Prostaglandin E1 (PGE-1) is a potent vasodilator, which also inhibits platelet aggregation, affects the blood flow viscosity, and fibrinolysis. The compound also excerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the monocyte and neutrophil function. PGE-1 has been widely administered following microvascular flap surgery, along with perioperative antithrombotic agents such as low molecular weight heparin or aspirin, showing excellent results. We report a case showing successful salvage recovery from post-traumatic ischemic necrosis of the finger via PGE-1 assisted conservative treatment.
Alprostadil* ; Aspirin ; Fibrinolysis ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; Fingers* ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Ischemia ; Monocytes ; Necrosis* ; Neutrophils ; Platelet Aggregation ; Salvage Therapy* ; Viscosity

An enlarged pneumatized middle turbinate, termed "concha bullosa" is a relatively common anatomical variant. It may be the site of inflammatory disease ranging from simple mucosal thickening to a mucocele. But a conchal mucocele is a rare disease such as mucoceles of the posterior ethmoid and sphenoid sinus. The mucociliary transport within a concha bullosa is usually toward the conchal ostium located on the anterosuperior aspect of the middle turbinate and in most cases it opens into the frontal recess. Chronic obstruction of a conchal ostium can lead to a mucocele. Chronic pressure within the mucocele can cause the walls of the middle turbinate to expand, further destructing bulla, other ethmoid cells, and lamina papyracea. Authors have experienced one case of a conchal mucocele with anterior ethmoid and frontal recess extension which presented with exophthalmos. We performed functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Postoperatively, exophthalmos was spontaneously corrected.
Exophthalmos* ; Mucocele* ; Mucociliary Clearance ; Rare Diseases ; Sphenoid Sinus ; Turbinates

OBJECTIVE: Stent-assisted coil embolization of intracranial wide-necked aneurysm requires long-term postoperative antiplatelet therapy to prevent in-stent thrombosis. This study aimed to demonstrate results of temporary stent placement for coiling wide necked small intracranial aneurysms, which eliminated need for antiplatelet agents, and to discuss its feasibility and safety.METHODS: Data of 156 patients who underwent stent-assisted coil embolization between 2011 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Thirteen cases of temporary stent-assisted coil embolization were included, and their clinical and radiological results were evaluated.RESULTS: The aneurysms treated were all unruptured except one case. All of them had wide neck with mean dome-to-neck ratio of 0.96 and were small-sized aneurysms with mean maximal diameter of 4.2 mm. There was no technical failure in retrieval of stent after completion of embolization of the target aneurysm. Immediate angiography revealed 11 complete and two partial embolization (one residual neck and one residual aneurysm). Two cases encountered thrombosis complication, and they were managed without neurological sequelae. The mean follow-up period was 43 months, angiographic follow-up revealed two cases with minor recurrence, and clinical outcome was good with modified Rankin scale score of 0.CONCLUSION: Temporary stent-assisted coil embolization of small wide-necked intracranial aneurysm using fully retrievable stent appears safe and effective. Further application and evaluation of this technique in more cases with larger size aneurysm is warranted.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Neck ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Thrombosis

A 61-year-old male patient with pyogenic spondylodiscitis and epidural and psoas abscesses underwent posterior decompression, debridement, and instrumented fusion, followed by anterior debridement and reconstruction. Sudden onset flank pain was diagnosed 7 weeks postoperatively and was determined to be a pseudoaneurysm located at the aorta inferior to the renal artery and superior to the aortic bifurcation area. An endovascular stent graft was applied to successfully treat the pseudoaneurysm. Postoperative recovery was uneventful and infection status was stabilized.
Aneurysm, False* ; Aorta ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis* ; Debridement ; Decompression ; Discitis ; Endovascular Procedures ; Flank Pain ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psoas Abscess ; Renal Artery ; Spondylitis* ; Stents*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aims of this study were to determine subgoups of functional dyspesia and to evaluate the short-term effect of cisapride in patients with functional dyspepsia in Korea. METHODS: 1025 patients, with a mean age of 42.6 years, with symptoms of functional dyspepsia, were recruited consecutively and upper gastrointestinal symptoms were investigated by interview in 41 hospitals in Korea. In an open, multicenter trial, 1025 patients received Smg of cisapride three times a day (TID) for at least .2 weeks for the treatment of symptoms of functional dyspepsia. When necessary, the dose of cisapride was increased to 10mg TID and the duration of therapy was extended to 4 weeks. RESULTS: The most frequently reported symptoms of functional dyspepsia were epigastric discomfort or fullness (85%), bloating (70%), belching (53%), early satiety (52%) and epigastric pain (46%) retrospectively. Subgroups of functional dyspepsia were as follows; dysmotility-like 73.5%, ulcer-like 39.7%, reflux-like 13.0%, and unspecified dyspepsia 14.0%. However, 33.2% of subjects with functional dyspepsia could be classified into more than one subgroup. Upper gastrointestinal symptoms were decreased to average 50.3% (range; 42.2 to 59.2%) after 2 weeks of cisapride treatment and to 25% (19.2 to 29.9%) after 4 weeks. cisapride therapy resulted in good or excellent improvement in 59.0% of the patients after two weeks, in 75% of patients after 4 weeks. Adverse events were occurred in 52 patients (5.8% of all patients), most commonly, loose stools or diarrhea (3.5%), abdominal pain (1.1%), and dizziness (0.3%). The majority of adverse events was mild and transient in nature and led to premature discontinuation of treatment in 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although the majorities of patients with functional dyspepsia have dysmotility like symptoms in Korea, there is such overlap among the dyspepsia subgroups. Most patients responded well to a short therapeutic trial with cisapride without significant side effects.
Abdominal Pain ; Cisapride* ; Diarrhea ; Dizziness ; Dyspepsia* ; Eructation ; Humans ; Korea* ; Retrospective Studies