A 14-month-old female patient was admitted for the laparoscopic excision of a complicated urachal cyst. General anesthesia was induced with thiopental and rocuronium and maintained with sevoflurane and the intermittent administration of vecuronium. During the insufflation of CO2 her intra-abdominal pressure was maintained below 12 cmH2O to avoid excessive hypercarbia. Thirty minutes after CO2 insufflation initiation, end tidal CO2 increased to 74 mmHg at a peak inspiratory airway pressure of 24 cmH2O. Laparoscopic excision of the urachal cyst was performed within 2 hours without a further change in end tidal CO2, blood pressure, heart rate, or O2 saturation. Before extubation, O2 saturation by pulse oxymetry was 99% and end tidal CO2 was 45-50 mmHg. The patient was discharged without any problem 5 days after the operation. We report on this clinical experience and include a brief review of the literature.
Anesthesia, General ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Infant ; Insufflation ; Thiopental ; Urachal Cyst* ; Vecuronium Bromide

PURPOSE: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was the most common disease of thrombocytopenic purpura in children, chronic course was shown in 10%. Splenectomy had been used in chronic thrombocytopenic purpura as classic therapy, and many therapeutic method had been tried. We define response to therapy and long-term outcome of chronic childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 41 patients that treated and diagnosed as chronic thrombocytopenic purpura at the Department of Pediatrics, Severance Hospital between Aug. 1981 and Aug. 1999 and followed for mean 8.2 years. The mean age was 6.2 years (range from 1month to 12.3 years) and sex-ratio of male to female was 1:2. According to therapeutic methods, they were divided into splenectomy group, spleen irradiation group, azathioprine group, interferon group, high-dose oral dexamethasone group, vincristine group, intravenous gammaglobulin group, low-dose prednisone group, and low-dose prednisone with intermittent intravenous gammaglobulin group. The results were classified into complete response (CR: platelets> 100,000/mm3), partial response (PR: platelets> 50,000/mm3), no response (NR: platelets <50,000/mm3). RESULTS: The treatment response and number of patients according to therapeutic methods were as follows; splenectomy group, 12 cases (CR-9 cases, PR-1 case, NR-2 cases), spleen irradiation group, 1 case (CR), azathioprine group, 6 cases (CR-1 case, NR-5 cases), interferon group, 3 cases (CR-1 case, PR-1 case, NR-1 case), high-dose oral dexamethasone group, 4 cases (CR-2 cases, PR-1 case, NR-1 case), vincristine group, 2 cases (NR), intravenous gammaglobulin group, 35 cases (CR-5 cases, PR-5 cases, NR-25 cases), low-dose prednisone group, 5 cases (NR), and low-dose prednisone with intermittent intravenous gammaglobulin group, 30 cases (CR-7 cases, PR-3 cases, NR-20 cases). CONCLUSION: The results of therapeutic method in splenectomy group were the most highest score (12 cases: CR-9 cases, PR-1 case, NR-2 cases), high-dose oral dexamethasone group, interferon group, and low-dose prednisone with intermittent intravenous gammaglobulin group in high incidence order. Spleen irradiation was supposed to trial method of treatment before splenectomy, because the risk was lower than splenectomy, although they had 1 case.
Azathioprine ; Child ; Dexamethasone ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Interferons ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Prednisone ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spleen ; Splenectomy ; Vincristine

