OBJECTIVES: The most often perfomed major operation in gynecology is hysterectomy.Our purpose was to compare the indications, charateristics and outcomes of patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy and total vaginal hysterectomy and to help to establish guidelines to determine the route of hysterectomy. METHOD: The hospital charts of 400 women who underwent elective inpatient hysterectomy at Kyung-Hee University hospital from January 1994 to January 1999, were abstracted retrospectively. Data were collected regarding patients, age, parity, preoperative indications, the route of hysterectomy, uterine weight, operative and postoperative complications and the length of stay. The operative indications were benign uterine disease except from uterine prolapse. Bisection or combined morcellation were used in most cases to obtain reduction in uterine size. RESULT: Patients in whom the vaginal route was successful included 18% of those with uterine weights exceeding 280gm. There was statistically significant difference for uterine weight, operative time, bleeding amount, the length of stay in two camparative group. 4% of vaginal hysterectomy and 7% of total abdominal hysterectomy has documented operative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal hysterectomy is safe operation with few intraoperative and postoperative complications without notable blood loss. Vaginal hysterectomy allow one to shorten the operating time and allows early postoperative discharge of some patients from hospital. Skilled performance of vaginal hysterectomy is worth greater attention and should be used more often in gynecological study.
Female ; Gynecology ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal ; Inpatients ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Parity ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Statistics as Topic* ; Uterine Diseases ; Uterine Prolapse ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Female ; Lymphoma* ; Ovary*

No abstract available.
Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Pre-Eclampsia* ; Toxemia*

No abstract available.
Aneurysm, Infected ; Aorta, Abdominal

'I'he adult form of myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the presence of anti-acetylcholine receptor immunoglobulin G antibodies (anti-ACHRIgG) which blocks the formation of acetylcholine at the motor end plate and causes anatomic deterioration of this structure. 'I'he end result is defective neuromuscular transmission manifested by progressive skeletal muscle weakness. We have experienced a full term pregnancy complicated with the myasthenia gravis. We experienced a case of myathenia gravis associated with pregnancy who underwent cesarean section. The case is presented here with a brief review of literatures concerned.
Acetylcholine ; Adult ; Antibodies ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Motor Endplate ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Pregnancy*

It is well recognized that radiation can be carcinogenic for a wide variety of tumors, especially, in breast, thyroid, and bone marrow which appear to be radiosensitive. The criteria for establishing the dignosis of radiation- induced malignancy are the knowledge of prior irradiation and the appearance of a malignancy in the irradiated area. We report a case of carcinoma of the thyroid and esophagus following prior neck irradiation for thyroid mass.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/*etiology ; Esophageal Neoplasms/*etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neck/*radiation effects ; *Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced ; Thyroid Neoplasms/*etiology

OBJECTIVES: Vaginal birth or trial of labor after previous cesarean section has become one of the most remarkable changes in obstetric practice. The safety and efficacy of a trial of labor and vaginal birth after previous cesarean are well documented. The purpose of this report is to predict the likelihood of vaginal birth in patients undergoing a trial of labor after previous cesarean delivery using factors known at the time of hospital admission. METHOD: In this retrospective study, 120 women who attempted vaginal birth at Kyung-Hee University Hospital from March 1997 to March 1999. An attempt to identify possible prognostic factors for success of such a trial was made and we evaluated the variables of significant predictive value and the patients' characteristics in the success group and failure group of women who attempted VBAC. RESULT: 87 cases(72.5%) in 120 cases succeeded in VBAC and 33 cases(27.5%) failed. In this comparative groups in VBAC, there was significant difference in CPD index(cephalopelvic disproportion index) and Bishop score, but no significant difference in gestational age, the estimated fetal weight by sonography and newborn birth weight. CONCLUSION: In this study, Bishop score and CPD index and age may be useful and valid predictor of success in VBAC and this information could be particularly valuable. The CPD index may prove most important in determining if a vaginal birth should occur after a cesarean section because it can clearly identify some patients who need a repeat cesarean section.
Birth Weight ; Cesarean Section ; Cesarean Section, Repeat ; Female ; Fetal Weight ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Trial of Labor ; Vaginal Birth after Cesarean*

Diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) is an uncommon motility disorder of unknown etiology in which the abnormal motility has been offered as a possible cause for the patient's dysphagia or chest pain. Esophageal manometry is the gold standard for the diagnosis of DES and the diagnostic hallmark is identification of simultaneous contractions in at least 20% of wet swallows, alternating with normal peristalsis. Recently, a new diagnostic technique, high-resolution manometry has been reported to improve the accuracy and detail in describing esophageal function. We report a female patient with intermittent dysphagia and chest pain occurring only when swallowing a large amount of water. On HRM, this patient had esophageal spasms, increased pressurization front velocity attributable to rapid contractile wave front, associated with symptoms, which were provoked by a multiple rapid swallowing test, and thereby was diagnosed with DES.
Chest Pain ; Contracts ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Spasm, Diffuse ; Female ; Humans ; Manometry ; Peristalsis ; Swallows ; Water

OBJECTIVES: The Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale designed to measure the subjective experience of stigma with sub-scales measuring Alienation, Stereotype Endorsement, Perceived Discrimination, Stigma Resistance, and Social withdrawal. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Korean version of ISMI. METHODS: The subjects were 194 schizophrenic patients and 205 peoples with depressive disorder. K-ISMI, CES-D (The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) and Self Esteem scale were performed. RESULTS: Results showed that the ISMI had high internal consistence and split-half reliabilities. The internal consistency coefficients (Cronbach alpha) of each subscale ranged from .83 to .93. The validity of the ISMI was investigated by principal axis factoring analysis, yielding 5 factors of alienation, perceived discrimination, negative stereotype, stigma resistance, devaluation and social withdrawal. 5 subscales explained 60.67% of total variance. Concurrent validity was supported by comparisons against scales measuring related constructs. As expected, the ISMI had positive correlations with CES-D, and it had negative correlation with self-esteem scale. Subsidiary analysis showed that schizophrenic patients showed higher internalized stigma than depressed patients. CONCLUSION: Overall, the findings support the utility of ISMI as a tool to evaluate internalized stigma of persons with mental illness. Interventions that can lessen internalized stigma may well hasten the recovery process in individuals with mental illness.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Self Concept ; Weights and Measures