PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects and complications of self-expandable metallic stent for the treatment of malignant esophagogastric strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 1991 to March 1995, 110 stents were placed under fluoroscopic guidance in 103 patients. Of the 103 patients, there were 73 patients with esophageal cancer, 14 patients with gastric cancer, 12 patients with recurrence after surgery, three patients with esophageal compression by metastatic mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and one patient with esophageal invasion by lung cancer. Seventeen patients had esophagorespiratory fistulas. Under fluoroscopic guidance, 113 self-expandable metallic stents (99 Song stents, 14 Strecker stents) were placed in 103 patients. RESULTS: After stent placement, 68 (66%) of the patients could ingest solid food, 26 (25.2%) could ingest soft food, whereas three (2.9%) were not able to have food. Esophagorespiratory fistulas were occluded immediately after stent insertion. All stents were placed without any technical failures or procedural morbidity or mortality. Complications included restenosis in 13, gastroesophageal reflux in 11, stent tube migration in eight, massive bleeding in four, delayed esophageal perforation in one, stent obstruction by food impaction in one patient. CONCLUSION: Self-expandable metallic stent seems to be relatively safe and effective procedure in the palliative treatment of malignant esophagogastric stricture.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophageal Perforation ; Fistula ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mortality ; Music ; Palliative Care* ; Recurrence ; Stents* ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate quality of sleep and to assess the factors that influence quality of sleep in surgical ICU. METHODS: The subject of the study were consisted 109 adult patients who admitted to surgical ICU. The data were collected from May 20 to December 10, 2007 by structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed with descriptive analysis, paired t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: The score of quality of sleep was 4.57 point. The main sleep disturbance factors related to quality of sleep in surgical ICU inpatient were sleep time, machinery alarm and noise(adjusted R2=33.2). CONCLUSION: Based on the finding of this study, it is needed to develop a nursing intervention program that including to promote quality of sleep and to decrease machinery alarm and noise in surgical ICU.
Adult ; Critical Illness ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Critical Care ; Noise ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Postoperative Complications*

Horseshoe kidney is a nonfatal anomaly of renal development characterized by fusion of one poles of both kidneys. Most clinical problems are caused by hydronephrosis and renal calculi. A case of horseshoe kidney with multiple renal stones and hydronephrosis in a 53 year-old woman is reported and literatures are reviewed. This case was diagnosed easily radiologically and treated successfully by pyelolithotomy & pyeloplasty.
Female ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis* ; Kidney Calculi ; Kidney* ; Middle Aged

No Abstract Available.

It may be the most important problem to keep the airway during general anesthetic procedure. The authors experienced a case of left segmental bronchial obstruction with foreign body during general anesthesia for right pneumonectomy on the position of left decubitus, which was successfully removed by fiberoptic bronchoscopic aspiration and atelectasis due to segmental bronchial obstrucion was completely cured by active management of I.P.P.B., inhalation of oxygen with humidification, endobronchial suction, and symptomatic medication.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, General ; Foreign Bodies* ; Inhalation ; Oxygen ; Pneumonectomy ; Pulmonary Atelectasis* ; Suction

No abstract available.
Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Immunity, Cellular* ; Immunoglobulin A*

No abstract available.
Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Immunity, Cellular* ; Immunoglobulin A*

No abstract available.
Blood Cells* ; Radionuclide Imaging*

PURPOSE: Facial paralysis is an uncommon but significant complication of chronic otitis media (COM). Surgical eradication of the disease is the most viable way to overcome facial paralysis therefrom. In an effort to guide treatment of this rare complication, we analyzed the prognosis of facial function after surgical treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 3435 patients with COM, who underwent various otologic surgeries throughout a period of 20 years, were analyzed retrospectively. Forty six patients (1.33%) had facial nerve paralysis caused by COM. We analyzed prognostic factors including delay of surgery, the extent of disease, presence or absence of cholesteatoma and the type of surgery affecting surgical outcomes. RESULTS: Surgical intervention had a good effect on the restoration of facial function in cases of shorter duration of onset of facial paralysis to surgery and cases of sudden onset, without cholesteatoma. No previous ear surgery and healthy bony labyrinth indicated a good postoperative prognosis. CONCLUSION: COM causing facial paralysis is most frequently due to cholesteatoma and the presence of cholesteatoma decreased the effectiveness of surgical treatment and indicated a poor prognosis after surgery. In our experience, early surgical intervention can be crucial to recovery of facial function. To prevent recurrent cholesteatoma, which leads to local destruction of the facial nerve, complete eradication of the disease in one procedure cannot be overemphasized for the treatment of patients with COM.
Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Facial Nerve/surgery ; Facial Nerve Diseases/*etiology/*surgery ; Facial Paralysis/*etiology/*surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otitis Media/*complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult