Benign metastatic leiomyomatosis (BML) is a rare disease characterized by smooth muscle cell proliferation in extrauterine sites including the lung, abdomen, pelvis, and retroperitoneum. Depending on location, BML is classified as intravenous leiomyomatosis and diffuse peritoneal leiomyomatosis. Pathogenesis of BML can be iatrogenic after previous myomectomy or hysterectomy, hormonal, or coelomic metaplasia. Treatment options are observation, hormonal suppression, and/or surgical debulking via laparotomy or laparoscopy. Laparoscopic surgery is gaining in popularity in the gynecologic field compared to laparotomic surgery and single-port laparoscopy has the benefits of cosmesis and early tissue extraction by transumbilical morcellation. We report a 39-year-old woman with BML who underwent single-port laparoscopy debulking surgery.
Abdomen ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Leiomyomatosis* ; Lung ; Metaplasia ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Pelvis ; Rare Diseases

BACKGROUND: Hemodilution after focal cerebral ischemia increases cerebral blood flow to ischemic brain tissue and reduces neurologic injury. With rare exceptions, most studies have reduced hematocrit (Hct) to no less than 30%. We studied the effect of moderate hemodilution (hematocrit 27%) on cerebral infarct volume after focal cerebral ischemia in rabbits. METHODS: Twenty rabbits were divided into a control group (n = 10) and a hemodilution group (n = 10). In the control group, cerebral infarction was induced by embolization of the middle cerebral artery using an autologous blood clot without hemodilution. In the hemodilution group (n = 10), hemodilution of around hematocrit 27% was achieved by exchanging arterial blood with 10% hydroxyethyl starch 1 hour before embolization of the middle cerebral artery in the hemodilution group. Seven hours after embolization, coronal brain slices were made with 2 mm thickness at 1 cm from the frontal pole and stained with 2% 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride. The infarct volume was quantitated by image analysis of photography of the infarcted area. RESULTS: The infarct volume of the cerebral hemisphere (25.9 +/- 8.9%), subcortex (16.3 +/- 3.1%) in the hemodilution group was significantly smaller than in the control group (34.9 +/- 8.9%, 19.3 +/- 5.1%) (P<0.05), but, in the cortex, the difference of infarct volume is not statistically significant between the control group (23.5 +/- 11.9%) and the hemodilution group (15.6 +/- 2.7%). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that moderate hemodilution (hematocrit 27%) reduces neurologic injury after focal cerebral ischemia.
Brain Ischemia* ; Brain* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebrum ; Hematocrit ; Hemodilution* ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Photography ; Rabbits* ; Starch

The incidence of all transverse vaginal septum is 1:2,100 - 1:72,000. The transverse vaginal septum is a developmental defect of vagina which may be fused incompletely between the Mullerian duct component and the urogenital sinus component of vagina. Serious complications may be hematocolpos, hematometra and hematosalpinx. Simple surgical excision or simple incision have been developed to treat congenital transverse vaginal septa, but also caused common complications such as secondary tissue contracture. Garcia technique using eight vaginal mucosa flaps was developed to avoid common complication of secondary vaginal stenosis. Here, we present a case of contracted transverse vaginal septum who has been performed a simple incision 13 years ago, successfully performed the modified Garcia technique without serious postoperative complication.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Contracture ; Female ; Hematocolpos ; Hematometra ; Incidence ; Mucous Membrane ; Postoperative Complications ; Vagina

Background: Neuropathic pain (NP) is considered a clinically incurable condition despite various treatment options due to its diverse causes and complicated disease mechanisms. Since the early 2000s, multipotent human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been used in the treatment of NP in animal models. However, the effects of hMSC injections have not been studied in chronic post-ischemia pain (CPIP) mice models. Here, we investigated whether intrathecal (IT) and intrapaw (IP) injections of hMSCs can reduce mechanical allodynia in CPIP model mice. Methods: Seventeen CPIP C57/BL6 mice were selected and randomized into four groups: IT sham (n = 4), IT stem (n = 5), IP sham (n = 4), and IP stem (n = 4). Mice in the IT sham and IT stem groups received an injection of 5 μL saline and 2 × 104 hMSCs, respectively, while mice in the IP sham and IP stem groups received an injection of 5 μL saline and 2 × 10 5 hMSCs, respectively. Mechanical allodynia was assessed using von Frey filaments from pre-injection to 30 days post-injection. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia were also evaluated. Results: IT and IP injections of hMSCs improved mechanical allodynia. GFAP expression was decreased on day 25 post-injection compared with the sham group. Injections of hMSCs improved allodynia and GFAP expression was decreased compared with the sham group. Conclusions These results suggested that hMSCs may be also another treatment modality in NP model by ischemia-reperfusion.

Background: Spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model is one of the representative models of the neuropathic pain model. Neuropathic pain in a chronic post-ischemic pain (CPIP) mimics the symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The administration of polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN), which has regenerative and anti-inflammatory effects, has been studied and is used in clinical practice treating various diseases. However, the analgesic effect of PDRN in a neuropathic pain or CRPS model remains unknown. Methods: PDRN (3.3, 10, and 20 mg/kg) was administered into the subcutaneous (SC) layer of the hind paws of SNL and CPIP models. Mechanical anti-allodynic effects were then investigated using the von Frey test. In the immunohistochemical examination, dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and the spinal cord were harvested and examined for the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) after the 20 mg PDRN injection. Results: Mechanical allodynia was significantly alleviated by administration of PDRN in SNL and CPIP mice at all of the time point. As the dose of PDRN increased, the effect was greater. The 20 mg PDRN injection was found to have the most effective anti-allodynic effect. The increased expression of GFAP in DRG and the spinal cord of SNL and CPIP model decreased following the administration of PDRN than vehicle. Conclusion SC administration of PDRN results in the attenuation of allodynia and activation of astrocytes in neuropathic pain or CRPS models. We propose that PDRN can have significant potential advantages in neuropathic pain treatment.

BACKGROUND: We planned to compare the effect of intravenous oxycodone and fentanyl on post-operative pain after laparoscopic hysterectomy. METHODS: We examined 60 patients were randomized to postoperative pain treatment with either oxycodone (n = 30, Group O) or fentanyl (n = 30, Group F). The patients received 10 mg oxycodone/100 microg fentanyl with ketorolac 30 mg before the end of anesthesia and then continued with patient-controlled analgesia for 48 h postoperatively. RESULTS: The accumulated oxycodone consumption was less than fentanyl during 8, 24 and 48 h postoperatively. Numeric rating score of Group O showed significantly lower than that of Group F during 30 min, 2, 4, 8 and 24 h postoperatively. The incidences of adverse reactions were similar in the two groups, though the incidence of nausea was higher in the Group O during the 24 and 48 h postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: Oxycodone IV-PCA was more advantageous than fentanyl IV-PCA for laparoscopic hysterectomy in view of accumulated oxycodone consumption, pain control and cost beneficial effect. However, patient satisfaction was not good in the group O compared to group F.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Anesthesia ; Fentanyl* ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Incidence ; Ketorolac ; Nausea ; Oxycodone* ; Pain, Postoperative ; Patient Satisfaction ; Postoperative Period

BACKGROUND: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a serious complication resulting from herpes zoster infections, and it can impair the quality of life. In order to relieve pain from PHN, various treatments, including pharmacological and interventional methods have been used. However, little information on the recommendations for the interventional treatment of PHN, along with a lack of nation-wide surveys on the current status of PHN treatment exists. This multicenter study is the first survey on the treatment status of PHN in Korea. METHODS: Retrospective chart reviews were conducted on the entire patients who visited the pain clinics of 11 teaching hospitals from January to December of 2011. Co-morbid disease, affected site of PHN, routes to pain clinic visits, parenteral/topical medications for treatment, drugs used for nerve block, types and frequency of nerve blocks were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 1,414 patients' medical records were reviewed. The most commonly affected site was the thoracic area. The anticonvulsants and interlaminar epidural blocks were the most frequently used pharmacological and interventional methods for PHN treatment. For the interval of epidural block, intervals of 5 or more-weeks were the most popular. The proportion of PHN patients who get information from the mass media or the internet was only 0.8%.The incidence of suspected zoster sine herpete was only 0.1%. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment methods for PHN vary among hospitals. The establishment of treatment recommendation for PHN treatment is necessary. In addition, public relations activities are required in order to inform the patients of PHN treatments by pain clinicians.
Anticonvulsants ; Health Care Surveys ; Herpes Zoster ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Incidence ; Internet ; Mass Media ; Medical Records ; Nerve Block ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Pain Clinics ; Public Relations ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Zoster Sine Herpete

PURPOSE: This study set out to identify the association between the intraperitoneal CO₂ concentrations and postoperative pain by dividing the participants into a control group and 2 experimental groups receiving irrigation (1 L and 2 L), and directly measuring their intraperitoneal CO₂ concentrations with a CO₂ gas detector. METHODS: A total of 101 patients, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification I and II patients aged 18–65 years were enrolled in the study. Group 1 did not receive irrigation with normal saline, while groups 2 and 3 were administered irrigation with 1 L and 2 L of normal saline, respectively, after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Intraperitoneal CO₂ concentrations were measured with a CO₂ gas detector through the port, and postoperative pain was assessed on a visual analogue scale at 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. RESULTS: The intraperitoneal CO₂ concentrations were 1,016.0 ± 960.3 ppm in group 1, 524.5 ± 383.2 ppm in group 2, and 362.2 ± 293.6 ppm in group 3, showing significantly lower concentrations in groups 2 and 3. Postoperative pain was significantly lower in group 3 at 6 hours after surgery, and in groups 2 and 3 at 12 hours after the surgery. However, there was no significant difference between the 3 groups in postoperative pain 24 hours after the surgery. CONCLUSION: This study found a causal relationship between the amount of normal saline used for irrigation and the intraperitoneal CO₂ concentrations in that irrigation with normal saline reduces pain on the day of the surgery.
Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Classification ; Humans ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Saline Waters