No abstract available.
Humans ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Living Donors*

No abstract available.

We present the case of a 7 year-old child who underwent angioplasty with a stent for anastomosis site stenosis between a left subclavian artery free graft and the left main coronary artery in an arterial switch operation.
Angioplasty* ; Child* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Stents* ; Subclavian Artery ; Transplants ; Transposition of Great Vessels

Vasodilatory shock has been implicated in life-threatening complications after cardiac surgery. This syndrome may result from the vasopressin deficiency following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), which do not respond to fluids or usual intravenous inotropes. We used arginine-vasopressin in adults with vasodilatory shock coming off cardiopulmonary bypass. Therefore, we report these cases with a review of articles.
Adult ; Arginine Vasopressin* ; Arginine* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Diabetes Insipidus, Neurogenic ; Humans ; Shock* ; Thoracic Surgery ; Vasodilation ; Vasopressins

This prospective study was performed to determine the effective antibiotics for use in treating acute appendicitis patients during the perioperative period. To identify the sensitive antibiotics, the peritoneal fluid was cultured during operation. Also, wound infection was defined as pus or serous discharge in the wound or when we opened the wound under suspicious of a wound problem. The results were obtained as follows: 1) A total of 138 cases treated during the two years from January 1995 to December 1996 were examined; 84 of them (60.87%) were found to have positive peritoneal fluid cultures, of which 29 (34.52%) were monomicrobial and 55 (65.48%) were polymicrobial. 2) The most common species were Escherichia coli (73.81%), Bacteroides (32.14%), Klebsiella (16.67%), Pseudomonas (9.52%), and Streptococcus (9.52%). 3) In the sensitivity test, the most sensitive drugs were aminoglycosides and cefotaxime. 4) Infectious complications, which developed in 27 (19.6%) patients, were wound infection and intraabdominal abscess. 5) The average length of stay for all patients 9.9 days (range: 3 to 32 days). 6) The common organisms curtured from the complication cases were E. coli and Bacteroides.
Abscess ; Aminoglycosides ; Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Appendicitis* ; Ascitic Fluid ; Bacteroides ; Cefotaxime ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Klebsiella ; Length of Stay ; Perioperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Pseudomonas ; Streptococcus ; Suppuration ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: Large abdominal wall defect resulting from trauma, invasive infection, tumor resection, or other causes continue to be major problems for patients and surgeons. The lack of sufficient tissue may require the insertion of prosthetic materials. This study compares the results of PPM mesh and e-PTFE patch for repairs of abdominal wall defects. METHODS: The anterior abdominal walls of Sprague-Dawley rats, including fascia, muscle, and peritoneum were removed. The defects were repaired with a PPM mesh or an e-PTFE patch. Animals were killed at 1, 2, 6, and 12 weeks after the operation, and the implant were excised along their margins and evaluated for gross and microscopic differences. RESULTS: Histological examination showed that PPM was progressively infiltrated by whorled disorganized collagen fiber, which became densely adherent to the mesh. In contrast, the e-PTFE was infiltrated by fine fibrils of collagen, which progressively penetrated the interstices of the material, binding it firmly to the tissue. One of the most serious complications associated with fascial closure with PPM was the development of visceral adhesions. CONCLUSIONS: e-PTFE patch material has a lower foreign body reaction, a lower infectability, and a lower rate of adhesion formation than PPM mesh.
Abdominal Wall* ; Animals ; Collagen ; Fascia ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Humans ; Peritoneum ; Polypropylenes* ; Polytetrafluoroethylene* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Tuberculous peritonitis is still a very important cause of exudative ascites in Korea. We analized the clinical features and laparoscopic findings in patients with tuberculous peritonitis diagnosed by laparoscopy. METHODS: We studied 51 patients who had tuberculous peritonitis confirmed by laparoscopic biopsy from 1980 to 2000, in retrospective method. RESULTS: The ratio of male to female was 1:2. The peak incidence was between 21 and 40 years of age. The mean duration of symptoms is 60 days. The most frequent chief complaints and physical findings was abdominal fullness (88.2%) and shifting dullness (94.1 %). Involvement of other organs included pulmonary tuberculosis (27.4%), cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis (3.9%). The mean ascitic fluid protein concentration was 4.9 gm/dL, mean WBC count 1,240/mm3 and lymphocyte dominant exudate 88.2%. AFB smear was positive only one patient (2.0%). Tuberculous nodules on laparoscopy were noted in all of the patients. Histolologic findings were caseating granuloma (72.6%), non-caseating granuloma (19.6%) and nonspecific inflammation (7.8%). Tissue AFB stain was positive 10 patients (19.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculous peritonitis shows nonspecific clinical features. Therefore, laparoscopic examination with biopsy is the most useful method to make differential diagnosis of patients who are suspected tuberculous peritonitis.
Ascites ; Ascitic Fluid ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Exudates and Transudates ; Female ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Laparoscopy* ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Peritonitis, Tuberculous* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

OBJECTIVES: One hypothesis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is that long-standing snoring vibrations and hypoxia of the nerves cause a local neuropathy in the upper airway during sleep. The aim of this study was to investigate olfactory function in subjects comprising snorers and untreated subjects with OSAS, and to correlate data with polysomnographic parameters. METHODS: Sixty-nine patients were evaluated for snoring from January 2010 to December 2013. The mild group (apneahypopnea index [AHI]<15) consisted of 19 subjects, and the moderate-severe group (AHI≥15) consisted of 50 subjects. Exclusion criteria were conductive olfactory dysfunction, previous tonsil or soft palatal surgery, central sleep apnea, and medications that are known to affect peripheral nerves. Nocturnal polysomnography and olfactory function test such as Korean version of Sniffin’s stick test I, II (KVSS I, II) were performed. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in body mass index, average oxygen saturation (SaO2), lowest SaO2, average snoring duration, and KVSS I, II between the two groups. AHI was related to odor threshold score, and average SaO2 was related to odor discrimination score. But, odor identification score showed no relation with AHI and average SaO2 except for age. Average SaO2 and AHI were closely related to the function of smell. CONCLUSION: Hypoxia and low nasal airflow caused by OSAS may have an effect on the olfactory function. On comparison between the two groups, patients with a high AHI, especially those with OSAS, had an olfactory dysfunction. Also, low average oxygen is the main risk factor in determining the olfactory function. In people with OSAS, the possibility of olfactory dysfunction should be considered and an olfactory function test should be performed.
Anoxia ; Body Mass Index ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Humans ; Odors ; Olfaction Disorders ; Oxygen ; Palatine Tonsil ; Peripheral Nerves ; Polysomnography ; Risk Factors ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes* ; Sleep Apnea, Central ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Smell ; Snoring ; Vibration

Report of right atrial thrombus complicating pulmonary embolism after cardiac surgery is rare. A 54-year-old woman operated on the atrial septal defect 10 months ago was admitted for left pleuritic pain and dyspnea. Multiple segmental perfusion defects were detected in lung perfusion scan. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a large mobile right atrial mass attached to the free wall of the right atrium with a stalk. Despite the intravenous heparinization for 13 days, follow-up echocardiography revealed the right atrial mass had not diminished in size. The mass which was confirmed as an organizing thrombus was excised under cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged on warfarin therapy.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Atria ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial* ; Heparin ; Humans ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Perfusion ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Sutures* ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thrombosis* ; Warfarin

Acute mesenteric ischemia after cardiac surgery is a serious complication associated with high mortality. Superior mesenteric artery is most commonly affected artery. Acute obstruction of mesenteric artery generally has an unfavorable prognosis because of late diagnosis. The keys to a successful outcome are early diagnosis and appropriate operative intervention. We successfully treated a patient with acute mesenteric ischemia after aortic valve replacement. Therefore, we report a case with a review of articles.
Aortic Valve* ; Arteries ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Ischemia* ; Mesenteric Arteries ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Thoracic Surgery