Ambulatory BP monitoring was performed in a patients with pheochromocytoma before and after removal of the tumor. Before surgery, it did not show any significant diurnal variation. But, after surgery the diurnal variation was restored.
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory* ; Blood Pressure* ; Humans ; Pheochromocytoma*

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

BACKGROUND: Epinephrine-containing epidural test dose is used for obstetric epidural anesthesia to identify the unintentional cannulation of an epidural vessel. This study evaluated the effects of an epinephrine test dose during epidural anesthesia with 0.5% ropivacaine in ceasrean section. METHODS: Seventy healthy pregnant women, scheduled for elective cesarean section were randomly assigned to one of two groups. A lumbar epidural catheter was placed and aspirated. If aspiration was positive for blood or cerebrospinal fluid, the catheter was replaced. All patients received an 3 ml test dose of either 1.5% lidocaine with epinephrine 5microgram/ml (group E) or lidocaine only (group C). After test dose, 50microgram fentanyl and 20 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine were given to the all patients. Applying the pin prick method and a modified Bromage scoring system, senseory block level and motot block intensity were checked at 5 min intervals for the first hour following ropivacaine injection. After then, they were checked at 15 min intervals for the rest of the test period. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were measured as well. RESULTS: No significant difference between the two groups was detected in HR, BP, the profile of sensory block, motor scores and the onset of motor block. However, group C showed significantly shorter span of motor block (102 +/- 31 min.) than group E (134 +/- 32 min.) (P <0.05). There was no significant difference in neonatal outcome, as assessed by Apgar score at delivery. The most common adverse effect in mothers was hypotension. No serious adverse effects were detected in this study. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that only the span of motor block by the epidural ropivacaine is affected by epinephrine-containing epidural test dose.
Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Apgar Score ; Blood Pressure ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Cesarean Section ; Epinephrine ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Lidocaine ; Mothers ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women

Transient hyperammonemia of the newborn is an overwhelming disease manifestated by hyperammonemic coma in ill premature infant. This recognized metabolic disorder is chiefly characterized by severe hyperammonemia in the postnatal period, a comatous state, absence of abnormal organic aciduria, normal activity of urea cycle enzymes and, usually, complete recovery. The etiology is unknown. Infant had mild respiratory distress that progressed within 48 hours to deep coma requiring ventilatory assistance and had marked hyperammonemia. The degree of neurologic impairment and developmental delay in this disorder depends on the duration of the hyperammonemic coma. So, treatment of hyperammonemia should be initiated promptly and continued vigorously. We report of a preterm infant (34+5 weeks of gestation) presenting with respiratory distress, seizure, coma, and marked elevated plasma ammonia level.
Ammonia ; Coma ; Humans ; Hyperammonemia* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Infant, Premature ; Plasma ; Seizures ; Urea

BACKGROUND: Although blood is very important therapeutic agent in bleeding patients, it may transmit disease, cause an adverse reaction in the recipients, raise the cost of patient care. Since the misuse and inappropriate use of blood is common, we are to review the transfusion practice in our hospital and to reduce unnecessary blood transfusion. METHODS: During a 10-month period from June 1994 through March 1995, 347 patients received blood transfusion during the operation. Among them, we reviewed retrospectively the charts of 211 patients available. We analyzed the transfusion pattern of 47 patients whose postoperative hematocrit exceeded 32 percent to determine the magnitude and cause of unnecessary blood transfusion. RESULTS: The patients of postoperative hematocrit over 32 percent were 119 patients out of 211 patients(56.4%). The main cause of overtransfusion was no reevaluation of the patients hematocrit after the prior unit was given. CONCLUSIONS: Guidelines for transfusing patients must be constructed based on acceptable intraoperative hematocrits. Unnecessary transfusion can be decreased when the transfusion done according to the guidelines, insisting on each reevaluation of the hematocrit prior to the administration of unit of blood.
Blood Transfusion ; Hematocrit ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Patient Care ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: An epidemiologic study was performed after the outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) from December 2006 to May 2007. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was performed using the medical records of the patients. The case and control patients were compared for age, gender, total length of stay in MICU, prior carbapenem use, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACH II) score, presence of central line, effect of mechanical ventilation, and sputum suction. Environmental and hand-washing studies were performed during the outbreak. RESULTS: Ten CRAB-affected patients and 29 controls were enrolled in this study. Univariate analysis showed that the age, total length of stay in MICU, presence of central line, and prior carbapenem use were associated with the CRAB outbreak. However, multivariate analysis showed that only prior carbapenem use was associated with the CRAB outbreak (odd ratio: 8.67, P=0.01). The outbreak disappeared after implementing a combined infection control strategy, including the sequential disinfection of MICU and strict compliance with cross-transmission prevention protocols. CONCLUSION: The use of carbapenem was associated with an increased risk of CRAB infection. This study suggests that the MICU contamination and infection transmission by health-care workers played a major role in the CRAB outbreak. Novel strategies such as restricted use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, strict hand hygiene, strict isolation of the patients, and MICU disinfection may be required to prevent the CRAB outbreak.
Acinetobacter ; Acinetobacter baumannii ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; APACHE ; Case-Control Studies ; Compliance ; Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Disinfection ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Hand Hygiene ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sputum ; Suction

