BACKGROUND: It is known that 20% of childhood epilepsy is refractory to anticonvulsants therapy, Recently, a few new anticonvulsants has been introduced. One of these, gabapentin is known to effective in such refractory cases. This study has been done to estimate the effectiveness of gabapentin in refractory childhood as well as adult epilepsies. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 43 patients(male 25, female 18) has been selected among refractory epilepsies during the period of March, 1981 to Feb, 1996 diagnosed and treated at pediatric neurologic clinic School of Medicine, Yonsei University Those were already treated with various anticonvulsants and gabapentin was added to previous medication, and effectiveness of seizure frequency and the degree has been investigated over more than 3 month period as well as the side effect. RESULTS: 30 patients out of 43, showed seizure free or decreased frequency of seizure, those patients whose the seizure frequency was decreased over 50% was 11 cases, partial seizure 10 cases, generalized seizure 1 cases. 15 case out of 43 showed no changes or increased frequencies of seizure in 4 out of 27 in partial epilepsies, 1 out of 16 in generalized seizure, and 6 cases out of 43 manifested side effects such as behaviour change, abdominal pain and headache. CONCLUSION: Gabapentin was effective by add on therapy in refractory epilepsies and reducing the frequency of seizure over 50% was 25.6%. Most of these patients was partial seizure. We concluded that gabapentin as add on therapy is effective at least in 1/4 cases of refractory partial seizures.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Anticonvulsants ; Epilepsies, Partial ; Epilepsy ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Seizures*

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of outpatient surgical procedures performed using local anesthesia with intravenous sedation. However, many patients are reluctant to undergo surgery because of their concerns about pain and pain-awareness during the operation. We performed a study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of midazolam during outpatient surgical procedures. Between March 1997 and December 1998, 50 patients were anesthetized with bolus intravenous injection of 0.1mg/kg of midazolam, followed by local anesthesia. The blood pressure, pulse and oximeter values were monitored. There was no significant change of arterial oxygen saturation. Midazolam induced antegrade amnesia in most cases. All patients except three (94%) said they would willingly choose this anesthetic technique again. Major complications were not noted. We concluded that midazolam is a good sedative agent in providing favorable antegrade amnesia, as well as reduced anxiety and fear of pain during surgical procedures. This suggests that midazolam may be used routinely in outpatient surgical procedures. Monitoring of oxygen saturation, however is essential in preventing severe hypoxia during procedures.
Amnesia ; Anesthesia, Local* ; Anoxia ; Anxiety ; Blood Pressure ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Methods ; Midazolam* ; Outpatients ; Oxygen

An analysis of echocardiograms was made in 50 patients with pericardial effusion of various origins, diagnosed by clinical and M-mode echocardiographic examinations. In these cases the estimated volume of pericardial effusion ranged between 40 ml and 999 ml. The width of echo-free space behind the left ventricular wall which reflect the amount of effusion showed a significant positive correlation with the systolic excursion and the diastolic mean velocity of both right and left ventricular epicardial surfaces. The echocardiographic patterns of so-called pseudo-mitral valve prolapse and a notch on the right ventricular epicardial surface during systole were found more frequently in patients with large pericardial effusion. Thus, in pericardial effusion, and echocardiographic examination is useful for the visualization of the abnormal motions of cardiac structures as well as for its diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Echocardiography* ; Humans ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Prolapse ; Systole

For the determination of the usefulness of the pulsed Doppler echocardiographic diagnosis of ASD. We evaluated 185 children with congenital heart disase by subxiphoid approach. ASD was diagnosed when abnormal flow was recorded in right atrium. ASD was proved by surgery in 33 of 185 children with congenital heart disease, and all children had sugical correction of their heart deformities. On pulsed Doppler echocardiographic exmination, abnormal flow was recorded in 32 of the 33 children with ASD and 3 of 152 children without ASD. This pulsed Doppler echocardiographic diagnosis of ASD by abnormal flow in right atrium has sensitively of 97% and specificity of 98%. High correlation was found between the estimates of Qp/Qs ratio by Doppler and Fick method(r=0.90, P<0.01). So we concluded that pulsed Doppler echocardiographic diagnosis of ASD was specific and sensitive method and careful pulsed Doppler echocardiographic examination may avoid the unnecessary cardiac catheterizetion in patients with ASD.
Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler* ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial* ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Echocardiography, Doppler* ; Heart Defects, Congenital*

