Our experience with 150 patients with congestive heart failure has been reviewed with particular reference to physical and laboratory findings on admission, precipitating factors and diagnostic clues. Congestive heart failure has been defined as that heart failure due to myocardial failure (primary or secondary). (1) Congestive heart failure was found in 3.65% of total medical admissions and in 24.0% of total cardiovascular patients. There was no difference between two sexes and incidence was peak in the 6th decade. (2) Rheumatic heart disease was the most common cause of congestive heart failure (41.0%). Hypertensive and/or atherosclerotic heart disease (36.5%), cor pulmonary (6.6%), postpartum heart failure (5.3%), pericardial disease (3.6%), thyrotoxic heart disease (2.0%) and congenital heart disease (0.6%) were the etiologies of the remainder. In male hypertensive and/or atherosclerotic heart disease was most common cause of congestive heart failure. (3) The precipitating factors of congestive heart failure were found in 31% and infection, pregnancy, discontinuation of digitalis and physical exertion were major causes. (4) Dyspnea, cervical vein distension, pulmonary rale, hepatomegaly and cardiac murmur were important symptoms and signs on admission. (5) Peripheral venous pressure was elevated in 883.2% and circulation time was prolonged in 90.9%. (6) Leucocytosis (39.8%) albuminuria (60.2%), elevated GOT (serum glntamin oxaloacetic transaminase) (12.0%) and azotemia (50%) were observed. (7) Chest X-ray on admission revealed increased vascularity including pulmonary edema (88.8%), cardiomegaly (83.3%) and hydrothorax (27.1%). (8) Electrocardiographic findings was abnormal in 99.4% and left ventricular hypertnophy (45.7%), atrial fibrillation (27.3%), Right ventricular hypertrophy and low voltage were frequently observed.
Albuminuria ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Azotemia ; Cardiomegaly ; Digitalis ; Dyspnea ; Electrocardiography ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure* ; Heart Murmurs ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Hydrothorax ; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular ; Incidence ; Male ; Physical Exertion ; Postpartum Period ; Precipitating Factors ; Pregnancy ; Pulmonary Edema ; Respiratory Sounds ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; Thorax ; Veins ; Venous Pressure

The results of alpha-acetyldigoxin(Dioxanin(R)) administration in 21 patients with congestive heart failure were as follows. Alpha-acetyldigoxin is a new oral preparation of cardiac glycoside derived from lanatosid C. 1. For rapid digitalization in 2-3 days, the initial dose was 1.2 to 2.6mg (average 1.96mg). For medium-fast digitalization in 4 days, the loading dose was 2.0 to 3.2mg (average 2.7mg). For slow digitalization 0.1 to 0.4mg was required for 5 to 6 days without loading dose. The maintenance dose was 0.1 to 0.4mg (average 0.33mg) daily. 2. The therapeutic effect of acetyldigoxin was excellent in 15 cases (71%), good in 4 cases (20%) and stationary in 2 cases (9%). 3. Side effects were observed in 2 cases with usual dosage regimen. One accidental case who took single dose of 4mg(20 tablests) developed supraventricular tachycardia with varying degree of atrioventricular block, ventricular bigeminy and premature beat but recovered completely after 6 days.
Acetyldigoxins* ; Atrioventricular Block ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart Failure* ; Humans ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular

Two cases of acute digitalis poisoning were presented. The first patient was 20-year-old male with asymptomatic ventricular septal defect (maladie de Roger) who attempted suicide by ingestion of degitalis leaf about 6.0 g (60 tablets). He developed severe epigastric pain and vomiting one hour after ingestion. Syncopal attack was developed once for a few minutes and recovered. Electrocardiogram revealed 2:1 A-V block. By conservative management he was recovered. The second patient was 2-year-old, healthy baby who ingested digoxin about 2.5 mg(10 tablets) by accident. He developed severe vomiting and electrocardiogram revealed 1degrees, 2degreesand 3degrees A-V block in series. He was recovered by conservative management without sequele.
Child, Preschool ; Digitalis* ; Digoxin ; Eating ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Male ; Poisoning* ; Suicide, Attempted ; Vomiting ; Young Adult

Tibric acid is a new oral hypolipidemic agent with the chemical name of 2-chloro-5(3,5-dimethyl piperidinosulfonyl) benzoic acid. The results of tibric acid administration in 22 patients with primary hyperlipidemia were as follows. 1) Serum triglyceride level was significantly decreased in 84.6% of 22 cases with an average 43.9% decrease in serum triglyceride. 2) Serum cholesterol level was decreased in 59.1% of 22 cases with an average 15.8% decrease in serum cholesterol. The decrease in serum cholesterol level was not significant. 3) It seemed that there were significant falls in the serum triglyceride of the hyperlipoproteinemia type IV and IIb patietns and in the serum cholesterol of type IIa patients 4) The side effects of tibric acid were indigestion, loose stool and anorexia. There was no side effects in 63.6% of cases.
Anorexia ; Benzoic Acid ; Cholesterol ; Dyspepsia ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IV ; Triglycerides

No abstract available.
Blood Flow Velocity* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

No abstract available.
Intestinal Obstruction*

Various classifications of congenital anomalies of the extremities and spine have been proposed and are in use. Some are based on anatomy, some on embryology, presumed etiology, or therapeutical approach. An ideal classification would help better understanding and treatment of various kinds of congenital anomalies. It should be simple, logical, and broad enough to include most of the congenital anomalies with minimal confusion. In this paper, we are proposing a functional classification of congenital anomalies of the extremities and spine based upon the concept that development of each organ is processed by differentiation and modulation according to the genetically determined information and by control mechanism at particular moment. We classified congenital anomalies into structural failure where quality of certain tissue is abnormal and functional failure where control mechanisms failed to regulate organogenesis. We divided structural failure into generalized and localized form while we divided functional failure into differentiation and modulation failures. Differentiation failure was subdivided as either forrnation failure or segmentation failure. Formation failure, segmentation failure, and modulation failure were specified according to the timing of failed inhibition and topography.
Classification ; Embryology ; Extremities ; Logic ; Organogenesis ; Spine

BACKGROUND: Despite remarkable progress of understanding the pathophysiology and therapy of bronchial asthma, asthma morbidity and mortality are on the rise. Also hospitalization and attending rates of emergency department for asthma have been increasing gradually. We analyzed clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients who visited emergency room due to asthma attack in order to define clinical characteristics of these group of patients. METHOD: We reviewed 105 adult asthmatic patients who attended emergency department of Korea University Hospital between August 1995 and July 1996, retrospectively. RESULTS: 103 patients(56 female, 47 males, mean age : 48.6 years) attended-68 self referral, 18 practitioner referral and 17 OPD transfer- and 86 patients(83.5%) were admitted. Attending emergncy department was clearly more frequent in December(13.6%) and May(12.6%). Time lag between onset of asthmatic attack and arrival at the hospital was 14.2 15.5 hour and initial peak expiratory flow rate was 166.7 68.3L/min.(43.3% predicted) The commonest cause for visiting emergency room was aggravation of asthma due to upper respiratory tract infection in mild asthmatics. About half of them had history of previous ER visits. Their prognosis was not bad, but after discharge, about half of patients escaped from OPD follow-up. CONCLUSION: As a group they merit detailed attention and follow up arrangement. Clinician need to monitor and review the treatment plans, the medications, the patient's management technique, and the level of asthma control. For this group, plans for longer term treatment, including asthma education program and adjustment of overall treatment plan should be made.
Adult ; Asthma ; Education ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mortality ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Prognosis ; Referral and Consultation ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; United Nations

May–Thurner syndrome (MTS), also known as iliac vein compression syndrome, is a condition, in which compression of the commonvenous outflow tract of the left lower extremity can cause discomfort, swelling, pain or blood clots in the iliofemoral veins. The problemis due to left common iliac vein compression by the overlying right common iliac artery. This paper describes the case of a 75-year-oldfemale with MTS after performing right total knee replacement arthroplasty. The authors diagnosed MTS through intravenous angiographyand angiographic computed tomography on swelling and pain of the left lower extremities after performing right total knee replacementarthroplasty. The thrombus was removed using a thrombolytic agent and mechanical thrombectomy, and an intravenous stent then insertedafter angioplasty. No case of MTS after performing total knee replacement arthroplasty has been reported in Korea. Therefore, this case isreported along with review of the relevant literature.

We shoud give attention to Wernicke's encephalopathy as a cause of sudden coma & respiratory arrest in patients, who are not usually suspected to develop the disorder and empirical treatment with thiamine in cases of coma of unknown cause is recommended. Respiratory stimulants, doxapram & aminophylline have an effect in assisting ventilatory weaning in patient with central hypoventilation as a complication of acute Wernicke's encephalopathy No previous reports where doxapram had been used to assist weaning from mechanical ventilation in adults were noted. Nor has newly developed central hypoventilation been identified as an impediment to weaning in literature to date in Korea. We reported a rare case of Wernicke's encephalopathy caused by poor oral intake & inadequate nutritional suppliment after car accident, showing acute coma & respiratory arrest and treated adequately by thiamine replacement & mechanical ventilation with respiratory stimulant.
Adult ; Aminophylline ; Coma* ; Doxapram ; Humans ; Hypoventilation ; Korea ; Malnutrition* ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory System Agents ; Thiamine ; Weaning ; Wernicke Encephalopathy*