Heart transplantation was first performed in 1967. It is now regarded as a well-established treatment modality for end-stage cardiac diseases. Once the transplantation is performed, endomyocardial biopsy(EMB) is the examination of choice in monitoring the transplanted heart. We analyzed the pathological findings of follow-up EMB of 6 heart transplant patients. All patients have been suffered from severe heart failure. Four patients were adult male and two were adult females. All the hearts, except for one, displayed characteristic features of dilated cardiomyopathy. The remaining heart was diagnosed as having giant cell myocarditis. Post-transplantion EMBs were performed according to the protocol and standard cardiac biopsy grading of ISHT (1990). The standards were applied for grading of cellular rejection. In five patients, there were one or two episodes of biopsy proven acute rejection, grade II or IIIA without any clinical symptoms of rejection. Immediate "pulse therapy" was performed and follow-up biopsies were done. All episodes of rejection were cleared in subsequent biopsies. All patients are doing well without evidence of cardiac problem. The postoperative monitoring of acute rejection is critical since clinical signs of rejection are usually absent. At present, EMB is regarded as the most reliable method for diagnosis and grading of acute rejection and is an efficient guide to the monitoring of the cardiac recipients. Our experience of post-transplantation EMB corresponds with previously published reports.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Biopsy

There has been a marked increase in the utility of aspiration cytology for pathologic diagnosis. It may be applied to any kinds of organs and substitutes surgical biopsy. Because of the high risk of complication and difficulties in localization, aspiration cytology in the central nervous system(CNS) has been used with less frequency compared to other sites. However, with the advent of sophisticated imaging instruments, aspiration cytology of lesions in the CNS is being used increasingly. Cytologic features of the CNS neoplasms were quite similar to those of histology except one spindle cell tumor. Reviewing various CNS neoplasms, it appears that cytology may be a useful diagnostic method.
Biopsy ; Brain Neoplasms ; Central Nervous System* ; Diagnosis

BACKGROUND: Propofol is a widely used anesthetic in anesthesia and sedation. Though it is not regulated under the controlled substance act, the public media broadcasted apprehensive programs about propofol abuse of laypersons. We attempted to determine whether the propofol is abused by the medical personnel working in the operation room in Korea. METHODS: We surveyed the 95 delegates who sat in the back benches in the Korean Society of Anesthesiologists. The questionnaire included the job of the propofol abuser, the rehabilitation, drug abuse history, stressful condition, family history of drug abuse in medical personnel in operation room. Additional question was what is the adequate method to prevent propofol abuse. RESULTS: Seventy two delegates among 95 candidates were responded. Seven of 72 responders answered that they knew 9 medical personnel who abused propofol in operation room. Four of them were anesthesiology residents, two were other departments' residents, one was a nurse in anesthesiology and the other two were unknown. Among nine subjects, two had tried to rehabilitate but failed, and all abusers quit working within 1 year. As for the prevention methods, 9 of 12 responders suggested that propofol should be controlled like other centrally acting anesthetics. CONCLUSION: Although propofol has not been traditionally considered a drug of abuse, a few medical team members abuse it working in operation room. A stricter pharmacy control of propofol or controlled substance act for propofol should be needed to prevent abusing it and to protect medical team members.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesiology ; Anesthetics ; Humans ; Korea ; Pharmacy ; Propofol ; Substance Abuse Detection ; Substance-Related Disorders ; Surveys and Questionnaires