BACKGROUND: Experience of awareness and recall during general anesthesia would be most distressing for patients. Especially for the cesarean section, medical team must consider both maternal awareness and fetal safety. Authors tried to know the possibility of propofol use as induction and maintenance agent of anesthesia for the cesarean section in respect of maternal awareness, recall and fetal safety. METHODS: Forty patients (ASA physical status 1, 2) were allocated randomly to either propofol (n=20) (P) or thiopental-enflurane (n=20) (T-E) group. We checked B.P, pulse rate, and the incidence of maternal awareness using the isolated forearm technique (IFT). The postoperative interview was conducted between 12~24h after operation. RESULTS: The incidence of maternal awareness signaled by flexing fingers in response to voice commands were significantly lower in the T-E group (20% after induction, no response during other times) than the P group (45% after induction, then 35%, 30%, after 5, 10 min delivery respectively). Seven patients had postoperative recall of introspective awareness in the P group but no patients in the T-E group. The 1 min Apgar score of the newborn were significantly lower in the P group than the T-E group but both groups were within normal range. CONCLUSIONS: Our date indicated that, in comparison with thiopental-enflurane, propofol infusion (6 mg/kg/h) were associated with a greater incidence of awareness during surgery and recall.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, General ; Apgar Score ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Fingers ; Forearm ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Propofol ; Reference Values ; Voice

Diastasis of the ankle joint was associated with extensive ligamentous rupture and resulted from external rotation or abduction injuries at the ankle. It might occur without associated fracture but was more frequently seen in cases of bimalleolar fracture in which there was fracture of the medial malleolus or rupture of the deltoid ligament with fracture of the lower third of the fibula. Thirty patients of diastasis of the ankle joint were admitted and treated by internal fixation with screw and bolt from January 1978 to December 1981. The following results were obtained: 1. The main cause of the injuries was falling from a height and the other causes were slipping down and sports injury in order. 2. The most common type by Lauge-Hansen classification was supination-external rotation type (20 cases, 67%). 3. Partial diastasis of the ankle joint or anterior type was 14 cases (47%) and complete diastasis or total type was 16 cases (53%). 4. In all cases, mixed oblique fibular fracture and medial instability were seen. 5. The good results were achieved in 24 patients (80%).
Accidental Falls ; Ankle Fractures ; Ankle Joint ; Ankle ; Athletic Injuries ; Classification ; Clinical Study ; Fibula ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Rupture

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to assess the anomalous location and course of the superficial peroneal nerve (SPN), which were come across during exposure of distal fibula fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We operated on 238 cases of ankle fractures, and examined the anomalous location and course of SPN around the distal part of the fibula. The study was performed prospectively. RESULTS: The mean length of surgical exposure was 9.8 cm. In 10 (4%) of 238 cases, the nerve was anomalous in its course, which was in parallel with the distal fibula and rapidly curved anteriorly at 3.5 cm proximal to the tip of the fibula. We found 3 cases of injury to the SPN; one was completely transected, the second was partially transected, and the third was stretched over the fracture site, at 2.5 cm, 5 cm, and 6 cm proximal to the tip of distal fibula, respectively. CONCLUSION: We emphasize the importance of a detailed neurologic examination, including sensory test for patients with ankle fractures, because of the variation in course of the SPN around the distal fibula.
Animals ; Ankle ; Fibula ; Fractures, Bone ; Humans ; Neurologic Examination ; Peroneal Nerve

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: An anatomic variant of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), termed "dual LAD", consists of early bifurcation of the proximal LAD into one early terminating branch (short LAD) which remains in the anterior interventricular sulcus (AIVS) and doesn't reach the apex, and the second (long LAD), which has a variable course outside the AIVS but returns to the distal sulcus and continues to the apex. Its incidence, angiographic features and clinical significance are investigated. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Consecutive 696 coronary angiograms during October 1997 through August 1998 were analyzed. RESULTS: A dual LAD variant was noted in 45 patients (6%) of the 696 patients. Type I, in which the long LAD descends on the left ventricular side of the AIVS before reentering the AIVS, was noted in 24 patients (53%) and type II, in which the long LAD descends on the right ventricular side of the AIVS before reentering the AIVS, in 21(47%). First septal branch was commonly originated from LAD proper in both type (54% vs 52%), but first diagonal branch from LAD proper (63%) in type I, from short LAD (71%) in type II. Presence of dual LAD was recognized before percutaneous coronary intervention (10) or bypass surgery (2) in 12 (63%) of 19 patients. Regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) were localized in distal septum or anterolateral wall in 2 patients with short or long LAD obstruction, respectively. CONCLUSION: Recognition of dual LAD is essential to prevent errors of interpretation of the coronary angiogram, to plan optimal strategy for percutaneous coronary intervention or bypass surgery, especially in case of total occlusion, and to understand localized septal or anterolateral RWMA.
Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL) with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP) or cricohyoidopexy (CHP) involves the removal of the whole thyroid cartilage, both true and false vocal cords, the ventricles, and the paraglottic spaces, sparing the cricoid cartilage, hyoid bone, and at least one functional and mobile cricoarytenoid unit. Reconstruction is performed by suturing of the cricoid cartilage up tightly to the hyoid bone, so trachea-releasing procedures are needed to prevent leakage at anastomosis site. In case of advanced tranglottic cancer invading tracheal tracheal wall, we need to perform additional circumferentrial tracheal wall resection. However, when we perform SCPL, circumferential resection of tracheal wall is limited because SCPL procedure itself needs releasing of tracheal length. We report a case of advanced transglottic cancer involving tracheal wall treated with induction chemotherapy and SCPL including tracheal wall resection with reconstruction of tracheal defect by sternocleidomastoid muscle flap covered with skin graft.

Supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL) with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP) or cricohyoidopexy (CHP) involves the removal of the whole thyroid cartilage, both true and false vocal cords, the ventricles, and the paraglottic spaces, sparing the cricoid cartilage, hyoid bone, and at least one functional and mobile cricoarytenoid unit. Reconstruction is performed by suturing of the cricoid cartilage up tightly to the hyoid bone, so trachea-releasing procedures are needed to prevent leakage at anastomosis site. In case of advanced tranglottic cancer invading tracheal tracheal wall, we need to perform additional circumferentrial tracheal wall resection. However, when we perform SCPL, circumferential resection of tracheal wall is limited because SCPL procedure itself needs releasing of tracheal length. We report a case of advanced transglottic cancer involving tracheal wall treated with induction chemotherapy and SCPL including tracheal wall resection with reconstruction of tracheal defect by sternocleidomastoid muscle flap covered with skin graft.

Granulomatous pancreatitis is a rare disorder and recognized rarely during life or non-operatively. Noncaseating granulomas in the pancreas, histologically indistinguishable from sarcoidosis, can be seen in a variety of diseases such as tuberculosis, fungal infection, berylliosis, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Crohn's disease. Therefore, as with other granulomatous diseases, a tissue biopsy is essential for the diagnosis. Its clinical presentation is often similar to pancreatic cancer, with common presenting symptoms including abdominal pain, weight loss, jaundice, and anorexia. We report a case of idiopathic granulomatous pancreatitis in a 56-year-old women whose clinical and radiographic findings were suggestive of pancreatic cancer.
Abdominal Pain ; Anorexia ; Berylliosis ; Biopsy ; Crohn Disease ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Granuloma ; Hodgkin Disease ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pancreatitis* ; Sarcoidosis ; Tuberculosis ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The recent introduction of computerized surveillance systems has promoted the monitoring of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), a feature that facilitates voluntary reports and enables prompt feedback. To investigate the causative agents and severity of ADRs that occurred in a single hospital, we analyzed the features of 980 ADRs that occurred over 14 months after developing a computerized ADR reporting system in Hallym Sacred Heart Hospital. METHODS: ADR data collected prospectively from September 2007 to October 2008 by a computerized reporting system were analyzed. The World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Center (WHO-UMC) criteria were used to determinate causality for each ADR. RESULTS: The number of ADR cases reported voluntarily increased rapidly since the introduction of the computerized ADR reporting system. Of the 980 cases, antibiotics (34.5%) were the most common causative drugs, followed by analgesics such as tramadol and its compound (15.2%), radiocontrast media (7.0%), narcotics (5.9%), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (5.5%). Fifty-nine (6.0%) and 206 (21.0%) cases were classified as severe and moderate reactions, respectively. The mean age was older in patients with severe ADRs than in patients with non-severe ADRs. The most common clinical features were skin manifestations, such as pruritus, skin eruptions, and urticaria. Gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea were the second most frequently reported ADRs. Among antibiotics, first-generation cephalosporins were the most frequently reported causative drugs, followed by second-generation cephalosporins, penicillin/beta-lactamase inhibitors, and third-generation cephalosporins. While 11.6% of ADRs related to penicillin/beta-lactamase inhibitors were classified as severe, there was only one severe ADR (1.1%) for first-generation cephalosporins. Most ADRs were reported equally in men and women, although female cases constituted about two thirds of ADRs associated with tramadol and NSAIDs. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that a computerized reporting and replying system promoted the monitoring of ADRs. Antibiotics were reported most frequently as the causative agent of ADRs. Elderly patients seemed to be more susceptible to severe ADRs. With the voluntary reporting system, skin manifestations and gastrointestinal symptoms were detected successfully, while laboratory abnormalities without prominent symptoms seemed to be overlooked. Further efforts to screen for automated ADR signals are required.
Aged ; Analgesics ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Cephalosporins ; Contrast Media ; Diarrhea ; Drug Toxicity ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Male ; Narcotics ; Nausea ; Prospective Studies ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Skin Manifestations ; Tramadol ; Urticaria ; Vomiting ; World Health ; World Health Organization