Rheumatoid nodules are the most common extra-articular presentations of rheumatoid arthritis. Although rheumatoid nodules can develop anywhere in the body, they develop most commonly in the subcutaneous region, where they are easily exposed to repetitive trauma or pressure. However, an infrascapular presentation has not yet been reported. We report a case of giant bilateral rheumatoid nodules that developed in the infrascapular area, complicating its distinction from elastofibroma dorsi on radiological examination.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic and systemic disease involving the axial skeleton. In patients with involved cervical spine ankylosing spondylitis, endotracheal intubation by direct laryngoscope may be difficult because they have a limitation of cervical movement and anatomical anomalies. We experienced the evaluation of thirteen patients with involved cervical spine ankylosing spondylitis by the Mallampati classification, Cormack and Lehane grade, thyromental distance and orolaryngeal angle. By Mallampati class and Cormack and Lehane grade, patients were almost class 3 or 4. Thyromental distance was 5.3 +/- 0.4 cm, and orolaryngeal angle was 90.4 +/- 8.0o.
Airway Management* ; Anesthesia* ; Classification ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laryngoscopes ; Skeleton ; Spine* ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing*

The cardiac pacemaker has been implanted for patients with debilitating low cardiac output associated heart block. Modern technology has provided advanced, controllable and simple cardiac pacemakers throughout the world. The patient with a cardiac pacemaker implanted could give anestheaiolgists many associated problems during the operation and anesthesia. During anesthesia an anesthesiologist should be able to manage the problems which might occur because of a cardiac pacemaker by varicus origins. Authors have experienced a case of open reduction for malunioned femur fracture with a cardiac pacemaker implanted.
Anesthesia ; Cardiac Output, Low ; Femur ; Heart Block ; Humans

The cardiac pacemaker has been implanted for patients with debilitating low cardiac output associated heart block. Modern technology has provided advanced, controllable and simple cardiac pacemakers throughout the world. The patient with a cardiac pacemaker implanted could give anestheaiolgists many associated problems during the operation and anesthesia. During anesthesia an anesthesiologist should be able to manage the problems which might occur because of a cardiac pacemaker by varicus origins. Authors have experienced a case of open reduction for malunioned femur fracture with a cardiac pacemaker implanted.
Anesthesia ; Cardiac Output, Low ; Femur ; Heart Block ; Humans

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic sinusitis is a common disease in otolaryngology, but its pathologic mechanism has not been clearly known. Also, the evaluation method for the severity of chronic sinusitis is not established. The aim of this study was to analyze possible factors associated with the correlation between the radiological and pathological severity of chronic sinusitis. In addition, we assessed the profiles of inflammatory cells in the sinus mucosa and peripheral blood eosinophils in relation to the overall pathologic grades and OMU CT findings. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Fifty specimens of pathologic sinus mucosa, obtained during endoscopic sinus surgery were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Total inflammatory cells, plasma cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes and eosinophils were quantified. The preoperative OMU CT scans were scored by the staging system of Lund-Mackay. Also, the preoperative percentage of eosinophils in peripheral white blood cells were obtained with the complete blood count with differentiation. RESULTS: The count of total inflammatory cells, lymphocytes and eosinophils infiltrated in the diseased sinus mucosa correlated significantly with the severity of the pathologic grades and OMU CT scores. In addition, the CT scores assessed by Lund-Mackay system correlated significantly with the severity of the pathologic grades. CONCLUSION: The important indicators of the severity of the chronic inflammation in chronic sinusitis were OMU CT scores, overall pathologic grades, and total inflammatory cells, lymphocytes and eosinophils infiltrated in sinus mucosa.
Blood Cell Count ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Eosinophils ; Hematoxylin ; Inflammation* ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Mucous Membrane ; Neutrophils ; Otolaryngology ; Plasma Cells ; Sinusitis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Mucous membrane plasmacytosis is a rare benign condition characterized by plasma cell infiltration of the mucosa of upper aerodigestive tract. The lesions typically produce a cobblestone or warty appearance of the larynx, pharynx, palate, lips, mouth, tongue and trachea. Histologically, the lesions are characterized by a diffuse expanse of inflammatory cells situated in submucosal tissues, composed mainly of mature plasma cells with scattered polymorphonuclear cells and lymphocytes. Immunohistochemistry for kappa, lambda light chain showed polyclonal immunoglobulin content in all cases examined. A variety of medical and surgical treatments have been tried but none has led to improvement in the condition. In this study, we report, with a review of literature, a mucous membrane plasmacytosis arising from oropharynx in a 30 year-old female patient.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunohistochemistry ; Larynx ; Lip ; Lymphocytes ; Mouth ; Mucous Membrane* ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms ; Oropharynx* ; Palate ; Pharynx ; Plasma Cells ; Tongue ; Trachea

