BACKGROUND: Malpositioning of the endotracheal tube within airway after intubation may results in serious complications, such as accidental extubation and inadvertent endobronchial intubation. Therefore, early detection of malposioning of the endotracheal tube is very impotant for deciding patient's prognosis. METHODS: We assessed the distance from the tip of the endotracheal tube to the carina according to the patient's age, sex, and the time, the location, and the route of intubation. The chest x-ray was taken for 333 patients (men, 226: women, 107) who were admitted to the intensive care unit of Wonju Christian Hospital from march 1, 1995 to February 28, 1996. Chest x-ray was obtained after intubation to verify endotracheal tube position. Appropriate endotracheal tube position on chest x-ray was defined as between 2 and 6 cm above the carina. RESULTS: Of the 333 intubations, 106 (31.8%) endotracheal tubes were inappropriately placed according to the chest x-ray. The percentage of malpositioned endotracheal tubes (<2 cm) was higher in women than in men (11.2% vs. 5.3%, p<0.05), with higher in night (7 PM to 7 AM) than in day (7 AM to 7 PM) (42% vs. 24%, p<0.05). Distance from the carina to the tip of endotracheal tube is 4.34 +/- 1.77cm in women and 5.23 +/- 1.64cm in men. Thus, position of the endotracheal tube in women is deeper than men (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the chest x-ray for confirmation of endotracheal tube position after endotracheal intubation may remain the standard of practice. And endotracheal tube position should be carefully assessed immediately after tracheal intubation, particularly in women and at night.
Female ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Intensive Care Units ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Male ; Prognosis ; Thorax*

BACKGROUND: The i-gel™ (i-gel) and Laryngeal Mask Airway Supreme™ (LMA Supreme) have been safely used in children. We compared the airway performance of the i-gel and LMA Supreme in infants undergoing general anesthesia. METHODS: Sixty infants with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II were randomly assigned to place either the i-gel or the LMA Supreme. The size 1 or 1.5 of each airway was selected by the weight of infants. The primary outcome variable was oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP). We also assessed insertion success rate, insertion time, fiberoptic view of the larynx, airway quality, airway manipulations, and perioperative complications. RESULTS: Demographic data did not differ between the two groups. Insertion success rate was similar in both groups. OLP for the i-gel (26.0 ± 3.8 cmH2O) was higher than for the LMA Supreme (23.7 ± 3.2 cmH2O) (P = 0.016). Insertion time for the i-gel (16.4 ± 2.8 s) was shorter than for the LMA Supreme (18.5 ± 2.7 s) (P = 0.002). There were no differences in fiberoptic view of the larynx, airway quality, airway manipulations, and complications between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the i-gel and LMA Supreme provided a similar performance of airway in infants. Compared with the LMA Supreme, the i-gel provided shorter insertion time and higher OLP in infants.
Anesthesia, General ; Child ; Humans ; Infant ; Laryngeal Masks ; Larynx

BACKGROUND: The i-gel™ (i-gel) and Laryngeal Mask Airway Supreme™ (LMA Supreme) have been safely used in children. We compared the airway performance of the i-gel and LMA Supreme in infants undergoing general anesthesia. METHODS: Sixty infants with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II were randomly assigned to place either the i-gel or the LMA Supreme. The size 1 or 1.5 of each airway was selected by the weight of infants. The primary outcome variable was oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP). We also assessed insertion success rate, insertion time, fiberoptic view of the larynx, airway quality, airway manipulations, and perioperative complications. RESULTS: Demographic data did not differ between the two groups. Insertion success rate was similar in both groups. OLP for the i-gel (26.0 ± 3.8 cmH2O) was higher than for the LMA Supreme (23.7 ± 3.2 cmH2O) (P = 0.016). Insertion time for the i-gel (16.4 ± 2.8 s) was shorter than for the LMA Supreme (18.5 ± 2.7 s) (P = 0.002). There were no differences in fiberoptic view of the larynx, airway quality, airway manipulations, and complications between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that the i-gel and LMA Supreme provided a similar performance of airway in infants. Compared with the LMA Supreme, the i-gel provided shorter insertion time and higher OLP in infants.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of ear infections. We attempted to evaluate the clinical usefulness of arbekacin in treating chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) by comparing its clinical efficacy and toxicity with those of vancomycin. Efficacy was classified according to bacterial elimination or bacteriologic failure and improved or failed clinical efficacy response. Ninety-five subjects were diagnosed with CSOM caused by MRSA. Twenty of these subjects were treated with arbekacin, and 36 with vancomycin. The bacteriological efficacy (bacterial elimination, arbekacin vs. vancomycin: 85.0% vs. 97.2%) and improved clinical efficacy (arbekacin vs. vancomycin; 90.0% vs. 97.2%) were not different between the two groups. However, the rate of complications was higher in the vancomycin group (33.3%) than in the arbekacin group (5.0%) (P=0.020). In addition, a total of 12 adverse reactions were observed in the vancomycin group; two for hepatotoxicity, one for nephrotoxicity, eight for leukopenia, two for skin rash, and one for drug fever. It is suggested that arbekacin be a good alternative drug to vancomycin in treatment of CSOM caused by MRSA.
Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage ; Chronic Disease ; Dibekacin/administration & dosage/*analogs & derivatives ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/*drug effects ; Middle Aged ; Otitis Media, Suppurative/diagnosis/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Staphylococcal Infections/diagnosis/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Treatment Outcome ; Vancomycin/*administration & dosage ; Young Adult

A brown tumor is a benign fibrotic, erosive bony lesion caused by localized, rapid osteoclastic turnover, resulting from hyperparathyroidism. Although brown tumors are one of the most pathognomonic signs of primary hyperparathyroidism, they are rarely seen in clinical practice. In this report, we present a case of 20-year-old woman with recurrent fractures and bone pain. Plain digital radiographs of the affected bones revealed multiple erosive bone tumors, which were finally diagnosed as brown tumors associated with primary hyperparathyroidism due to a parathyroid adenoma. This case shows that multiple, and clinically severe form of brown tumors can even occur in young patients.
Female ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary* ; Osteoclasts ; Parathyroid Neoplasms ; Young Adult*

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on the current status of cytology practices in Korea. This nationwide study presents Korean cytology statistics from 2015. METHODS: A nationwide survey was conducted in 2016 as a part of the mandatory quality-control program by the Korean Society for Cytopathology. The questionnaire was sent to 208 medical institutions performing cytopathologic examinations in Korea. Individual institutions were asked to submit their annual cytology statistical reports and gynecologic cytology-histology correlation data for 2015. RESULTS: Responses were obtained from 206 medical institutions including 83 university hospitals, 87 general hospitals, and 36 commercial laboratories. A total of 8,284,952 cytologic examinations were performed in 2015, primarily in commercial laboratories (74.9%). The most common cytology specimens were gynecologic samples (81.3%). Conventional smears and liquid-based cytology were performed in 6,190,526 (74.7%) and 2,094,426 (25.3%) cases, respectively. The overall diagnostic concordance rate between cytologic and histologic diagnoses of uterine cervical samples was 70.5%. Discordant cases were classified into three categories: category A (minimal clinical impact, 17.4%), category B (moderate clinical impact, 10.2%), and category C (major clinical impact, 1.9%). The ratio of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance to squamous intraepithelial lesion was 1.6 in university hospitals, 2.9 in general hospitals, and 4.9 in commercial laboratories. CONCLUSIONS: This survey reveals the current status and trend of cytology practices in Korea. The results of this study can serve as basic data for the establishment of nationwide cytopathology policies and quality improvement guidelines in Korean medical institutions.
Atypical Squamous Cells of the Cervix ; Diagnosis ; Hospitals, General ; Hospitals, University ; Korea* ; Quality Improvement ; Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions of the Cervix

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is the most common infection in liver cirrhosis patients, and is not a result of surgery or intra abdominal infection. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is an endoscopic procedure used with a high-frequency electrical current for control of bleeding from gastrointestinal vascular ectasias including angiodysplasia and gastric antral vascular ectasia. This procedure is known to be safe because it uses a noncontact method. Therefore, tissue injury is minimal and up to two to three millimeters. However, we experienced a case of SBP occurring immediately after performance of APC for control of severe bleeding from angiodysplasia in the colon in a patient with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Aged ; Angiodysplasia/complications/*diagnosis ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; *Argon Plasma Coagulation ; Bacterial Infections/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/complications/diagnosis ; Colonic Diseases/complications/*diagnosis ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/therapy ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/isolation & purification ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications/diagnosis ; Liver Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis ; Peritonitis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology

PURPOSE: To evaluate the preference factors for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) with three different kinds of PDE-5 inhibitors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective, open-label study recruited 140 patients from 5 medical centers and urological clinics in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk area of South Korea. All patients underwent sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil therapy with at least four attempts at sexual intercourse for each medication. There was a 1-week drug washout period following each medication period. Patients were asked to state their preference among the three medications. RESULTS: The mean age of the 140 patients was 50.9 years. Most patients had mild-to-moderate ED(57 patients, 40.7%) and moderate ED(47 patients, 33.6%), the remaining patients had mild(23 patients, 16.4%) or severe ED (13 patients, 9.3%). Of 140 evaluated patients, 58(41.3%) patients preferred treatment with tadalafil, compared with 39(28.1%) with sildenafil and 37(26.6%) with vardenafil. When grouped by age, tadalafil was most preferred by men in their 30s and 40s(42.9%, 57.5%), sildenafil was preferred by those in their 50s(48.3%), and vardenafil was preferred by those in their 60s(51.6%). The reasons for specific preferences were prolonged erectile function (68.0%) and good erectile function(66.0%) for tadalafil, good erectile function (88.2%) for the sildenafil, and good rigidity of the erect penis(59.4%) for vardenafil. CONCLUSIONS: Tadalafil was most preferred among the phosphodiesterase inhibitors, but the preference rates varied for men of different ages. All the medications were well tolerated.
Coitus ; Daegu ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Patient Preference ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors* ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; Prospective Studies ; Sildenafil Citrate ; Tadalafil ; Vardenafil Dihydrochloride

PURPOSE: To evaluate the preference factors for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) with three different kinds of PDE-5 inhibitors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective, open-label study recruited 140 patients from 5 medical centers and urological clinics in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk area of South Korea. All patients underwent sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil therapy with at least four attempts at sexual intercourse for each medication. There was a 1-week drug washout period following each medication period. Patients were asked to state their preference among the three medications. RESULTS: The mean age of the 140 patients was 50.9 years. Most patients had mild-to-moderate ED(57 patients, 40.7%) and moderate ED(47 patients, 33.6%), the remaining patients had mild(23 patients, 16.4%) or severe ED (13 patients, 9.3%). Of 140 evaluated patients, 58(41.3%) patients preferred treatment with tadalafil, compared with 39(28.1%) with sildenafil and 37(26.6%) with vardenafil. When grouped by age, tadalafil was most preferred by men in their 30s and 40s(42.9%, 57.5%), sildenafil was preferred by those in their 50s(48.3%), and vardenafil was preferred by those in their 60s(51.6%). The reasons for specific preferences were prolonged erectile function (68.0%) and good erectile function(66.0%) for tadalafil, good erectile function (88.2%) for the sildenafil, and good rigidity of the erect penis(59.4%) for vardenafil. CONCLUSIONS: Tadalafil was most preferred among the phosphodiesterase inhibitors, but the preference rates varied for men of different ages. All the medications were well tolerated.
Coitus ; Daegu ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Patient Preference ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors* ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; Prospective Studies ; Sildenafil Citrate ; Tadalafil ; Vardenafil Dihydrochloride

Hemophagocytosis refers to the pathologic finding of activated macrophages engulfing erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, and their precursor cells. Hemophagocytic syndrome (HS) (more properly referred to as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis) is a distinct clinical entity characterized by fever, pancytopenia, splenomegaly, and hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow, spleen, and lymph nodes. HS is associated with a variety of viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections, as well as with collagen vascular diseases and malignancies. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated HS is almost always a fatal disease. The authors present a case of EBV-associated HS. The patient had fever and hepatosplenomegaly and showed pancytopenia, jaundice, and positive EBV viral markers in serum, positive EBV DNA in the liver biopsy specimen, and hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow. The patient died unexpectedly 1 month after admission. We report the details of this case of fatal EBV-associated hemophagocytic syndrome along with a brief review of the literature.
Biomarkers ; Biopsy ; Blood Platelets ; Bone Marrow ; Collagen ; DNA ; Erythrocytes ; Fever ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Leukocytes ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; Macrophages ; Pancytopenia ; Spleen ; Splenomegaly ; Vascular Diseases