PURPOSE: To analyse complications and to review usefulness of large needle(18G) in percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage(PTBD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 46 patients underwent PTBD in 52 occassions using large needle. 44 of 46 patients had either definite or suspicious malignant biliary obstruction, and most patients were poor in general dondition. Complications were classified as acute type if developed within 30 days and as delayed type if developed after 30 days. Acute type was subdivided into severe and mild forms. RESULTS: Severe forms of complications were death(5.8%), septicemia(3.8%), and bile peritonitis(1.9%). There were not different from the rate of complication in PTBD using fine needle but the procedure was much more simple. CONCLUSION: We PTBD using large neddie is a simple and safe procedure for prompt bile decompression.
Bile ; Decompression ; Drainage* ; Humans ; Needles*

The incidence of bacteremia in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients is significantly decreased by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, bacteremia remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected patients. A 43-year-old male who had fever and cough for 1 week presented to the emergency room. He was diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome combined with atypical pneumonia and started on antibiotics plus HAART. After 3 days, Streptococcus pneumoniae was grown in blood cultures. Three weeks later, acid-fast bacilli cultures of blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid grew Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC); hence, the patient was treated with antimycobacterial drugs. HIV-infected patients with persistent fever despite administration of appropriate antibiotics should be examined for simultaneous infection by other organisms, such as nontuberculous mycobacteria. We report a case of simultaneous detection of MAC and S. pneumoniae in the blood of a treatment-naïve HIV-infected patient.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome* ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Bacteremia ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Cough ; Diagnosis* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Fever ; HIV ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mortality ; Mycobacterium avium Complex* ; Mycobacterium avium* ; Mycobacterium* ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Pneumonia ; Sepsis* ; Streptococcus pneumoniae

Primary cricopharyngeal dysfunction is a rare, idiopathic, functional disorder of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) characterized by dysphagia, frequent aspiration, and functional narrowing at the level of UES. It is caused by failure or partial relaxation of the sphincter, lack of pharyngoesophageal coordination, or reduced compliance of the muscular of the UES. We saw a 62-year-old man who presented with dysphagia and UES narrowing on videofluoroscopy swallowing study (VFSS). Physical, neurologic, and laboratory evaluations revealed no abnormal findings. Radiologic evaluation looking for any abnormalities that might provoke dysphagia was within normal limits. VFSS showed laryngeal aspiration, residue in vallecular and pyriform sinuses, and cricopharyngeal narrowing. Balloon catheter dilatation under endoscopic guidance was performed twice, after which, the dysphagia improved. Here, we describe the results of treatment with balloon dilatation in a patient with primary cricopharyngeal dysfunction.
Catheters ; Compliance ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dilatation ; Esophageal Sphincter, Upper ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pyriform Sinus ; Relaxation

Type 1 diabetes is on the rise worldwide. Although nutrition education for patients with diabetes has become a routine practice, specifics and impacts of such educations need to be more researched. This study examined the status of nutrition knowledge, dietary attitude, and dietary behavior among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (9-19 year-old) and explored factors influencing dietary behaviors related to diabetes by applying the Theory of Planned Behavior. Face-to-face interviews, using a pre-tested structured questionnaire, were conducted with 32 participants (11 boys and 21 girls) with type 1 diabetes followed by a diabetes clinic in a university hospital. This study found that the level of nutrition knowledge related to diabetes was generally low at 4 points out of a possible 10, however, the dietary attitude related to diabetes was found to be generally good at 26 points out of a possible 30. Participants were motivated to follow medical staff recommendations the most; however, their family was also important. Perceived behavioral control was low especially for eating-out and portion control. The dietary behavior related to blood glucose control showed low at 13 points out of a possible 20. Regression analysis showed that perceived behavioral control (p < 0.001) was significantly related to the dietary behavior related to blood glucose control. This rare study with children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes showed that nutrition education should include a component to improve perceived behavioral control through high-risk situation management.
Adolescent ; Blood Glucose ; Child ; Humans ; Medical Staff ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae) serotype O1 or O139 is the etiological agents of cholera. These bacteria are responsible for gastrointestinal infections or more rarely bacteremia in patients with an underlying disease, leading to life-threatening complications. A 73-year-old man presented to the hospital with fever and vomiting. Blood cultures grew non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae. In this case, clinical improvement and microbiological eradication were achieved due to early appropriate antibiotic therapy. These results suggest that early antibiotic therapy allowed a good outcome in diabetic patient infected with V. cholerae . To our knowledge, this is the first case of primary bacteremia caused by non-O1/non-O139 Vibrio cholera in Korea.
Aged ; Bacteremia* ; Bacteria ; Cholera ; Fever ; Humans ; Korea ; Serogroup ; Vibrio cholerae* ; Vibrio* ; Vomiting

