Spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to solitary spinal aneurysm is extremely rare. A 45-year-old female patient visited the emergency department with severe headache and back pain. Imaging studies showed cerebral SAH in parietal lobe and spinal SAH in thoracolumbar level. Spinal angiography revealed a small pearl and string-like aneurysm of the Adamkiewicz artery at the T12 level. One month after onset, her back pain aggravated, and follow-up imaging study showed arachnoiditis. Two months after onset, her symptoms improved, and follow-up imaging study showed resolution of SAH. The present case of spinal SAH due to rupture of dissecting aneurysm of the Adamkiewicz artery underwent subsequent spontaneous resolution, indicating that the wait-and-see strategy may provide adequate treatment option.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Angiography ; Arachnoid ; Arachnoiditis ; Arteries ; Back Pain ; Emergencies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Parietal Lobe ; Spine ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

PURPOSE: The goal of the present study was to compare the stability of the 3-piece (Tecnis ZA9003) and single-piece (AcrySof IQ) aspheric intraocular lenses (IOL) by testing decentration, tilt, anterior chamber depth, and refraction. METHODS: The subjects of this study consisted of 101 eyes who had undergone cataract surgeries with a 3-piece aspheric IOL (54 eyes) and with a single-piece aspheric IOL (47 eyes). The decentration, tilt, anterior chamber depth, and refraction were measured on postoperative day 1, 1 month, and 2 months, using an anterior eye segment analysis system (EAS-1000, Nidek, Japan). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the decentration on the postoperative day 1 (p = 0.04). However, there was no statistically significant difference on postoperative 1 month (p = 0.15) and 2 months (p = 0.13). There was no statistically significant difference in the tilt on postoperative day 1, 1 month, and 2 months. There was no statistically significant difference in the anterior chamber depth on postoperative day 1, 1 month, and 2 months. There was a statistically significant difference in the refraction on postoperative day 1 (p = 0.03). However, there was no statistically significant difference on postoperative 1 month (p = 0.07) and 2 months (p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference in the decentration, anterior chamber depth, and refraction between the 3-piece and single-piece aspheric IOL. Therefore, there is no difference between the 3-piece and single-piece aspheric IOL in the capsular bag stability until 2 months postoperatively.
Anterior Chamber ; Anterior Eye Segment ; Cataract ; Eye ; Lenses, Intraocular

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) strategy is proposed to reduce the ventilator-induced lung injury in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). As ECMO use has increased, a number of studies on prognostic factors have been published. Age is estimated to be an important prognostic factor. However, clinical evidences about ECMO use in elderly patients are limited. Therefore, we investigated clinical courses and outcomes of ECMO in elderly patients with ARDS. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of patients with severe ARDS who required ECMO support. Study patients were classified into an elderly group (> or = 65 years) and a non-elderly group (< 65 years). Baseline characteristics, ECMO related outcomes and associated factors were retrospectively analyzed according to group. RESULTS: From February 2011 to June 2013, a total of 31 patients with severe ARDS were treated with ECMO. Overall, 14 (45.2%) were weaned from ECMO, 9 (29.0%) survived to the general ward and 7 (22.6%) survived to discharge. Among the 18 elderly group patients, 7 (38.9%) were weaned from ECMO, 4 (22.2%) were survived to the general ward and 2 (11.1%) were survived to discharge. Overall intensive care unit survival was inversely correlated with concomitant acute kidney injury or septic shock. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, ECMO outcome was poor in severe ARDS patients aged over 65 years. Therefore, the routine use of ECMO in elderly patients with severe ARDS is not warranted except in highly selective cases.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Aged* ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Medical Records ; Patients' Rooms ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult* ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock, Septic ; Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury

BACKGROUND: Monitoring of "Depth of anesthesia" is an ongoing problem in anaesthesia. In this study, the author has compared the bispectral index (BIS) and Anemon monitor for monitoring depth of anesthesia in propofol or isoflurane anesthesia. METHODS: Anemon-1 and BIS index were obtained from 24 patients (ASA I, II) during general anesthesia with propofol or isoflurane. For patients in the propofol group, anesthesia was induced with fentanyl 100ng followed by propofol 2 mg/Kg. For patients in the isoflurane group, anesthesia was induced with thiopental 5 mg/Kg. The author observed changes of these values at 5 major times: before induction, during induction, after induction, at sKin incision, before extubation, after extubation. RESULTS: The anemon index showed a significant increase during induction (propofol group: 86.9 +/- 26.4, isoflurane group: 106.0 +/- 18.6) and at sKin incision (propofol group: 89.9 +/- 22.7, isoflurane group: 92.0 +/- 23.1), but this did not correlate with the level of consciousness. The BIS index showed a significant decrease in the score after induction (propofol group: 55.0 +/- 9.6, isoflurane group: 61.0 +/- 17.2), but no response to surgical stimuli. CONCLUSIONS: BIS had a good correlation with level of consciousness. The Anemon-1 index was recognized to reflect invasive stimulus. As the BIS and Anemon-1 had no correlation, it was not possible to assume changes of each index from the other. Both the anemon-1 index and BIS are useful to monitor the anesthesia level during surgery.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Consciousness ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Isoflurane ; Propofol ; Skin ; Thiopental

Trochlear nerve palsy associated with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is known to be a rare malady. We report here on a patient who suffered with left trochlear nerve palsy following rupture of a right posterior communicating artery aneurysm. A 56-year-woman visited our emergency department with stuporous mental change. Her Hunt-and-Hess grade was 3 and the Fisher grade was 4. Cerebral angiography revealed a ruptured aneurysm of the right posterior communicating artery. The aneurysm was clipped via a right pterional approach on the day of admission. The patient complained of diplopia when she gazed to the left side, and the ophthalmologist found limited left inferolateral side gazing due to left superior oblique muscle palsy on day 3. Elevated intracranial pressure, intraventricular hemorrhage or a dense clot in the basal cisterns might have caused this trochlear nerve palsy.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Arteries ; Cerebral Angiography ; Diplopia ; Emergencies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Intracranial Hypertension ; Muscles ; Paralysis ; Rupture ; Stupor ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Trochlear Nerve ; Trochlear Nerve Diseases

An intracranial hemorrhage is a fatal complication associated with general anesthesia. It can occur in patients with an intracranial aneurysm, hypertension, cerebral vascular malformation, and blood dyscrasia, etc. A sudden hemodynamic change during intubation and extubation in general anesthesia is dangerous, particularly in these patients. We encountered an intraventricular hemorrhage in a 42 year old pregnant woman after a cesarean section. The patient was induced with 300 mg of thiopental and 45 mg of rocuronium. The anesthesia was maintained with N2O/O2 and sevoflurane after endotracheal intubation. Five hours after surgery, the patient had a seizure at the ward. A MRI and CT scan of the brain showed a right intraventricular and basal ganglia hematoma. The CT 3-D brain angiography showed an unruptured small aneurysm on the right posterior communicating artery.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Hematoma ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Seizures ; Thiopental ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vascular Malformations