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is characterized by clonal proliferation and accumulation of abnormal dendritic (Langerhans) cells in various organs. Pulmonary involvement, although rare in children, has been reported in 20%–50% of childhood cases of multisystem LCH. Isolated pulmonary LCH in children, especially in infants, is still rarer, but should be suspected in those with cystic lung disease. We report a case of a 10-month-old boy who presented with chronic dyspnea and whose chest computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated cystic lesions. Lung biopsy established the diagnosis of LCH; microscopy revealed a background of lymphocytes and eosinophils with kidney-shaped abnormal cells. These abnormal cells were positive for S-100, CD207 (Langerin), and CD1a on immunohistochemical staining. Chemotherapy was administered using a cytotoxic agent (vinblastine) and a steroid. After 12 weeks of induction chemotherapy, although no significant change in cyst size was noted on chest CT, clinical symptoms improved. Consolidation chemotherapy was then administered for 1 year. Thereafter, chest CT findings demonstrated a significant decrease in cyst size and a significant increase in the volume of normal lung parenchyma. Therefore, aggressive treatment of isolated pulmonary LCH in infants with severe tissue destruction and symptoms seems warranted.
Biopsy ; Child ; Consolidation Chemotherapy ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Dyspnea ; Eosinophils ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Infant* ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Microscopy ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Ropivacaine is a long acting, amide-type local anesthetic with a chemical structure similar to that of bupivacaine. In this study we investigated the efficacies of 18 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine, and of 0.5% and 0.75% ropivacaine to provide caudal anesthesia. METHODS: Sixty ASA physical status 1 or 2 patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy were randomly allocated to 3 parallel treatment groups to receive either 18 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine, or 0.5% or 0.75% ropivacaine. Caudal anesthesia was performed using the loss of resistance method via sacral hiatus. Soft touch testing around the anal sphincter muscle, the pin prick method at the S3 dermatome, onset time of loss of anal sphincter reflex, and sensory block were checked following local anesthetic injection. Duration of sensory block was assessed at 30 minute intervals through out block duration. Quality of muscle relaxation was assessed by the surgeon at the end of each operation. Blood pressures were measured and the incidences of nausea, vomiting and dizziness were recorded. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between the 0.5% ropivacaine and 0.75% ropivacaine groups (P <0.05) with regard to onset time of loss of anal sphincter muscle reflex and sensory block. The 0.75% ropivacaine group showed a longer duration of analgesia. No significant differences were found between the 0.5% bupivacaine, or the 0.5% or 0.75% ropivacaine groups in terms of the onset time of loss of anal sphincter muscle reflex or sensory block, or the duration of analgesia. Quality of muscle relaxation was similar in the three groups. CONCLUSION: In our study the 0.75% ropivacaine group showed rapid loss of anal sphincter tone, rapid onset of sensory block, and longer analgesia duration than the 0.5% ropivacaine group, and 0.75% ropivacaine was similar to 0.5% bupivacaine in these respects. These results suggest that 0.5% or 0.75% ropivacaine may be as useful as 0.5% bupivacaine in caudal anesthesia for hemorrhoidectomy.
Anal Canal ; Analgesia ; Anesthesia, Caudal* ; Bupivacaine* ; Dizziness ; Hemorrhoidectomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Muscle Relaxation ; Nausea ; Reflex ; Vomiting

The objective of this study was to examine job satisfaction status and its related factors among dietitians working in hospitals. A survey questionnaire was sent to dietitians working in tertiary, general, and convalescent hospitals in Korea. The study sample hospitals included all tertiary hospitals (n=43), and the sample of general hospitals (n=114) and convalescent hospitals (n=240) was randomly selected using a stratified sampling method. A total of 665 dietitians completed the survey questionnaire. The questionnaire included 27 job satisfaction questions on task, stability.vision, working conditions, and relationship areas, and the questions on task improvement need. The job satisfaction scores in all four areas ranged from 2.53/5.00 to 3.89/5.00, implying generally low job satisfaction level in hospital dietitians. The job satisfaction levels in the convalescent hospital group were significantly lower compared to those in the tertiary and general hospital groups. Whereas job satisfaction levels of tertiary and convalescent hospital groups did not differ by number of beds, those of the general hospital group increased significantly with the number of beds for all four areas. Multivariate regression analysis results showed that hospital type was a significant predictor of job satisfaction level for all four areas. Job satisfaction of relationship area was also significantly affected by the number of beds, whereas that of working conditions was influenced by annual income and working experience. The study findings provide useful information in planning clinical dietitians' optimal supply outlook for the improvement of clinical nutrition services.
Hospitals, Convalescent ; Hospitals, General ; Job Satisfaction* ; Korea ; Nutritionists* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tertiary Care Centers

A 29-year-old gravida 1, para 0 patient was admitted at 31 weeks gestation with hypertension, proteinuria and generalized edema. Three days after admission, she developed cardiac tamponade, a severe form of preeclampsia, and premature labor. Anesthesia for pericardiocentesis consisted of local anesthetic infiltration of the anterior chest wall, supplemented with an oxygen mask(5 L/min). After drainage of pericardial fluid, emergency cesarean section was performed under general anesthesia. After surgery, she was studied for the cause of the cardiac tamponade, and subsequently was diagnosed to have hypothyroidism. Pericardial effusion as a hypothyroidism associated sign, is something that is frequently found; nevertheless, cardiac tamponade as the first sign of this disease may be considered exceptional especially in a pregnant woman. We exprienced a case of hypothyroidism during a 29-year-old woman's first pregnancy, complicated by a severe form of preeclampsia and pericardial effusion.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Cardiac Tamponade* ; Cesarean Section* ; Drainage ; Edema ; Emergencies* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypothyroidism* ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Oxygen ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiocentesis ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Proteinuria ; Thoracic Wall

BACKGROUND: Sevoflurane permits the rapid induction and control of anesthetic depth, and its lack of pungency permits anesthesia to be induced by administering it using a face mask. The goal of this study was to evaluate the possibility of induction and tracheal intubation without neuromuscular blocking drugs in adult patients given high inspired concentrations of sevoflurane (8%). METHODS: Fifty adult patients received 8% sevoflurane with nitrous oxide (2 L/min) and oxygen (2 L/min) by face mask until tracheal intubation. Patients exhaled to residual volume and deeply inspired the gas mixture following introduction. The time of response loss from introduction was noted as the induction time. The change of blood pressure, heart rate and bispectral index (BIS) value during induction and tracheal intubation were also determinated. Jaw relaxation, vocal cords position, and intubating response were used to assess intubation condition. RESULTS: Mean time for induction of anesthesia was 42.4+/-4.7 seconds and mean time to acceptable intubating conditions was 300.5+/-32.7 seconds. The average BIS values at the time of induction and at the time of intubation were 79.3+/-22.0 and 23.8+/-10.6 respectively. The average time for a BIS value under 40 was 105.5+/-30.8 seconds. Systolic blood pressure, heart rate and BIS values were decrease significantly during the induction of anesthesia (P < 0.05). A significant increase was observed in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and BIS values were noted after tracheal intubation (P < 0.05). In response to intubation, the incidence of good tracheal intubation was 16%, acceptable 69% and poor 15%. CONCLUSIONS: The induction of anesthesia in adult patients administered sevoflurane at highconcentration (8%), by face mask, approached the speed of intravenous induction. But the technique did not always make produce satisfactory tracheal intubating conditions without neuromuscular blocking drugs.
Adult* ; Anesthesia* ; Blood Pressure* ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation* ; Jaw ; Masks ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Nitrous Oxide ; Oxygen ; Relaxation ; Residual Volume ; Vocal Cords

PURPOSE: Neutropenia is common in patients receiving myelotoxic chemotherapy. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy, safety and adverse events between prophylactically administered Leukokine and Grasin. METHODS: An open-label, randomized, phase III study was designed to compare the effects of a subcutaneous injection of Leukokine (CJ Corp.) 100mug/m2 with Grasin (Jeil Pharm. Inc.) in patients receiving induction chemotherapy for acute leukemia. All patients received one dose of G-CSF every day during the study period. Total period of G-CSF injection was not over 14 days. The administration of G-CSF began on day 14 after beginning of chemotherapy under CCG strategy. In other chemotherapies, the injection of G-CSF started on day 1 from end of chemotherapy. Injection of G-CSF stopped after absolute neutrophil count recovery was achieved. RESULTS: The median numbers of times of administration were 9.6 (2~14) /cycle for Leukokine and 8.8 (2~14) /cycle for Grasin. The time to needed for neutrophil recovery more than 1, 000/mm3 was 6.6 4.9 day and 4.7 4.8 day of the Leukokine and Grasin, respectively (P=0.14). The mean duration of neutropenia less than 500/mm3 was 7.6 5.6 days for Leukokine and 6.1 6.0 days for Grasin (P=0.28). The results for the two groups were also not significantly different in adverse events, physical examination and laboratory findings. CONCLUSION: Leukokine was safe and well tolerated in these patients population. Injection of Leukokine provided neutrophil recovery with safety and efficacy similar to that provided by Grasin.
Drug Therapy ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy* ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Leukemia* ; Neutropenia ; Neutrophils ; Physical Examination

Purpose: Effectiveness and safety of clofarabine (one of the treatment mainstays in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL]) was assessed in Korean pediatric patients with ALL to facilitate conditional coverage with evidence development. Materials and Methods: In this multicenter, prospective, observational study, patients receiving clofarabine as mono/combination therapy were followed up every 4-6 weeks for 6 months or until hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Response rates, survival outcomes, and adverse events were assessed. Results: Sixty patients (2-26 years old; 65% B-cell ALL, received prior ≥ 2 regimen, 68.3% refractory to previous regimen) were enrolled and treated with at least one dose of clofarabine; of whom 26 (43.3%) completed 6 months of follow-up after the last dose of clofarabine. Fifty-eight patients (96.7%) received clofarabine combination therapy. Overall remission rate (complete remission [CR] or CR without platelet recovery [CRp]) was 45.0% (27/60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 32.4 to 57.6) and the overall response rate (CR, CRp, or partial remission [PR]) was 46.7% (28/60; 95% CI, 34.0 to 59.3), with 11 (18.3%), 16 (26.7%), and one (1.7%) patients achieving CR, CRp, and PR, respectively. The median time to remission was 5.1 weeks (95% CI, 4.7 to 6.1). Median duration of remission was 16.6 weeks (range, 2.0 to 167.6 weeks). Sixteen patients (26.7%) proceeded to HSCT. There were 24 deaths; 14 due to treatment-emergent adverse events. Conclusion Remission with clofarabine was observed in approximately half of the study patients who had overall expected safety profile; however, there was no favorable long-term survival outcome in this study.

Only few studies have shown the efficacy and safety of glucose-control strategies using the quadruple drug combination. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of the quadruple combination therapy with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).