Postpartum hemorrhage is an important cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. Especially uterine atony is the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage. Conventional method to control postpartum uterine atonic bleeding is based on the use of oxytocin and ergot preparations. Prostaglandin F2alpha analogue such as carboprost can be used to promote contraction when these agents fail to produce uterine contraction. Prostaglandin E1 analogue, misoprostol has uterotonic effect by oral or vaginal administration. They are used to induce labor and first or mid trimester abortion. In postpartum uterine atonic bleeding, misoprostols cannot be used via oral or vaginal route. Recently we have experienced that postpartum uterine atonic bleedings unresponsive to conventional methods were controlled by rectal misoprostols. So we report these cases with a brief review of literatures.
Administration, Intravaginal ; Alprostadil ; Carboprost ; Dinoprost ; Hemorrhage* ; Maternal Mortality ; Misoprostol* ; Oxytocin ; Postpartum Hemorrhage ; Postpartum Period* ; Uterine Contraction ; Uterine Inertia

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between vaginal cytology and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. METHODS: In 93 postmenopausal women, vaginal cytology smears were taken for maturation index, serum estradiol level and bone mineral density were also taken. the percentage of each cell type found By vaginal cytology was multiplied to its specific value:superficial cells, 1.0; intermediate cell, 0.6; parabasal cell, 0.2 and modified to maturation value. Bone mineral density was measured at lumbar spine using DEXA. RESULTS: The mean bone mineral density was 0.88+/-0.14g/cm2. Mean maturation value was 50.53+/-20.74 and it was related with age and bone mineral density. CONCLUSION: Maturation value of vaginal epithelial cell represents the influence of estrogen on bone mineral density.
Bone Density* ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium* ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Spine

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of early operation in children with traumatic subdural hygroma. METHODS: The subjects were nine patients (Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score was below 10 and age was below 10 years old) who developed subdural hygroma after trauma between January 2000 to December 2002. Subduroperitoneal shunt was performed in one group and not performed in the other group. We analyzed the GCS score on admission and at 1 year after operation. Overall clinical results were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Patients who underwent operation exhibited higher GCS scores at 1 year after trauma compared to those in the patients who were treated by conservative therapy(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The early operation could be an effective treatment to children with subdural hygroma who showed delayed improvement of consciousness and to patients with hygroma that didn't decrease or was above moderate amount.
Child* ; Coma ; Consciousness ; Humans ; Lymphangioma, Cystic ; Retrospective Studies ; Subdural Effusion*

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of transdermal estrogen on arterial tone. METHODS: In 30 postmenopausal women, doppler ultrasound was used to assess blood flow characteristics in internal carotid arteries. As the pulsatility index(PI) represents impedance to blood flow distal to the point of sampling, pulsatility index of internal carotid artery was measured from the flow velocity waveform. Patients were studied pretreatment and at weeks 8, 12, and 24 of treatment with transdermal estradiol 50microgram/day. RESULTS: Blood pressure was not changed during transdermal estrogen replacement therapy. Serum estradiol was increased from 13.4+/-13.7pg/ml to 55.8+/-32.8pg/ml with week 8 of treatment and it was maintained until week 24. The mean pulsatility index was fallen to 0.1+/-0.1 during week 8 of therapy and a significant reduction in PI was maintained until week 24(p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: We believe that transdermal estrogen replacement therapy affects on the arterial tone and prevents cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women.
Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Electric Impedance ; Estradiol ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Humans ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES: A retrospective study was performed to clarify the change of lumbar bone mineral density(BMD) according to the duration of hormone replacement therapy(HRT) and the other factors such as age, years since menopause(YSM) and initial BMD in postmenopausal women. METHODS: From January, 1995 to December, 1998 we measured lumbar bone mineral density in 100 postmenopausal women in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Inha University Hospital. These women had been followed for 2 years after taking HRT. We investigated whether there were any relation between the duration of HRT, age, YSM, initial BMD and change of BMD. RESULTS: Lumbar BMD was increased 2.06% after one year of HRT(p=0.0001) but there was no change of BMD at the 2nd year of HRT(p=0.847). The response to HRT was greatest in those who were oldest(r=0.209 ; p=0.039) and furthest YSM(r=0.209; p=0.039), and consequently among those who had the lowest BMD(r=0.590 ; p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: The bone mass was increased upto 2.06% at the 1st year of HRT but no more progressive increase was occurred. It suggest that intensive HRT is needed at 1st year of therapy. The risk of fracture is not decreased to that of the healthy population inspite of HRT, so the earlier therapy is necessary to prevent osteoporotic fracture despite of intervention.
Bone Density* ; Female ; Gynecology ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Obstetrics ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Retrospective Studies