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between removable dentures and swallowing and describe risks. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with removable dentures who were referred for videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) were enrolled. We evaluated the change of swallowing function using VFSS before and after the removal of the removable denture. The masticatory performance by Kazunori's method, sensation of oral cavity by Christian's method, underlying disease, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale for level of consciousness were collected. Functional dysphagia scales, including the oral transit time (OTT), pharyngeal transit time (PTT), percentage of oral residue, percentage of pharyngeal residue, oropharyngeal swallow efficiency (OPSE), and presence of aspiration were measured. RESULTS: Four patients dropped out and 20 patients were analyzed (stroke, 13 patients; pneumonia, 3 patients; and others, 4 patients). The mean age was 73.3+/-11.4 years. There were significant differences before and after the removal of the denture for the OTT. OTT was significantly less after the removal of the denture (8.87 vs. 4.38 seconds, p=0.01). OPSE increased remarkably after the removal of the denture, but without significance (18.24%/sec vs. 25.26%/sec, p=0.05). The OTT and OPSE, while donning a removable denture, were correlated with the masticatory performance (OTT, p=0.04; OPSE, p=0.003) and sensation of oral cavity (OTT, p=0.006; OPSE, p=0.007). CONCLUSION: A removable denture may have negative effects on swallowing, especially OTT and OPSE. These affects may be caused by impaired sensation of the oral cavity or masticatory performance induced by the removable denture.
Consciousness ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Denture, Partial, Removable ; Dentures ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Mouth ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Pneumonia ; Sensation ; Stroke ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the usability of and satisfaction with two types of computer-aided design (CAD) software among users who had experience with dental implant CAD software and those who did not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dental technicians (n = 20) who had previous experience with dental implant CAD Software and students from the College of Dentistry (n = 12) who had never designed implant custom abutments were asked to evaluate two types of CAD Software, Exocad and Deltanine. In addition, the participants were asked to fill out a structured questionnaire (Section 1: Entering basic information and retrieving files; Section 2: Setting conditions before abutment design; Section 3: Setting abutment design; and Section 4: Overall satisfaction). For the statistical analysis of the collected data, Mann-Whitney U test was used (α = .05). RESULTS: The ease of design and satisfaction with the implant CAD Software, evaluated with respect to 21 statements divided into four Stages, were significantly higher for Exocad in both groups for Secion 1. For Sections 2 and 3, participants with experience evaluated Deltanine to be significantly better. For Section 4, both groups evaluated Exocad Software to be better. CONCLUSION: Overall, the Exocad Software was evaluated as having better usability and offering greater satisfaction. However, in terms of performance in the core of the design process, i.e. Sections 2 and 3, Deltanine was rated higher by the experienced users. Thus, if the user interface design parts are supplemented, Deltanine CAD Software could be put to a wider use in clinics.
Computer-Aided Design ; Dental Implants ; Dental Technicians ; Dentistry ; Humans

Background/Aims: Sedation has become a standard practice for patients undergoing gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. However, considering the serious cardiopulmonary adverse events associated with sedatives, it is important to identify patients at high risk. Machine learning can generate reasonable prediction for a wide range of medical conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with sedation during GI endoscopy and develop a predictive model for hypoxia during endoscopy under sedation. Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled 446 patients who underwent sedative endoscopy at the Korea University Ansan Hospital. Clinical data were used as predictor variables to construct predictive models using the random forest method that is a machine learning algorithm. Results: Seventy-two of the 446 patients (16.1%) experienced life-threatening hypoxia requiring immediate medical intervention. Patients who developed hypoxia had higher body weight, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference, and Mallampati scores. Propofol alone and higher initial and total dose of propofol were significantly associated with hypoxia during sedative endoscopy. Among these variables, high BMI, neck circumference, and Mallampati score were independent risk factors for hypoxia. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the random forest-based predictive model for hypoxia during sedative endoscopy was 0.82 (95% confidence interval, 0.79–0.86) and displayed a moderate discriminatory power. Conclusions High BMI, neck circumference, and Mallampati score were independently associated with hypoxia during sedative endoscopy. We constructed a model with acceptable performance for predicting hypoxia during sedative endoscopy.

A 59-year-old man with multifocal cerebral infarction was found to have the large obstructive mitral valvular mass. Although benign tumor was under suspicion before surgery, he was finally diagnosed as chronic infective endocarditis by microscopic evaluation. The precise diagnosis and the proper management of a cardiac mass are very important since even the benign tumor may cause fatal complications. However, primary cardiac mass has the broad spectrum from pseudo-tumor to malignancy and the differential diagnosis using non-invasive methods is not easy even with the currently available imaging techniques.
Cerebral Infarction ; Diagnosis* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endocarditis ; Humans ; Middle Aged