PURPOSE: We compared the outcome of transurethral electro-vaporization of the prostate (TVP) with that of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in patient with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-four patients with BPH were treated with TVP (Group I) and sixty-two with TURP (Group II). Patients were assessed at baseline for both safety and efficacy and in follow-up at 1 and 3 months. Efficacy parameters evaluated included American Urological Association (AUA) symptom score, peak urinary flow rate (Qmax) and post-void residual urine volume (ml). Safety parameters evaluated included incidence of side effects, operative time, postoperative catheterization time, change in hematocrit and serum sodium. RESULTS: The mean prostate size was 28.4+/-4.8gm in GroupI and 37.1+/-5.3gm in Group II. The mean operation time was shorter in Group I (48.2+/-10.5min) than in Group II (75.2+/-32.6min) (p<0.05). The change of hematocrit (%) was lower in Group I (from 40.2+/-4.1 to 38.7+/-4.1) than in Group II (from 40.3+/-3.8 to 34.9+/-5.5), (p<0.05). The mean catheterization time was 3.2+/-1.2 days and 4.9+/-1.9 days (p<0.05). The change of peak urinary flow rate, post-void residual urine volume, AUA symptom score, incidence of postoperative complications was not significantly different between each group. CONCLUSIONS: Although the TURP is the gold standard for the treatment of symptomatic BPH with high success rate, significant morbidities are associated with this procedure. Our early clinical experience highlights several advantages of electro-vaporization, particulary the low incidence of postoperative morbidity.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Incidence ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Sodium ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate

No abstract available.

Crohn's disease is a rare inflammatory bowel disease in Korea which requires a differential diagnosis with intestinal tuberculosis. In the early stages of Crohn's diseaae, the combiation of bowel wall edema and spasm produces intermittent obstructive manifestations, so the usual subjective symptoms were appeared long standing diarrhea, low grade fever and abdominal pain and distension. We recently experienced a case of Crohn's colitis with repeated bowel obstruction in female adult who underwent surgical resection.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Colitis ; Crohn Disease* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea ; Edema ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Korea ; Spasm ; Tuberculosis

Crohn's disease is a rare inflammatory bowel disease in Korea which requires a differential diagnosis with intestinal tuberculosis. In the early stages of Crohn's diseaae, the combiation of bowel wall edema and spasm produces intermittent obstructive manifestations, so the usual subjective symptoms were appeared long standing diarrhea, low grade fever and abdominal pain and distension. We recently experienced a case of Crohn's colitis with repeated bowel obstruction in female adult who underwent surgical resection.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Colitis ; Crohn Disease* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea ; Edema ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Korea ; Spasm ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Facial involvement of psoriasis requires a different approach than that used for typical plaque psoriasis on other skin areas. Calcitriol ointment may improve lesions on the face without atrophy or other local side effects associated with the use of topical corticosteroids. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of calcitriol 3 microgram/g ointment for the treatment of facial psoriasis. METHODS: In the psoriasis clinic of Seoul National University Hospital, a total of 53 patients were treated with calcitriol 3 microgram/g for 8 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated by an investigator's assessment of the area and a severity index score of facial psoriasis at the 2nd, 4th, and 8th week. Global assessment was also determined at the 8th week. RESULTS: A total of 10 patients discontinued prematurely from the study, due to disappearing during follow-up treatment (n=9) and combined use of topical corticosteroids (n=1). The remaining patients showed the following response to treatment; excellent (n=10), good (n=14), fair (n=11), and poor (n=8). After 8 weeks of treatment with calcitriol ointment, clinical improvement was achieved in 81.4% of the patients. Among them, 55.8% showed excellent (23.3%) or good effect (32.5%) with calcitriol ointment. Five patients (11.6%) showed a local adverse reaction such as erythema, exfoliation, or an itching sensation, and 2 patients discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions. However, no patient showed telangiectasia, skin atrophy, or systemic side effects. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that calcitriol ointment is an effective and tolerable agent for treatment of psoriasis on the face.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Atrophy ; Calcitriol* ; Erythema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pruritus ; Psoriasis* ; Sensation ; Seoul ; Skin ; Telangiectasis

BACKGOUND: Narrow-band ultraviolet B (NBUVB) phototherapy has appeared to be effective in clearing psoriatic lesions. Calcipotriol has been combined with a number of the systemic antipsoriatic treatments, improving efficacy or reducing the systemic treatment required. OBJECTIVE: We performed calcipotriol-NBUVB combination therapy to evaluate the clinical efficacy and the safety in Korean psoriasis patients. METHOD: In the psoriasis clinic at Seoul National University Hospital, 69 psoriasis patients were treated with calcipotriol-NBUVB. Phototherapy was given once daily, three times a week, and the dose was gradually increased. Calcipotriol ointment was applied twice a day. The PASI score was used to evaluate the effects of the treatment and the patients were classified according to clearance, improvement, or failure. RESULTS: The therapeutic results showed 53.6% for clearance, 31.9% for improvement and 14.5% for failure. The total number, duration, final and cumulative doses to achieve grade IV were 16.1, 41.8days, 1487.3mJ/cm2, and 15234.5mJ/cm(2) respectively. Of 69 patients, 44 patients experienced variable adverse effects, but there was no significant adverse effect to discontinue the therapy. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that using calcipotriol ointment with NBUVB phototherapy is an effective therapeutic method for psoriatic patients.
Humans ; Phototherapy* ; Psoriasis ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic relapsing disorder which shows variable clinical features. A study of a large number of patients may unravel the epidemiological and clinical features of psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the epidemiological data and clinical features of psoriasis in a large number of Korean patients. METHODS: Epidemiological and clinical data, with particular reference to the extent and activity of the condition, in 3, 123 newly psoriatic patients registered between 1982 and 2002 were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The results can be summarized as follows: 1. In our psoriatic patients, 54.4% were male and 45.6% were female (1.2: 1). 2. The age of most frequent onset was in the third decade of life (31.8%). The peak age of onset in male was in their twenties, while it was in their teens in female patients, indicating an earlier onset in female. 3. Totally, 67.2% of patients developed psoriasis before their 30 years of age. The age of onset was earlier than 30 years in 62.7% of male patients, whereas in 72.5% of female patients. 4. Family history was observed in 25.8% of patients. 5. With reference to the extent of psoriasis, 37.5% of patients were mild cases whereas 45.3% were moderate and 17.2% were severe. 6. With reference to the activity, 41.5% of patients were mild cases, while 31.6% were moderate and 26.9% were severe. 7. The most common morphological features were nummular type (58.7%), followed by large plaque type (25.9%), and guttate type (10.3%). 8. Nail involvement was observed in 27.0% of patients. CONCLUSION: We investigated the epidemiological and clinical features of psoriasis in a large number of patients. These data one expected to be useful as references in the future.
Adolescent ; Age of Onset ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Psoriasis* ; Seoul*

BACKGROUND: In most brain operations, the endotracheal tube is kept in postoperatively for airway maintenance during radiologic examinations. But the endotracheal tube causes tracheal irritation and hemodynamic changes. Inhalation anesthetics can not be administered during transport, and minimal concentration is exhaled for several hours after the end of inhalation. The present study was designed : (1) to determine the end tidal isoflurane concentration after the end of administration ; (2) to investigate the effects of intravenous anesthetics in patients with tracheal intubation during radiologic examination postoperatively. METHODS: We selected forty adult patients who were scheduled for elective neurosurgical operation with postoperative brain CT (computerized tomography). The study was performed in 2 steps; in the step 1 (n = 10), end tidal isoflurane concentration was checked after ending inhalation. In the step 2 (n = 30), patients were divided into one of three groups according to anesthesia method; group I (using isoflurane), group P (change from isoflurane to propofol about an hour before operation end), group M (using midazolam instead of propofol, compared to group P). In each group, the frequency of bucking and incidence of hypertension were checked during postoperative radiologic examinations. RESULTS: Minimal concentrations of isoflurane were detected in exhaled gas for about 2 hours after the end of isoflurane inhalation. The frequency of bucking was significantly lower in the group P and M than in group I (P = 0.002). In group P, the incidence of hypertension was significantly reduced compared to group M and I (P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the change of anesthetic technique (from inhalation to intravenous) in the late period of operation, provides postoperative hemodynamic stability, a more comfortable state and minimal environmental pollution in comparison to inhalation anesthesia only.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Inhalation ; Anesthesia, Intravenous* ; Anesthetics, Inhalation ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; Brain ; Environmental Pollution ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Inhalation ; Intubation ; Isoflurane ; Midazolam ; Propofol

BACKGROUND: In most brain operations, the endotracheal tube is kept in postoperatively for airway maintenance during radiologic examinations. But the endotracheal tube causes tracheal irritation and hemodynamic changes. Inhalation anesthetics can not be administered during transport, and minimal concentration is exhaled for several hours after the end of inhalation. The present study was designed : (1) to determine the end tidal isoflurane concentration after the end of administration ; (2) to investigate the effects of intravenous anesthetics in patients with tracheal intubation during radiologic examination postoperatively. METHODS: We selected forty adult patients who were scheduled for elective neurosurgical operation with postoperative brain CT (computerized tomography). The study was performed in 2 steps; in the step 1 (n = 10), end tidal isoflurane concentration was checked after ending inhalation. In the step 2 (n = 30), patients were divided into one of three groups according to anesthesia method; group I (using isoflurane), group P (change from isoflurane to propofol about an hour before operation end), group M (using midazolam instead of propofol, compared to group P). In each group, the frequency of bucking and incidence of hypertension were checked during postoperative radiologic examinations. RESULTS: Minimal concentrations of isoflurane were detected in exhaled gas for about 2 hours after the end of isoflurane inhalation. The frequency of bucking was significantly lower in the group P and M than in group I (P = 0.002). In group P, the incidence of hypertension was significantly reduced compared to group M and I (P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the change of anesthetic technique (from inhalation to intravenous) in the late period of operation, provides postoperative hemodynamic stability, a more comfortable state and minimal environmental pollution in comparison to inhalation anesthesia only.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Inhalation ; Anesthesia, Intravenous* ; Anesthetics, Inhalation ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; Brain ; Environmental Pollution ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Inhalation ; Intubation ; Isoflurane ; Midazolam ; Propofol

No abstract available.
Neurofibroma, Plexiform* ; Urinary Bladder*