Purpose: The mean platelet volume (MPV) is regarded as a marker for thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and inflammation in various vascular diseases. However, it still remains unclear whether plasma MPV is associated with cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and cerebral microvascular pathology in the elderly population. Materials and Methods: We examined whether MPV level is associated with the presence of cerebral WMH on brain magnetic resonance imaging from 870 non-stroke outpatient subjects. The subjects were divided into three groups according to the consecutive level of MPV (low T1, middle T2, and high T3 MPV tertile groups). To determine the association of MPV levels with the WMH, logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were conducted. Results: Subjects with higher MPV level were older and more likely to have hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and low renal function. Cerebral WMH were more prevalent in subjects with higher MPV level. After adjusting for confounding factors, moderate to severe cerebral WMH were significantly associated with high MPV tertile level. This association remained significant after adjusting for other cerebral vascular pathologies. T2 [odds ratio (OR): 1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–2.15] and T3 MPV tertile groups (OR: 1.51, 95%CI: 1.04–2.20) had more cerebral WMH lesions compared to T1 MPV tertile group. In addition, the subjects with higher Fazekas scores showed higher MPV level (p=0.020). Conclusion We found that high MPV level is independently associated with cerebral WMH. This result suggests that platelet activation plays a role in the development of cerebral WMH.

A rare case of idiopathic subcortical intracerebral hematoma superimposed on the subarachnoid hemorrhage due to the rupture of an ipsilateral middle cerebral artery bifurcation aneurysm is reported and pertinent literatures are reviewed.
Aneurysm* ; Hematoma* ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Rupture ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage*

Prolapse of the fallopian tube into the vaginal vault after hysterectomy is a rare phenomenon and it occurs more frequently after vaginal hysterectomy than abdominal hysterectomy. The exact incidence of tubal prolapse is unknown, because most of cases remain undiagnosed and may resolve before detection. The tubal prolapse may be suspected when granulation tissue or tender friable tissue are detected in vaginal cuff in women complaining lower abdominal pain, dysparenunia, vaginal discharge, or postcoital spotting. The definitive diagnosis of fallopian tube prolapse is made only by histologic confirmation. Reported methods of treatment have included transvaginal excision or transabdominal excision, cautery, and combined vaginal and laparoscopic salpingectomy. We experienced a case of fallopian tube prolapse after abdominal hysterectomy in a 40-year-old woman. We present this case with a brief review of the literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Cautery ; Diagnosis ; Fallopian Tubes* ; Female ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal ; Incidence ; Metrorrhagia ; Prolapse* ; Salpingectomy ; Vaginal Discharge

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a life-threatening disease with high mortality. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of surgical embolectomy and to clarify the sustained long-term effects of surgery by comparing preoperative, postoperative, and long-term follow-up echocardiography outcomes. Of 22 survivors, 21 were followed up for a mean (median) period of 6.8±5.4 years (4.2 years). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 27 surgical embolectomy cases for massive or submassive acute PTE from 2003 to 2016. Immediate and long-term follow-up outcomes of surgical embolectomy were assessed on the basis of 30-day mortality, long-term mortality, postoperative complications, right ventricular systolic pressure, and tricuspid regurgitation grade. RESULTS: The 30-day and long-term mortality rates were 14.8% (4 of 27) and 4.3% (1 of 23), respectively. Three patients had major postoperative complications, including hypoxic brain damage, acute kidney injury, and endobronchial bleeding, respectively (3.7% each). Right ventricular systolic pressure (median [range], mm Hg) decreased from 62.0 (45.5–78.5) to 31.0 (25.7–37.0, p<0.001). The tricuspid valve regurgitation grade (median [range]) decreased from 1.5 (0.63–2.00) to 0.50 (0.50–1.00, p<0.05). The improvement lasted until the last echocardiographic follow-up. CONCLUSION: Surgical embolectomy revealed favorable mortality and morbidity rates in patients with acute massive or submassive PTE, with sustained long-term improvements in cardiac function.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Echocardiography ; Embolectomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypoxia, Brain ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Survivors ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a life-threatening disease with high mortality. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of surgical embolectomy and to clarify the sustained long-term effects of surgery by comparing preoperative, postoperative, and long-term follow-up echocardiography outcomes. Of 22 survivors, 21 were followed up for a mean (median) period of 6.8±5.4 years (4.2 years). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 27 surgical embolectomy cases for massive or submassive acute PTE from 2003 to 2016. Immediate and long-term follow-up outcomes of surgical embolectomy were assessed on the basis of 30-day mortality, long-term mortality, postoperative complications, right ventricular systolic pressure, and tricuspid regurgitation grade. RESULTS: The 30-day and long-term mortality rates were 14.8% (4 of 27) and 4.3% (1 of 23), respectively. Three patients had major postoperative complications, including hypoxic brain damage, acute kidney injury, and endobronchial bleeding, respectively (3.7% each). Right ventricular systolic pressure (median [range], mm Hg) decreased from 62.0 (45.5–78.5) to 31.0 (25.7–37.0, p<0.001). The tricuspid valve regurgitation grade (median [range]) decreased from 1.5 (0.63–2.00) to 0.50 (0.50–1.00, p<0.05). The improvement lasted until the last echocardiographic follow-up. CONCLUSION Surgical embolectomy revealed favorable mortality and morbidity rates in patients with acute massive or submassive PTE, with sustained long-term improvements in cardiac function.