Mass electrocardiographic (ECG) examination was performed on 13,801 children (male 7,526 and female 6,275) of elementary and middle school in Taegu from May 1. 1986. to April 30. 1987. We read their ECG according to the “pediatric Electrocardiography”1) The results were as following: The incidence of ECG abnormality was 1.05% (male 1.3% and female 0.75%). Fifty eight children (0.42%) had atrial and ventricular hypertrophy; two right atrial hypertrophy, five left atrial hypertrophy, thirty five right ventricular hypertrophy and sixteen left ventricular hypertrophy respectively. Ectopic beats occurred in 25 children (0.18%); They were atrial in 12 children, ventricular in 8 children and junctional in 5 children. There were 62 children (0.45%) of conduction disturbance; They were first degree atrioventricular (A-V) block in 21 children, type I second degree A-V block in 1 child, A-V dissociation in 1 child, right, right bundle branch block in 36 children, left bundle branch block in 1 child and WPW syndrome in 2 children. Nonspecific ST, T changes and sinus tachycardia were found in 3 and one children respectively.
Bundle-Branch Block ; Child* ; Daegu ; Electrocardiography* ; Female ; Heart Block ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular ; Incidence ; Tachycardia, Sinus ; Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Bartter's syndrome is a rare tubular disorder characterized by hypokalemic, hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis, hyperreninemic, hyperaldosteronism, hyporesponsiveness to pressor agents and juxtaglomerular apparatus heperplasia. We report a case of Bartter's syndrome of a 5 month-old male infant with subdural hematoma who was confirmed by characteristic clinical, laboratory findings and kidney biopsy.
Alkalosis ; Bartter Syndrome* ; Biopsy ; Epilepsy* ; Hematoma, Subdural* ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Infant ; Juxtaglomerular Apparatus ; Kidney ; Male ; Seizures*

PURPOSE: To cmpare the clinical results of complex tibial plateau fractures treated by hybrid external fixation and dual plate fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied forty patients with Schatzker type V and VI fractures respectively and selected twenty seven patients who were followed at least one year between January 2000 and December 2005. We evaluated the clinical results in which fourteen fractures with hybrid external fixation were compared with thirteen fractures with dual plate fixation. The clinical results were evaluated according to Knee Society Clinical Rating System and the statistical analysis was performed by Student t-test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in terms of bone union time (average union time: dual plate fixation 13.8 weeks, hybrid external fixation 14.2 weeks). The quality of osseous reduction was superior in the fractures with dual plate fixation than those with hybrid external fixation. There were significant differences in functional score (average functional score: dual plate fixation 73, hybrid external fixation 62), but not in average knee score. CONCLUSION: The hybrid external fixation can be a useful modality for treatment of complex proximal tibial plateau fractures. But the good quality of the fracture reduction by dual plate fixation may be a indicator for favorable prognosis for satisfactory knee function.
Chimera ; External Fixators ; Humans ; Knee ; Prognosis

Tuberculosis of the vertebral column is a slowly developing disease, characterized by pain, spinal deformity, and occasionally paralysis. The following varieties of vertebral tuberculosis are commonly recognized, such as a central variety, metaphysial tuberculosis (inter-vertebral articular type), an anterior or periosteal variety, appendiceal tuberculosis, and a true tuberculous arthritis. Among these appendiceal tuberculosis is rare. This form of Potts disease may be unilateral or bilateral and may be isolated or present at multiple levels. Disk space changes and deformity are minor features, but large paravertebral abscesses are invariable. Extradural extension may lead to the development of paraplegia. Two cases of destructive lesions at the neural arch of 10th. and 11th. thoracic vertebra were revealed to be appendiceal tuberculosis. All cases treated with antituberculous medication, radical curettage and body jaket casts and made recoveries. Patients had no complaints and no evidence of recurrence. A brief summary of the literature is submitted.
Abscess ; Arthritis ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Curettage ; Humans ; Paralysis ; Paraplegia ; Recurrence ; Spine ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Spinal

Supracondylar fractures of the humerus is the most common elbow fractures in children. Many papers has been published about the treatment of the supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children and prevention of both Volkmann's ischemic contractures and nerve injuries associated with these fractures, however, unfortunately it is still one of the most difficult fractures to manage. After successful reduction, the late complications of loss of elbow motion, the change in carrying angle, myositis ossificans, and progressive ulnar nerve palsy still lie ahead. For the period of 5 years from January 1975 to December 1979, 110 patients who had been treated for supracondylar fractures of the humerus at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Coilege of Medicine were studied and analyzed retrospectively and the results are summerized as follows: 1. The age of the patients varied from 1 to 26 years, the majority (80.0%) being between 4 to 11 years and the fractures were on the left side in 71.8% and males comprized 75.5%. 2. The extension type comprized 94.5%. 3. Most common complications were cubitus varus deformities. 4. Percutaneous pinning and open reduction and internal fixation elicited rare cubitus varus diformities. 5. Limitation of motion was most frequent camplication after open reduction and internal fixation. 6. All cases which showed cubitus varus deformities were initially medially displaced fractures. 7. Four median nerve injuries were associated with posterolateral displacement and one radial nerve injury was associated with posteromedial displacement. 8. Finally, with prompt and adequate treatment, there were no Volkmanns ischemic contractures seen in this study.
Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Elbow ; Humans ; Humerus ; Ischemic Contracture ; Male ; Median Nerve ; Myositis Ossificans ; Radial Nerve ; Retrospective Studies ; Ulnar Neuropathies