No abstract available.
Amitriptyline* ; Humans

With the recent introduction and development of the detachable balloon system, it has become the treatment of choice in the management of carotid cavernous fistulas(CCFs). But, since most delivery systems for embolization of CCF mainly depend on flow guidance for balloon delivery, in cases of small fistula, pseudoaneurysm and arterialized venous collaterals, failure of balloon embolization can occur. To overcome these limitations, the authors designed and used a new versatile, steerable, and flow-guided detachable balloon system by using a Tracker catheter system with silicone or latex balloons. Using this maneuver, we could get successful fistula occlusion in 7 out of 8 patients(silicone balloon). But in one case, we had to occlude the internal carotid artery at the fistula site, proximal and distal cervical portions of the internal carotid artery. This balloon delivery system proved to provide high selectivity for fistula and relatively ease of handing.
Aneurysm, False ; Balloon Occlusion ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Catheters* ; Fistula* ; Hand ; Latex ; Silicon* ; Silicones*

No abstract available.
Meningioma* ; Neurilemmoma*

The fractures of the cervical spine are relatively uncommon, but they may cause serious neurologic deficits temporarily or permanently. So, it is very important to treat the patients early by way of exact evaluation for the sites and the mechanisms of the injuries. The authors reviewed retrospectively 188 cervical spinal fractures in 100 patients from Sep. 1984 to Aug. 1990. Commonly involed levels were C5 and C6 in lower cervical level and C2 in upper cervical level and the sites in each spine were body; lamina and odontoid process. The hyperflexion injury was the most common type of the cervical spinal fractures occupying 53% of all cervical fractures and cause more multipe fractures(2.26 fractures/patient) than in hyperextension (1. 68 fractures/patient). In hyperflexion injuries, body, transverse and spinous process were commonly involved but lamina fracture was relatively common in hyperextension injury. The dislocations associated with fractures were developed most commonly in hyperflexion injury and 70% of these were anterior dislocation and the most commonly involved levels were C5-6 and C6-7. In conclusion, hyperflexion injury needs more close examination for the entire spinal levels than injuries of other mechanisms because it results in more severe fractures with or without dislocation and relatively frequent multiple fractures in different levels.
Dislocations ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Odontoid Process ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures* ; Spine

It is thought to be reliable roentgenologic sign of pulmonary plethora that the diameter of anterior segmental artery(d-ASA) is larger than that of anterior segmental bronchus(d-ASB). To evaluate the reliability of this sign, we compared d-ASA with d-ASB on chest rentgenograms of 100 normal adults. Of the total 105 cases. d-ASA was larger than d-ASB in 40 cases (38.1%), smaller than d-ASB in 34 cases(32.4%) and equal to (d-ASA and) d-ASB in 31 cases(29.5%). The ratio(ABR) and difference between d-ASA and d-ASB ranged from 0.70 to 1.58(mean, 1.05±0.30) and from -1.85mm to +2.45mm(mean of absolute value, 0.75mm±0.57). These results showed that the relationships between d-ASA and d-ASB were variable. Conclusively, d-ASA may be larger than d-ASB in even normal adults and mild degree of pulmonary plethora cannot exectly evaluated with this findings only.
Adult ; Arteries* ; Bronchi* ; Humans ; Thorax

We experienced a case of simple pneumonediastinum showing the findings of pleural effusion. Frontal chest radiography showed not only pneumomediastinum but also diffuse haziness with sharp medial margin on left lower lung field, blunting of costophrenic angle, and indistinct contour of diaphragm simulating pleural effusion. CT scan confirmed that these findings arose from the displaced pleura and the associated compression atelectasis by loculated air on the anterior mediastinum.
Diaphragm ; Lung ; Mediastinal Emphysema* ; Mediastinum ; Pleura ; Pleural Effusion* ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Radiography ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Cesarean hysterectomy remains a necessary procedure for life saving during intractable obstetric hemorrhage. The procedure itself is usually associated with considerable perioperative morbidity, especially when performed under emergency conditions. In this study, the outcomes of 15 cases of cesarean hysterectomy performed at Catholic university of Taegu-Hyosung hospital for 5 years from January, 1993 to December, 1997 were reviewed. There were 22,251 deliveries during this period, cesarean hysterectomy was performed in 13 of 5,753 cesarean section(0.22%) and in 2 of 16,698 vaginal deliveries(0.12%), so more frequently after cesarean section than vaginal deliveries. The age of patients varied from 23 to 39 years old. The higher the age of patients, the higher incidence of cesarean hysterectomy was noted. The most common indication of emergency cesarean hysterectomy was in uterine atony(53.3%), followed by placental disorders(33.3%), uterine rupture(6.7%), and uterine myoma with pregnancy (6.7%). All patients who had cesarean hysterectomy received transfusion from 3 pints to 13 pints. In aspect of fetal outcomes, live birth were 12 cases(80%), one case was fetal death in utero(6.6%), 2 infants were dead during the early neonatal period(13.3%) due to prematurity and RDS (respiratory distress syndrome), so the perinatal mortality rate was 20.0%. The postoperative complications were wound disruption, hematoma, febrile morbidity and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy.
Adult ; Cesarean Section ; Emergencies ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Incidence ; Infant ; Leiomyoma ; Live Birth ; Perinatal Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Pregnancy ; Wounds and Injuries

The chest radiographs and angiograms were retrospectively evaluated in 47 patients with pulmonary atresia (PA) and ventricular septal defect (VSD) to determine the characteristic findings of major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCSs) on the chest radiographs. Of 47 patients, 23 had MAPCAs and 24 had only PDA for blood supply of whole right and left lung. Chest radiographs enabled identification of 16 of 23 patients with MAPCAs. The most common finding of MAPCAs was inappropriately large peripheral pulmonary vasculature (n=16, 69.6%). The other findings were tortuosity of pulmonary vasculature (n=12, 52.2%), focal unevendistribution of pulmonary vasculature (n=12, 52.2%), and two descending pulmonary arteries (n=4, 17.4%). When chest radiographs showed two or more findings of MAPCAs, MAPCAs could be differentiated from PDA with statistical significance (p<0.005). It is concluded that chest radiographs may help to identify MAPCAs before angiography if two-dimensional echo ardiography suggests PA with VSD.
Angiography ; Arteries* ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Humans ; Lung ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Atresia* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax*

This research identifies the ingress to egress primary factors that causes a patient to receive delayed emergency medical care. This material was collected between February 1st to 28th, 1998. Research envolved 4,118 people who visited the college emergency medical center in Kyeongido Province, South Korea. Medical records were examined, using the retrospective method, to determine the length of stay and the main cause for waiting. Results are as follows: 1. The age group with the highest admission rate was 10 and under, approximately 1,394 (33.9%). Followed by an even distribution for ages between 11-50 at 10-15% for their respective ranges. The lowest admission rate was 50 years and above. 2. From the 4,118 records examined, 3,489 received outpatient treatment (84.7%); 601 were admitted for inpatient care (14.6%); 25 arrived dead on arrival (0.6%); and 4 people died at the hospital. 3. Between 7PM to 12AM, 42.9% were admitted to the EMC. The hours from 9PM to 11PM recorded the highest admission rate and 5AM to 8AM was the lowest. From 8PM to 12AM, the most beds were occupied. 4. For most patients, the average length of stay was approximately 2.2 hours. By medical department, external medicine was the longest for 2.8 hours. Pediatrics was the shortest for 1.6 hours. The average waiting period for inpatient admission was 2.6 hours. Inpatient admission for pediatrics and external medicine was 3.4 hours and 2.2 hours respectively. 5. Theses are primary factors for delay at EMC: 1) pronged medical consultations to decide between inpatient versus outpatient treatment, and delaying to be inpatient, 2) when you call physicians they are delayed to come, 3) Understaffing during peak or critical hours, 4) Excessive consulting with different medical departments, 5) some patients require longer monitoring periods, 6) medical records are delayed in transit between departments, 7) repeated laboratory tests make delay the result, 8) overcrowded emergency x-ray place causes delay taking x-ray and portable x-ray, 9) the distance between EMC and registration and cashier offices is too far, 10) hard to control patient's family members. The best way to reduce EMC waiting and staying time is by cooperation between departments, both medical and administrative. Each department must work beyond their job description or duty and help each other to provide the best medical service and satisfy the patient needs. The most important answer to shortened the EMC point from ingress to egress is to see things from a patient point of view and begin from there to find the solution.
Emergencies* ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Job Description ; Korea ; Length of Stay* ; Medical Records ; Outpatients ; Pediatrics ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*