Crohn's disease is a rare inflammatory bowel disease in Korea which requires a differential diagnosis with intestinal tuberculosis. In the early stages of Crohn's diseaae, the combiation of bowel wall edema and spasm produces intermittent obstructive manifestations, so the usual subjective symptoms were appeared long standing diarrhea, low grade fever and abdominal pain and distension. We recently experienced a case of Crohn's colitis with repeated bowel obstruction in female adult who underwent surgical resection.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Colitis ; Crohn Disease* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea ; Edema ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Korea ; Spasm ; Tuberculosis

Crohn's disease is a rare inflammatory bowel disease in Korea which requires a differential diagnosis with intestinal tuberculosis. In the early stages of Crohn's diseaae, the combiation of bowel wall edema and spasm produces intermittent obstructive manifestations, so the usual subjective symptoms were appeared long standing diarrhea, low grade fever and abdominal pain and distension. We recently experienced a case of Crohn's colitis with repeated bowel obstruction in female adult who underwent surgical resection.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Colitis ; Crohn Disease* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea ; Edema ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Korea ; Spasm ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: To compare and analyze intraoperative and postoperative complications of corneal flap in the LASIK procedures using different types of manual microkeratomes (MLK, LSK, disposable Barron). METHODS: Eight hundred sixty-two eyes were retrospectively evaluated to study the effects of 3 different microkeratomes on the frequency of complications, managements, and postoperative best visual acuity. The eyes were grouped according to the microkeratomes used in making corenal flap: Group 1 (334 eyes) treated with MLK(SCMD, USA); Group 2 (256 eyes), LSK(Moria, France); Group 3 (272 eyes), disposable Barron(Katena, USA). RESULTS: Mean follow-up period was 6.3 months and mean age was 29.2 years (range 20 39). Complications of corneal flap were observed in 74(7.9%) of 862 eyes. Intraoperative flap complications occurred in 15 eyes (4.5%), 6 eyes (2.4%) and 3 eyes (1.2%) in each group, respectively. The postoperative flap complications were observed in 24 eyes (7.2%), 17 eyes (6.7%) and 9 eyes (3.3%) in each group. The postoperative best corrected visual acuity decreased by 2 lines or more in 2 eyes (0.6%), 1 eye (0.4%) and none (0%) of each group. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of corneal flap-related complications by manual microkeratomes was relatively low. Disposable Barron microkeratome showed the lowest complication rate in our series. It also has an advantage of easy maneuverability, and reproducibility (equal size and thickness of corneal flap).
Follow-Up Studies ; Incidence ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (PCCC) performed simultaneously with cataract surgery to inhibit after-cataract. METHODS: Among patients who underwent phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation from December 1999 through December 2001, we had followed on 94 eyes of 80 patients who underwent PCCC intraoperatively and 100 eyes in 92 patients without PCCC as control group. Both groups were divided into 4 categories: nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR); uveitis; below 60 years without ocular and systemic disease; over 60 years without ocular and systemic disease. Preoperative and postoperative visual acuity and complications were analyzed from 6 months to 12 months. RESULTS: There was statistically no difference in the best corrected visual acuity at 6 months between PCCC and control group in all categories. Transient increase in the intraocular pressure was noted in 5 eyes (5%) of PCCC group and 3 eyes (3%) in control group. Vitreous prolapse into anterior chamber was found in 2 eyes (2%) of PCCC group. Cystoid macular edema was found in only 1 eye (1%) in NPDR patients of PCCC group. Progression of diabetic retinopathy was found in 1 eye (5.6%) and 3 eyes (12.5%) in each group respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in progression of diabetic retinopathy after surgery between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Primary PCCC is a safe procedure to perform in patient who has a predisposition to after-cataract.
Anterior Chamber ; Capsulorhexis* ; Cataract ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Macular Edema ; Phacoemulsification ; Prolapse ; Uveitis ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of phacoemulsification in treating phacomorphic glaucoma. METHODS: We observed 25 eyes of 25 patients who had undergone phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation for the treatment of phacomorphic glaucoma. Intraocular pressure (IOP), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), depth of anterior chamber, management and complications between preoperative and postoperative periods were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean IOP was 49.0 +/- 10.6 mmHg (range: 31~70 mmHg) before the operation and 13.2 +/- 2.8 mmHg (range: 8~20 mmHg) at 36 months after surgery (Paired T-test, p<0.0001). We could not find any case with increased IOP in our series for more than 3 years. The postoperative IOP decreased significantly the day after surgery (Paired T-test, p<0.0001). Improvement of postoperative visual acuity was remarkable from the first week after operation (Paired T-test, p<0.0001). Postoperatively, the visual acuity was improved except for one eye with preoperative visual acuity of no light perception. Especially, BCVA in 15 cases (60%) was above 20/40. Preoperatively, the anterior chambers were extremely shallow (average: 1.5 +/- 0.3 mm) by the swollen lens, and the average postoperative anterior chamber depth increased significantly by 2.6 +/- 0.1 mm on A-scan. The ratio of lens thickness to axial length factor was 2.5 +/- 0.1, indicating the shallow anterior chamber. Continuous postoperative medical treatment for IOP control was needed in one case, where peripheral anterior synechiae were observed by gonioscopy immediately after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Phacoemulsification is a very safe and effective procedure for the treatment of phacomorphic glaucoma.
Anterior Chamber ; Glaucoma* ; Gonioscopy ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular* ; Lenses, Intraocular* ; Phacoemulsification* ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

PUPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the validity of WHOQOL-BREF (Brief form of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument) and to explore quality of life (QOL) by using WHOQOL-BREF in patients with stomach cancer after a curative resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty (50) patients with stomach cancer after a curative resection were recruited with informed consents. Age- and gender matched hospital staffs served as controls. The 100-item WHOQOL instrument was employed for the all subjects. The scores of the WHOQOL-BREF, which is a short version (26 questions) of the WHOQOL, and includes four domains (physical, psychological, social, and environmental), were compared with those of WHOQOL. RESULTS: The scores of the WHOQOL-BREF were significantly correlated with those of the WHOQOL in all domains. Two domains, physical and social, were associated with worse quality of life in patients with stomach cancer after a curative resection. CONCLUSION: The WHOQOL-BREF is a valid instrument that is useful for evaluating the quality of life in patients with stomach cancer.
Humans ; Quality of Life* ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach* ; World Health Organization

Spinal stenosis has several types of etiology such as degenerative, spondylolisthetic and postoperative, etc. Operative management for spinal stenosis is adequate decompression and stabilization of the unstable lumbar spine created by the decompressive procedure. We analysed 52 operative cases of spinal stenosis delete from January 1994 to October 1996. The following results were obtained 1) The male and female ratio was 1:1.9 and mean age was 52.1 years old 2) Mean follow-up period was 20.3 months 3) The involved site was one level in(28)(53.9%), two level in(19)(36.5%), and three levels in(5)(9.6%) 4) For decompression method, total laminectomy combined with foraminotomy and facetectomy was employed procedure. 5) For stabilization, bilateral posterolateral fusion was performed in major damaged facet joint and transverse process. Instrumentation was combined in 61.5% delete of all cases 6) According to the criteria of Kirkaldy-willis, excellent and good results were shown in 90.6% of fused group with instrumentation and 85% of fused group without instrumentation.
Decompression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foraminotomy ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Male ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Spine ; Zygapophyseal Joint

Bezoars are retained concretions of undigested animal or vegetable material that can produce gastrointestinal obstruction, ulceration, and bleeding. Therapeutic options for gastric bezoars include enzyme therapy (papain, cellulase, or acetylcysteine), endoscopic disruption and removal, and surgical removal. Multiple large gastric bezoars generally require conventional surgical management through an upper abdominal incision. With the recent improvement of laparoscopy, a lot of portions of abdominal operations have been performed laparoscopically. We successfully removed multiple large gastric phytobezoars in a 52-year-old female completely through laparoscopy. This supported the feasibility of laparoscopic surgery for patients with gastric bezoars.
Animals ; Bezoars ; Cellulase ; Enzyme Therapy ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Middle Aged ; Ulcer ; Vegetables

PURPOSE: In the early 1990's laparoscopic hernioplasty gained popularity worldwide. Thereafter, laparoscopic surgeons have attempted to improve cosmesis using single port surgery. This study aims to introduce and assess the safety and feasibility of single port laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair with a nearly-scarless umbilical incision. METHODS: Sixty three single port laparoscopic TEP hernia repairs were performed in sixty patients from June 2010 to March 2011 at Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, with the use of a glove single-port device and standard laparoscopic instruments. Demographic and clinical data, intraoperative findings, and postoperative course were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 63 hernias treated, 31 were right inguinal hernias, 26 were left inguinal hernias and 3 were both inguinal hernias. There was one conversion to conventional three port laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernioplasty. Mean operative time was 62 minutes (range, 32 to 150 minutes). There were no intraoperative complications. Postoperative complications occurred in two cases (wound seroma and urinary retension) and were successfully treated conservatively. Mean hospital stay was 2.15 days. CONCLUSION: Single port laparoscopic TEP hernia repair is safe and feasible. Umbilical incision provides an excellent cosmetic outcome. Prospective randomized studies comparing single port and conventional three port laparoscopic TEP repairs with short-term outcome and long-term recurrence rate are needed for confirmation.
Cosmetics ; Hernia ; Hernia, Inguinal ; Herniorrhaphy ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Pyrazines ; Recurrence ; Seroma

PURPOSE: In the early 1990's laparoscopic hernioplasty gained popularity worldwide. Thereafter, laparoscopic surgeons have attempted to improve cosmesis using single port surgery. This study aims to introduce and assess the safety and feasibility of single port laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair with a nearly-scarless umbilical incision. METHODS: Sixty three single port laparoscopic TEP hernia repairs were performed in sixty patients from June 2010 to March 2011 at Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, with the use of a glove single-port device and standard laparoscopic instruments. Demographic and clinical data, intraoperative findings, and postoperative course were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 63 hernias treated, 31 were right inguinal hernias, 26 were left inguinal hernias and 3 were both inguinal hernias. There was one conversion to conventional three port laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernioplasty. Mean operative time was 62 minutes (range, 32 to 150 minutes). There were no intraoperative complications. Postoperative complications occurred in two cases (wound seroma and urinary retension) and were successfully treated conservatively. Mean hospital stay was 2.15 days. CONCLUSION: Single port laparoscopic TEP hernia repair is safe and feasible. Umbilical incision provides an excellent cosmetic outcome. Prospective randomized studies comparing single port and conventional three port laparoscopic TEP repairs with short-term outcome and long-term recurrence rate are needed for confirmation.
Cosmetics ; Hernia ; Hernia, Inguinal ; Herniorrhaphy ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Pyrazines ; Recurrence ; Seroma