BACKGROUND: The improved technique for cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) has resulted in the survival of many patient who experienced cardiac arrest. However, mortality in resuscitated patients is high, and the survival rate without brain damage is very low. Various neurological examination models, neuro-imaging techniques, electrophysiological procedures, and biochemical tests have been studied with respect to the detection of cerebral damage and outcome, but an early, reliable prediction of individual outcomes is still uncertain. METHODS: We studied twenty patient who had been in a coma for more than 24 hours after CPR, Somatosensory evoked potentials(SEP) were measured within the first three days after CPR. RESULTS: Of the twenty patients, seven patients(35%) had a good outcome, and thirteen patients(65%) had a bad outcome. Of the eleven patients with loss of the cortical evoked potential's N20 peak, all had a bad outcome. CONCLUSION: SEPs are of great benefit in prognostic evaluation after CPR.
Brain ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Coma* ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory* ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Mortality ; Neurologic Examination ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Methemoglobinemia(MetHb) induced by dapsone overdose is not uncommon in Korea, especially in rural area. For treatment of dapsone-induced methemoglobinemia, methylene blue(MB) and activated charcoal(AC) should be used. To date, no reports have compared the amount of MB used between MB alone with MB & AC combined group(MB+AC). And also between moderate (MetHb<35%) and severe (MetHb>35%) intoxicated group defined by initial MetHb level. Authors hypothesized that less amount of MB can be used if MB and AC was used together and larger amount of MB is necessary to reduce MetHb level to asymptomatic level in severely intoxicated group. METHODS: From Jan 1990 to Dec 1996, a total of 54 patients who received treatment for dapsone intoxication were subject of study, The study was done retrospective chart analysis for initial MetHb level, total amount of MB and AC. Wilcoxon rank sum test and Chi-sqiare test was used to compare the total dosage of MB used for each group. Linear regression analysis was used between initial MetHb and the total amount of MB. Results were considered statistically significant when p<0.05. RESULTS: For MB alone and MB+AC group, the differences in total amount of MB used were statistically significant with mean dosage of 7.14+/-1.1mg/kg and 4.28+/-0.7mg/kg, respectively. And total amount of MB used between moderate and severe intoxicated group, the differences were statistically significant with mean dosage of 5.16+/-1.1mg/kg vs. 10.98+/-1.9mg/kg, respectively. There was significant correlation between initial MetHb level (X) and the amount of methylene blue (Y), Y=0.3X-2.42 (r2=0.41, p=0.0001) in MB alone, Y=0.186X-1.95(r2=0.21, p=0.034) in MB+AC respectively. CONCLUSION: For methemoglobinemia induced by dapsone, total amount of MB can be reduced especially in severe Intoxicated group if AC use was combined in treatment modality. There was significant correlationship between initial MetHb level and total amount of MB used.
