We recently encountered two cases of emphysematous pyelonephritis with abscess formation, which have recovered by only conservative treatment and percutaneous abscess drainage(PAD). Two patients had diabetes mellitus. in the first case, initial CT showed left intrarenal abscess with air-fluid level. In the second case, CT showed right perirenal abscess with air-fluid level. PAD was performed under CT and US guidances, respectively. Both patients were successfully treated with PAD and conservative treatment. Follow up after confirmation of abscess resolution by CT scan and contrast study through the catheter, we removed catheters two months and 40 days after PAD respectively.
Abscess* ; Catheters ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drainage* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pyelonephritis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To find the effects of semi-Fowler's position on the post-operative recovery for patients with laparoscopic abdominal surgery in recovery room. METHOD: The research was performed by nonequivalent control group non-synchronized quasi-experimental design. The subjects are forty patients who had laparoscopic abdominal surgery in a hospital from Aug. thru Nov. of 2003. Post-recovery scores and O2 saturation degree were measured. The experimental group was place in semi fowler's position while the control group was placed in supine position. The homogeneity between the control group and experimental group was analyzed using the Chi-square, and the hypothesis were tested using t-test. RESULT: 1. The patients in the experimental group placed in semi fowler's position showed significant higher post-recovery scores than those in the control group who were in a supine position. 2. The patients in the experimental group who were in semi Fowler's position showed no significant higher O2 saturation degree than those in the control group who were in supine position. CONCLUSION: Based on the results described above, it is considered that the semi-Fowler's position might be effective in enhancing the post-operative recovery score of the patients with laparoscopic abdominal surgery in recovery room.
Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Postoperative Care ; Recovery Room* ; Supine Position

Broncho-gastric fistula caused by benign gastric ulcer perforation after esophagectomy is very rare. In general anesthesia of a patient with broncho-gastric fistula, in spite of hyperventilation, leakage of the anesthetic gases through fistula may make the patient hypercapneic, and positive pressure ventilation may increase the risk of the pulmanary aspiration by the regurgitation of gastric fluid by stomach distension. For that reason, in this patient, denitrogenation was performed during patient's voluntary respiration with 100% oxygen for 5 minutes, and induction was performed without positive pressure ventilation, and one lung ventilation was carried out. Hypoxemia was followed by one lung ventilation because his pulmonary function was moderate obstructive type and his lung was damaged by aspiration of gastric fluid via broncho-gastric fistula. A low level of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has no significant hemodynamic effect and can maintain the patency of nonventilated lung, so hypoxemia induced by one lung ventilation may be reduced. Thus we carried out one lung ventilation with CPAP (10 cmH2O) in nonventilated lung and blocked broncho-gastric fistula with a bronchial blocker for prevention of both regurgitation of gastric fluid and leakage of anesthetic gases. One lung anesthesia was performed without any problem in this case.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Anesthetics, Inhalation ; Anoxia ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; Esophagectomy ; Fistula* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hyperventilation ; Lung ; One-Lung Ventilation ; Oxygen ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Respiration ; Stomach ; Stomach Ulcer

We experienced a case of open heart surgery for correction of ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus in five years old boy with hemophilia A. Factor VIII activity in this patient was 0.7% of normal activity. He received 2,000 unit of factor VIII intravenously for loading dose and has been infused 6 unit/kg/hour for 12 hours before the operation. And his factor VIII activity was 68% in the morning of the operation day. During the operation, he received 6 unit/kg/hour of factor VIII. After intracardiac anomaly was repaired and protamine was injected, we administrated 1000 unit of factor VIII. At that time, his factor VIII was 57%. After operation was done, he received 6 unit/kg/hour of factor VIII during stay in ICU and postoperative 14 days. His factor VIII activity was maintained at 36~104% during stay in hospital. So we report a successful case of perioperative management for the open heart surgery in patient with hemophilia A.
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Factor VIII ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Heart* ; Hemophilia A* ; Humans ; Male ; Thoracic Surgery*

We experienced a case of open heart surgery for correction of ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus in five years old boy with hemophilia A. Factor VIII activity in this patient was 0.7% of normal activity. He received 2,000 unit of factor VIII intravenously for loading dose and has been infused 6 unit/kg/hour for 12 hours before the operation. And his factor VIII activity was 68% in the morning of the operation day. During the operation, he received 6 unit/kg/hour of factor VIII. After intracardiac anomaly was repaired and protamine was injected, we administrated 1000 unit of factor VIII. At that time, his factor VIII was 57%. After operation was done, he received 6 unit/kg/hour of factor VIII during stay in ICU and postoperative 14 days. His factor VIII activity was maintained at 36~104% during stay in hospital. So we report a successful case of perioperative management for the open heart surgery in patient with hemophilia A.
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Factor VIII ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Heart* ; Hemophilia A* ; Humans ; Male ; Thoracic Surgery*

PURPOSE: Endobronchial tuberculosis and bronchogenic cancer are common causes of atelectasis or obstructive pneumonitis in Korea. Differntiation between endobronchial tuberculosis and bronchogenic carcinoma is important for the treatment and prognosis but it is sometimes difficult to differentiate these two lesions with radiologic examinations. The purpose of this study was to find the differential points between endobronchial tuberculosis and bronchogenic carcinoma associated with atelectasis or obstructive pneumonitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients in whom atelectasis or obstructive pneumonitis was detected on chest radiographs comprised the study. A definite mass opacity was not observed on chest radiographs in all patients. In these patients, the causes of obstruction were endobronchial tuberculosis (n=20) and bronchogenic cancer (n=20) which were microbiologically or pathologically confirmed. RESULTS: Double obstructive lesions were more frequently found in endobronchial tuberculosis (8/20) than in bronchogenic cancer (1/20). Multiple calcifications along the bronchial wall and severe distortion of bronchi were observed only in endobronchial tuberculosis (4/20) and associated low density mass at obstruction site was only observed in bronchogenic cancer (6/20). Bronchial dilatation (11/20) and parenchymal calcifications (14/20) distal to obstruction site, air containing bronchogram at post obstructive bronchus (14/20) were more frequently found in endobronchial tuberculosis. Contour bulging at obstruction site (14/20), and only mucus bronchogram at post obstructive bronchus (14/20) were more frequently found in bronchogenic carcinoma. CONCLUSION: In patients with atelectasis or obstructive pneumonitis, endobronchial tuberculosis is characterized by double obstructive lesion, multiple calcifications at the bronchial wall, and severe distortion of the bronchi. Endobronchial carcinoma is characterized by a low density mass at the obstructive site.
Bronchi ; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic* ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Korea ; Mucus ; Pneumonia* ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Atelectasis* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tuberculosis*

All living organisms are destined to die. Cells, the core of those living creatures, move toward the irresistible direction of death. The question of how to die is critical and is very interesting. There are various types of death in life, including natural death, accidental death, questionable death, suicide, and homicide. The mechanisms and molecules involved in cell death also differ depending on the type of death. The dysenteric amoeba, E. histolytica, designated by the German zoologist Fritz Schaudinn in 1903, has the meaning of tissue lysis; i.e., tissue destroying, in its name. It was initially thought that the amoebae lyse tissue very quickly leading to cell death called necrosis. However, advances in measuring cell death have allowed us to more clearly investigate the various forms of cell death induced by amoeba. Increasing evidence has shown that E. histolytica can cause host cell death through induction of various intracellular signaling pathways. Understanding of the mechanisms and signaling molecules involved in host cell death induced by amoeba can provide new insights on the tissue pathology and parasitism in human amoebiasis. In this review, we emphasized on the signaling role of NADPH oxidases in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent cell death by pathogenic E. histolytica.

An ABO discrepancy was encountered in a 29-year-old woman with a pregnancy of 36 weeks. The patient's red cell was typed as group O and her serum had only anti-A antibody. Absence of B antigen on patient's RBC was confirmed by adsorption-elution test, B substance was not demonstrated in the saliva and serum. B-transferase activity was not detected in the serum. Patient's serum Ig level was within normal range. The patient's father and son had normal O phenotype and no additional abnormalities were detected among the family members studied.
Adult ; Fathers ; Female ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Pregnancy ; Reference Values ; Saliva

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of each phases in two and three phase spiral CT in the detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two phase spiral CT images of 18 patients and three phasespiral CT images of 12 patients with pathologically-proven pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were retrospectively compared. Using a single spiral scan, images of early and delayed phases were obtained at 43 seconds and 2 ~ 3 minutes respectively initiating the after administration of 100-120 cc of contrast material (2 ~ 3 cc/sec),Images of arterial, portal and delayed phases were also obtained at 25 and 60 seconds, and 3 ~ 4 minutes,respectively, by the use of a double spiral scan. CT scans were performed with 10 mm collimation at 1 : 1 pitchtable speed. Contrast between the tumor and adjacent pancreatic parenchyma were compared and graded and enhancement pattern of the tumor were analysed together. RESULTS: In 12 patients (66.7%), images of the earlyphase were superior to those of the delayed phase. images of the portal phase were superior to those of thearterial phase. Enhancement of tumor was seen in four patients ; all tumors were less than 3cm in size. CONCLUSION: The early phase of two phase spiral CT is superior to the delayed phase and the portal phase of three phasespiral CT is superior to the arterial phase. Both arterial and portal phases are superior to the delayed phase.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Humans ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To present CT findings of benign mass-like nodular lesions associated with chronic tuberculousempyema. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the CT scans of nine patients with mass-like lesions associated with chronic tuberculous empyema, which were pathologically (operation=4, US-guided biopsy=3) or clinically (n=2) confirmed as benign lesions. Shape, number, size, presence of calcification and enhancement pattern of mass-like lesions were assessed. RESULTS: In all patients, chest CT showed unilateral calcified pleural thickening, with mass-like nodular lesions. Fluid within the pleural cavity was observed in eight patients. CT findings of mass-like lesions were multiple and nodular (n=9). Calcification was demonstrated within the lesions in four patients. In each case, the size of the largest nodules was 1-3cm in diameter. In contrast, CTshowed mild (n=6) to moderate (n=2) enhancement compared with adjacent muscles. The pathologic results ofmass-like lesions were chronic inflammation (n=3) and necrosis (n=4). CONCLUSION: Benign mass-like lesions associated with chronic tuberculous empyema appeared as multiple nodules varying in size from 1 to 3cm in diamter, with slight enhancement.
Empyema, Tuberculous* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Muscles ; Necrosis ; Pleural Cavity ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary