis C patients with cirrhosis than in noncirrhotic patients. This study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of peginterferon and ribavirin treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis. METHODS: Eighty-six patients with clinically diagnosed liver cirrhosis were treated with either peginterferon alpha-2a (n=51) or peginterferon alpha-2b (n=35) plus ribavirin. The sustained virologic response (SVR) and adverse effects were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 86 patients (55 males), 48 patients (55.8%) had HCV genotype 1 infection and 38 (44.2%) had genotype non-1 infection. The overall SVR rate was 34.9% (30/86), and the rates of SVR in the genotype 1 and non-1 patients were 20.8% (10/48) and 52.6% (20/38), respectively. The multivariate analysis revealed that having HCV genotype 1 (P=0.003) and high baseline viral load (>8.0x10(5) IU/mL, P=0.012) were the independent predictive factors for SVR failure. In 20.9% (18/86) of the patients, treatment was not completed due to adverse events (27.8%), loss to follow-up (50.0%), and other reasons (22.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Peginterferon and ribavirin combination therapy was relatively effective and feasible for clinically diagnosed HCV patients, especially in those with genotype non-1 infection and low baseline viral load.
Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus/*genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications/*drug therapy/virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha/*therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis/*diagnosis/etiology/virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols/*therapeutic use ; RNA, Viral/blood ; Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribavirin/*therapeutic use ; Viral Load

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Previous studies have reported a high rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) and a low rate of serious adverse events with the use of daclatasvir (DCV) and asunaprevir (ASV) combination therapy. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of DCV and ASV combination therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b infection in real world. METHODS: We enrolled 278 patients (184 treatment-naïve patients) from five hospitals in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do. We evaluated the rates of rapid virologic response (RVR), end-of-treatment response (ETR), and SVR at 12 weeks after completion of treatment (SVR12). Furthermore, we investigated the rate of adverse events and predictive factors of SVR12 failure. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 59.5 ± 10.6 years, and 140 patients (50.2%) were men. Seventy-seven patients had cirrhosis. Baseline information regarding nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) sequences was available in 268 patients. Six patients presented with pretreatment NS5A resistance-associated variants. The RVR and the ETR rates were 96.6% (258/267) and 95.2% (223/232), respectively. The overall SVR12 rate was 91.6% (197/215). Adverse events occurred in 17 patients (7.9%). Six patients discontinued treatment because of liver enzyme elevation (n = 4) and severe nausea (n = 2). Among these, four achieved SVR12. Other adverse events observed were fatigue, headache, diarrhea, dizziness, loss of appetite, skin rash, and dyspnea. Univariate analysis did not show significant predictive factors of SVR12 failure. CONCLUSIONS DCV and ASV combination therapy showed high rates of RVR, ETR, and SVR12 in chronic HCV genotype 1b-infected patients in real world and was well tolerated without serious adverse events.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) remains controversial. We compared the outcomes of hepatic resection (HR), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), and sorafenib therapy as treatments for HCC with PVTT. METHODS: Patients diagnosed as HCC with PVTT between January 2000 and December 2011 who received treatment with sorafenib, HR, or TACE were included. Patients with main PVTT, superior mesenteric vein tumor thrombosis, or Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class C were excluded. The records of 172 patients were analyzed retrospectively. HR, TACE, and sorafenib treatment were performed is 40, 80, and 52 patients respectively. PVTT was classified as either involving the segmental branch (type I) or extending to involve the right or left portal vein (type II). RESULTS: The median survival time was significantly longer in the HR group (19.9 months) than in the TACE and sorafenib groups (6.6 and 6.2 months, respectively; both p<0.001), and did not differ significantly between the latter two groups (p=0.698). Among patients with CTP class A, type I PVTT or unilobar-involved HCC, the median survival time was longer in the HR group than in the TACE and sorafenib groups (p=0.006). In univariate analyses, the initial treatment method, tumor size, PVTT type, involved lobe, CTP class, and presence of cirrhosis or ascites were correlated with overall survival. The significant prognostic factors for overall survival in Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis were initial treatment method (HR vs. TACE: hazard ratio=1.750, p=0.036; HR vs. sorafenib: hazard ratio=2.262, p=0.006), involved lobe (hazard ratio=1.705, p=0.008), PVTT type (hazard ratio=1.617, p=0.013), and CTP class (hazard ratio=1.712, p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with TACE or sorafenib, HR may prolong the survival of patients with HCC in cases of CTP class A, type I PVTT or unilobar-involved HCC.
Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/complications/drug therapy/*therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/complications/drug therapy/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Niacinamide/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Phenylurea Compounds/*therapeutic use ; Portal Vein ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Venous Thrombosis/*complications

Background/Aims: Recent data indicate the presence of liver enzyme abnormalities in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to evaluate the clinical features and treatment outcomes of COVID-19 patients with abnormal liver enzymes. Methods: We performed a retrospective, multicenter study of 874 COVID-19 patients admitted to five tertiary hospitals from February 20 to April 14, 2020. Data on clinical features, laboratory parameters, medications, and treatment outcomes were collected until April 30, 2020, and compared between patients with normal and abnormal aminotransferases. Results: Abnormal aminotransferase levels were observed in 362 patients (41.1%), of which 94 out of 130 (72.3%) and 268 out of 744 (36.0%) belonged to the severe and non-severe COVID-19 categories, respectively. The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for male patients, patients with a higher body mass index, patients with severe COVID-19 status, and patients with lower platelet counts were 1.500 (1.029 to 2.184, p=0.035), 1.097 (1.012 to 1.189, p=0.024), 2.377 (1.458 to 3.875, p=0.001), and 0.995 (0.993 to 0.998, p>0.001), respectively, indicating an independent association of these variables with elevated aminotransferase levels. Lopinavir/ ritonavir and antibiotic use increased the odds ratio of abnormal aminotransferase levels after admission (1.832 and 2.646, respectively, both p<0.05). The median time to release from quarantine was longer (22 days vs 26 days, p=0.001) and the mortality rate was higher (13.0% vs 2.9%, p<0.001) in patients with abnormal aminotransferase levels. Conclusions Abnormal aminotransferase levels are common in COVID-19 patients and are associated with poor clinical outcomes. Multivariate analysis of patients with normal aminotransferase levels on admission showed that the use of lopinavir/ritonavir and antibiotics was associated with abnormal aminotransferase levels; thus, careful monitoring is needed.