PURPOSE: Currently, using perforator artery flaps especially anterolateral thigh flaps are widely used for reconstruction of extremities, head and neck. Obtaining a precise anatomical picture prior to operation will translate to a more accurate, efficient and safe procedure. Authors used 3D-image work up via 64-slice MDCT to make a more precise preoperative plan. METHODS: A total of 10 patients underwent soft tissue reconstruction with anterolateral thigh flap from December 2006 to December 2007. The 64-Channel MDCT (LightSpeed VCT, GE, USA) was used and 3D images were reconstructed. Findings from MDCT were applied to the preoperative planning and confirmed with intraoperative findings. RESULTS: The average number of perforator arteries from lateral circumflex femoral artery was 2. The average lengths of vascular pedicle from the origin of lateral circumflex femoral artery to the first and second perforator artery were 11.0cm and 20.0cm, respectively. The average diameter of the pedicle artery was 2.2mm. The locations of the perforator arteries were mapped and localized on the body surface based on the MDCT result. These were confirmed through direct visualization intraoperatively. CONCLUSION: MDCT has an advantage of obtaining accurate images of the general anatomy and even fine structures like perforator arteries. By using this state- of-the-art diagnostic imaging technique, it is now possible to make an operative plan safely and easily.
Arteries ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Extremities ; Femoral Artery ; Head ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Neck ; Nitro Compounds ; Thigh

OBJECT: It is reported that spontaneous subcortical intracerebral hemorrhage consists about 10 to 44% of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Recently, spontaneous subcortical intracerebral hemorrhage due to the complication of the systemic disease has been increasing, and the selection of management strategy according to the cause of hemorrhage closely affected the management outcome. This study was designed to analyze the cause of spontaneous subcortical intracerebral hemorrhage and the outcome in order to establish the appropriate management strategy. SUBJECT: One hundred and seventy-nine cases of spontaneous subcortical intracerebral hemorrhage managed at Yonsei University Hospital from January 1998 to December 2000 were included in this study. Patients who suffered from subcortical intracerebral hemorrhage due to the ruptured intracranial aneurysm were excluded. The patient's sex, age, mental state on admission, neurologic condition, past history, systemic disease related to hemorrhage, location of hemorrhage, the diagnosis of intracranial or systemic disease, treatment methods, and clinical outcome were analyzed. Consciousness on admission was evaluated and scored based on Glasgow Coma Eye Motor Scale (GCEMS), which was the sum of eye response score and motor response score of the Glasgow Coma Scale. Patients were categorized into 4 groups according to GCEMS: Group 1 (10 points), Group 2 (8, 9 points), Group 3 (5-7 points), and Group 4 (2-4 points). The clinical outcome of the patient was evaluated based on Glasgow outcome scale (GOS). Differences in diagnostic procedure were present depending on the condition of the patients, thus the final diagnostic procedure was used to diagnose the reason behind bleeding. When accurate diagnosis was difficult to perform, the reasons with the highest likelihood were chosen. RESULTS: The patients corresponding to each group were as follow: 79 (44.1%) in Group 1, 35 (19.6%) in Group 2, 27 (15.1%) in Group 3, and 38 (21.2%) in Group 4. Fifty-five patients (30.7%) were hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage, 45 patients (25.1%) had anticoagulant therapy and thrombocytopenia due to the systemic disease and bleeding diathesis after anticancer drug therapy, 23 patients (12.8%) had brain tumor including the metastatic tumor, 19 patients (10.6%) had arteriovenous malformation, 18 patients (10.1%) had postinfarct hemorrhages, 5 patients (2.8%) had infective endocarditis, 2 patients (1.1%) had cerebral vasculitis. Conservative treatment was done in 115 patients (64.2%), open craniotomy in 31 patients (17.3%), and catheter insertion in 33 patients (18.4%). Group 1 mainly had conservative treatment (58 patients, 73.4%), Group 2 and 3 had 12 patients (37.1%) and 16 patients (59.3%) each underwent open craniotomy respectively. In Group 4, conservative treatment was done for 24 patients (63.2%), and open craniotomy was done for only one patients among 14 patients treated surgically. Overall clinical outcome was: 77 patients (43.0%) in GOS 5, 21 (11.7%) in GOS 4, 14 (7.8%) in GOS 3, 11 (6.1%) in GOS 2, and 56 patients (31.3%) died. Poor neurological state (low GCEMS) on admission was closely related to mortality (Group 1, 7.6%; Group 2, 22.8%; Group 3, 45.0%; Group 4, 78.9%). CONCLUSION: The major causes of spontaneous subcortical intracerebral hemorrhage were hypertension, metastatic brain tumor, vascular malformation, and the bleeding tendency due to the systemic disease, complication of the anticancer drug, anticoagulant, and thrombolytics therapy. Conservative treatment could be considered for the patients with GCEMS 10, removal of hematoma by open craniotomy or catheter insertion for the patients with GCEMS 5-9, and the catheter insertion or deferring the active treatment could be considered for the patients with GCEMS 2-4.
Arteriovenous Malformations ; Brain Neoplasms ; Catheters ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Coma ; Consciousness ; Craniotomy ; Diagnosis ; Disease Susceptibility ; Drug Therapy ; Endocarditis ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive ; Mortality ; Thrombocytopenia ; Vascular Malformations ; Vasculitis, Central Nervous System

