BACKGROUND: External ventricular drainage (EVD) is an important procedure for draining excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and monitoring intracranial pressure. Generally, EVD is performed in the operating room (OR) under aseptic conditions. However, in emergency circumstances, the operation may be performed in the intensive care unit (ICU) to save neuro-critical time and to avoid the unnecessary transfer of patients. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the risk of EVD-induced CNS infections and their outcomes according to the operating place (ICU versus OR). In addition, we compared mortalities as well as hospital and ICU days between the CNS infection and non-CNS infection groups. METHODS: We reviewed medical records, laboratory data and radiographic images of patients who had received EVD operations between January, 2013 and March, 2015. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients (45 men and 30 women, mean age: 58.7 +/- 15.6 years) were enrolled in this study. An average of 1.4 catheters were used for each patient and the mean period of the indwelling catheter was 7.5 +/- 5.0 days. Twenty-six patients were included in the ICU group, and EVD-induced CNS infection had occurred in 3 (11.5%) patients. For the OR group, forty-nine patients were included and EVD-induced CNS infection had occurred in 7 (14.3%) patients. The EVD-induced CNS infection of the ICU group did not increase above that of the OR group. The ICU days and mortality rate were higher in the CNS infection group compared to the non-CNS infection group. The period of the indwelling EVD catheter and the number of inserted EVD catheters were both higher in the CNS infection group. CONCLUSIONS: If the aseptic protocols and barrier precautions are strictly kept, EVD in the ICU does not have a higher risk of CNS infections compared to the OR. In addition, EVD in the ICU can decrease the hospital and ICU days by saving neuro-critical time and avoiding the unnecessary transfer of patients. Therefore, when neurosurgeons decide upon the operating place for EVD, they should consider the benefits of ICU operation and be cautious of EVD-induced CNS infection.
Catheter-Related Infections ; Catheters ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Drainage* ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Intracranial Pressure ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Operating Rooms* ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventriculostomy

We clinically reviewed four patients who were suffering from aseptic meningitis combined with polio-like paralysis and performed radiological. neurological and virological studies on them. Three patients were admitted to the department of Pediatrics. Asan Medical Center from March to August 1990, and one patient was admitted to the department of Pediatrics. Kangnam General Hospital. The results were as follows; 1) During the period of study, 18 patients (10.1%)out of 178 aseptic meningitis patients also suffered from hand, foot and mouth disease, and three patients (1.69%) out of 178 patients also suffered from polio-like paralysis. 2) The age of the patients who also suffered from polio-like paralysis were eight months, 22 months, 23 months and four years old respectively. Three patients were male and one patient was female. 3) Paralysis developed three to five days after aseptic meningitis infection. 4) In two cases, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR) showed two small cavitary lesions that means anterior horn cell necrosis in concordant with residual paralysis. Axial T1-weighted image showed decreased signal intensity and axial T2-weighted image showed increased signal intensity. In another case 20 days after onset of illness MR was performed, the transverse myelitis showed mild swelling of cornus medullaris. Follow up MR in 2 months revealed atropic change in lower thoracic spinal cord. 5) The electromyography and nerve conduction velocity test revealed acute polyradiculoneuropathy. 6) Serologic virus study were carried out in three cases for Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71. The Enterovirus 71 antibody titer were 1:128 in two cases and 1:64 in one case. The Coxsackievirus A16 antibody titer were less than 1:4. This study showed that the causative agents for polio-like paralysis during this period seemed to be the Enterovirus 71 infection.
Anterior Horn Cells ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Cornus ; Electromyography ; Enterovirus ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningitis, Aseptic* ; Myelitis, Transverse ; Necrosis ; Neural Conduction ; Paralysis* ; Pediatrics ; Polyradiculoneuropathy ; Spinal Cord

OBJECTIVE: Accelerometer is a convenient device that can easily measure human movement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate its usefulness in the assessment of hemiparetic gait after stroke. METHOD: Twenty hemiparetic stroke patients were enrolled in the study. A portable accelerometer was attached between L3,4 intervertebral area. Vertical and medio-lateral acceleration was measured while walking 10 m. Walking ability of each subject was classified by Functional Walking Category (FWC). RESULTS: Accelerometric parameters, such as walking speed, a mean amount of peak vertical acceleration in one gait cycle, mean peak value of unaffected side, peak vertical acceleration ratio, step time ratio were significantly higher in groups of FWC 4, 5, 6 than in groups of FWC 2, 3. In subjects using cane there was an extra peak other than peaks observed in non-users. Mean peak value, step length of unaffected side and cadence were significantly higher in non-users than in users. CONCLUSION: Trunk accelerometer can be used as an objective method to evaluate walking ability in hemiparetic patients after stroke.
Acceleration ; Accelerometry* ; Canes ; Gait ; Humans ; Stroke ; Walking*

Thirteen year old boy who had been stabbed in his left chest by the knife was transferred to our department from a general hospital, because of the massive bleeding from the intercostal tube drainage. Chest X-ray showed homogeneous density in the left lung field. He was confused and his vital signs were unstable. He was moved into a operating room as soon as possible. After resuscitation, his lacerated left ventricle wound was sutured through median sternotomy. The interventricular shunt was detected with intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. The traumatic ventricular septal defect was closed via left ventricle using Dacron patch. His postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged with small residual shunt.
Drainage ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Heart Septal Defects ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Heart Ventricles ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Operating Rooms ; Polyethylene Terephthalates ; Resuscitation ; Sternotomy ; Thoracic Injuries* ; Thorax* ; Vital Signs ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: We compared c-erbB-2 oncogene amplification and oncoprotein expression, trying to identify the biologic and prognostic significance of c-erbB-2 in adendegrees Carcinoma of the stomach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 43 cases of gastric cancer were analyzed for amplification of c-erbB-2 by differential polymerase chain reaction and for overexpression of gene product by immunohistdegrees Chemistry. RESULTS: The amplification was detected in 13 cases (30%). Enhanced c-erbB-2 immunoreactivity was observed in 30% (13/43) of tumors. Tumors with gene amplification generally stained strongly (p=0.003). Although the frequency of amplification and overexpression of c-erbB-2 was increased with advanced gastric cancer and with lymph node metastasis, this difference was not statistically significant. c-erbB-2 gene amplification or protein overexpression showed a trend toward a better five year survival rate, but this did not reach a statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Amplification and/or overexpression of the c-erbB-2 may be of value in clarifying the biologic characteristics of the human gastric cancer. However, more sensitive and more speci fic methods of identifying gene amplification are needed and the standardization of the staining method as well as guidelines for interpreting the staining result are mandatory for this purpose.
Chemistry ; Gene Amplification ; Genes, erbB-2 ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogenes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Population Characteristics ; Proto-Oncogenes ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVE: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is one of the most common types of intra-cranial hemorrhages usually associated with trauma. Surgical treatment is the treatment of choice and burr hole trephination (BHT) is widely performed. The recurrence rate in the patients with CSDH is 3.7-30%. This study investigated the risk factors associated with the recurrence of patients with CSDH who underwent BHT. METHODS: One hundred twenty-five patients with CSDH underwent BHT. Eight of 125 patients (6.4%) underwent reoperation for recurrent CSDH. We retrospectively analyzed demographic, clinical and radiological findings, catheter tip location and drainage duration as the risk factors for the recurrence of CSDH. RESULTS: Recurrence of CSDH in the high- or mixed-density groups was significantly higher than those in the low- or iso-density groups (p<0.001). Placement of catheter tip at the temporoparietal area was associated with a significantly higher recurrence rate of CSDH than placement at the frontal area (p=0.006) and the brain re-expansion rate (BRR) was much lower than placement at the frontal area (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The operation may be delayed in high- and mixed-density groups, unless severe symptoms or signs are present. In addition, placing the catheter tip at the frontal area helps to reduce the incidence of postoperative recurrence of CSDH and to increase the BRR.
Brain ; Butylated Hydroxytoluene ; Catheters ; Drainage ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Recurrence* ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Trephining*

OBJECTIVES: A supine sleep position increases sleep apneas compared to non-supine positions in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). However, supine position time (SPT) is not highly associated with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in OSAS. We evaluated the correlation among sleep-related variables and SPT in OSAS. METHODS: A total of 365 men with OSAS were enrolled in this study. We analyzed how SPT was correlated with demographic data, sleep structure-related variables, OSAS-related variables and heart rate variability (HRV). Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the factors that affected SPT. RESULTS: SPT had the most significant correlation with total sleep time (TST ; r = 0.443, p < 0.001), followed by sleep efficiency (SE ; r = 0.300, p < 0.001). Snoring time (r = 0.238, p < 0.001), time at < 90% SpO2 (r = 0.188, p < 0.001), apnea-hypopnea index (AHI ; r = 0.180, p = 0.001) and oxygen desaturation index (ODI ; r = 0.149, p = 0.004) were significantly correlated with SPT. Multiple regression analysis revealed that TST (t = 7.781, p < 0.001), snoring time (t = 3.794, p < 0.001), AHI (t = 3.768, p < 0.001) and NN50 count (t = 1.993, p = 0.047) were associated with SPT. CONCLUSION: SPT was more highly associated with sleep structure-related parameters than OSAS-related variables. SPT was correlated with TST, SE, AHI, snoring time and NN50 count. This suggests that SPT is likely to be determined by sleep structure, HRV and the severity of OSAS.
Heart Rate ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Oxygen ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* ; Snoring ; Supine Position*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to compare the surgical and anesthetic complications of the local and general anesthesia in chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical record and brain CT of CSDH patients over 60-years-old, who were treated surgically in our institution between January 2005 and December 2012. RESULTS: One hundred six patients with CSDH were enrolled for this study and 61 patients had a burr hole craniostomy under the local anesthesia. In local anesthesia group, surgical complication was not increased than general anesthesia group. But in general anesthesia group, heart disease such as arrhythmia, acute myocardial infarction was relatively increased than local anesthesia group (p=0.04). And the hospitalization period of local anesthesia group was shorter than that of general anesthesia group (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: In this present study, there was no significant difference of surgical complications between the local and general anesthesia group. But the general anesthesia group had more cardiovascular complications and longer hospitalization periods. In conclusion, when we planned the burr hole craniostomy for the elderly patients with CSDH, local anesthesia should be considered more actively for postoperative prognosis.
Aged* ; Anesthesia, General* ; Anesthesia, Local ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Brain ; Heart Diseases ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Myocardial Infarction ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Children's food behaviors have been expressed in a various ways because of recent changes in their family environment. Thus, this study was performed to investigate in-depth qualitative research on the mother's perception on children's food behaviors by focused group interview. This study was designed in four steps of planning, collection of participants, process, and analysis. Participants for the focus group interview were recruited and sampled from households with elementary school students in the Seoul and Gyeonggido areas. Groups were divided by total income and education expense levels. 1) High income household: It is better to improve currently existing web sites for nutrition education. 2) Mid income household: Easy, practical, and inexpensive off-line cooking class/nutrition education classes for mothers are needed. Nutrition programs for children should be developed through mass media and be promoted in the broadcasting circle. 3) Low income household: Motivation is required for mothers' education and the serious nutritional problems of children should be informed through mass media and home correspondence from school. And interesting educational materials should be developed for children to read whenever they want.
Child ; Cooking ; Family Characteristics ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Mass Media ; Mothers ; Motivation ; Qualitative Research

BACKGROUND: External ventricular drainage (EVD) is an important procedure for draining excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and monitoring intracranial pressure. Generally, EVD is performed in the operating room (OR) under aseptic conditions. However, in emergency circumstances, the operation may be performed in the intensive care unit (ICU) to save neuro-critical time and to avoid the unnecessary transfer of patients. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the risk of EVD-induced CNS infections and their outcomes according to the operating place (ICU versus OR). In addition, we compared mortalities as well as hospital and ICU days between the CNS infection and non-CNS infection groups. METHODS: We reviewed medical records, laboratory data and radiographic images of patients who had received EVD operations between January, 2013 and March, 2015. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients (45 men and 30 women, mean age: 58.7 +/- 15.6 years) were enrolled in this study. An average of 1.4 catheters were used for each patient and the mean period of the indwelling catheter was 7.5 +/- 5.0 days. Twenty-six patients were included in the ICU group, and EVD-induced CNS infection had occurred in 3 (11.5%) patients. For the OR group, forty-nine patients were included and EVD-induced CNS infection had occurred in 7 (14.3%) patients. The EVD-induced CNS infection of the ICU group did not increase above that of the OR group. The ICU days and mortality rate were higher in the CNS infection group compared to the non-CNS infection group. The period of the indwelling EVD catheter and the number of inserted EVD catheters were both higher in the CNS infection group. CONCLUSIONS: If the aseptic protocols and barrier precautions are strictly kept, EVD in the ICU does not have a higher risk of CNS infections compared to the OR. In addition, EVD in the ICU can decrease the hospital and ICU days by saving neuro-critical time and avoiding the unnecessary transfer of patients. Therefore, when neurosurgeons decide upon the operating place for EVD, they should consider the benefits of ICU operation and be cautious of EVD-induced CNS infection.
Catheter-Related Infections ; Catheters ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Drainage ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Critical Care ; Intracranial Pressure ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Operating Rooms ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventriculostomy