Moyamoya disease is an unusual cerebrovascular disorder characterized by occlusive intimal dysplasia of the distal internal carotid and proximal cerebral arteries as well as other collateral arteries. However,moyamoya diseases are recently being reported as a systemic process.We experienced one case of coronary artery occlusive disease affected by moyamoya disease.The patient was a 35-year-old female,experiencing intermittent NYHA class II dyspnea and exertional chest pain for 6 months and right parest hesi a f or 1 month before admission.Cerebral artery angiogram showed abnormal cerebrovascular systems and confirmed moyamoya disease with cerebral infarction of the left f r ont al l obe. I n cor onar yartery angiogram,left coronary artery was not visualized due to total occlusion of the left main ostium and left coronary blood flow was supplied from normal right coronary artery. CABG was performed with OPCAB.Both internal mammary arteries were used f or LAD and LCx.Intraoperative coronary artery findings showed intimal hyperplasia and no definite thrombi,and nondiseased coronary arteries were good and patent.We concluded that this patient's coronary artery disease was affected by moyamoya disease,and moyamoya disease should be evaluated in the extracerebral cardiovascular system.
Adult ; Arteries ; Cardiovascular System ; Cerebral Arteries ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Mammary Arteries ; Moyamoya Disease*

BACKGROUNDS: It is almost universally accepted that occlusive vascular diseases are best managed by anatomical reconstruction. However, the mortality and the morbidity have limited this operation for patients with high operation risks. In these patients, palliative operations such as extra-anatomic bypass and lumbar sympathectomy, are accepted as useful treatment. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was conducted in 38 patients who underwent palliative operations for occlusive vascular disease at Korea University Guro Hospital between 1996 and 2000. Mean age of the patients was 60.37 +/- 17.65 years, and preoperative diagnoses were atherosclerosis in 32 patients, Buerger's disease in 4 patients, Raynaud's syndrome in 1 patient and SVC syndrome in 1 patient. RESULT: Extra-anatomic bypass(40procedures), lumbar sympathectomy(17), thromboembolectomy(7) and femoral artery graft interposition(1) were performed. Six patients were required reoperation due to graft flow failure or fistula. Three year primary patency rate of entire operations was 78.29 +/- 8.81%, and the correlation between type of operation and patency rate was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Palliative operations for occlusive vascular disease are useful treatment in limited patients with high operation risks or limited life expectancy.
Atherosclerosis ; Diagnosis ; Femoral Artery ; Fistula ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Expectancy ; Mortality ; Palliative Care* ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Sympathectomy ; Thromboangiitis Obliterans ; Transplants ; Vascular Diseases*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and predictors of success of methotrexate (MTX) treatment in selected cases of unruptured tubal pregnancies. METHODS: This study was retrospectively performed in 36 women who had diagnosed unruptured tubal pregnancies. Patients received intramuscular MTX. Serial beta-hCG measurement was performed weekly, and success was defined as the achievement to beta-hCG concentration of 10 mIU/mL without surgical intervention. Surgical intervention was performed for presumed tubal rupture. Pretreatment serum concentration of beta-hCG, the size of tubal mass and gestational sac by transvaginal ultrasonography were measured to evaluate the predictors of MTX therapy. RESULTS: 29 patients (81%) were successfully treated by MTX systematic treatment. There were not significant differences in the patient's age, parity, gestational age and the size of tubal ectopic mass, but significant differences in the gestational sac size and serum beta-hCG concentration between success group and failure group of MTX treatment. The mean time for achieving successful treatment was 33.8 days. The success rate of systemic MTX was significantly decreased and resolution time was prolonged if the initial pretreatment serum beta-hCG was 10,000 mIU/mL or gestational sac size was >or=1 cm. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment serum beta-hCG concentration and gestational sac size are important predictors of success of MTX treatment in women with unruptured tubal pregnancy.
Female ; Gestational Age ; Gestational Sac ; Humans ; Methotrexate* ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Pregnancy, Tubal ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of subpulmonary effusion is thought to be somewhat difficut more than pulmonary effusion. Clinical course and pathophysiology are thought to be different from typical pulmonary effusion. This study was done for increasing high suspicious index and early diagnosis of subpulmonary effusion. METHOD: Among the patients at dept. of chest medicine, National Medical Center from January 1990 to Dec. 1993, 232 cases of typical pulmonary effusion and 42 cases of subpulmonary effusion were studied. RESULT: 1) The ratio of subpulmonary effusion and typical pulmonary effusion was about 1:5 2) Male to Female ratio was 1:1 in both effusion. 3) Rt. side pleural and subpleural effusion were slightly predominant. 4) Subjective symptoms are chest pain, cough and exertional dyspnea. There is no difference between subpulmonary and typical pulmonary effusion. 5) Duration of symptom was slightly longer in subpulmonary effusion. 6) The most common cases of pleural effusion is tuberculosis in both subpulmonary & typical pulmonary effusion. Non-specific pleuritis was more common in subpulmonary effusion. 7) Pleural effusion was recurred about one fifth in both subpulmonary & pulmonary effusion. CONCLUSION: We studied clinical course and laboratory findings between subpulmonary & pulmonary effusion. However there are no definite difference between subpulmonary & pulmonary effusion. Duration of symptom was slightly longer in subpulmonary effusion. Most common cause was tuberculosis. Non specific pleuritis was more prevalent in subpulmonary effusion.
