BACKGROUND: In TIVA, it was controversy which was more appropriate to increase the concentration of the analgesic or of the hypnotic according to the intensity of the surgical stimulus. We used preset infusion dose of propofol and fentanyl mixed with pancuronium through a single syringe for expected better control of hemodynamics. METHODS: Vital signs and recovery scores were observed in thirty patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy using one-syringe TIVA in which we used premixed fentanyl(150mcg), propofol(450mg) and pancuronium(2 mg) in one syringe. Induction of anesthesia was performed by injection of propofol 1.5~2 mg/kg, fentanyl 1.5~2 mcg/kg, pancuronium 0.1 mg/kg and ventilated with 100% oxygen after endotracheal intubation. Infusion was started by 1 ml/kg/hr of mixed solution immediately after intubation. If the vital sign changed more than 15% compared with preoperative value, flow rate either increased or decreased by 50%. If stable vital signs were maintained for more than 15 minutes, the flow rate decreased by 20% every 15 min, but were maintained above 0.5 ml/kg/hr. Two to four minutes before skin incision and peritoneal traction, an additional 10 ml of mixed solution was infused. Solution without fentanyl and pancuronium was infused after peritoneal closure for early recovery. Ten to fifteen minutes before the operation was completed, infusion was discontinued and neuromuscular block was reversed. RESULTS: Blood pressure and pulse rate were stable and did not significantly change even after intubation or peritoneal traction compared with preoperative value. And, recovery from anesthesia was prompt 15 min after extubation except 2 cases of respiratory depression. CONCLUSIONS: One-syringe TIVA may be an feasible alternative method to replace conventional multi-syringe TIVA.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Intravenous* ; Blood Pressure ; Fentanyl ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Oxygen ; Pancuronium ; Propofol ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Skin ; Syringes* ; Traction ; Vital Signs

BACKGROUND: Morphine for the intravenous patient controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) provides effective postoperative pain control, but it has side effects such as itching, nausea and vomiting. Meanwhile, butorphanol, a synthetic potent agonist-antagonist narcotic with low incidence of adverse side effects and minimal addiction, produce adequate analgesia for postoperative pain. The purpose of this study was to compare the suitability of butorphanol combining with or without morphine with that of morphine in terms of relieving postoperative pain and incidence of side effects. METHODS: Sixty ASA physical status I or II female patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy were randomly allocated into one of three groups according to type of drug used (n=20 for each group). The groups were divided to group M (morphine 100 mg), group M B (morphine 50 mg+butorphanol 10 mg) and group B (butorphanol 20 mg). Drugs for each group mixed with 90 ml of normal saline (total amount: 100 ml) for infusion. Loading dose, PCA dose, lockout interval, mode of infusion was 0.05 ml/kg, 0.02 ml/kg, 8 minute, and PCA only, respectively. In each group, visual analog scale (VAS), pain score, sedation score, degree of satisfaction, total amount of drug used, history of attempt/injetion and incidence of side effects were checked. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in analgesic effects and degree of satisfaction among three groups, but incidence of side effects (especially pruritis) were less in group M+B and B compared with group M (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Butorphanol showed comparable postoperative pain relief and marked less side effects compared with morphine. Butorphanol was considered as a useful drug for postoperative pain relief using IV-PCA.
Analgesia ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Analgesics ; Butorphanol* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Incidence ; Morphine* ; Nausea ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Pruritus ; Visual Analog Scale ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Theoretical advantages in maintaining an effective blood concentration of the analgesic medication using basal infusions with or without standard intermittent PCA dosing regimens is controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness and incidence of side effects among three modes which include PCA only(group 1), PCA+ basal infusion(group 2), and basal infusion only(group 3). METHODS: Sixty ASA physical status 1 or 2 female patients who scheduled elective cesarean section were randomly allocated into one of three modes. Loading/PCA/basal infusion dose and lockout interval was 0.05 mg/kg, 0.02 mg/kg, 0.015 mg/kg/hr, and Smin, respectively. In each group, visual analog scale(VAS), pain score, sedation score, degree of satisfaction, total amount of morphine used, history of attempt or injection and incidence of side effects were checked. RESULTS: Group 2 did not show any improvement of VAS, and group 3 showed significantly higher VAS from 2 hours after initiation of morphine infusion compared to group 1(P<0.05). Degree of satisfaction was lower in group 3 compared to group 1 and 2(P<0.05). Total amount of morphine was increased in group 2(P<0.05) and reduced significantly in group 3 compared to group 1(P<0.01). There was no evidence of respiratory depression. Incidence of nausea and pruritus did not show any difference among groups. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of basal infusion did not show any improvement of postoperative pain control compared to conventional PCA method.
Analgesia ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Morphine ; Nausea ; Pain, Postoperative ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Pregnancy ; Pruritus ; Respiratory Insufficiency