Charcoal* ; Dapsone* ; Humans ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Methemoglobinemia ; Methylene Blue* ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: The pediatric CPR is rather uncommon practice than adult CPR in emergency room. Therefore, few interest and studies were focused in pediatric CPR. The object of this study is to make an analysis about pediatric CPR performed within hospital setting. METHOD: From January 1. 1990 to December 31. 1996, a total of 59 patients, less than 15-year-old, who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation were subject of this study. The study was done retrospective chart analysis for sex, age, weight, the place of cardiac arrest, initial EKG rhythms, endotracheal tube size, the causes of arrest, CPR time, ROSC, the amount and types of CPR drugs used during resuscitation. Wilcoxon rank sum test and chi2 test were used to compare the dose of drugs during CPR in each group. RESULTS: There were no statistical difference between ROSC and non-ROSC group in place of arrest, initial EKG rhythms, CPR time, dosage of CPR drugs. CONCLUSION: The uniform reporting guideline of pediatric advanced life support should be used for future pediatric CPR study, such as Utstein style guideline in pediatric CPR.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Electrocardiography ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Resuscitation ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUNDS: Reflux esophagitis has been known to be a frequent complication after a total gastrectomy. Reflux esophagitis is very annoying to the patients, so various types of reconstructions has been introduced to eliminate this complication. METHODS: This study is a retrospective clinical analysis of 34 patients with gastric cancer who were treated with a total gastrectomy from January 1989 to December 1997 at the Department of Surgery, Seoul Adventist Hospital. RESULTS: During 9 years, the operation was performed on 194 patients with gastric cancer, amomg which 34 (17.3%) were total gastrectomies. The peak age was in the 5th and the 6th decades (58.8%), and the sex ratio of males to females was 1.6:1. The sites of the stomach cancer were the cardia (C) in 10 cases (29.4%), the body (M) in 19 cases (55.9%), and the cardia and body in 5 cases (14.7%). The TNM classification was stage I in 15.6% of the cases, stage II in 15.6% of the cases, stage III in 62.5% of the cases, and stage IV in 6.3% of the cases. Three methods of alimentary tract reconstruction were used:a loop esophagojejunostomy with a Braun anastomosis (27), a Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy (6), and an uncut Roux procedure (1). The reflux esophagitis rates for patients treated with a loop esophagojejunostomy with a Braun anastomosis and for patients treated with a Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy were 25.9% and 16.7%, respectively. The perioperative mortality was 5.8%, and the causes of death were pneumonia and anastomotic leakage. The most common recurrent site was the anastomotic site. CONCLUSIONS: Reflux esophagitis developed more often after a loop esophagojejunostomy with a Braun anastomosis than after a Roux-en-Y anastomosis. This finding was not significant statistically. Thus, further study of more cases is needed.
Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y ; Anastomotic Leak ; Cardia ; Cause of Death ; Classification ; Esophagitis, Peptic* ; Female ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Sex Ratio ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Identifying remains is an important role of forensic medicine. For identification, dating, i.e., estimating the birth year and death year, is expected as useful, however has not yet been practically applied. A dating method using radiocarbon analysis was recently introduced and related studies have been reported. In this study, we conducted radiocarbon analysis on teeth and aimed to develop a formula to estimate the birth year. Fifteen autopsy cases from the National Forensic Service, from December 2014 to December 2020, with known birth year were selected for inclusion. For each case, dentin of the first molar in mandible was taken, radiocarbon analysis was carried out and the corresponding estimated birth year were calculated using the bomb peak curve. The differences between the birth year and the teeth year were determined and analyzed on the influence of variables. A formula for estimating the birth year was developed and the applicability of the formula was determined. The difference between the birth year and the teeth year was 2.6 years on average for cases born before 1963, and 5.7 years for those born after 1963. The estimation formula of birth year was as follows: (Before 1963) Birth year=0.565×(Tooth year)–0.446×(Age)+875.001, (After 1963) Birth year=Tooth year–5.7. This study is meaningful in that it reduced the error by using only the first molars of the lower jaw as a sample, and presented an estimation formula of birth year that can be applied in practice through radiocarbon analysis of teeth.

The identification for skeletal remains is one of roles of forensic medicine. For this purpose, dating, i.e., estimating the birth year and death year is expected as useful, however has not yet been practically applied. A dating method using radiocarbon analysis was recently introduced and related studies have been reported. In this study, we tried to confirm the applicability of radiocarbon dating for the identification of skeletal remains and to develop formulas to estimate the death year. Thirty-four autopsy cases from the National Forensic Service, from December 2014 to July 2022, with known death year were selected for inclusion. For each case, two samples were taken: the spongy bone of the femur head, and the compact bone of the femur midshaft. For each sample, radiocarbon analysis was carried out and the corresponding femur year were calculated using the bomb peak curve. The differences between the femur year and the death year were determined and analyzed on the influence of variables. A formula for estimating the death year was developed and the applicability of the formula was determined. The results showed that the difference between death year and femur head year was 14.2 years on average. In male, the difference between death year and femur head year increased with age, however, it did not show any difference according to age in female. The estimation formula of death year was as follows: (In male) Death year=0.993×(Femur head year)+0.288×(Age)+15.061, (In female) Death year=0.769×(Femur head year)-0.218×(Age)+489.676. The formula for male had relatively high explanatory power (adjusted R2=0.710), however, the formula for female had low explanatory power (adjusted R2=0.588). This study is meaningful because it is the largest single study of its kind, to date, and uses specific and identical skeleton (femur head/femur midshaft) to increase the accuracy of the death year estimation. We expect that the results of this study will be supplemented through additional research in the future.

