No abstract available.
Scoliosis*

No abstract available.
Eating* ; Liver* ; Pneumonia* ; Sharks*

BACKGROUND: Many physicians hesitate to discuss do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders with patients or family members in critical situations. In the intensive care unit (ICU), delayed DNR decisions could cause unintentional cardiopulmonary resuscitation, patient distress, and substantial cost. We investigated whether the timing of DNR designation affects patient outcome in the medical ICU. METHODS: We enrolled retrospective patients with written DNR orders in a medical ICU (13 bed) from June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015. The patients were divided into two groups: early DNR patients for whom DNR orders were implemented within 48 h of ICU admission, and late DNR patients for whom DNR orders were implemented more than 48 h after ICU admission. RESULTS: Herein, 354 patients were admitted to the medical ICU and among them, 80 (22.6%) patients had requested DNR orders. Of these patients, 37 (46.3%) had designated DNR orders within 48 hours of ICU admission and 43 (53.7%) patients had designated DNR orders more than 48 hours after ICU admission. Compared with early DNR patients, late DNR patients tended to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining management (18.9% vs. 37.2%, p = 0.072). DNR consent forms were signed by family members instead of the patients. Septic shock was the most common cause of medical ICU admission in both the early and late DNR patients (54.1% vs. 37.2%, p = 0.131). There was no difference in in-hospital mortality (83.8% vs. 81.4%, p = 0.779). Late DNR patients had longer ICU stays than early DNR patients (7.4 ± 8.1 vs. 19.7 ± 19.2, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical outcomes are not influenced by the time of DNR designation in the medical ICU. The late DNR group is associated with a longer length of ICU stay and a tendency of withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment. However, further studies are needed to clarify the guideline for end-of-life care in critically ill patients.
Advance Directives ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Consent Forms ; Critical Illness* ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Resuscitation Orders* ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock, Septic

BACKGROUND: Plate fixation is the most commonly used technique for the treatment of shaft fractures of both forearm bones (SFBFBs). However, all fractures are difficult to treat with plate fixation because of soft tissue injuries, fracture patterns, or the patient's condition. The purpose of this study is to compare the functional results of plate fixation only and combined plate and intramedullary (IM) nail fixation in SFBFBs. METHODS: Fifty-nine cases of SFBFBs that were surgically treated from June 2007 to July 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. In this study, 47 cases that were followed up for more than 12 months were included. All SFBFBs were divided into two groups according to the methods used for internal fixation: plate fixation only (group A) and combined plate and IM nail fixation (group B). The fixation methods were determined intraoperatively. Plate fixation was considered as the first option in all cases, but combined plate and IM nail fixation was selected as the second option if it was difficult to be fixed with plate only. Groups A and B comprised of 31 and 16 cases, respectively. The functional results were evaluated by the Grace and Eversmann rating system and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. RESULTS: In groups A and B, a radiologic union was achieved in 30/31 and 14/16 cases and average union time was 11.1 and 17.8 weeks, respectively. According to the Grace and Eversmann rating system, group A had excellent results in 15 cases, good in 14, acceptable in one, and unacceptable in one. Group B had excellent results in three cases, good in nine, acceptable in two, and unacceptable in two. The average DASH score was 7.1 points (range, 0 to 19.2 points) in group A and 15.1 points (range, 0 to 29.6 points) in group B. Three cases of nonunion with unacceptable results achieved a bony union by additional procedures and the functional results of these cases improved to good or excellent. CONCLUSIONS: The functional results and the average union time were superior in group A than in group B. However, we think that combined fixation is a useful method for SFBFBs that cannot be treated with plate fixation only.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Nails/*statistics & numerical data ; Bone Plates/*statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Forearm/surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/adverse effects/*methods/*statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures/epidemiology/*surgery ; Range of Motion, Articular/*physiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Ulna Fractures/epidemiology/*surgery ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Jaw-thrust is a noxious stimulus that might induce sympathetic responses. The purpose of this study, was to evaluate the effects of jaw-thrust on sympathetic responses. METHODS: We investigated seventy three patients. Patients who received general anesthesia were randomly divided into a control group (maintenance of combined airway maneuver with head tilt, open mouth by mouthpiece, and chin-lift, n = 30) and jaw-thrust group (maintenance of head tilt, open mouth and jaw-thrust, n = 30). In the jaw-thrust group, four minutes of endoscopy-guided force to the mandible to get the best laryngeal view were applied. For the control group, the combined airway maneuver was maintained during the same period. Arterial blood pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded at predetermined time points (1 min before anesthesia induction, 2 min after fiberoptic bronchoscopy placement, and thereafter 1 min-interval during each airway maneuver) during jaw-thrust and chin-lift maneuver. The force amplitude applied for best laryngeal view during jaw-thrust was also measured. RESULTS: Peak systolic and diastolic AP increased 39.0 +/- 17.6 and 39.9 +/- 22.8 mmHg from the baseline (P < 0.001) in the jaw-thrust group. HR was also 32.5 +/- 19.4 beats/min from the baseline (P < 0.001) in the jaw-thrust group. These remained high at all time points, compared with the control group (P < 0.01). The force magnitude applied for jaw-thrust was not correlated to the AP and HR changes (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Performing the jaw-thrust maneuver induces significant sympathetic responses, irrespective of the force magnitude.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Bronchoscopy ; Head ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Mandible ; Mouth

Severe sepsis and septic shock are the main causes of death in critically ill patients. Early detection and appropriate treatment according to guidelines are crucial for achieving favorable outcomes. Endotoxin is considered to be a main element in the pathogenic induction of gram-negative bacterial sepsis. Polymyxin B hemoperfusion can remove endotoxin and is reported to improve clinical outcomes in patients with intra-abdominal septic shock, but its clinical efficacy for pneumonic septic shock remains unclear. Here, we report a case of a 51-year-old man with pneumonic septic shock caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, who recovered through polymyxin B hemoperfusion.
Cause of Death ; Critical Illness ; Gram-Negative Bacteria* ; Hemoperfusion* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Polymyxin B* ; Polymyxins* ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Sepsis ; Shock, Septic*

Since they were introduced by Ward in 1923, periodontal dressing have been routinely used following the periodontal surgery to avoid pain, infection, desensitizing teeth, inhibiting food impaction of the surgical areas, and immobilizing injured areas. Recently, however, the value of periodontal dressings and their effects on periodontal wound healing have been questioned, several authors have been reported that the use of dressing has little influence on healing following periodontal surgical procedures. In addition, there is evidence that when good flap adaptation is achieved, the use of a periodontal dressing does not add to patient comfort nor promote healing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patient postoperative pain experience and discomfort with and without the use of periodontal dressing following periodontal surgery. Twenty-eight patients, 11 male and 17 female. were selected for this study; The age range was 31 to 56, with an average of 40.2years. Patient selection was based on existence of two bilateral sites presenting similar periodontal involvement, as determined by clinical and radiographic assessment, and requiring comparable bilateral surgical procedures. Using a splitmouth dressing. one site received a periodontal dressing while the other site did not. Pain assessment was made according to a horizontal, rating scale(0-10). After at least a two - week period, the second surgical precedure was performed using the alternate postoperative treatment. At the conclusion of the trial, a self-administered questionnaire on postoperative experience was administered, and were asked of their preference of either, dressed or undressed. The results were as follows: 1. A similar trend for mean pain and discomfort scores as assessed by patients both dressed and saline-treated procedures was evident during 7-day postsurgical period. 2. Statistical analysis of differences between the dressed side and saline-treated side with respect to pain, discomfort and patient's experiences revealed that both treatment sides behaved similarly at any postoperative day(P>0.05). 3. Considering the patient's preference, on the basis of pain and discomfort experienced, 43% preferred the saline-mouthwash and 32% preferred the dressing, 25% showing no preference for either the dressing or the saline-mouthwash. There is evidence to support the use of a periodontal dressing in retention of an apically positioned flap by preventing coronal displacement, or its use to provide additional support to stabilize a free gingival graft. However, there will always be a use for periodontal dressing although routine use of dressings may decrease because of better surgical techniques and the use of antibacterial mouth rinses.
Bandages* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mouth ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative ; Patient Selection ; Periodontal Dressings ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tooth ; Transplants ; Wound Healing

No abstract available.
Cardiomyopathies* ; Peripartum Period*

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a life-threatening condition characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, renal insufficiency, neurological abnormalities, and fever. Cardiac involvement is not uncommon and can be fatal; however, right ventricular heart involvement after surgery is rare. Here, we report a case of TTP presenting with right ventricular heart failure after total knee replacement surgery. TTP was successfully treated with four rounds of plasma exchange. The patient made a full recovery and was discharged after 11 weeks.
Anemia, Hemolytic ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee* ; Fever ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Orthopedics ; Plasma Exchange ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Thrombocytopenia

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the continuous infusion of ketamine on recovery characteristics after total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol. METHODS: Fifty-six patients undergoing tympanoplasty were randomly allocated to group I (control, n = 20), group II (ketamine 0.3 microgram/ml, n = 16) or group III (ketamine 0.6 microgram/ml, n = 20). Ketamine and propofol were continuously administered by using target-controlled infusion (TCI) at different ketamine steady-state concentrations. Blood pressure, heart rate and the time interval from the discontinuation of propofol to eye opening and discharge were measured. RESULTS: The changes in mean arterial pressure and heart rate before and after auditory ossicles movement examination were larger in group I than in group II or in group III (P <0.05). And, the times to eye opening and to discharge from the recovery room were longer in group II and group III than in group I (P <0.05). Hallucination occurred only in seven patients of group III. CONCLUSIONS: Groups II and III were more stable hemodynamically than group I, but patients in groups II and III required a longer recovery time than group I. No hallucination was found in groups I and II. We conclude that when ketamine is administered in combination with propofol, a lesser concentration than 0.3 microgram/ml of ketamine or early discontinuation of ketamine infusion appear to be appropriate.
Anesthesia, Intravenous* ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Ear Ossicles ; Hallucinations ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Ketamine* ; Propofol* ; Recovery Room ; Tympanoplasty