OBJECTIVES: Several lines of evidence suggest the serotonergic dysfunction involved in the biological susceptibility of suicide. Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of serotonin, plays a vital role in serotonin metabolism. In a case-control study, we investigated whether the TPH gene was a susceptible factor for suicidal behavior in depressive patients. METHODS: The subjects were 218 depressed patients who attempted suicide and visited emergency rooms in multi-medical centers. One hundred thirty hospitalized non-suicidal depressed patients and the 161 normal controls were matched with the suicidal group. Individuals in all 3 groups were evaluated independently by a Structured Clinical Interview for the purpose of establishing a DSM-IV criteria diagnosis (SCID). The severity of depressive symptoms was evaluated using Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in genotype distributions and allele frequencies of TPH intron 7 A218C polymorphisms among 3 groups. Furthermore, no significant difference in genotype counts and allele frequencies of the polymorphisms was found among lethal suicidal depressed patients, non-suicidal depressed patients and the normal controls. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the A218C polymorphism of the TPH gene is unlikely to have a major effect on the susceptibility of suicidal behaviors in depressive patients.
Case-Control Studies ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Emergencies ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Introns ; Serotonin ; Suicide ; Suicide, Attempted ; Tryptophan ; Tryptophan Hydroxylase

Phacoemulsification in hypermature cataract has not been recommended for routine procedure because of the difficult techniques and the possibility of high complication rates.48 eyes of 48 patients with hypermature cataracts were operated with phacoemulsification by one surgeon.The complications related to the status of continuous circular capsulorrhexis (CCC) were prospectively studied for three years.25 eyes (52.1%)had complete CCC and 23 eyes (47.9%)had incomplete CCC, and in 6 (12.5%)of these 23 eyes, posterior capsular rupture was occurred.Decentration of intraocular lens more than 1mm, occurred in 4 eyes (8.3%)with 3 or more radial tears. These results shows that phacoemulsification in hypermature cataract can be considered relatively safe procedure with recent techniques.CCC is also regarded as one of the most important procedures in hypermature cataract as in normal cataracts in reducing complications during and after the operation.
Capsulorhexis ; Cataract* ; Humans ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Phacoemulsification* ; Prospective Studies ; Rupture

BACKGROUND: In the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, measurement of CK-MB is widely used as an enzyme test, but it needs special instruments, lacks specificity in the presence of concomitant skeletal muscle injuries, and has narrow diagnostic time window. Cardiac specific troponin T-a new marker for the diagnosis of myocardial injury-is now available. Besides the quantitative assay, rapid qualitative asay is also possible with the development of rapid assay Kit. We studied about the efficacy of the Troponin T rapid assay Kit in early doagnosis of actue myocardial infarction in the emergency room. METHODS: Total Ck, Ck-MB, LDH and serum troponin T activities were determined when the patients arrived at the emergency room and at the same time Troponin T rapid assay kit test was done. Final diagnosis was made through the serial measurement of CK, CK-MB and LDH. Diagnostic efficacy of each rest was evaluated. RESULTS: Overall diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of Troponin T rapid assay kit were 0.97 and 0.91. When evaluated only with the initial results, Troponin T rapid assay kit showed sensitivity 0.87, specificity 0.97, serum troponin T 0.75, 0.92, and Ck-Mb 0.81,0.95. In one patient who was finally diagnosed as a septic shock, Ck-MB was elevated but serum troponin T was not and Troponin T rapid assay kit test showed negative result. CONCLUSION: Troponin T rapid assay kit test seems to show nearly the same sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction compared to CK-MB. This test can be done simply and easily in a short time. Thus, with the use of this test, morbidity, mortality and economic loss due to misdiagnosis and delay of diagnosis of myocardial infarction might be reduced.
Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Early Diagnosis* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Mortality ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Shock, Septic ; Troponin T* ; Troponin*

Broncho-esophageal fistula(BEF) is an uncommon clinical entity which can cause severe suppurative lung disease. Acquired fistulas between the esophagus and tracheobronchial tree are relatively uncommon. They are caused by many diseases including malignancy and chronic inflammation such as tuberculosis and have favorable outcome with proper treatment. To our knowledge, there has been no description of patients with BEF due to the bronchiectasis. We report a case of broncho-esophageal fistula in association with bronchiectasis in a 35-year-old male patient with hemoptysis. Bronchoscopy revealed mild bleeding from the superior segment of the right lower lobe without specific endobronchial lesion. Barium esophagogram could not confirm the fistula. The diagnosis of a broncho-esophageal fistula was established by an esophagogastroscopy using fistulogram and subsequent bronchoscopy, in which the communication between the bronchial tree and the esophagus was demonstrated by instilling dye selectively through the fistulous opening using esophagogastroscopy and visualizing the fistula and the bronchial tree. The patient was treated with resection of the right lower lobe, extirpation of the diverticulum and surgical closure of the bronchial defect and fistula, but he suffered from pneumonia thereafter and eventually expired due to sepsis and multiple organ failure.
Adult ; Barium ; Bronchiectasis* ; Bronchoscopy ; Diagnosis ; Diverticulum ; Esophagus ; Fistula* ; Hemoptysis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Pneumonia ; Sepsis ; Tuberculosis

OBJECTIVE: The differences between two fetal sexes have been a matter of great concern from ancient times to present day. This study was initiated to research the varying fetal behaviors which would differ according to the fetal sex. METHODS: With every 1,500 cases of each fetal sex selected, the patterns which the varying factors related to FHR and prognosis of neonates in normal pregnancy were compared by means of Factor Analysis (a linear method). Canonical Ensemble was performed to compare the relationship of intrauterine fetal behavioral developments, and neonatal prognosis of each fetal sex. And whether the different types of the fetal sex would have influence also on the chaotic behavior was analyzed by the methods of linear Power Spectrum of FHR and Approximate Enthropy. RESULTS: The consequences of Factor Analysis showed that it is Apgar score on the factor 1 axis, and signal loss on the factor 2 axis in the case of male babies. In the case of female babies it is Apgar score on the factor 1 axis, and fetal movement on the factor 2 axis. Speaking of the specific value regarding FHR, male babies displayed higher frequency only in terms of fetal movement sign than female babies (p=0.0394). No other differences between two fetal sexes in abnormal findings were indicated (p>0.05). Among the babies at 30~33 weeks' gestation female babies were more likely to reveal higher Canonical Ensemble (male=0.41+/-0.05, female=0.05+/-0.04; p=0.00411), whereas male babies have a higher Approximate Entropy (male=0.926+/-0.01, female=0.871+/-0.01; p=0.0037). However Power Spectrum Analysis indicated that there were no significant differences as I compared LF/HF (p>0.05), the ratio of LF and HF of two fetal sexes, and same result was also drawn by Power Low beta-slope (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The linear patterns of the FHR signal from the fetus suggest that there is no variables resulting from the type of fetal sex, except for the fetal movement frequency and the height and weight of neonates. The sympathetic and parasympathetic balance of both fetal sexes also showed a similar development pattern. In the mean time the differences which could be visible were made among the male and female babies specifically at 30~33 weeks' gestation. This may correspond to the fact that the lung maturation of the female fetus is completed before the third trimester of pregnancy, and the male fetus after the period, and finally the differences between the fetal sexes generally become insignificant toward term.
Apgar Score ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Entropy ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Female ; Fetal Heart* ; Fetal Movement ; Fetus ; Heart Rate, Fetal* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lung ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Prognosis ; Spectrum Analysis

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effect of endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke in patients over 80 years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 156 acute stroke patients aged over 80 years who were considered as candidates for EVT were analyzed. Fifty-six patients (35.9%, EVT group) underwent EVT and 100 patients (64.1%, non-EVT group) did not. Outcomes, in terms of functional outcomes and rates of symptomatic hemorrhage, in-hospital morbidity and mortality, were compared between groups. Each comparison was adjusted for age, time from onset, initial National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, and pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS). RESULTS: More patients in the EVT group achieved good outcomes (mRS score of 0-2) at 3 months (35.7% vs. 11.0%, adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.779 [95% confidence interval 1.972-11.579], p = 0.001) and 12 months (35.7% vs. 14.0%, adjusted OR 3.705 [1.574-8.722], p = 0.003) after stroke. During admission, rates of hospital-acquired infection including pneumonia (12.5% vs. 29.0%, adjusted OR 0.262 [0.098-0.703], p = 0.008) and urinary tract infection (16.0% vs. 34.0%, adjusted OR 0.256 [0.099-0.657], p = 0.005) were significantly lower in the EVT group. More symptomatic hemorrhages (10.7% vs. 2.0%, adjusted OR 6.859 [1.139-41.317], p = 0.036) occurred in the EVT group, but no significant difference was observed in in-hospital mortality rate (12.5% vs. 8.0%, adjusted OR 1.380 [0.408-4.664], p = 0.604). CONCLUSION: EVT improved functional outcome and reduced the risk of hospital-acquired infections in acute stroke patients over 80 years of age without increasing the risk of in-hospital mortality, although symptomatic hemorrhage occurred more frequently after EVT.
Hemorrhage ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Pneumonia ; Stroke* ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Urinary Tract Infections

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effect of endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke in patients over 80 years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 156 acute stroke patients aged over 80 years who were considered as candidates for EVT were analyzed. Fifty-six patients (35.9%, EVT group) underwent EVT and 100 patients (64.1%, non-EVT group) did not. Outcomes, in terms of functional outcomes and rates of symptomatic hemorrhage, in-hospital morbidity and mortality, were compared between groups. Each comparison was adjusted for age, time from onset, initial National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, and pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS). RESULTS: More patients in the EVT group achieved good outcomes (mRS score of 0-2) at 3 months (35.7% vs. 11.0%, adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.779 [95% confidence interval 1.972-11.579], p = 0.001) and 12 months (35.7% vs. 14.0%, adjusted OR 3.705 [1.574-8.722], p = 0.003) after stroke. During admission, rates of hospital-acquired infection including pneumonia (12.5% vs. 29.0%, adjusted OR 0.262 [0.098-0.703], p = 0.008) and urinary tract infection (16.0% vs. 34.0%, adjusted OR 0.256 [0.099-0.657], p = 0.005) were significantly lower in the EVT group. More symptomatic hemorrhages (10.7% vs. 2.0%, adjusted OR 6.859 [1.139-41.317], p = 0.036) occurred in the EVT group, but no significant difference was observed in in-hospital mortality rate (12.5% vs. 8.0%, adjusted OR 1.380 [0.408-4.664], p = 0.604). CONCLUSION: EVT improved functional outcome and reduced the risk of hospital-acquired infections in acute stroke patients over 80 years of age without increasing the risk of in-hospital mortality, although symptomatic hemorrhage occurred more frequently after EVT.
Hemorrhage ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Pneumonia ; Stroke* ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Urinary Tract Infections