PURPOSE: This study identifies the optimal incision site by describing the relationship between McBurney's point and the base of appendix using the coronal view of abdominal multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) in patients with acute appendicitis. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 206 patients with positive MDCT findings who were histologically diagnosed with acute appendicitis after appendectomy between January 2014 and September 2015. The outer 1/3 point between two points, the umbilicus and the right anterior superior iliac spine, was marked as McBurney's point on the coronal view. The superoinferior, mediolateral and radial distances between the base of appendix and McBurney's point were measured and recorded. RESULTS: The average age was 35.1±20.3 years. There were 34 patients below the age of 15-years-old (children), and 172 patients over 15-years-old (adults). In 35.4% of patients, the base of appendix was located within a radius of 2 cm from the McBurney's point, in 39.8% it was within 2~4 cm, and in 24.8% was over 4 cm. The average center coordinate of the base of inflamed appendix in our patients is 9.32 mm, 8.31 mm and the distance between two points is 12.5 mm. CONCLUSION: The location of appendix has wide individual variability; therefore the McBurney's point has limitations as an anatomic landmark. If we choose to customize appendectomy incisions considering the base of appendix by using an abdominal MDCT coronal view, additional incision site extension can be reduced.
Anatomic Landmarks ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis* ; Appendix ; Humans ; Radius ; Spine ; Umbilicus

During the long-term COVID-19 pandemic, wearing a mask is inevitable for protecting individuals from airborne infection. In this case, we found out that mask may exacerbate atopic dermatitis and it can be treated simply and effectively using silicone tape. We suggest that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, silicone tape can be beneficial in both preventing and treating eczema caused by mask-wearing, especially in patients with atopic dermatitis.

The most common pancreatic cystic lesion is pancreatic pseudocyst which represents about 85%. Primary cystic neoplasms represent about 10 to 15% of the lesion. Pathologically cystic neoplasms can be classified into serous cystadenoma, mucinous cystadenoma and papillary cystic neoplasm by epithelial lining-cell, whereas pseudocyst is characterized by fibrotic capsules. Mucinous form is known to be premalignant or malignant and serous cystadenoma was known to be benign in the past, but recently 4 cases of malignant transformation have been reported. Serous cystadenoma is described under a variety of names, including microcystic adenoma and glycogen-rich cystadenoma but recently macroqystic variants have been reported. Serous cystadenoma is most commonly seen in middle aged women with symptoms of vague upper abdominal pain or palpable mass. It is sometimes associated with extra- pancreatic diseases such as gallstones, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, duodenal ulcers, sterility, obesity and thymic dysfunction, but coexisting papillary thyroid cancer have been reported in only 2 cases to our knowledge. The pathogenesis of associated diseases is unknown and appears to be due to function of age of the patients or incidental occurrence. Herein, we report a patient who had a pancreatic serous cystadenoma coexisting with papillary thyroid cancer. Since pancreatic serous cystadenoma can occur in association with papaillary thyroid cancer, examination of thyroid seems to be advisable when pancreatic serous cystadenoma is found.
Abdominal Pain ; Adenoma ; Capsules ; Cystadenoma ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; Cystadenoma, Serous* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Female ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infertility ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; Obesity ; Pancreatic Cyst ; Pancreatic Diseases ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: In this study, the optimal effect-site concentration of remifentanil for blunting hemodynamic responses to endotracheal intubation during total intravenous anesthesia using propofol were evaluated. METHODS: 137 ASA class I and II patients, aged 18-60 years, were randomly allocated to one of six groups according to the effect-site concentration of remifentanil. Remifentanil was then infused at a target effect-site concentration of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6 ng/ml in groups R0, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R6, respectively. Anesthesia was induced with propofol infusion at a target effect-site concentration of 4microgram/ml endotracheal intubation was performed 5 minutes after remifentanil administration. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and cardiac index (CI) were recorded at the baseline and then every 30 seconds until 3 minutes after intubation. RESULTS: BP and HR in groups R0, R1 and R2 increased significantly after intubation when compared with the baseline values. The CI in group R0 also increased significantly after intubation when compared with the baseline values. Incidences of hypertension and hypotension were 50% and 5% in R0, 32% and 14% in R1, 18% and 32% in R2, 10% and 48% in R3, 8% and 54% in R4, and 0% and 81% in R6. There were also 2 cases in which the mean blood pressure was less than 50 mmHg in group R6. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the optimal target effect-site concentrations of remifentanil for blunting hemodynamic responses to endotracheal intubation are 3 or 4 ng/ml during total intravenous anesthesia using propofol at an effect-site concentration of 4microgram/ml.
Aged ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Piperidines ; Propofol