The use of intravitreal corticosteroids in the management of endophthalmitis remains controversial. This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of dexamethasone(DXM) in Candida endophthalmitis. In rabbits, Candida albicans(3,000 blastospore: Group A, 30,000 blastopore: Group B) was inoculated intrabitreally. At 24, 48, and 72 hours postinoculation, single intravitreal dose of amphotericin B(AMP, 5microgram/0.1ml) with DXM(400microgram/0.1ml) or AMP alone was given. Clinical examination, protein analysis, electrophysiological and histopathologic measures were utilized to rate DXM effectiveness. Dosage of 5microgram AMP resulted in no culture in both Group A and B, On examinations including the electrophysiologic and histopathologic studies, eyes treated with AMP and DXM did not differ from eyes treated with AMP alone in the Group A(p>0.05). On protein analysis for vitreous in the Group B, however, eyes treated with AMP alone at 24 and 48 hours postinoculation(p<0.05). On electrophysiologic study the decrease rate of the amplitude showed the difference between at 24 hours postinoculation and at 48 or 72 hours postinoculation(p<0.05). Histologic preparations showed a mild or moderate cellular infilteration in the vitreous and swelling in the sensory retina, but small abscess in the vitreous observed when treatment was delayed more than 72 hours following inoculation in both Group A and B. DXM in the experimental Candida endophthalmitis had the beneficial effect in eyes with 30,000 blastspore inoculation and in eyes treated with AMP and DXM at 24 hours postinoculation.
Abscess ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Amphotericin B ; Candida* ; Dexamethasone* ; Endophthalmitis* ; Gastrula ; Intravitreal Injections ; Rabbits ; Retina

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the role of renal ultrasonography in neonates with isolated preauricular tags. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 10,997 newborn infants delivered from January 1995 to June 2003 in Wonkwang University Hospital. Nineteen newborns born with isolated preauricular tags were assessed for renal anomalies by performing renal ultrasonography within one week after birth. The study group was compared with a control group of 25 healthy neonates without preauricular tags during the same period, also using renal ultrasonography. RESULTS: Preauricular tags were detected in 19 of 10,997(0.17%) neonates; 57.9% were found on the right side. Renal anomalies in neonates with isolated preauricular tags were detected in four infants (21.1%); this incidence was higher, but was not significant, compared with the control group. Types of anomalies were mild hydronephrosis of grade 1(3 cases) and 2(1 case) which were normalized within one year. CONCLUSION: Routine renal ultrasonography is not recommended for newborn infant with isolated preauricular tags.
Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

Folding of the choroid, Bruchs membrane, and the overlying retina may occur in a variety of ocular and orbital diseases and after certain surgical procedures. A 34-year-old man experienced the decreased visual acuity and the protrusion and displacement in the right eye for at least 4 years. The protrusion of the patient was 13mm in the right eye and 6mm in the left eye with the aid of Hertels exophthalmometer. The right eye appeared downward deviation about 15 prism. The tumor located outside the muscle cone in the computed tomography and ultrasonography seemed to make the large choroidal folds involving the macula region. The retinal pigment epithelial atrophy was noted along long-standing choroidal folds. The tumor was removed by the lateral orbitotomy. The size of tumor was 20 x 15x 10mm. The postoperative protrusion was 6mm in the both eye. After removal of tumor, changes in the corneal refraction, visual acuity, and choroidal folds with the retinal pigment epithelial atrophy did not occur in comparison with the preoperative state.
Adult ; Atrophy ; Bruch Membrane ; Choroid* ; Humans ; Orbit* ; Orbital Diseases ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; Ultrasonography ; Visual Acuity

ICG angiography, an excellent method for the study of choroidal disorders, was used to evaluate the intraocular vascular abnormalities associated with Harada disease. 25-year-old male with Harada disease was examined by using fluorescein angiography and ICG angiography during the whole course of the disease. In the acute stage of the disease, FAG showed dye leakage and pooling into the subretinal space in the posterior pole. The dye leakage and pooling were improved or disappeared during follow up period. In ICG angiography, filling delay of choroidal circulation and numerous hypofluorescent spots were the most remarkable findings in the acute stage of the disease. In the early to late phase choroidal vessels were indistinct. The filling delay and indistinct choroidal vessels in the acute stage were gradually improved or more clearly visualized during the whole course of the disease. However, multiple hypofluorescent spots were still present till the recovery stage of the disease. Also, ICG angiography showed several dye leakages as hyperfluorescent spots and pooling as hypofluorescent or hyperfluorescent area. The choroidal tissue staining appeared during the recovery stage of the disease. ICG angiography clearly revealed the disturbance of choroidal circulation in Harada disease, and filling delay of the choroidal circulation and indistinct choroidal vessels. ICG angiography helps to demonstrate the pathologic findings of Harada disease clinically.
Adult ; Angiography ; Choroid ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green* ; Male

PURPOSE: To report a case of acute angle-closure glaucoma secondary to spontaneous suprachoroidal hemorrhage in a hemodialysis patient. CASE SUMMARY: A 71-year-old man visited our clinic after 3 days of vision loss and ocular pain in the right eye. He had been treated with hemodialysis using heparin due to diabetic nephropathy. Visual acuity (VA) was hand motion in the right eye and 0.2 in the left eye. The intraocular pressure (IOP) was 58 mmHg in the right eye and 15 mmHg in the left eye. Gonioscopic examination revealed a closed angle in the right eye. Fundus examination of the right eye showed a massive hemorrhagic retinal detachment and ultrasound sonography revealed a dome-shaped retinal detachment with suprachoroidal hemorrhage in the right eye. The patient was treated with topical aqueous suppressants and cycloplegics. After two weeks of medical treatment, VA in the right eye was still hand motion and IOP was 8 mmHg. Gonioscopic examination showed a wide-open angle in the right eye. During the two-month observation period, VA in the right eye did not recover, however there was no sign of IOP elevation or symptoms of ocular pain. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous suprachoroidal hemorrhage can occur in patients who receive hemodialysis with heparin. This spontaneous suprachoroidal hemorrhage can be subsequently accompanied by acute angle-closure glaucoma. Spontaneous decrease of suprachoroidal hemorrhage, loss of angle-closure, and decline of IOP can be expected by treating with topical aqueous suppressants and cycloplegics.
Aged ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure* ; Hand ; Hemorrhage* ; Heparin ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Mydriatics ; Renal Dialysis ; Retinal Detachment ; Ultrasonography ; Visual Acuity

Rarely, break in the non-pigmented epithelium in the pars plicata can occur and sometimes develop into retinal detachment. We experienced a case of retinal detachment associated with lens coloboma in 34-year-old male. A break in the non-pigmented epithelium in pars plicata was found with retinal detachment. We treated the break by cryoapplication, scleral buckling and encircling.
Adult ; Coloboma* ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Male ; Retinal Detachment* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Scleral Buckling

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to identify any differential point in computerized tomographic(CT) findings between aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage(ASAH) and traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage(TSAH), which sometimes make us not confident in differentiation. METHODS: CT of 142 ASAH and 82 TSAH patients over the last 2 years were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated the thickness of SAH, the laterality of sylvian cisternal hemorrhage, the location, the number of involved cisterns, and the associated other lesions between two types of SAH. RESULTS: Suprasellar cisterns and sylvian cisterns were most prominently and frequently involved cisterns in ASAH but cortical sulci and sylvian cisterns were most frequently involved in TSAH. Intraventricular and intracerebral hemorrhage were frequently seen in ASAH. Thickness of SAH over 1 mm, bilateral sylvian SAH, multiple cisternal SAH were in favor of ASAH. The number of involved cisterns were more frequently seen in ASAH than in TSAH. In ASAH, bilateral sylvian hemorrhages were more frequently seen than in TSAH. Skull fracture, subdural hematoma, subgaleal hematoma, and hemorrhagic contusion were frequently associated with TSAH. CONCLUSION: As a result of our study, the authors conclude that when IVH, hydrocephalus, thick SAH>1 mm bilateral sylvian SAH, and multiple cisternal SAH are seen in CT, immediate angiography should be performed to rule out cerebral aneurysms whether associated with other traumatic lesions or not.
Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Contusions ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Retrospective Studies ; Skull Fractures ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Traumatic*

Background: Preoperative concerns of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) and their complaints during the initial postoperative period are not well investigated. We evaluated preoperative concerns of patients and patient-perceived problems during the operation and initial 5 days after the operation. Methods: One hundred and thirty-two patients, who underwent primary THA at a tertiary referral hospital, were surveyed using a questionnaire and a face-to-face interview 1 day before the operation, operation day, and postoperative days 1, 2, 3, and 4. The severity of pain was assessed daily using a visual analog scale. Results: The most common preoperative concern was the severity of pain after the surgery (65.2%), followed by the need of transfusion (34.8%) and postoperative rehabilitation (32.6%). Among 29 patients who could recall the experience during the operation, 12 (41.4%) suffered from shoulder pain on the contralateral side, and 6 (20.7%) answered that hammering sound had been annoying. After returning to the ward, 29 patients (22.0%) suffered from nausea, 8 (6.1%) complained of back pain, and 7 (5.3%) had ipsilateral knee pain. On postoperative day 1, 7 patients (5.3%) had persistent back pain, 8 (6.1%) had headache, and 5 (3.8%) suffered from nausea. On postoperative day 2, nine patients (6.8%) complained of radiating pain due to aggravation of preexisting spinal stenosis, 7 (5.3%) complained of weakness of the hip flexor due to periarticular injection of ropivacaine during the operation, and 5 (3.8%) had dressing-related skin problem at the wound. On postoperative days 3 and 4, patients had no problem other than hip pain. The mean pain score was the highest (3.1 ± 1.0) on postoperative day 1. Conclusions The results of this study might provide information needed to solve problems and improve satisfaction of patients undergoing THA.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between uterine weight and morbidity in women undergoing vaginal total hysterectomy. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 549 cases of patients with vaginal totoal hysterectomy was performed. Patients included in this study underwent vaginal total hysterectomy as benign uterine tumors at Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea from June 2003 through June 2004. These patients were stratified into four groups; Group I patients with uterine weight of <180 gm (n=132), Group II patients with uterine weight of between 180 gm to 280 gm (n=238), Group III 280 gm to 380 gm (n=100), Group IV patients with uterine weight of >380 gm (n=79). The groups were compared as regard age, paturity, previous pelvic operations, postoperative discharge day, postoperation hemoglobin change, operation time, postoperative complications. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the four groups with repect to postoperative discharge day (Mean=9.08 day), concurrent surgical procedure, age (M=45.96 years old), parturity (M=1.88). The overall complication rate was not significantly different (postoperation hemoglobin change (M=1.25), Complication). But the morcellation rate increased 8.33% in group I, 34.18% in group II, 55% in group III, 83.5% in group IV, respectively. The operation time prolonged as uterus weight increased.; 73 minutes in group I, 79 minutes in group II, 85 minutes in group III, 91 minutes in group IV. CONCLUSION: The vaginal total hysterectomy can be performed successfully in case of greatly enlarged uterus. Uterus enlargement is not an absolute contraindication.
Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal* ; Korea ; Leiomyoma* ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Uterus

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between uterine weight and morbidity in women undergoing vaginal total hysterectomy. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 549 cases of patients with vaginal totoal hysterectomy was performed. Patients included in this study underwent vaginal total hysterectomy as benign uterine tumors at Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea from June 2003 through June 2004. These patients were stratified into four groups; Group I patients with uterine weight of <180 gm (n=132), Group II patients with uterine weight of between 180 gm to 280 gm (n=238), Group III 280 gm to 380 gm (n=100), Group IV patients with uterine weight of >380 gm (n=79). The groups were compared as regard age, paturity, previous pelvic operations, postoperative discharge day, postoperation hemoglobin change, operation time, postoperative complications. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the four groups with repect to postoperative discharge day (Mean=9.08 day), concurrent surgical procedure, age (M=45.96 years old), parturity (M=1.88). The overall complication rate was not significantly different (postoperation hemoglobin change (M=1.25), Complication). But the morcellation rate increased 8.33% in group I, 34.18% in group II, 55% in group III, 83.5% in group IV, respectively. The operation time prolonged as uterus weight increased.; 73 minutes in group I, 79 minutes in group II, 85 minutes in group III, 91 minutes in group IV. CONCLUSION: The vaginal total hysterectomy can be performed successfully in case of greatly enlarged uterus. Uterus enlargement is not an absolute contraindication.
Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal* ; Korea ; Leiomyoma* ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Uterus