No abstract available.
Carbon Dioxide* ; Carbon* ; Lasers, Gas* ; Vulva*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine that the assessment of serum neuron specific enolase(NSE) could provide a reliable early predictor of neurologic outcome after cardiac arrest. METHODS: Prospective, observational study was performed from April 1996 to March 1998 at a university teaching hospital ED. Serum NSE concentrations were analysed twice at 24 and 48 hours after return of spontaneous circulation(ROSC). Neurologic outcome was categorized using cerebral performance category(CPC). RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients(16 were men) were enrolled during the study period. The mean age was 50.8 years. Nine(31%) of them showed good outcome defied as CPC 1-3, and 20(69%) patients showed bad outcome defied as CPC 4-5. In the good outcome group, the serum NSE was revealed 33.8+/-9.3 ng/ml at 24 hours, 34.0+/-4.73 ng/ml at 48 hours. While in the bad outcome group, it was 99.5+/-11.7 ng/ml and 114.6+/-15.8 ng/ml. The NSE at 48hr after ROSC was more prescise than that of 24hr. When the cutoff value of 50 ng/ml at 48 hr, the sensitivity was 82%, and specificity was 93%. CONCLUSION: This study suggest that the serum NSE may represent a valuable, noninvasive, and useful clinical tool for prediction of neurologic outcome after cardiac arrest.
Heart Arrest* ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Neurons* ; Observational Study ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase* ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Spine*

No abstract available.
Delivery of Health Care* ; Humans

Postoperative radiotherapy of breast cancer makes it possible to reduce loco-regional recurrence of breast cancer. The treatment technique, which can low-dose region at the junction and lung, is required. To produce proper dose distribution of internal mammary chain and chest wall, authors tried to find the method to expose 60Co gamma-ray on internal mammary region and 7 MeV electron on chest wall. Exposure time of 60Co and monitor unit of 9 MeV were selected so that dose of 60Co at 4 cm depth was the same as that of 7 Mev elevtron at 80% dose depth. The position and direction of electron beam were changed for 60Co beam: 0 degrees, 5 degrees for 0 cm seperation; 0 degrees, 5 degrees, 10 degrees for 0.5 cm seperation; 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15 degrees for 1 cm seperation. The results are as followings. 1. When the seperation of two fields was increased, dose on the axis of 60Co beam was increased and dose at the junction region decreased while the volume of lung to be exposed to high dose and hot spot size were irregularly changed. 2. The dose distribution in the target volume of internal mammary and chest wall was most ideal when the seperation of two fields was 0 - 0.5 cm and the direction of electron beam was parallel to 60Co beam.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Lung ; Radiotherapy* ; Recurrence ; Thoracic Wall

The peripheral dose, defined as the dose outside therapeutic photom fields, Which is responsible for the functional damage of the critical organs, fetus, and radiation-nduced carcinogenesis, has been investigated for 60 Co gamma ray and 10 MV X ray. It was measured by silicon diode controlled by semiautomated water phantom without any shielding or with lead plate of HVL thickness put horizontally or vertically to shield stray radiations. Authors could obtain following results. 1. The peripheral dose was larger than 0.7% of central axis maximum dose even at 20cm distance from field margin. That is clinically significant, so it should be reduced. 2. Even for square fields of 10MV X ray, radial peripheral dose distribution did not coincide with transverse distribution, because of the position of collimator jaws. 3. Between surface and dm the peripheral dose distributions show a pattern of the dose distribution of electron beams and the maximum dose was approximately proportional to the length of a side of square filed. 4. The peripheral doses depended on radiation quality, field size, distance from field margin and depth in water. Distance from field margin was the most important factor. 5. Except for near surface, the peripheral dose from phantom was approximately equal to that from therapy unit. 6. To reduce the surface dose outside fields, therapist should shield stray radiations from therapy unit by lead plate of at least one HVL for 10 MV X-ay and by bolus equivalent to tissue of 0.5cm thickness for 60 Co. 7. To reduce the dose at depth deeper than dm, it is desirable to shield stray radiations from therapy unit by lead.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Carcinogenesis ; Fetus ; Gamma Rays* ; Jaw ; Silicon ; Water