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) has been thought to play a major role in neurological injury during global brain ischemia and subsequent reperfusion following resuscitation in cardiac arrest. So, we hypothesized that the elevation in TNF-alpha was dependent upon the duration of the global brain ischemia, and related to delayed neuronal damage. METHODS: Fourteen rats were divided two groups ; 1 minute-cardiac arrest group(n=7) and 3 minute-cardiac arrest group(n=7). we induced cardiac arrest by chest compression and damping of tracheal tube for 1 minute and 3 minutes respectively. And then, resuscitation was initiated. To measure the plasma activity of TNF-alpha, blood samples were drawn before and at the end of cardiac arrest, and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after initiation reperfusion. At 72 hours after resuscitation, the ND(neurologic deficit) score was determined and the histopathologic outcome of hippocampal CA1 neuron was observed by the percent dead hippocampal CA1 neurons. RESULTS: 1. TNF-alpha level during the early reperfusion period(<2h) was significantly increased in 3 min-cardiac arrest group compared with 1 min-cardiac arrest group(p=0.0001). 2. There was a no significant difference of neurologic deficit score between 1 min- and 3 min-cardiac arrest. 3. Percent dead hippocampal neurons were significantly increased in 3 min-cardiac arrest group compared with 1 min-cardiac arrest group(9.1+/-1.2% vs 1.2+/-0.9%, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that longer duration of global brain ischemia causes a more profound increase in plasma TNF-alpha level during the early reperfusion period(<2h) and more delayed neuronal damage than lessor duration of global brain ischemia, and that increase in TNF-alpha level during the early reperfusion period(<2h) is related to delayed neuronal damage.
Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; Brain* ; Heart Arrest* ; Heart Arrest, Induced ; Necrosis ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Neurons ; Plasma ; Rats* ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Resuscitation ; Thorax ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

This report is a clinico-statistical review of our experience with 64 patients with circumferential hemorrhoids who were admitted to and treated at the Surgical Department of Seoul Adventist Hospital during 10 years from Jan. 1986 to Dec. 1995. 1) The indication for a modified Whitehead hemorrhoidectomy was third and or fourth degree circumferential hemorrhoid. 2) The sex ratio of male to female was 1.8 to 1. 3) The peak incidence was in the 3rd and the 5th decades(89.3%). 4) The frequent pre-operative anorectal symptoms were anal prolapse (81.5%), anal pain (52.3%), and anal bleeding (55.6%). 5) The mean average post-operative hospital stay was 9.9 days. 6) The early post-operative problems were urinary retention(35.4%), severe anal pain(21.5%), mild anal bleeding(8.9%) and constipation(1.5%). 7) The late post-operative complications were mild anal stenosis(3.3%), flatus incontinence(1.6%), fissure(3.3%) and a nonhealing wound(1.6%). 8) Attention to the proctologic anatomy and experience are essential for a good result and for prevention of anal stenosis or prolapse.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Flatulence ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhoidectomy* ; Hemorrhoids* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Prolapse ; Seoul ; Sex Ratio

This report is a clinico-statistical review of our experience with 64 patients with circumferential hemorrhoids who were admitted to and treated at the Surgical Department of Seoul Adventist Hospital during 10 years from Jan. 1986 to Dec. 1995. 1) The indication for a modified Whitehead hemorrhoidectomy was third and or fourth degree circumferential hemorrhoid. 2) The sex ratio of male to female was 1.8 to 1. 3) The peak incidence was in the 3rd and the 5th decades(89.3%). 4) The frequent pre-operative anorectal symptoms were anal prolapse (81.5%), anal pain (52.3%), and anal bleeding (55.6%). 5) The mean average post-operative hospital stay was 9.9 days. 6) The early post-operative problems were urinary retention(35.4%), severe anal pain(21.5%), mild anal bleeding(8.9%) and constipation(1.5%). 7) The late post-operative complications were mild anal stenosis(3.3%), flatus incontinence(1.6%), fissure(3.3%) and a nonhealing wound(1.6%). 8) Attention to the proctologic anatomy and experience are essential for a good result and for prevention of anal stenosis or prolapse.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Flatulence ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhoidectomy* ; Hemorrhoids* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Prolapse ; Seoul ; Sex Ratio

BACKGROUND : There is so different between Doctors at managing the patient with intestinal obstruction. Some prefer conservative management and prefer to delay the operation. But others prefer the early operation. So, we have studied in order to compare the clinical difference between early operation and delayed operation for intestinal obstruction. METHODS : This clinical report is based on a review of the records of 226 patients with intestinal obstruction that have been managed at the Department of General Surgery, Seventh Adventist Hospital in Seoul, during about 4 years from January, 1994 to October, 1997. RESULTS : 1) Male to female ratio was 2.32 : 1. The most frequent age group was within 1 year. 2) The common causes of intestinal obstruction were postoperative adhesion (35.8%), intussusception (19.1%), hernia (16.6%) and neoplasm (8.6%). 3) The chief complaints on admission were abdominal pain in 142 cases (62.8%), nausea and vomiting in 110 cases (48.7%), bloody stool in 43 cases (19.0%) and fever in 27 cases (11.9%). The physical findings were abdominal tenderness in 117 cases (51.8%), increased peristalsis in 98 cases (43.4%) and abdominal distension in 64 cases (28.3%). 4) The previous abdominal operation leading to intestinal obstruction were appendectomy in 16 cases (27.6%), small bowel operation in 13 cases (23.4%), gastro-duodenal operation in 9 cases (15.5%) and gynecologic operation in 7 cases (12.1%). 5) In patients who admit because of intestinal obstruction due to previous operation, most of them entered in hospital within 6months after previous operation. 6) Among 226 cases, 46 cases (20.4%) had emergency operation, 64 cases (28.3%) had only conservative treatment and 116 cases (51.3%) had elective delayed operation 7) In patients who was cured with only conservative management, 12 cases (18.8%) of them stayed for 1day on hospital and 32 cases (50%) of them stayed for 1 or 2 days. 8) Exploratory laparotomy was performed in 162 cases. The types of obstruction were composed of 36 cases (22.2%) of strangulated obstruction and 126 cases (77.8%) of simple obstruction. The frequency of strangulated obstruction was 14 cases (38.9%) when the early operation were done, and that ofstrangulated obstruction was 22 cases (61.1%) when the delayed operation were done. There was significant difference between early operation group and delayed operation. 9) As for operative procedure, adhesiolysis was done in 38 cases (23.5%), bandlysis was done in 30 cases (26.1%), manual reduction and incidental appendectomy was done in 28 cases (17.3%). 10) The incidence of postoperative complication was 46 cases (28.4%) and the most cause of death was septic shock. CONCLUSIONS : The early operation for the patient who suffered from intestinal obstruction due to previous operation is better than delayed operation.
Abdominal Pain ; Appendectomy ; Cause of Death ; Emergencies ; Female ; Fever ; Hernia ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intestinal Obstruction* ; Intussusception ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Nausea ; Peristalsis ; Postoperative Complications ; Seoul ; Shock, Septic ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Vomiting