BACKGROUND: Desflurane is known to causes hypertension and tachycardia when its inspired concentration is rapidly increased. We determined whether nitrous oxide (N2O) or remifentanil alters cardiovascular responses to intubation and/or inhalation of high concentrations of desflurane during induction of anesthesia. METHODS: Sixty patients were assigned randomly into three groups (n = 20 each). Anesthesia was induced with thiopental 5 mg/kg followed by saline (control and N2O groups) or remifentanil 1microg/kg (remifentanil group). Tracheal intubation was facilitated with intravenous vecuronium 0.12 mg/kg and 12% desflurane was given soon after the intubation. In addition, 75% N2O was given beginning 3 min before the intubation in the N2O group. Systolic arterial pressure (SAP), heart rate (HR), and plasma catecholamine concentrations were determined. RESULTS: The intubation resulted in an immediate increase and an additional second increase of SAP and HR at 3 to 5 min after intubation in all groups. SAP but not HR in the N2O group and both SAP and HR in the remifentanil group at first and second peak responses were lower than in the control group. Norepinephrine increased at 1 min after intubation and increased further at 5 min in the control and N2O groups but only increased at 5 min in the remifentanil group. CONCLUSIONS: A biphasic pressor and tachycardiac response in response to intubation and desflurane were noted. Although N2O did not affect tachycardiac response, it suppressed the pressor responses and augmented norepinephrine release. However, remifentanil significantly attenuated hemodynamic and catecholamine responses to endotracheal intubation and desflurane.
Anesthesia ; Arterial Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Inhalation ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Isoflurane ; Nitrous Oxide ; Norepinephrine ; Piperidines ; Plasma ; Tachycardia ; Thiopental ; Vecuronium Bromide

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) is a rare, autosomal-recessive disorder characterized by the clinical triad of indifference of pain, anhidrosis and heat intolerance.Because of their lack of autonomic response to noxious stimuli, the determination of adequate depth of anesthesia in the CIPA patient undergoing surgery is a major challenge.We experienced a patient with CIPA who had minor procedures three times under the general anesthesia, in which bispectral index (BIS) was maintained at 40-50 by adjusting sevoflurane concentrations with 50% nitrous oxide.The low end-tidal sevoflurane concentrations (<1.2 vol%) were required to keep the target BIS while vital signs remained stable throughout the surgery in each operation.BIS monitor may be a valuable tool to guide the depth of anesthesia in patients with CIPA.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathies ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hypohidrosis ; Indoles ; Methyl Ethers ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Propionates ; Vital Signs

Undifferentiated sarcoma is one of the rare primary malignant tumor of the liver typically occur ring in later childhood. It has also been referred to embryonal sarcoma or malignant mesenchymoma. In Korea, three child and two adult cases have been reported to date in liter ature. We experienced a case of undifferentiated sarcoma in a 65- year- old female who presented with abdominal pain and right upper quadrant mass . Contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scan revealed a well demarcated mass with low at tenuation and sept ation at left lobe of the liver and the mass showed hypovas cular pattern on hepatic angiography. On cross section, the tumor was well demarcated from the adjacent liver by afibr ouspseudocapsule and showed cystic degener ation. Pathologically, the tumor was consistent with an undifferentiated sarcoma of the liver.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult* ; Angiography ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver* ; Mesenchymoma ; Sarcoma* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ultrastructural relation of H. pylori and gastric epithelial cells in their adhesion. METHODS: Endoscopic biopsy of gastric antrum and body was performed from 15 patients (9 men, 6 women) with chronic gastritis. These specimens were processed and observed by transmission electron microscope (Hitachi H-600). RESULTS: On the basis of morphological appearances, the different types of adhesion of the organism with the epithelial cells were categorized as filamentous connection, adhesion pedestals, membrane fusion. Coccoid and intermediate forms were associated with filamentous connection whereas bacillary forms were associated with adhesion pedestals and membrane fusion. CONCLUSION: Various types of adhesion were associated with H. pylori and gastric epithelium. Further studies are needed to investigate biophysiologic influence to epithelial cells by ultrastructural relationship.(Korean J Med 60:16-21, 2001)
Biopsy ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelium ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Fusion ; Microscopy, Electron ; Pyloric Antrum

Ingested foreign bodies usually pass through the digestive system uneventfully. The diagnosis of inadvertently swallowed foreign bodies is usually delayed. It often induces serious complications, such as perforation, enterocolic fistula, abscess formation, or aortointestinal fistula. Therapeutic colonoscopy has replaced to a significant degree the need for traditional open surgical procedures to extract foreign bodies from the colon. Various foreign bodies may be extracted from the colon by a number of endoscopic techniques. We describe a case of a patient who presented with abdominal pain, loose stool during 3 months due to the impaction of a chicken bone in the sigmoid colon. The chicken bone was successfully removed by using balloon dilatation during colonoscopy.
Abdominal Pain ; Abscess ; Chickens* ; Colon ; Colon, Sigmoid* ; Colonoscopy ; Diagnosis ; Digestive System ; Dilatation* ; Fistula ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Efficacy of triple therapy with omeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin (OAC) for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) varies among different geographic regions and patient populations. And, there is no full consensus on how long this treatment should be maintained. We assessed the efficacy of the OAC regimen according to the treatment duration (7, 10 or 14 days) using 13C-urea breath test (13C-UBT). METHODS: Two hundred fifty five H. pylori positive patients with peptic ulcer were randomly assigned to a OAC (omeprazole 20 mg b.d., amoxicillin 1.0 g b.d. and clarithromycin 500 mg b.d.) 7, 10 or 14 days regimen. Eradication of H. pylori was assessed by 13C-UBT 4 weeks after the completion of therapy. RESULTS: 140 male and 115 female (mean age, 51.3) patients were enrolled. The overall eradication rate of H. pylori in each group was significantly higher in OAC 14 days regimen than OAC 7 and 10 days regimen (91.9% in OAC 14 days, 74.4% in OAC 7 days, and 80.2% in OAC 10 days, respectively, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The overall eradication rate of H. pylori was highest in OAC 14 days regimen in our study. We have found significant differences in eradication rates with previous reports, using CLO and histology, in Korea. Thus, further studies focusing on the treatment period may be warranted.
Amoxicillin ; Breath Tests* ; Clarithromycin ; Consensus ; Female ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Omeprazole ; Peptic Ulcer

Burkitt's lymphoma is a rare disease that belongs to the aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Burkitt's lymphoma usually occurs in children or younger persons. There is a strong association between endemic Burkitt's lymphoma and Epstein-Barr virus, whereas the association is weaker in the sporadic form occurring in Western countries. Burkitt's lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract occurring in adults has not been reported in Korea. We herein report an unusual case of Burkitt's lymphoma presenting with a palpable abdominal mass in a 52-year-old man infected with Epstein-Barr virus. A computed tomographic scan showed marked low density wall thickening of the terminal ileum. An endoscopy revealed a narrow lumen, shallow ulcerations, and irregular nodularity of the terminal ileum. Small bowel resection and hemicolectomy were performed and a histologic examination of the resected specimen confirmed the diagnosis. Six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy were given and the patient has been doing well without evidence of recurrence.
Adult* ; Burkitt Lymphoma* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Ileum ; Korea ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Middle Aged ; Rare Diseases ; Recurrence ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It is suggested that diffuse esophageal spasm (DES), nutcracker esophagus (NUT), and hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter (HLES) could be re-classified together as a spastic esophageal motility disorder of similar clinical backgrounds. However, there were no studies to evaluate the pathophysiological characteristics of these motor abnormalities. The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes of esophageal motor function depending on the different types of the bolus (water vs semi-solid bolus). METHODS: Twenty-one healthy subjects and 42 subjects with primary esophageal motility disorders (4 DES, 12 NUT, 5 HLES, 12 nonspecific esophageal motility disorders, 9 normal) underwent a perfusion manometry with a low compliance pneumo-hydraulic capillary infusion system. Consecutively, each patient had 10 swallows of water and 10 swallows of Jello, 5 ml each. RESULTS: In the healthy controls, the Jello swallow showed an increased amplitude and duration of distal esophageal contractions, and the velocity of peristalsis was decreased (p < 0.05). Among all patients diagnosed by manometry with the water swallow, 2 cases diagnosed with HLES (40%) and 4 with NUT (33%) were changed to a diagnoses of DES after the Jello swallow. Moreover, HLES was found in 1 patient with DES (25%) and in 6 patients with NUT (50%). CONCLUSIONS: Semi-solid bolus swallows increase the contractile force of the esophagus more than water swallows. A conventional manometric diagnosis could be changed to a different spastic motility disorder of the esophagus after a semi-solid bolus swallow. It is suggested that DES, NUT, and HLES can be considered as a spectrum of spastic esophageal motility disorders sharing a similar pathophysiology.
Capillaries ; Compliance ; Diagnosis ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Esophageal Spasm, Diffuse ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Manometry ; Muscle Spasticity ; Nuts ; Perfusion ; Peristalsis ; Swallows ; Water

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic value of pancreatic elastase-1(PE-1) in patients with pancreatic diseases and compare the significance of PE-1 with that of pancreatic exocrine function test by pure pancreatic juice (PPJ) collection. METHODS: For evaluation of PE-1, seventy nine patients with pancreatic diseases were examined. For evaluation of exocrine pancreatic function by PPJ, twenty three patients with Chronic pancreatitis(CP) were examined. PPJ was collected by endoscopic cannulation of main pancreatic duct under the intravenous bolus injection of secretin (0.25 CU/kg body weight) and cholecystokinin (CCK, 40 ng/kg body weight). RESULTS: Pancreatic exocrine functions were significantly decreased in patients with CP showing moderate and severe ductal changes on pancreatogram. The mean concentration of fecal PE-1 was significantly decreased in patients with CP and pancreatic cancer, but not in patients with acute pancreatitis. When we analyzed the PE-1 concentration according to Cambridge classification, the concentration of fecal PE-1 was significantly decreased only in patients with moderate and severe CP. With a cut off of 200 ug fecal PE-1/g, the sensitivity of PE-1 was 25%, 60%, and 100%, respectively, for mild, moderate and severe CP, and the specificity was 88.1%. The mean concentration of serum PE-1 was increased both in patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis, but there was no difference between both group. CONCLUSION: Fecal PE-1 is useful for diagnosis of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in patients with CP, especially in moderate and severe grade of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. The diagnostic value of fecal PE-1 was also similar to secretin-CCK test in pancreatic exocrine insufficiency.
Catheterization ; Cholecystokinin ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Pancreatic Diseases* ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatic Juice ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pancreatitis ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; Secretin ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Follow-up studies with low sensitivity and specificity make it difficult to predict precisely long-term effect of H. pylori eradication therapy. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the usefulness of Giemsa staining and CLO test following eradication therapy. METHODS: In this study, H. pylori eradication therapy was done in 99 consecutive peptic ulcer patients and followed at 1, 6, and 12 months. Follow-up diagnosis was performed by Giemsa staining and CLO test using 6 specimens taken from the gastric antrum and midbody. Eradication was considered if the results of the two tests were negative. RESULTS: Overall the results of 63 (64%) patients among 99 patients who followed more than 6 months did not changed including 9 persistent positive, and 54 negative. However, the result of 36 patients changed to 21 positive and 15 negative conversion after 6 months. The estimated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of the Giemsa staining and CLO test, using PCR and culture as 'gold standard', were 67%, 85%, 82%, 70%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Sensitivity and specificity of Giemsa staining and CLO test following eradication therapy are lower than other reports. It is suggested that the large, multicenter prospective study is necessary to prove diagnostic accuracy of those follow-up studies.
Azure Stains* ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Peptic Ulcer ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prospective Studies ; Pyloric Antrum ; Sensitivity and Specificity