Osteoma is a slowly growing benign tumor composed of compact or cancellous bone and usually found in paranasal sinuses. Lobular capillary hemangioma is a rapidly growing lesion usually affecting skin and oral mucosa. Both lesions may occur at any age group but most frequently in the third decade. The authors experienced a case of concurrent osteoma and lobular capillary hemangioma in the middle turbinate, which were removed via endonasal endoscopic approach. Concerning our case, we speculate that the slow growth of the osteoma may have caused inflammatory change on nasal mucosa, resulting in lobular capillary hemangioma. We report a case with a review of literatures.
Granuloma, Pyogenic* ; Hemangioma, Capillary ; Humans ; Mouth Mucosa ; Nasal Mucosa ; Osteoma* ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Skin ; Turbinates*

An 88-year-old woman complained of right quadrant abdominal pain and severe edema in both legs. She had a history of pulmonary embolism one month ago. Abdomen CT showed a huge hepatic cyst compressing the intrahepatic portion of the inferior vena cava (IVC). The venogram CT showed multifocal thrombosis in the iliocaval and both lower extremity veins. Percutaneous hepatic cyst drainage was carried out. Fluid analysis presented leukocytosis, which suggested an infected hepatic cyst. To prevent secondary pulmonary thromboembolism, an IVC filter was inserted before catheter drainage for the hepatic cyst. One week later, abdominal pain was relieved. Then, sclerotherapy for the remnant hepatic cyst was performed by ethanol. Follow-up CT showed an increased amount of thrombosis in the iliocaval and left calf vein, but the IVC filter prevented another thromboembolic event successfully. The patient started dabigatran, a new oral anticoagulant, and compression stockings were applied to both legs. After one month, no visible thrombosis in the pelvis or either extremity was detected in abdominal CT. This case suggests that a huge hepatic cyst, especially with infection, should be considered as a possible cause of deep vein thrombosis if no other risk factors for thromboembolism exist.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Aged, 80 and over ; Catheters ; Dabigatran ; Drainage* ; Edema ; Ethanol ; Extremities ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leg ; Leukocytosis ; Liver ; Lower Extremity ; Pelvis ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Risk Factors ; Sclerotherapy ; Stockings, Compression ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Veins ; Vena Cava Filters* ; Vena Cava, Inferior* ; Venous Thrombosis*

Ectopic varices are rare among patients with portal hypertension, especially in the ascending colon. It is difficult to evaluate massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis by colonoscopy due to hemodynamic instability and poor bowel preparation. In Korea, there has only been one case report about ascending colon variceal bleeding, in which hemostasis was performed by venous coil embolization. We report another rare case of ascending colon variceal bleeding in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis, who was successfully treated via two sessions of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection through colonoscopy. This case suggests that the careful endoscopic approach and hemostasis with glue injection might be an option for treating massive bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal varix.
Adhesives ; Colon, Ascending* ; Colonoscopy ; Cyanoacrylates ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Enbucrilate* ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic ; Varicose Veins

BACKGROUND: In general anesthesia, a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) is used to prevent hypothermia and to maintain humidity of inspired gas. We hypothesized that after using a HME expiratory tidal volume decreases because a HME traps the expired vapor.The aim of this study was to evaluate the humidity of expired gas and to investigate the accuracy of tidal volume monitoring. METHODS: Forty patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were randomly allocated into two groups.Group P (n = 20) used Pall Breathing filter (pall BB25, ACE medical, Korea) and Group H (n = 20) used Hygrobac S (Mallinckrodt Dar, Mirandola, Italy) between endotracheal tube and Y-piece.And with same kind of ventilator, we measured expiratory tidal volume, temperature and relative humidity at before and after HEM.And we recorded expiratory tidal volume monitored by ventilator with and without HME. RESULTS: The relative humidity was significantly higher at before using HEM than after using HEM in both group.The temperature in Group H was higher when measured at before HME but not in Group P.The measured expiratory tidal volume at before and after HEM was not significantly different. The tidal volume monitored by ventilator with HEM was significantly smaller than without HEM, by 3.1% in Group P and 5.3% in Group H. CONCLUSIONS: The HMEs improve inspiratory humidity and temperature of anesthetic gas.But monitored expiratory tidal volume was underestimated when using HMEs.
Anesthesia, General ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Humidity ; Hypothermia ; Respiration ; Tidal Volume ; Ventilators, Mechanical