325 patients underwent emergency evacuation of traumatic intracranial hematomas over a 5-year period. Ten(3%) developed delayed contralateral epidural hematomas. These hematomas were not present on initial computed tomography(CT) scan, but repeat CT scan after craniectomy showed sizable hemorrhage. The authors analyzed 10 cases with delayed post-traumatic contralateral epidural hematoma according to their etiology, hematoma types on computerized tomography, initial Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) & follow up Glasgow Outcome Scale(GOS). 1) Delayed development of post-traumatic contralateral epidural hematoma after evacuation of initial hematoma occurred in 10 of the 325 head injured patients, an incidence rate of 3%. 2) The important factors affecting patients outcome were the initial GCS & the time interval after surgery. 3) Eight patients were found to have a skull fracture at the site of delayed epidural hematoma formation(80%). 4) The results of delayed contralateral epidural hematoma was 50% good, 50% bad and had a mortality rate of 30%.
Coma ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Emergencies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Head ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Traumatic ; Mortality ; Skull Fractures ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Surgical treatment of compressive ulnar neuropathy at the elbow has been performed with a wide variety of techniques. Among these techniques, anterior submuscular transposition of the ulnar nerve has been regarded as the method of choice by many authors. It has many advantages including a low recurrence rate, scar-free vascular bed, and protection from repeated trauma to the nerve. However, anterior submuscular transposition is technically demanding and requires more extensive soft tissue dissection. On the other hand, anterior subfascial transposition is less invasive, requires a relatively shorter operation time than the submuscular technique, and also can be done safely even in patiensts with elbow arthritis. We evaluated the clinical results of anterior submuscular transposition compared with anterior subfascial transposition. Fifteen patients underwent anterior submuscular transposition and ten patients underwent anterior subfascial transposition of the ulnar nerve. The mean follow-up time was 15 months (range 10 to 38 months) in the anterior submuscular transposition group and 7 months (range 6 to 15 months) in the anterior subfascial transposition group. According to the outcome status determination algorithm devised by Mowlavi, 3 patients (20%) showed total relief, 10 patiensts (66.7%) improvement and 2 patients (13.3%) no changes in the anterior submuscular transposition group. In the anterior subfascial transposition group, 2 patients (20%) showed total relief, 7 patients (70%) improvement and 1 patient (10%) displayed no changes. Statistically there was no significant difference of the clinical results between the two surgical techniques. Therefore we would suggest anterior subfascial transposition of the ulnar nerve as a preferred method for treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome.
Arthritis ; Cubital Tunnel Syndrome ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Ulnar Nerve ; Ulnar Neuropathies

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine whether the conventional subcostal approach is suitable for emergency pericardiocentesis in patients with cardiac tamponade or impending cardiac tamponade. METHODS: This study was a prospective, observational study conducted at the emergency department of a tertiary hospital. Patients who had symptomatic pericardial effusion and who needed emergency pericardiocentesis in the emergency department were included in this study. We measured the epicardium-to-pericardium distance at the subcostal, parasternal, and apical area with two-dimensional echocardiography to determine the appropriate puncture site for pericardiocentesis. An epicardium-to-pericardium distance of more than 1.0cm was considered as the primary safety factor in determining the puncture site for pericardiocentesis. The skin-to-pericardium distance was considered as secondary safety factor. RESULTS: Ninety-five consecutive patients(55 males and 40 females; total mean age: 53 year old) with cardiac tamponade or impending cardiac tamponade were enrolled in this study. The puncture site for pericardiocentesis, as determined by echocardiography, was the subcostal area in 43 patients(45%), the apical area in 40 patients(42%), the left parasternal area in 11 patients(12%), and the right parasternal area in one patient(1%). Pericardiocentesis failed in 2 patients(2%) with the subcostal approach and in one patient(1%) with the apical approach. The average epicardium-to-pericardium distance was 31+/-21mm in patients with the subcostal approach and 21+/-8mm in patients with other approaches. There were no differences in the amount of pericardial fluid and in the intrapericardial pressure among patients groups according to puncture site. There were two procedure related complications: a puncture of the right ventricle with the subcostal approach and a ventricular tachycardia with the apical approach. CONCLUSION: The puncture site for emergency pericardiocentesis should be determined by using two-dimensional echocardiography because approaches from other areas can be safer than the subcostal approach.
Cardiac Tamponade ; Echocardiography ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Male ; Observational Study ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiocentesis* ; Prospective Studies ; Punctures ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Tertiary Care Centers

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines of advanced trauma life support recommend open thoracotomy when pericardiocentesis reveals bloody pericardial effusion in patients with blunt chest trauma. However, open thoracotomy may not be always required for treating patients alive until arriving emergency department, because rapid accumulation of the blood into pericardial space results in immediate death at scene. We report our experiences of treating traumatic pericardial effusion, and discuss the therapeutic modality in patients with traumatic pericardial effusion. METHODS: The study consisted of 37 patients(20 males and 17 females with the mean age 42) sustaining traumatic pericardial effusion. The patients were divided according to treatment modality into 3 groups(group I : patients receiving conservative management, group II : patients treated with pericardiocentesis, group III : patients required emergency thoracotomy). We compared clinical presentations, hemodynamic profiles and echocardiographic findings among three groups. RESULTS: Cardiac tamponade was present in 14 of 37 patients. Pericardiocentesis was performed in 13 patients, and open thoracotomy in 4 patients. Pericardiocentesis was curative in 9 patients. Thoracotomy was performed in only 3(24%) of 13 patients required pericardiocentesis. 3(75%) of 4 patients having moderate or severe pericardial effusion from penetrating injury were required open thoracotomy. CONCLUSION: In selected patients who have traumatic pericardial effusion by blunt chest injury, pericardiocentesis may be curative, and thoracotomy may not be inquired as long as bleeding via indwelling pericardial catheter is not sustained after pericardiocentesis.
Advanced Trauma Life Support Care ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Catheters ; Echocardiography ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Pericardiocentesis ; Thoracic Injuries ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax