The use of controlled hyperventilation during neurosurgical procedures prevents the deleterious effects of hypercarbia on the cerebral blood flow and intracranial pressure. hyperventilation with hypocarbia produces cerebral vasoconstriction, reduced cerebral blood flow and a reduction in brain size in the majority of patients with increased intracranial pressure. But since excessive cerebral vasoconstriction might induce cerebral ischemia, there has been much discussion concerning the optimal level of hypocarbia. Several studies have shown biochemical evidence of a change in cerebral glucose utilization to anaerobic metabolism during hypocarbia. In our investigation, the effect of hyperventilation on 10 neurosurgical patients was evaluated by blood gas analysis and the estimation of lackate and pyruvate in arterial blood and the cerebrospinal fluid. The results were as follows: 1) PaCO2 decreased from a prearesthetic value of 38+/-2.2 mmHg to 22+/-2.1mmHg 1 hour postinduction and 24+/-2.2mmHg at 2 hours due to hyperventilation. pH was 7.58+/-0.047 1 hour postinduction and 7.56+/-0.018 at 2 hours. PaO2 was 251+/-33.0mmHg 1 hour postinduction 1 hour and 215+/-20.9mmHg at 2 hours under a 50% inspired oxygen concentration(FiO2=0.5). 2) The arterial blood lactate value increased statistically significantly from a preanesthetic value of 9.3+/-1.5mg% to 11.8+/-1.47mg% 1 hour postinduction(p<0.01) to 12.5+/-1.53mg% at 2 hours(p<0.005). However all values were within the normal range(4.7+/-15.1mg%), and the lacte/pyruvate ratio did not change. 3) In the cerebrospinal fluid, pH was 7.45+/-0.057, PCO2 was 34+/-3.5mmHg and PO2 was 91+/-6.7mmHg following hyperventilation for 1 hour. The lactate value of the cerebrospinal fluid was 19.2+/-3.14mg%(normal range: 11.0~27.0mg%) and the lactate/pyruvate ration was 14.5+/-2.39. 4) No evidence of an excessive increase in CSF lactate was seen in any case. The above findings suggest that maintenance of an adequate oxygen concentration and a carbon dioxide value over 20mmHg would prevent cerebral ischemia following hypocarbia due to hyperventilation.
Anesthesia* ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Carbon Dioxide ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hyperventilation* ; Intracranial Pressure ; Lactic Acid ; Metabolism ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; Oxygen ; Pyruvic Acid ; Vasoconstriction

Pancreatic tumors in children are very rare but have a better prognosis compared with that in adult. Pediatric pancreatic tumors are more often benign and easier to resect. To evaluate the characteristics and prognosis, the records of 13 patients who underwent pancreatic resection, from June 1997 to May 2005, at Samsung Medical Center were reviewed. The mean follow up period was 48 months. The male to female ratio was 1: 1.6. Mean age was 10.3 years. Signs and symptoms included abdominal pain (7), abdominal palpable mass (5), jaundice (1), hypoglycemic (1), and non-specific GI symptoms (4). The commonly used diagnostic tools were CT and abdominal sonography. In addition, MRI, ERCP, EEG, and hormone test were also done when indicated. Surgical procedures included distal pancreatectomy (5), pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (4), tumor excision (3), and subtotal pancreatectomy (1). Locations of lesions in pancreas were head (4), tail (5), and body and tail (4). Postoperative complications developed in 3 cases; postoperative ileus (1), wound problem (1), and pancreatitis (1). The pathologic diagnosis included solid-pseudopapillary tumor (6), congenital simple cyst (1), pancreatic duplication cyst (1), serous oligocystic adenoma (1), mucinous cystadenocarcinoma (1), rhabdomyosarcoma (1), insulinoma (1), and pancreatoblastoma (1). Three cases received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Overall survival rate was 81%. One patient with a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma died. In this study, pancreatic tumors in children were resectable in all patients and had good survival. Surgery of pancreatic tumors should be regarded as the gold standard of treatment and a good prognosis can be anticipated in most cases of benign and malignant tumors.
Abdominal Pain ; Adenoma ; Adult ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Child* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Diagnosis ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Ileus ; Insulinoma ; Jaundice ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pancreas ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Pancreatitis ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Pylorus ; Radiotherapy ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; Survival Rate ; Wounds and Injuries

Liver tumors in children are rare, relatively complex, and encompass a broad spectrum of disease processes. This study reviews our experience of liver tumors during the last 10 years. Medical records of 36 cases of liver tumors?in children, treated at Samsung Medical Centers, from October 1994 to December 2005, were reviewed in this study. We analyzed disease characters and survival rates as a whole and by specific disease. The median age was 3.6 years. Male and female ratio was 1:1. The most common symptom was the palpable mass in 15 cases. Others were abdominal distension in 9 cases, jaundice in 2, vomiting in 2, weight loss in 2, and pubic hair growth in 1. CT or US and liver biopsy were performed for diagnosis. There were 28 malignant tumors: malignant rhabdoid tumor (1 case), hepatocellular carcinoma (3 cases), hemangioendothelioma type II (3 cases), angiosarcoma (1 case), and hepatoblastoma (20 cases). Eight tumors were benign; hepatic adenoma (1 case), focal nodular hyperplasia (2 cases), hemangioendothelioma type I (2 cases), mesenchymal hamartoma (3 cases). In this study the clinical characteristics were not different from the other reports. Liver transplantation was performed in 3 cases-1 with hepatoblastoma and 2 with hepatocelleular carcinoma. Accurate and early diagnosis, and individualized multi- modality therapeutic approaches might be important for better outcome.
Adenoma ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia ; Hair ; Hamartoma ; Hemangioendothelioma ; Hemangiosarcoma ; Hepatoblastoma ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Liver Transplantation ; Liver* ; Male ; Medical Records ; Rhabdoid Tumor ; Survival Rate ; Vomiting ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: To assess the early complication of laparoscopic peritoneal dialysis catheter implantation in children. METHODS: Medical record review was carried out on 21 laparoscopic and 16 conventional peritoneal dialysis catheter implantations which were performed in 31 children under 18 years of age between 2002 and 2006. All medical records were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were followed until 2 months after catheter placement. Patient characteristics and catheter-related complications, such as significant bleeding, leakage, obstruction, migration, insertion site infection and peritonitis during the first 60 days after implantation were recorded. RESULTS: After conventional operation, dialysate leakage occurred in 2 of 16 cases and all cases improved after conservative management. In 1 case, significant bleeding occurred and re-operation was performed. Three cases of obstruction due to migration were reported, 2 cases underwent reoperation and 1 case improved without intervention. After laparoscopic surgery, outflow obstruction occurred in 1 out of 21 cases, which was caused by adhesion after several reinsertions of the catheter and recurrent peritonitis. No migration was noted after laparoscopic surgery. There was no significant difference in the complication rate between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic peritoneal dialysis catheter placement is feasible in children of all age groups, with at least equivalent functional results compared to conventional surgery. The additional advantage of laparoscopic catheter insertion is the option to identify and eliminate anatomical risk factors, such as intra-abdominal adhesions, and to perform partial omentectomy without additional incisions.
Catheters* ; Child* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Medical Records ; Peritoneal Dialysis* ; Peritonitis ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors