PURPOSE: There are a number of conditions that can lead to a hypercoagulable state, however, protein C and S deficiencies are frequently described as causes of the hypercoagulable states. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and prognosis of vascular diseases associated with protein C and/or S deficiencies and to determine an adequate treatment modality for such cases. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 7 cases with vascular disease caused by protein C and/or S deficiencies confirmed with serologic tests. RESULTS: Four patients showed venous thrombosis, 1 peripheral arterial insufficiency, 1 cerebral venous thrombosis and peripheral arterial insufficiency, and 1 portal vein thrombosis. Surgical intervention was required in 5 patients. Full anticoagulation with heparin sodium followed by warfarin sodium was done in all patients. CONCLUSION: Protein C and S deficiencies may influence clinical management. Patients presenting with atypical vascular involvement without evidence of other risk factors should be evaluated for a hypercoagulable state. Once the diagnosis is made, patients should be treated with full anticoagulation.
Diagnosis ; Heparin ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Protein C* ; Risk Factors ; Serologic Tests ; Vascular Diseases* ; Venous Thrombosis ; Warfarin

BACKGROUND: Tracheal intubation may be difficult in many patients with sleep apnea syndrome because of anatomical abnormalities in their upper airway. METHODS: For 30 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, we evaluated two classifications; Samsoon-Young and Cormack-Lehane, and five airway examinations; interincisors' distance on mouth opening (DI), angle on cervico-occipital extension (ACO), thyromental distance (TD), and existence of edentulous with atrophic mandible and prominent maxillary incisor. RESULTS: 20 patients (67%) belonged to class III or IV according to the Samsoon-Young classification and 22 patients (73%) to grade III or IV according to the Cormack-Lehane classification. The incidence rate for DI less than 40 mm, ACO less than 160o, TD less than 60 mm, atrophic mandible and prominent maxillary incisor were 30%, 37%, 50%, 13% and 27% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, we concluded that most patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome are difficult for anesthesiologists to intubate. Therefore, we suggest that anesthesiologists must prepare variable methods for ventilation if there is any suspicion of difficult intubation in those patients.
Classification ; Humans ; Incidence ; Incisor ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Mandible ; Mouth ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* ; Ventilation

BACKGROUND: The neuromuscular blocking effects of a nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocker (NDNM) during a nitroglycerin (NTG) infusion were significantly potentiated and prolonged. NTG reduced the requirement of a NDNM in surgical patients. We investigated the influence of a NTG single bolus injection on a mivacurium nuromuscular blockade. METHODS: We studied 36 adult surgical patients, ASA physical status I or II, between 15 and 53 years old. Neuromuscular monitoring was measured by TOF-GUARD (Biometer Co., Denmark). Anesthesia was induced by thiopental sodium 3-5 mg/kg and fentanyl 3 microgram/kg, and maintained with 3 L/min N2O, 2 L/min O2 and 1 vol.% isoflurane. Patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups: 1) Control group (mivacurium 0.16 mg/kg), 2) N100 group (mivacurium 0.16 mg/kg, NTG 100 microgram), 3) N200 group (mivacurium 0.16 mg/kg, NTG 200 microgram). We measured the train-of-four (TOF) response from the beginning of recovery to the complete regaining of muscle twitch. RESULTS: NTG produced a prolongation of the neuromuscular blocking effect by mivacurium. T1 (contro group: 12.1 +/- 0.5, N100 group: 15.8 +/- 0.4 and N200 group: 11.6 +/- 0.4 min), T25 (16.4 +/- 0.4, 20.5 +/- 0.5 and 14.9 +/- 1.0 min), T75 (22.5 +/- 0.9, 29.4 +/- 0.7 and 20.1 +/- 1.0 min), T95 (27.3 +/- 0.6, 39.6 +/- 0.7 and 24.6 +/- 1.5 min) and the recovery index (6.1 +/- 0.6, 9.0 +/- 0.4 and 5.3 +/- 0.7 min) were significantly prolonged in the N100 and N200 groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a NTG bolus injection prolonged the neuromuscular blocking effect of mivacurium, dose relatively.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Isoflurane ; Middle Aged ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Neuromuscular Monitoring ; Nitroglycerin* ; Thiopental

Torsion of the gallbladder is a rare entity that is difficult to diagnose preoperatively. The condition occurs most often in the elderly. Although its etiology is unknown, a constant finding is the presence of the gallbladder on a mobile mesentery (floating gallbladder). Torsion, or volvulus, of the gallbladder occurs when it twists axially, with the subsequent occlusion of bile and/or blood flow. Herein, a case of torsion of the gallbladder is presented where preoperative computed tomographic scan and laparoscopy were successfully used to diagnose and treat this condition without the usual requirement of open exploration. Given the possibility of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and the increasing incidence with which torsion of the gallbladder is being witnessed today, the importance of a preoperative computed tomographic scan is emphasized when there is a high index of clinical suspicion.
Torsion/radiography/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Humans ; Gallbladder Diseases/pathology/*radiography/*surgery ; Female ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Aged, 80 and over

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rapidly progressing soft-tissue infection that affects the subcutaneous fascia and dermis, and characteristically spares the underlying muscle. Most cases represent a synergistic or mixed bacterial infection of aerobes and anaerobes. A variety of etiologies have been reported. Herein, two cases of necrotizing fasciitis of the right thigh secondary to perforated appendicitis, an extremely rare complication, are reported. Both cases recovered following aggressive surgical and medical therapies. The delay in diagnosis and radical surgical excision are frequent and significant contributory factors in the high reported mortality rate. A high index of suspicion, followed by prompt surgical intervention with broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, seems to be the most important prognostic factor in these difficult cases.
Appendicitis* ; Bacterial Infections ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Fascia ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing* ; Mortality ; Thigh

Teratomas are tumors composed of derivatives of all three germinal cell layers. They have been described in a variety of organs in both children and adults, most commonly in the gonads. Extragonadal intraperitoneal teratomas are very rare. We here report a case of a large mature teratoma of the gastrohepatic ligament in a 20-year-old woman. To the best of our knowledge, a teratoma of the gastrohepatic ligament has never before been described, although there are a few reports of teratomas arising from the greater and lesser omentum.
Adult ; Child ; Female ; Gonads ; Humans ; Ligaments* ; Omentum ; Teratoma* ; Young Adult

Isolated injury of the gallbladder rarely occurs after blunt abdominal trauma and, if so, is usually associated with damage to other intra-abdominal organs clearly necessitating surgical intervention. Blunt abdominal trauma is often overlooked because there may be no visible signs on the abdominal wall. It is important to closely follow patients and look for early signs of organ damage, as isolated injury of the gallbladder often follows a vague and insidious clinical course. A combination of special investigations may be required to confirm the diagnosis of this relatively rare but serious injury. Our case was a 38-year-old female, admitted to the hospital with a history of blunt abdominal trauma secondary to a fall. Initial computed tomographic scan demonstrated an edematous gallbladder; a follow-up computed tomographic scan showed a 5-cm collection of fluid around the gallbladder, suspicious for gallbladder perforation. Diagnostic laparoscopy followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed without complications. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on postoperative day three.
Abdominal Wall ; Adult ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the value of repeated CT scans for the non-operative management of patients with clinically stable blunt splenic trauma. METHODS: 49 consecutive patients with blunt splenic trauma were prospectively studied. Of these, 29 (59.2%) were initially managed non-operatively according to their clinical status and initial CT findings. A repeat CT scan was obtained within 7 days of admission. RESULTS: Of the 29 non-operatively managed patients, 5 (17.2%) required delayed surgical intervention: 3 presented with a change in thier clinical status, whereas the other 2 did not. In all 5 patients, a repeat CT scan revealed a deteriorating appearance of the splenic injury: active bleeding or an increased hematoma in 3, with splenic artery pseudoaneurysms in the other 2. CONCLUSION: This initial experience suggests that a repeat CT scan can provide valuable clinical information in selected cases on the diagnosis and management of a splenic injury to document the healing or progression of the injury.
Aneurysm, False ; Diagnosis ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Spleen ; Splenic Artery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

Paraduodenal hernia is a rare congenital anomaly caused by abnormal rotation of the midgut in embryonic stage, with part of the small intestine becoming trapped posterior to the mesocolon. Right and left paraduodenal hernias are distinct and separate entities, varying not only in anatomical structure but also in embryological origin. Paraduodenal hernia is a rare cause of acute intestinal obstruction. Careful clinical evaluation is needed for prompt surgical treatment. Because it is difficult to diagnose before exploration, and since paraduodenal hernia may cause potentially lethal complications such as obstruction, gangrene or bowel perforation, the possibility of internal hernia should be considered in any patient with acute intestinal obstruction who has no previous abdominal operation or external hernia. If paraduodenal hernia is suspected to be the cause of acute intestinal obstruction, the recommended tool for diagnosis is abdominal computed tomography. We experienced three cases of paraduodenal hernia, one case was right paraduodenal hernia while the others were left paraduodenal hernia.
Diagnosis ; Gangrene ; Hernia* ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestine, Small ; Mesocolon

We report here on an unusual case of mucinous cystic tumor that was associated with endometriosis in the cecum. A 45-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital due to her 5 day history of right lower quadrant abdominal pain with a mild fever. A laparotomy was performed under the clinical impression of the tubo-ovarian abscess. A relatively well defined a multi-locular cystic mass (8.0x8.0x7.0 cm) filled with white-to-yellow thick mucoid material was found in the wall of the cecum. The right ovary and fallopian tube showed marked fibrous adhesion to the external surface of the cecal mass. A right hemicolectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy were performed. Histologically, the tumor was similar to those of ovarian borderline mucinous tumor, the intestinal type, and the mucinous epithelium of the tumor was merged with the endometriotic epithelium and stroma. On immunostaining, the CK20 positive mucinous epithelium was well demarcated from the CK7 endometriotic epithelium. This is the first case of low-grade mucinous cystic tumor intimately associated with intestinal endometriosis in the cecum.
Abdominal Pain ; Abscess ; Cecum* ; Endometriosis ; Epithelium ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Middle Aged ; Mucins* ; Ovary