Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is the most common condition requiring abdominal surgery in early infancy, and is caused by hypertrophied pyloric muscle. The development of successful surgical treatment in the early 1900s by Fredet and Ramstedt made it possible for infants worldwide to survive. Modern pediatric anesthetic techniques have virtually eliminated mortality from surgical management. Atropine sulfate is a cholinergic blocking agent with potent antimuscarinic activity that decreases peristaltic contractions by relaxing smooth muscles. We treated two cases of IHPS with incomplete pyloromyotomy in 3-month-old and 5-month-old male infants by administering atropine sulfate intravenously. They were free from vomiting after 5 days of intravenous atropine sulfate treatment. In these rare cases of persistent vomiting or refractory emesis following incomplete pyloromyotomy, there may be a role for atropine sulfate.
Atropine* ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mortality ; Muscle, Smooth ; Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic ; Vomiting*

No abstract available.
Cyclosporine* ; Dermatomyositis*

No abstract available.

This study is a methodical research to develop a health behavior assessment scale for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and to test the validity and reliability of the instrument. The research procedure was as follows; 1) The first step was to develop conceptual framework based on a comprehensive review of the literature, in-depth interviews patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This conceptual framework was organized in eight dimensions; pain management, exercise, rest, diet control, active committment, self-management, positive thinking, interpersonal maintenance. Initially 56 items were selected from 164 statement. 2) These items were reviewed by panel of eight specialists and the Index of Content validity (CVI) was calculated, and forty six items were selected which met more than 70% on the CVI. 3) 174 rheumatoid arthritis pateints were interviewed, and data was gathered from Jan. 25 to Feb. 18, 1999 for test reliabilities and validities of the scale. The item analysis was carried out and 40 items were selected. Factor analysis by varimax rotation was carried out to test construct validity. The internal consistency by chronbach's alpha was calculated. The findings were as follows; 1) Item analysis and factor analysis were carried out to test the validity of the health behavior assessment scale. The item analysis was based on the corrected item`s to total correlation coefficient (.30 or more), and information about the alpha estimate. However, this was only if this item was deleted from the scale. As a result of the item analysis, forty items were selected. Thirty items were selected by a initial factor analysis by varimax rotation, and ten items were deleted because of factor complexity. In the secondary factor analysis, eight factors were labled as 'positive thinking', 'exercise', 'rest', 'pain management', 'active committment', 'self-management', 'diet control', and 'interpersonal maintenance', each similar with the conceptual framework. 2) Chronbach's alpha coefficient to test reliability of the scale was. 903 for total the thirty items. The Scale for assessing health behavior developed in this study was identified to be a tool with a high degree of reliability and validity. Therefore this scale can be effectively utilized for assessment in the health behaviors of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Diet ; Health Behavior* ; Humans ; Pain Management ; Reproducibility of Results ; Self Care ; Specialization ; Thinking

A complete history and physical examination for heart diseases in children, especially neonates and infants, enables the pediatrician to compile an appropriate differential diagnosis, order tests such as chest radiography and electrocardiogram in a suitable manner, and efficiently care for the patients. The ability to obtain an accurate history and to perform an excellent physical examination is very important and provides the basis for best management of children with heart diseases. As such, we are reviewed the components of the history and the physical examination that are critical in assessing the cardiovascular system.
Cardiovascular System ; Child* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Physical Examination* ; Radiography ; Thorax

The congenital diverticulum of ventricle is a rare cardiac malformation arising from the left or right ventricle, the former being more common. Ventricular diverticulum is usually associated with other anomalies including intracardiac, midline thoracic, diaphragmatic and abdominal wall defect. The authors experienced a case of congenital diverticulum of left ventricle in nine month-old female infant. Left Blolock-Taussig shunt operation was done and total correction will be done later. Thereafter we presented a case with brief review of the related literatures.
Abdominal Wall ; Diverticulum* ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Infant ; Pulmonary Atresia*