There has been a number of reports recently describing the pathogen potential of irregular asporogenous gram positive rods (IGPR), also referred as coryneforms or diphtheroids. This may be due to a greater number of opportunistic infections occurring in patients who are immunosuppressed or implanted with prostheses. The documentation of endocarditis caused by IGPR is difficult. Because all the result of culture is not always positive and these cultures need long-period incubation, and there are sometimes pseudo-positive cases due to the contamination in blood sampling. An early diagnosis and adequate treatment are important for the better result. We describe the case of bio prosthetic valve endocarditis in a 61-year-old woman who enduring chronic hemodialysis. This is the first case reported of bioprosthetic valve endocarditis by Corynebacterium in Korea.
Corynebacterium* ; Early Diagnosis ; Endocarditis* ; Female ; Gram-Positive Rods ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Opportunistic Infections ; Prostheses and Implants ; Renal Dialysis

Capsule endoscopy is being increasingly used for investigating GI bleeding of an obscure origin and also the bleeding that's due to Crohn's disease. Capsule endoscopy is a safe procedure with few complications. Complications of capsule endoscopy are capsule retention, incomplete small bowel examination, swallowing disorders and technical complications. However, capsule retention still remains a major concern. Crohn's disease may rarely show its first manifestation as GI bleeding. We present here a case of obscure GI bleeding in which the diagnosis of isolated Crohn's enteritis was made by using wireless CE. The retained capsule at the jejunal stricture of Crohn's disease was successfully retrieved by performing double balloon enteroscopy.
Capsule Endoscopy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Crohn Disease* ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diagnosis ; Double-Balloon Enteroscopy* ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage ; Methods

Nail toxicity following systemic chemotherapy is common. Onychopathy during the period of neutropenia following chemotherapy may cause subungual abscesses and serious infection. Despite taxoid-related toxicity being increasingly reported since 2000, there are still phase II systemic chemotherapy studies using taxoid that have never mentioned nail changes. Recently, new criteria for the evaluation of nail toxicity have been suggested. The present report is the first of its kind, in Korea, to describe a case of docetaxel-associated onychopathy, which improved following a reduction in the docetaxel dose.
Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/administration & dosage ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*adverse effects ; Deoxycytidine/administration & dosage/analogs & derivatives ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Fluorouracil/analogs & derivatives ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases/drug therapy ; Middle Aged ; Nail Diseases/*chemically induced ; Stomach Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Taxoids/*administration & dosage/*adverse effects

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of chronic total coronary artery occlusions are at a high risk of failure and complication. We report a case of arteriovenous fistula with drainage into the coronary sinus during the percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of the chronic total occlusion of circumflex coronary artery. We think that the arteriovenous fistula of this case was occurred by the guide wire- induced trauma. But after 20-30 minutes later, the injection of contrast no longer detectd arteriovenous fistula. Later we recommended coronary artery bypass graft surgery to the patient, but he refused. Thereafter he received conservative treatment and dyspnea, chest pain were improved.
Angioplasty* ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Sinus* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Drainage* ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Transtracheal jet ventilation (TTJV) with a large-bore angiocath that is inserted through the cricothyroid membrane can provide immediate oxygenation from a high pressure-oxygen wall outlet, as well as ventilation by means of manual triggering. However, there is widespread agreement that TTJV with a high pressure oxygen system may induce numerous complications including tracheal hemorrhage/ulceration, subcutaneous/mediastinal emphysema, and barotrauma resulting in a pneumothorax. The goal of this study was to highlight the potential effectiveness of a TTJ-ventilator with an oxygen supply pressure lower than 50 psig for proper oxygenation and ventilation avoiding the possibility of complications from a high pressure oxygen supply system. METHODS: Five mongrel dogs were intubated, paralyzed with vecuronium, and mechanically ventilated with enflurane in air maintaining the PaCO2 at 35 - 40 mmHg. A 16 G IV catheter was inserted percutaneously into the trachea below the tip of the endotracheal tube. We measured the injection volumes, entrained air volumes, and peak inflation pressures according to the changes of oxygen supply pressure (10 to 50 psig) with a fixed injection time (1 second). In addition, we evaluated the oxygenation effects of TTJV at 15 breaths per minute and an I : E 1 : 3 on 20 psig of oxygen supply pressure in hypoxic dogs. RESULTS: A 16 G angiocath provided the injected volumes from 139 ml to 595 ml according to the changes of oxygen pressure from 10 to 50 psig. The entrained air volumes were 6.7 48% of total inspirated volumes. The PaO2 was elevated over 300 mmHg and the PaCO2 was reduced to 45 mmHg within 1 minute of TTJV in hypoxic dogs. CONCLUSIONS: A TTJV system equipped with a time-controller and pressure-regulator can provide enough tidal volume to maintain oxygenation, and could minimize the volu/barotrauma of a conventional TTJV.
Animals ; Barotrauma ; Catheters ; Dogs ; Emphysema ; Enflurane ; Inflation, Economic ; Membranes ; Oxygen ; Pneumothorax ; Tidal Volume ; Trachea ; Vecuronium Bromide ; Ventilation ; Ventilators, Mechanical*

The stomach is the most frequently noted site (50~60%) of gastrointestinal stromal tumor. This tumor is categorized into three subtypes (the spindle cell type, the epithelioid type or mixed type) according to the shape of the cells that make up the tumor. We herein report on a case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor with an epithelioid subtype in a 60-year-old male. On admission, the patient presented with epigastric pain and melena. Endoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor with a central ulcer at the gastric body. Gastric wedge resection was performed. The tumor cells showed a rounded shape and positive staining for CD117. Because the epithelioid type gastrointestinal stromal tumor is unusual in Korea, we report here on this case along with a review of the relevant literature.
Endoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Melena ; Middle Aged ; Stomach ; Ulcer

The stomach is the most frequently noted site (50~60%) of gastrointestinal stromal tumor. This tumor is categorized into three subtypes (the spindle cell type, the epithelioid type or mixed type) according to the shape of the cells that make up the tumor. We herein report on a case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor with an epithelioid subtype in a 60-year-old male. On admission, the patient presented with epigastric pain and melena. Endoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor with a central ulcer at the gastric body. Gastric wedge resection was performed. The tumor cells showed a rounded shape and positive staining for CD117. Because the epithelioid type gastrointestinal stromal tumor is unusual in Korea, we report here on this case along with a review of the relevant literature.
Endoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Melena ; Middle Aged ; Stomach ; Ulcer

The most common metastatic sites of gastric cancer are liver, lung, bone and adrenal gland. However, skin metastases from gastric cancer are relatively rare. We herein report a case of advanced gastric cancer with perianal skin metastasis in a 70-year-old male. On admission, patient presented with epigastric pain. Endoscopy and abdominal CT scan demonstrated the stage IV gastric cancer. He had one painless nodule on perianal skin area, biopsy of that lesion showed a feature of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma clinically from the stomach. We suspected that the perianal lesion was originated from gastric cancer.
Aged ; Anal Canal ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; Skin Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/*secondary ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology