OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain is one of the most common experiences of humans and a typical psychophysiological disorder. The aim of this study was to measure the psychophysiological responses in chronic pain patients using a biofeedback system, and to compare them with the results from normal healthy subjects. METHODS: Forty two patients with chronic pain (17 males and 25 females, average age 44.67+/-11.10 years) and 42 normal healthy controls (17 males and 25 females, average age 45.17+/-10.46 years) participated in this study. Electromyography (EMG), skin conductance (SC), and skin temperature (ST) were recorded using biofeedback system during the 3 phases (baseline, stress, and recovery) of stress reactivity test, and average values of them were calculated. Difference of values between two groups in each corresponding phase was analyzed with independent t-test, and change of values across phases of stress reactivity test was analyzed with paired t-test (all two-tailed, p<0.05). RESULTS: Compared to normal controls, chronic pain patients had higher value of EMG (baseline : 8.10+/-5.97 micronV vs 4.72+/-1.52 micronV, t=-3.56, p<0.01 ; stress : 11.25+/-6.89 micronV vs 8.49+/-4.78 micronV, t=-2.13, p<0.05 ; recovery : 7.12+/-3.77 micronV vs 4.78+/-1.59 micronV, t= -3.70, p<0.01) and SC (baseline : 1.06+/-1.0 micronS vs 0.42+/-0.29 micronS, t=-4.0. p<0.01 ; stress : 1.87+/-2.05 micronS vs 1.03+/-0.86 micronS, t=-2.47, p<0.05 ; recovery : 1.74+/-1.77 micronS vs 0.64+/-0.59 micronS, t=-3.8, p<0.01) in all the 3 phases. But, skin temperature comparison did not reveal significant differences in all the 3 phases between two groups. CONCLUSION: Psychophysiological responses of chronic pain patients in stress reactivity test were different from those of normal healthy controls. These results suggest that sympathetic nervous system is more activated in chronic pain patients.
Biofeedback, Psychology ; Chronic Pain ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Psychophysiologic Disorders ; Psychophysiology ; Skin ; Skin Temperature ; Sympathetic Nervous System

Dynamic cardiomyoplasty is a recently introduced surgical method to improve myocardial performance. It consists of a placement of a skeletal muscle flap around the heart and stimulation of the flap in synchrony with ventricular contraction. We experienced a case of cardiomyoplasty in a 25 year old male patient with congestive heart failure. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with fentanyl, midazolam and isoflurane. The operation was performed for 8hrs without cardiopulmonary bypass and the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit. He was mechanically ventilated electively overnight and extubation was done 18hrs postoperatively. The patient was discharged home on the 40days after operation and improved in exercise tolerance. We report the anesthetic management and hemodynamic changes in a patient who underwent dynamic cardiomyoplasty.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Cardiomyoplasty* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Exercise Tolerance ; Fentanyl ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Isoflurane ; Male ; Midazolam ; Muscle, Skeletal

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy of automated computer aided volumetry for simulated small pulmonary nodules at computed tomography using various types of phantoms MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three sets of synthetic nodules (small, calcified and those adjacent to vessels) were studied. The volume of the nodules in each set was already known, and using multi-slice CT, volumetric data for each nodule was acquired from the three-dimensional reconstructed image. The volume was calculated by applying three different threshold values using Rapidia(R) software (3D-Med, Seoul, Korea). RESULTS: Relative errors in the measured volume of synthetic pulmonary nodules were 17.3, 2.9, and 11.5% at -200, -400, and -600 HU, respectively, and there was good correlation between true volume and measured volume at -400 HU (r=0.96, p<0.001). For calcified nodules, relative errors in measured volume were 10.9, 5.3, and 16.5% at -200, -400, and -600 HU, respectively, and there was good correlation between true volume and measured volume at -400 HU (r=1.03, p<0.001). In cases involving synthetic nodules adjacent to vessels, relative errors were 4.6, 16.3, and 31.2 % at -200, -400, and -600 HU, respectively. There was good correlation between true volume and measured volume at -200 HU (r=1.1, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Using computer-aided volumetry, the measured volumes of synthetic nodules correlated closely with their true volume. Measured volumes were the same at each threshold level, regardless of window setting.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Seoul

We report a case of delayed rupture of an anterior communicating artery (Acom) pseudoaneurysm following mechanical thrombectomy (MT) of a distal artery occlusion using a stent retriever. An elderly patient with right hemiparesis showed left proximal internal cerebral artery and middle cerebral artery occlusions. During MT, a fragmented thrombus moved to the anterior cerebral artery (ACA). A stent retriever was deployed to the occluded ACA, and the Acom and proximal ACA segment were significantly straightened. Additionally, we attempted a blind exchange mini-pinning (BEMP) technique, but a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) occurred. Bleeding was almost entirely absorbed 9 days after the procedure, but the SAH recurred at 20 days, and computed tomography angiography revealed a new pseudoaneurysm formation in the Acom. We suggest that the proposed mechanism of pseudoaneurysm formation was likely due to the dislocation and avulsion of the Acom perforators when the ipsilateral ACA was pushed and pulled during MT.

PURPOSE: This study was attempted to provide quality improvement and revitalization of visiting nurse services by Importance-Performance Analysis of persons being provided with the services. METHODS: The subjects were 350 people being provided with visiting nurse services from a long term home care institution in the kangwon Province during the period of data collection between Aug. 16 and Sep. 15, 2011. Data analysis was conducted through t-test, ANOVA, and IPA by using the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: As a result of the Importance-Performance Analysis of visiting nurse services, it turned out that the strength on reliability, assurance, and empathy should be maintained with good work and the aspects of responsiveness appeared to be intensively improved, and the tangibility proved to be subject to improvement. CONCLUSION: For the activation of visiting nurse services, methods for improving the performance in the intensive care area and management strategy establishment which highlights the advantages of strength maintenance area are needed.
Community Health Nursing* ; Data Collection ; Empathy ; Home Care Services ; Humans ; Insurance, Long-Term Care* ; Critical Care ; Long-Term Care* ; Quality Improvement ; Statistics as Topic

Myocarditis is defined as the myocardial inflammation caused by various infectious agents (such as virus, rickettsia , bacteria, protozoa, fungus and parasites). The clinical manifestations of myocarditis ranges from the asymptomatic state due to focal inflammation to fulminant fatal congestive heart failure secondary to diffuse myocardial involvement. Clinically, in some cases, it may simulate an acute myocardial infarction. We experienced a case of acute fulminant myocarditis that presented as acute myocardial infarction initially, and then progressed into and recovered from congestive heart failure and multiorgan failure.
Asymptomatic Diseases ; Bacteria ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Fungi ; Heart Failure* ; Inflammation ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocarditis* ; Rickettsia

PURPOSE: To evaluate the change of the sensitivity and resistance to ciprofloxacin of isolates in bacterial ocular disease, bacterial keratitis and conjunctivitis. METHODS: From January 1992 to December 1999 in KyungHee Medical Center, we carried out direct smear and culture from conjunctiva and cornea and studied retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 420 bacteria and fungi were isolated and 39 strains were identified. Antibiotic sensitivity test was done in isolated bateria and fungi. Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 324 of all bacteria, gram-negative organisms for 81 in isolated causative organisms. Major causative organisms of bacterial ocular disease, bacterial keratitis and conjunctivitis are coagulase-negative staphylococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in that order. Among 420 isolates, 405 bacteria and 15 fungi was isolated. In vitro examination for susceptibility and resistance of causative organisms to ciprofloxacin was done in 67 of 420 isolates. Of the 67 isolates, 57 were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and 10 were resistant to ciprofloxacin. All resistant cases to ciprofloxacin was 2 cases in 1994, 7 cases in 1998, and 1 case in 1999. CONCLUSIONS: The resistance to ciprofloxacin has a increasing tendency. Therefore, ciprofloxacin should be used carefully, when used for prevention of infection and primary treatment in mild ocular diseases.
Bacteria ; Ciprofloxacin* ; Conjunctiva ; Conjunctivitis ; Cornea ; Fungi ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Keratitis ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus

The incidence of conjoined twins is so rare that few anesthesiologists have an opportunity of managing them. Especially in Korea, there are only a few reports describing the anesthetic management for surgical separation of newborn conjoined twins. We experienced the successful anesthetic management for surgical separation of thoraco-xiphopagus conjoined twins without any particular problems. After applying the noninvasive monitors (ECG, pulse oximeter), one of the twins (twinA) with congenital heart disease was administered with intravenous ketamine for induction of anesthesia and intubated without neuromuscular blocker. Anesthesia was maintained with N2O-O2 and hand ventilation using Mapleson D breathing circuit. After maintaining airway of the twinA, the twinB was intubated and maintained with the same manner. Eighteen days after the separation procedure, the twinA with congenital heart disease died and the other one, twinB has been alive with normal growth and development.
Anesthesia ; Growth and Development ; Hand ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Ketamine ; Korea ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Respiration ; Twins, Conjoined* ; Ventilation

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Collagen* ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver*

Jehovah,s Witnesses who require operation represent a challenge to the physician because of the patient,s refusal to accept blood transfusion. An orthotopic heart transplantation was succesfully performed in a 40-year old Jehovah,s Witness without use of any blood product. During the operation, cell saver was used for shed blood and aprotinin was administered intravenously. The use of blood conserving methods, meticulous operative technique and brisk postoperative diuresis has added to the efficacy of heart transplantation in this patient. Total postoperative drainage was 860 ml and the lowest hemoglobin level was 11.8 g%. The patient recovered uneventfully and discharged on the 60th postoperative day.
Adult ; Anesthesia* ; Aprotinin ; Blood Transfusion ; Disulfiram ; Diuresis ; Drainage ; Heart Transplantation* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Transplantation