Congenital heart disease represents a condition commonly associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Eisenmenger syndrome is on the extreme end of the spectrum of PAH in the setting of congenital heart disease. This status implied the irreversibility and inoperability of a subgroup of patients with congenital heart defects. Untreated or even treated, Eisenmenger syndrome is characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance that leads to right ventricular failure and death. Today, although there have been many advances in understanding of the pathophysiology of Eisenmenger syndrome and also advances in treating this disease, there is still no cure for this progressive condition, but the new vasodilators may be well tolerated and they improve the exercise capacity and hemodynamics without compromising the peripheral oxygen saturation. Eisenmenger syndrome can be prevented in most pediatric patients. With the advances in imaging, surgery and intensive care facilities and also in the early definitive therapy for the majority of lesions associated with a risk of developing Eisenmenger syndrome, a progressive decrease in the prevalence of this disease may be expected. Identifying the risk factors is problematic as the annual mortality rates are relatively low for Eisenmenger patients. We review here the available data on the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, prognosis and management of pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients with congenital heart disease.
Eisenmenger Complex* ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Critical Care ; Mortality ; Oxygen ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Vascular Resistance ; Vasodilator Agents

Echocardiography is an important tool in investigation, re-evaluation of remained postoperative defect and follow-up for adult congenital heart disease, even though there are often a problem to obtain optimal echocardiogram. The usual systematic echocardiographic assessments should include special focus on 1) anatomic description of situs, concordance, discordance or valves; 2) chamber sizes and function; 3) valve appearance and function; 4) shunts; 5) pulmonary artery pressure; 6) flow and size of the arch; and 7) drainage of pulmonic veins. The major lesions are presented and echocardiographic features briefly discussed.
Adult* ; Drainage ; Echocardiography* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery ; Veins

PURPOSE: This study was designed to define normal values for a nongeometric MPI in children and evaluate the utility of m%cardial performance index(MPI) in congenital heart disease with distorted ventricular geometry. METHODS: The study population consisted of 44 normal patients and 28 patients with atrial septal defect(ASD) with dilated right ventricle and paradoxical septal motion. Right ventricular(RV) and left ventricular(LV) isovolumic contraction time, isovolumic relaxation time, ejection time, ejection fraction and pre-ejection period/ejection time(PEP/ET) were measured using conventional echo- Doppler methods. The MPI measures the ratio of total time spent in isovolumic activity(isovolumic contraction time and isovolumic relaxation time) to ejection time. RESULTS: In normal children, the RV MPI was 0.33+/-0.09 and the LV MPI was 0.36+/-0.04. In the ASD group, LV function seemed grossly normal but LV EF was significantly lower than normal children(57+/-3% vs 67+/-4%, P<0.05), but both LV and RV MPI had no statistically significant difference. After correction of ASD, RV MPI was increased and LV EF(57+/-3% vs 64+/-3%, P<0.05) as wll as the RV PEP/ET(0.27+/-0.05 vs 0.38+/-0.06, P<0.05) were significantly greater than the normal or the preoperation group. CONCLUSION: Components of the MPI are easily measured with conventional Doppler technique using standard echocardiographic examination. These results suggest that the MPI is useful as a means of quantitative assessment of ventricular performance in patients with complex ventricular geometry, particularly RV.
Child ; Echocardiography ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial* ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Reference Values ; Relaxation ; Ventricular Function*

Right-sided heart failure is a major problem among patients with congenital heart diseases, due to the prevalence of congenital heart defects and the association of pulmonary hypertension. More attention is focused on the structure of the right heart particularly in association with congenital heart defects and chronic lung disease. The right ventricle (RV) may support the pulmonary circulation, and sometimes the systemic circulation (systemic RV) in congenital heart defects. Despite major progress being made, assessing the RV remains challenging, often requiring a multi-imaging approach and expertise (echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear and cineangiography). Evidence is accumulating that RV dysfunction develops in many of these patients and leads to considerable morbidity and mortality. While there is extensive literature on the pathophysiology and treatment of left heart failure, the data for right-sided heart failure is scarce. Therefore RV function in certain groups of congenital heart disease patients needs close surveillance and timely and appropriate intervention to optimise outcomes. An understanding of RV physiology and hemodynamics will lead to a better understanding of current and future treatment strategies for right heart failure. This will review right-sided heart failure with the implications of volume and pressure loading of the RV in congenital heart diseases.
Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart Failure* ; Heart Ventricles ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Lung Diseases ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mortality ; Physiology ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Circulation