Deglutition ; Drug Therapy ; Esthetics ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mandible ; Mandibular Reconstruction ; Mastication ; Phonetics ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthodontics ; Radiotherapy ; Rehabilitation ; Transplants

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the discomfort and factors influencing the discomfort of cancer patients with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC). METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at a tertiary university-based hospital in Seoul in 2013. Subjects were eligible if patients were diagnosed with cancer and four weeks had passed since the PICC was inserted. Anxiety was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and discomfort was assessed with 8 questions developed through qualitative interviews and a literature review. Questions were about pain, interruption of daily activity or leisure, satisfaction, usefulness and feelings towards the PICC. RESULTS: Total 111 patients participated in the study. Over 75% of patients reported annoyance with PICC line. There was low positive correlation between discomfort due to PICC and anxiety. In anxious patients, patients discomfort was significantly higher than that of non-anxious patients. Significant factors influencing discomfort were gender, age, education level, PICC complications and anxiety. CONCLUSION: Patient engagement in selecting the type of catheter and individualized care considering the level of anxiety and patient demographics might help to reduce discomfort in cancer patients.
Anxiety ; Catheters* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Demography ; Depression ; Education ; Humans ; Leisure Activities ; Patient Participation ; Seoul ; Vascular Access Devices

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Between endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) alone and combined endoscopic sphincterotomy and large balloon dilation (ES-LBD) groups, efficacy and long-term complications, difference in biliary stone recurrence rate, and risk factors of stone recurrence were compared. METHODS: Medical records of 222 patients who underwent ERCP for biliary stone removal were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with dilated CBD > or =11 mm and follow-up longer than 6 months were included. RESULTS: There were 101 patients in ES-LBD group and 121 patients in ES group. Mean follow-up duration was 25.0 (6-48) months and 13.0 (6-43) months, respectively (p=0.001). There was no difference in number of ERCP sessions, brown pigment stones, angle between mid and distal common bile duct (CBD angle) <135degrees, and lithotripsy rate. Complete retrieval success rate was excellent in both groups (100% vs. 99%). Early complication rate of ES-LBD and ES alone group was 4 and 4.1%, respectively (p=1.000). One patient in ES-LBD group died from delayed bleeding. Late complication rate was 5.9 and 3.3%, respectively (p=1.000). Stone recurrence rate was 6.9% and 5.8%, respectively (p=0.984). The only Independent risk factor of stone recurrence was presence of periampullary diverticulum. CONCLUSIONS: Late complication and stone recurrence rates were similar between ES-LBD and ES alone groups.
Bile Ducts* ; Bile* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Medical Records ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic*

PURPOSE: Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy have been considered effective treatments in advanced rectal cancers. Recently, several studies have reported that preoperative chemoradiation (CRT) may have advantages over postoperative CRT, particularly in reducing local recurrence and preserving the anal sphincter. We studied the short-term efficacy of preoperative CRT for locally advanced rectal cancers. METHODS: Between Jun. 2000 and Aug. 2003, 23 patients were treated with preoperative CRT, followed by surgery (pre-CRT) and 31 patients were treated with chemoradiation postoperatively (post-CRT). We compared these two groups for the incidence and degree of side effects from CRT, postoperative complications, type of surgery, including anal sphincter preservation, and short-term recurrence. RESULTS: The average age and male-to-female ratio of the pre- and the post-CRT groups were 58+/-11, years and 13:10, and 61+/-14 and 14:17, respectively. T downstagings were observed in 17 of 23 (74%) pre-CRT patients. On the RTOG-EORTC scale, the patients who showed hematological, intestinal and dermal side effects in the pre-CRT group and in the post-CRT group were 5, 5, 2 and 5, 2, 4, respectively and the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.41). Anal sphincter preserving surgical procedures were performed 91.3% (21/23) and 83.9% (26/31) of the patients in the pre- and the post-CRT groups, respectively. But this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.4). Postoperative complications in the pre-CRT group were anastomosis site leakages (n=3) and rectovaginal fistula (n=1). In the post-CRT group, complications were two anastomosis site leakages. Four of the 31 post-CRT group patients had recurrences such as locoregional area (n=2), liver (n=1), and lung (n=1) while no patient was observed in pre- CRT group. CONCLUSIONS: Although pre-CRT group showed higher incidence of complications than post-CRT group, these were managed easily and safely. Pre-CRT seems to be an effective modality for treating advanced rectal cancers particularly for preserving anal sphincter. Long-term follow- up data are needed to clarify the effect of pre-CRT.
Anal Canal ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Lung ; Postoperative Complications ; Radiotherapy ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Rectovaginal Fistula ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We evaluated changes of causative pathogen in acute cholangitis and their antimicrobial susceptibility over six years and differences between community-acquired and hospital-acquired acute cholangitis at our institution. METHODS: Medical records of 1,596 patients with acute cholangitis and biliary drainage between August 2006 and August 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. Cases were divided according to time: period 1 (August 2006-December 2008, n=645, 40.4%), period 2 (January 2009-August 2012, n=951, 59.6%). Cases were divided according to community-acquired cholangitis (n=1,397, 87.5%) and hospital-acquired cholangitis (n=199, 12.5%). Causative pathogens and antimicrobial susceptibility were investigated in each group. RESULTS: Causative pathogen was isolated from bile culture in 1,520 out of 1,596 cases (95.2%). The three most frequently isolated Gram-negative bacteria were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (n=485, 30.4%), E. coli (n=237, 13.2%), and Citrobacter freundii (n=110, 6.9%). Between periods 1 and 2, prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae did not show significant change (36.7% vs. 32.1%, p=0.073; 6.6% vs. 6.2%, p=0.732). C. freundii showed a significant increase from period 1 to period 2 (1.7% vs. 13.2%, p=0.000). In both time periods, imipenem was the antimicrobial agent showing the highest rate of susceptibility (93.3% vs. 93.9%, p=0.783). Higher prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli and C. freundii was observed in the hospital-acquired cholangitis group (52.1% vs. 31.2%, p=0.000; 15.9% vs. 7.3%, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The most common causative pathogen of acute cholangitis was ESBL-producing E. coli. Prevalence of C. freundii increased over the time period. Imipenem should be reserved as an alternative for resistant pathogens.
Acute Disease ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Cholangitis/diagnosis/*microbiology ; *Citrobacter freundii/drug effects/isolation & purification ; Community-Acquired Infections/microbiology ; Cross Infection/microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; *Escherichia coli/drug effects/isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Imipenem/pharmacology ; *Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects/isolation & purification ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; beta-Lactamases/metabolism

Idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis (IMP) is a rare disease of chronic mesenteric ischemia characterized by a thickening of the colonic wall with fibrosis and calcification of the affected veins, which causes ischemic colitis. While the pathogenesis of IMP is unknown, characteristic radiographic, colonoscopic and histologic findings are evident. We report a case of IMP presenting with right lower abdominal pain and diarrhea in a 69-year-old woman. A plain abdominal radiograph revealed thread-like calcification in the colon. Colonoscopy showed dark purple-colored edematous mucosa and erosions in the colon. Histologic examination showed calcification in and around the submucosa and vascular wall. A barium enema demonstrated narrowing and thumb-printing from the ascending to the transverse colon. Abdominal CT disclosed a thickened colonic wall with intramural calcification and calcified mesenteric veins in the colon.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Barium ; Colitis, Ischemic ; Colon ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonoscopy ; Diarrhea ; Enema ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Mesenteric Veins ; Mucous Membrane ; Rare Diseases ; Vascular Diseases ; Veins

Recent studies suggest that sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) is one of the possible causes of unexplained recurrent acute pancreatitis in children. A 14-year-old boy who had suffered from idiopathic recurrent acute pancreatitis was diagnosed with SOD. Abdominal ultrasonography, computerized tomography, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed no evidence of stone, tumor, or pancreatic ductal anomaly. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and sphincter of Oddi manometry (SOM) revealed elevated basal pressure and tachyoddia consistent with SOD. Hence, an endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy was performed. We report a case of recurrent acute pancreatitis associated with SOD in a child. ERCP and SOM may be considered in patients with multiple unexplained attacks of pancreatic pain and negative abdominal imaging.
Adolescent ; Child ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Humans ; Manometry ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis ; Sphincter of Oddi ; Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction

Recent studies suggest that sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) is one of the possible causes of unexplained recurrent acute pancreatitis in children. A 14-year-old boy who had suffered from idiopathic recurrent acute pancreatitis was diagnosed with SOD. Abdominal ultrasonography, computerized tomography, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed no evidence of stone, tumor, or pancreatic ductal anomaly. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and sphincter of Oddi manometry (SOM) revealed elevated basal pressure and tachyoddia consistent with SOD. Hence, an endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy was performed. We report a case of recurrent acute pancreatitis associated with SOD in a child. ERCP and SOM may be considered in patients with multiple unexplained attacks of pancreatic pain and negative abdominal imaging.
Adolescent ; Child ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Humans ; Manometry ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis ; Sphincter of Oddi ; Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction

We experienced one fatal case of biliary cast syndrome after cadaveric liver transplantation involving both intrahepatic ducts. A 58-year-old man underwent cadaveric liver transplantation because of hepatitis B virus related liver cirrhosis and concomitant hepatocellular carcinoma. Five weeks after the liver transplantation, postoperative course was complicated by development of acute cholangitis. Subsequent endoscopic retrograde cholangiography revealed diffuse intrahepatic bile duct strictures without filling defects. Percutaneous liver biopsy, which was done to exclude rejection, revealed biliary cast. Successful endoscopic removal was precluded due to its diffuse involvement. Because of the deterioration of patient's condition by refractory biliary obstruction and cholangitis, retransplantation from cadaveric donor was performed. Debridement of the biliary tree after graft removal yielded a near-complete cast of the intrahepatic ductal system. Biliary cast syndrome should be suspected when jaundice or cholangitis is associated with dilated ducts on abdominal imaging studies in cadaveric liver transplantation recipients. Initial therapeutic options include removal of biliary cast after endoscopic or percutaneous cholangiography. Although endoscopic retrieval of biliary cast by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography could be employed as a first-line management, other modalities such as endoscopic nasobiliary drainage, percutaneous transhepatic drainage, or retransplantation should be considered when complete removal is not feasible and the condition of the recipient deteriorates.
Bile Duct Diseases/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic/pathology ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic/pathology ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive/etiology ; *Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Central nervous system (CNS) myelomatosis, which is the presence of monoclonal plasma cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), is extremely rare. We report a case of CNS myelomatosis developed in a 45-year-old woman with multiple myeloma in complete response, which was achieved by allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation using a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen consisting of melphalan, fludarabine, and antithymocyte globulin. Two months after the transplant, she developed a moderate motor and sensory weakness in both lower extremities. Atypical plasma cells were found in the CSF, and immunofixation revealed monoclonal light chain in the CSF. She was given three courses of weekly intra-thecal chemotherapy consisting of methotrexate, cytarabine, and dexamethasone, which cleared the CSF. This case indicates that the allogeneic transplantation could not control CNS myelomatosis, despite successfully treating the bone marrow myeloma.
Antilymphocyte Serum ; Bone Marrow ; Central Nervous System ; Cytarabine ; Dexamethasone ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Humans ; Light ; Lower Extremity ; Melphalan ; Methotrexate ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; Nervous System ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Plasma Cells ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Transplants ; Vidarabine