BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) have been widely used for cardiac patients. This study investigated the effect of omitting ACE-I medication on hemodynamics during induction of anaesthesia and operation in patients chronically treated with ACE-I undergoing off pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (OPCAB). METHODS: Sixty patients scheduled for OPCAB were included in this study. Patients not treated with ACE-I were included in control group (Group 1, n = 20). And then, patients treated with ACE-I more than 4 weeks were randomly divided into two groups: continuing group including patients who continued ACE-I medication until the morning of surgery (Group 2, n = 20) and discontinuing group including patients who discontinued ACE-I one day before the surgery (Group 3, n = 20). Norepinephrine (8microgram/ml) was infused when systolic blood pressure decreased below 90 mmHg during induction and operation. Amount of norepinephrine infused and hemodynamic data were recorded. RESULTS: Significantly larger amount of norepinephrine was infused in Group 2 than in other two groups during obtuse marginal artery anastomosis. Total amount of norepinephrine infused during the all coronary anatsomosis was significantly larger in Group 2 than those values in other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Continuing ACE-I treatment until the morning of surgery significantly increased the use of norepinephrine during the anastomosis. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the use of norepinephrine between Group 1 and Group 3. Discontinuing ACE-I before the surgery may helpful to maintain hemodynamics stable during coronary anastomosis in OPCAB.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; Arteries ; Blood Pressure ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump* ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Norepinephrine ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: In patients with mitral valvular disease with pulmonary hypertension (PHT) accompanying right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, mitral valve replacement (MVR) improves RV function and other hemodynamic variables in long term follow-up. However, there are controversies in improvement of RV function in the immediate postoperative period. We compared the RV function immediately after a MVR with a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) between patients with normal and decreased RV function with PHT preoperatively. METHODS: Twenty nine patients undergoing a MVR were included in the study. The patients (n = 14) with mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) < or = 25 mmHg were assigned to group I and the patients (n = 15) with mean PAP 25 mmHg were assigned to group II. A PAC with rapid response-thermistors which enables us to determine right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) was inserted in all patients and hemodynamic variables were measured before and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). RESULTS: After CPB, PAP, pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI), and RV end-diastolc volume (RVEDV) were significantly decreased and RVEF was significantly increased in group II compared with group I in which no hemodynamic variables were changed. CONCLUSIONS: A MVR decreased RV afterload and increased RV function more significantly in patients with preoperative PHT accompanying RV dysfunction than in patients with normal PAP preoperatively.
Arterial Pressure* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Catheters ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Mitral Valve* ; Postoperative Period ; Pulmonary Artery ; Stroke Volume ; Vascular Resistance ; Ventricular Function, Right*

Appropriate anticoagulation is essential for safe cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Two patients with infective endocarditis were scheduled for valve replacement. After an intravenous heparin injection for the CPB, the increases in the activated clotting time (ACT) in both patients were less than expected. Subsequent additional heparin administration failed to maintain a sufficient ACT for the CPB, and antithrombin III (AT III) tests during the CPB revealed low activities in both patients. Heparin resistance, due to consumption of circulating AT III as a result of infective endocarditis or prior heparinization, was postulated. While fresh frozen plasma (FFP) could not be timely administered in the first patient, ACT was successfully prolonged after the administration of FFP in the second. It is strongly suggested that adequate management of heparin resistance should be prepared for patients with infective endocarditis who require CPB.
Antithrombin III ; Antithrombin III Deficiency ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Endocarditis* ; Heparin* ; Humans ; Plasma

Appropriate anticoagulation is essential for safe cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Two patients with infective endocarditis were scheduled for valve replacement. After an intravenous heparin injection for the CPB, the increases in the activated clotting time (ACT) in both patients were less than expected. Subsequent additional heparin administration failed to maintain a sufficient ACT for the CPB, and antithrombin III (AT III) tests during the CPB revealed low activities in both patients. Heparin resistance, due to consumption of circulating AT III as a result of infective endocarditis or prior heparinization, was postulated. While fresh frozen plasma (FFP) could not be timely administered in the first patient, ACT was successfully prolonged after the administration of FFP in the second. It is strongly suggested that adequate management of heparin resistance should be prepared for patients with infective endocarditis who require CPB.
Antithrombin III ; Antithrombin III Deficiency ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Endocarditis* ; Heparin* ; Humans ; Plasma

Sparganosis is a parasitic infection caused by the plerocercoid larvae of diphyllobothroid tapeworms belonging to the genus Spirometra, as first described by Manson in 1882. The infection is transmitted by ingestion of contaminated water, frogs, and snakes, and contact between a second intermediate host and an open wound or mucus membranes. Humans are accidental hosts in the life cycle, but dogs, cats, and other mammals are definitive hosts. Once a human becomes infected, the plerocercoid larvae migrate to a subcutaneous location, where they typically develop into a painful nodule. We misdiagnosed vulva sparganosis as a Bartholin's gland abscess. The patient was a green consumer, so she may have been infected by consuming health foods. Sparganosis should be considered as a cause of soft tissue masses especially among patients who have ingested health foods.
Abscess ; Animals ; Cats ; Cestoda ; Dogs ; Eating ; Food, Organic ; Humans ; Life Cycle Stages ; Mammals ; Membranes ; Mucus ; Snakes ; Sparganosis ; Sparganum ; Spirometra ; Vulva

It is extremely rare to observe ossifying lipoma that developes separately from bone tissues in the groin. A patient with an adult fist-sized, firm, non-movable and painless mass in the left groin area, had been treated with marginal excision, which turned out to be ossifying lipoma. Although many different variants of lipoma with bone tissue have been reported, a case like this has never previously been reported. It is important to distinguish ossifying lipoma, from tumors with calcific lesions. We report its uniqueness in radiologic and pathologic ways, with specific findings of ossifying lipoma.
Adult ; Bone and Bones ; Groin ; Humans ; Lipoma

PURPOSE: Upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMDs), such as rotator cuff tear, epicondylitis, and hand osteoarthritis, have a negative impact on quality of life (QOL). In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of rotator cuff tear, lateral and medial epicondylitis, and hand osteoarthritis in the dominant side and the impact of these UEMDs on the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) outcome measure, which assesses upper extremity-related QOL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 2013–2015, 987 participants from rural areas completed a questionnaire and underwent physical examinations, laboratory tests, simple radiographic evaluations of bilateral upper extremities, and magnetic resonance imaging studies of bilateral shoulders. Based on data from these participants, researchers evaluated DASH and performed a functional assessment of each region of the dominant side and related UEMDs. RESULTS: The prevalences of epicondylitis, rotator cuff tear, and hand osteoarthritis were 33.7%, 53.4%, and 44.6%, respectively. Univariate regression analysis results revealed that epicondylitis, epicondylitis+rotator cuff tear, epicondylitis+hand osteoarthritis, and epicondylitis+rotator cuff tear+hand osteoarthritis were significantly associated with DASH score. Multiple regression analysis, including DASH, UEMD, and regional functional assessments, showed that only epicondylitis and epicondylitis+rotator cuff tear were associated with DASH score. CONCLUSION: Epicondylitis significantly affected QOL, while other UEMDs, such as hand osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tear, had no significant impact. When a patient's QOL is affected by a UEMD, there is an increased possibility of the simultaneous presence of other UEMDs.
Arm ; Hand ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Osteoarthritis ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life* ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Tears ; Upper Extremity*