Chest Pain ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pleural Effusion ; Pleurisy ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Proper construction of vascular access and adequate maintenance are essential for the prognosis of the hemodialysis patients. Though arteriovenous fistula using autogenous vessel is the first of choice, the incidence of arteriovenous fistula using artificial graft is gradually increasing. The aim of this study was to analyse the patency rates between autogenous and artificial fistula, among artificial graft types, according to the accompanied disease. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was conducted on 186 patients who underwent 292 arteriovenous fistula operations for hemodialysis at Korea University Guro Hospital between 1996 and 2000. Mean age of the patients was 54.37+/-12.89years, and the male: female ratio 99:87. RESULT: Among 292 operations, there were 156 autogenous fistula and 116 graft fistula. The other 20 operations were thrombectomy, takedown of graft, revision, and balloon dilatation. Patency rates of autogenous fistula were 92.78+/-2.35% at 1 year and 39.03+/-9.08% at 5 years, and those of graft fistula were 96.09+/-2.22% at 1 year and 16.45+/-10.15% at 5 years. However, there was no statistical significance between the two operations. The patients who had hypertension, diabetes or both had no statistical significance in the patency rate compared to that of patients without underlying disease. In addition, the type of graft used did not affect the patency rate. Second operation was needed in 62 patients and third operation in 31 patients, but their patency rate again had no statistical significance compared to that of the first operation. CONCLUSION: The patency of the artificial graft fistula was comparable to the autogenous fistula, but the patency according to types of graft need to be studied further. Furthermore, the underlying diseases did not affect the fistula patency.
Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Dilatation ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Prognosis ; Renal Dialysis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombectomy ; Transplants

PURPOSE: Transilluminated powered phlebectomy (TIPP) offers a minimally invasive operation alternative to stab avulsion for varicose veins. The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of TIPP with conventional phlebectomy (CP) for removal of varicose veins. METHOD: A retrospective review was performed on the clinical records from March 2001 to March 2002. We divided the patients into 2 groups. The first group consisted of 87 patients (107 limbs) who had undergone TIPP. The second group of 27 patients (29 limbs) had undergone CP by the stab avulsion. We compared operation time, number of skin incisions, duration of hospital stay, patient's satisfaction scores, and complications. RESULT: Mean operation time was significantly shorter in the TIPP group than in the CP group (47.3 min vs. 64.0 min). The number of skin incision was also significantly less in the TIPP group (3.4 vs. 4.9). Length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the TIPP group (2.5 days vs. 4.0 days). However, postoperative patient's satisfaction score was similar in both groups. 81 patients (93%) in the TIPP group developed ecchymosis postoperatively, resolved spontaneously within approximately 8 weeks. CONCLUSION: TIPP can make the better cosmetic result, shorter duration of hospitalization and operation time. These results suggest that TIPP is a feasible surgical treatment modality for varicose veins of the lower extremity. However, we should minimize postoperative ecchymosis and improve the surgical technique.
Ecchymosis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Lower Extremity* ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Varicose Veins*

Background :The incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)is increasing recently, but medical management for GERD has many limitations.Therefore,variable surgical treatments have been introduced. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was done in 10 patients who underwent the Belsey Mark IV operation at Korea university Guro hospital between 1996 and 2001.Preoperative diagnoses were hiatal hernia with gasroesophageal reflux in 8 patients and achalasia in 2 patients. RESULT: Mean age of the patients was 54.3 +/- 19.0 years.Belsey Mark IV operation was performed on patients where preoperative medical failed and mean hospital days were 13.1 +/- 2.6 days.We routinely practiced follow-up endoscopy on postoperative 3rd,6th,9th,and 12th months.After remission for reflux and esophagitis,they were transferred to internal medicine department.Six patients of hiatal hernia with reflux (one patient who lost follow-up and the other patient who didn't practice the follow-up endoscopy due to short postoperative follow-up period were excluded)had lowered endoscopic gradings and two patients of achalasia did not complained of reflux symptoms,postoperatively.We experienced 10%operation failure rate. CONCLUSION: We experienced satisfactory operation results with Belsey Mark IV in hiatal hernia with GERD and achalasia patients.
Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Achalasia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Hernia, Hiatal* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Internal Medicine ; Korea ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the amniotic fluid levels and each ratio of activin A, inhin A and B in Down's syndrome and other complicated pregnancies. METHODS: This study was performed in 71 women who had undergone a midtrimester amniocentesis with the clinical indications and whose pregnancy outcome was retrospectively determined. Ten Down's syndrome, 15 complicated pregnancies including, preeclamsia, gestational diabetesis mellitus, preterm labor, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and 46 noncomplicated pregnancies with normal chromosome were included in this study. Amniotic fluid activin A, inhibin A and B were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed with Mann-Whitney U test and regression analysis. RESULTS: There were significant positive correlation (r=0.277, p=0.011) between the ratio activin A/ inhibin B level and maternal age and significant positive correlation (r=0.261, p=0.015) between maternal age and the ratio inhibin A/inhibin B level. There were also significant positive correlation (r=0.202, p=0.045) between gestational weeks and inhibin A levels and significant positive correlation (r=0.474, p<0.001) between gestational weeks and inhibin B levels. Amniotic fluid inhibin A and inhibin B levels were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in Down's syndrome compared with the normal chromosomal groups but there was no difference in the ratio activin A/inhibin A and in the ratio activin A/inhibin B between these groups. The amniotic fluid levels of activin A, inhibins (A and B), each ratio of complicated pregnancies groups with normal chromosome was not significantly different from those of uncomplicated pregnancies with normal chromosome. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that amniotic inhibin levels were significantly decreased in Down's syndrome. But, activin A and each ratio were unchanged. The results suggest that activin A may be relatively decreased in each case of Down's syndrome.
Activins ; Amniocentesis ; Amniotic Fluid* ; Down Syndrome* ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibins* ; Maternal Age ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnancy* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The prognostic influence of 3-dimensional tumor volume (Tv) on breast cancer compared to conventional 1-dimensional tumor size (T) was investigated. METHODS: Analysis was performed on a cohort of 8,996 primary breast cancer patients who were initially diagnosed with TNM stage I–III. Tumor size was defined as the maximum tumor dimension, and Tv was calculated by the equation of (4π× r1 × r2 × r3)/3; r1, r2, and r3 were defined as half of the largest, intermediate, and shortest dimension of the tumor, respectively. Tv was classified into Tv1, Tv2, and Tv3 according to the cut off values of 2.056 cm3 and 20.733 cm3. RESULTS: The survival curves according to both the T and Tv categories were clearly differentiated (all P < 0.001), as were those for staging by T and Tv (all P < 0.001). In T1 and T2 tumors, the Tv1 group showed superior survival over the Tv2 group (T1, P < 0.001; T2, P = 0.001). Univariate and multivariate analysis both indicated that Tv was a significant prognostic factor (both P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the area under the curves were 0.712 (P < 0.001) for Tv and 0.699 (P < 0.001) for T. Positive correlations were observed between the number of positive nodes and T (coefficient = 0.325; P < 0.001), and between the number of positive nodes and Tv (coefficient = 0.321; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Tv classification works well for predicting the prognosis of breast cancer, and it is a better predictor than conventional T classification in several aspects. Further studies are needed to validate the practical usefulness of Tv classification in clinical settings.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Classification ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; ROC Curve ; Survival Analysis ; Tumor Burden*

PURPOSE: This study compared the patency of the splenic vessels between laparoscopic and open spleen and splenic vessel-preserving distal pancreatectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a database of 137 patients who underwent laparoscopic (n = 91) or open (n = 46) spleen and splenic vessel-preserving distal pancreatectomy at a single institute from 2001 through 2015. Splenic vessel patency was assessed by abdominal computed tomography and classified into three grades according to the degree of stenosis. RESULTS: The splenic artery patency rate was similar in both groups (97.8 vs. 95.7%, P = 0.779). Also, the splenic vein patency rate was not significantly different between the 2 groups (74.7% vs. 82.6%, P = 0.521). Postoperative wound complication was significantly lower in the laparoscopic group (19.8% vs. 28.3%, P = 0.006), and hospital stay was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic group (7 days vs. 9 days, P = 0.001) than in the open group. Median follow-up periods were 22 months (3.7–96.2 months) and 31.7 months (4–104 months) in the laparoscopic and open groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy showed good splenic vessel patency as well as open distal pancreatectomy. For this reason, splenic vessel patency is not an obstacle in performing laparoscopic splenic vessel-preserving distal pancreatectomy.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Pancreatectomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Spleen ; Splenic Artery ; Splenic Vein ; Vascular Patency ; Wounds and Injuries