Acute pulmonary embolism is a cardiovascular emergency and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Endothelial damage secondary to invasion by Orientia tsutsugamushi can lead to focal occlusive endangiitis, causing microinfarcts in various tissues. This localized process can also cause venous thrombosis and peripheral gangrene. However, pulmonary embolism associated with scrub typhus has not been reported in Korea. Here, we report a patient diagnosed with pulmonary embolism associated with scrub typhus, the first report of its kind. The patient had an eschar with detection of anti-tsutsugamushi antibody, fever, dyspnea, and a maculopapular rash over the entire body. He was treated with doxycycline and anticoagulation therapy.
Doxycycline ; Dyspnea ; Emergencies ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Gangrene ; Humans ; Korea ; Mortality ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Scrub Typhus* ; Venous Thrombosis

Hemorrhage following pancreatitis may become complicated during the disease course and with possibly fatal consequences. Radiologic findings are as follows: the presence of hematomas, hemorrhagic pseudocysts, extravasation of contrast media or the formation of arterial pseudoaneurysms. The digital subtraction angiography findings are as follows: contrast extravasation due to arterial rupture; pseudoaneurysm formation; and luminal irregularity. A pseudoaneurysm is considered to be treated as soon as detected due to its risk of rupture. Endovascular management, which includes embolization using coils, N-butyl cyanoacrylate, gelatin sponge, stents, and thrombin, is an effective option for the treatment for pancreatitis-related bleeding.
Aneurysm, False ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Cyanoacrylates ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Endovascular Procedures ; Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials ; Gelatin ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Pancreatitis ; Phenobarbital ; Porifera ; Rupture ; Stents ; Thrombin

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is being widely used in an attempt to treat many hematological diseases such as leukemia, anemia, and lymphoma. To evaluate the success of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, it is very important to determine how rapidly engraftment occurs. Therefore, this retrospective study was conducted to determine which factors affected the term of engraftment during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, while focusing on the oral intake status. To accomplish this, 416 patients who underwent transplant operations at St. Mary's hospital from May 2006 to April 2008 were evaluated. The long-term engraftment group was characterized as having longer fasting days and more frequent vomiting, diarrhea, and oral mucositis incidences than the short-term engraftment group. In addition, the inhibitors of oral intake such as vomiting, diarrhea, and oral mucositis developed frequently between the pre-transplantation and 2 weeks after transplantation. A significantly negative correlation was observed between the oral intake volume and the duration of the oral intake inhibitors. A multiple regression analysis revealed that the frequency of vomiting and oral mucositis during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the length of hospitalization, and the hematocrit level in the 2 weeks after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were significant predictors of engraftment. The results of this study could be used to establish a guideline for nutritional assessment, nutritional goals, and nutritional support for patients during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Anemia ; Diarrhea ; Fasting ; Hematocrit ; Hematologic Diseases ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukemia ; Lymphoma ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritional Support ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomatitis ; Transplants ; Vomiting

We report a rare case of hyperglycemia-related osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) with focus on the imaging findings. A 61-year-old man with diabetes was admitted for general weakness and severe thirst. A few days later, he complained of dysarthria, dysphasia, and dysmetria. Laboratory examinations showed significant hyperglycemia, but normal electrolyte levels. Brain MRI revealed T2-signal abnormalities that were symmetrical, non-space occupying, and located in the central pons with a peripheral sparing pattern, which were suggestive of ODS. In addition, subsequent MRI revealed progression of signal hyperintensity; however, the patient's symptoms improved.

Coronary artery aneurysm is a rare disease. It occurs in the epicardial space, mostly along the course of major coronary arteries. Here, we report a case of a giant incidental aneurysm embedded in the basal posterior wall of the left ventricle. A 43-year-old woman was referred to our institution for the evaluation of cardiac palpitations that had been present from the previous 2 months. She reported no medical history (such as Kawasaki's disease or hypertension) or previous operative history. Echocardiogram and subsequent cardiac CT revealed a giant aneurysm in the left ventricle, with a direct fistulous connection to a dilated and tortuous left circumflex artery, which showed direct communication with the straight right coronary artery.