BACKGROUND: Norwegian scabies is a highly infectious disease characterized by crust formation, different from ordinary scabies, and is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei. After the patient in our case was diagnosed with Norwegian scabies, active measures were taken to prevent its transmission within the hospital. Methods: A 66-year-old female patient was admitted to the general ward of a university hospital on January 23rd, 2008 and 6 days later, she was found to have been infected with Norwegian scabies all over the body. For epidemiological investigation, those who had been in contact with the patient were identified and interviewed. The patient was advised to follow the contact precaution, and linen the patient used was cleaned thoroughly. The surrounding environment was decontaminated by applying surface disinfectant. Preventive cream against the Norwegian scabies was distributed to staff members and patients who had been exposed to the patient, and appointed a dermatologist to educate them on how to use of medicine, what the mechanism of the disease is, what cautions must be taken, and how to write an ex post facto report. RESULTS: After the confirmation of the 1st case, no additional cases have been reported in the hospital during the ensuing 2 months. Therefore, prompt prevention and infection control activities against Norwegian scabies can be thought to have been successful. CONCLUSION: Whena patient with an uncertain skin disease is admitted, pertinent measures must be taken from the moment the patient is admitted and contact precaution should be applied both to the patients and the staff members. When a scabies patient is detected in an institution, the medical staff must enforce as much active preventive measures as possible, and by doing so, there will be a better chance to prevent the outbreak of scabies in the hospital.
Aged ; Bedding and Linens ; Communicable Diseases ; Cross Infection ; Female ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Medical Staff ; Patients' Rooms ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies ; Skin Diseases

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is one of the most lethal form of mediastinitis originating from an oropharyngeal infection. It requires an early and aggressive sugical treatment, but the operative approach and optimal form of mediastinal drainage remains controversial. We report a case of DNM in a 45-year-old male who underwent right cervicomediastinotomy to drain the deep neck space, upper mediastinum and anterior mediastinal drainage was accomplished through a subxiphoid approach. After this procedure, he steadily improved and was dischrged on hospital day 36. We report this case with a brief review of the literature.
Drainage ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinitis* ; Mediastinum ; Middle Aged ; Neck

We report an unusual case of concomitant partial laceration of bulbous urethra and transsection of left crura of corpus cavernosum caused by a stab wound to the upper scrotum. The serosa and part of rectal wall was also damaged. After exploration and surgical correction, the outcome was successful.
Lacerations ; Rupture* ; Scrotum ; Serous Membrane ; Urethra ; Wounds, Stab*

The present study was undertaken to learn the outcome of patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) in their only hearing ear. Timing to conduct a cochlear implantation was also determined in those who did not recover the hearing. The study group comprised 25 patients who confronted ISSNHL in their only hearing ear. A total of 192 patients, who had ISSNHL in one ear and had normal contralateral ear, served as the control. Demographically there were no significant differences between the groups. The recovery rate was similar between the groups: 64.0% in the experimental and 62.5% in the control group. The duration until the recovery of ISSNHL in the only hearing ear was 5-90 days (average 17.6 days). In the experimental group, 8 patients did not recover from ISSNHL, and underwent cochlear implantation in 6 with satisfactory results. These results suggest that the same treatment is applicable for patients with ISSNHL regardless of whether their contralateral ear is deaf or normal. For those who do not recover from ISSNHL in their only hearing ear, culminating in bilateral deafness, we may consider further definitive treatment including cochlear implantation as early as 3 months after initiating the treatment of ISSNHL.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; *Cochlear Implantation ; Demography ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sudden/surgery/*therapy ; Hearing Loss, Unilateral/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Selection ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome

We have experienced a case of idiopathic erythrocytosis developed in a patient with end stage renal disease who had switched to CAPD from hemodialysis. Hemoglobin levels gradually increased from 8 to 19.0 mg/dl, resulting in various symptoms from hyperviscosity during the first 2 months after the initiation of CAPD. There were no other possible causes of secondary erythrocytosis, such as hypoxia, erythropoietin -producing tumor or acquired cyst. Serum level of IGF-1 was above the normal range in contrast with low serum levels in CAPD patients with anemia. Increased IGF-1 levels may possibly influence on the development of erythrocytosis in this case.
Anemia ; Anoxia ; Erythropoietin ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Polycythemia* ; Reference Values ; Renal Dialysis

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic appendectomy is a common procedure for treatment of appendicitis. However, in some complicated cases, like periappendiceal abscess, deciding on treatment options is very challenging. Early appendectomy or interval appendectomy may be possible, but remains controversial. METHODS: We prospectively studied the advantages of interval appendectomy in 21 patients with periappendiceal abscess using a laparoscopic method versus 14 patients with immediate initial laparotomy. RESULTS: In the interval appendectomy group (INT group), in periappendiceal abscess, use of a laparoscopic method was advantageous in terms of operation time (p<0.001), less fasting time (p<0.001), and fewer postoperative complications (p=0.032). However, the total cost in the INT group was 1,686,000+/-940,000 South Korean won (KRW) compared with 1,506,000+/-322,000 KRW in the early appendectomy group (EAR group) (p=0.007) because patients in the INT group required two hospital visits. The total length of hospital stay postoperatively, was 7.31+/-2.726 days in the INT group, compared with 9.21+/-3.378 days in the EAR group (p=0.537). CONCLUSION: We recommend interval appendectomy as the preferable approach for the periappendiceal abscess, as it can result in more favorable postoperative surgical outcomes, fewer complications, and less antibiotic usage.
Abscess* ; Appendectomy* ; Appendicitis ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Ear ; Fasting ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Length of Stay ; Postoperative Complications ; Prospective Studies

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic appendectomy is a common procedure for treatment of appendicitis. However, in some complicated cases, like periappendiceal abscess, deciding on treatment options is very challenging. Early appendectomy or interval appendectomy may be possible, but remains controversial. METHODS: We prospectively studied the advantages of interval appendectomy in 21 patients with periappendiceal abscess using a laparoscopic method versus 14 patients with immediate initial laparotomy. RESULTS: In the interval appendectomy group (INT group), in periappendiceal abscess, use of a laparoscopic method was advantageous in terms of operation time (p<0.001), less fasting time (p<0.001), and fewer postoperative complications (p=0.032). However, the total cost in the INT group was 1,686,000+/-940,000 South Korean won (KRW) compared with 1,506,000+/-322,000 KRW in the early appendectomy group (EAR group) (p=0.007) because patients in the INT group required two hospital visits. The total length of hospital stay postoperatively, was 7.31+/-2.726 days in the INT group, compared with 9.21+/-3.378 days in the EAR group (p=0.537). CONCLUSION: We recommend interval appendectomy as the preferable approach for the periappendiceal abscess, as it can result in more favorable postoperative surgical outcomes, fewer complications, and less antibiotic usage.
Abscess* ; Appendectomy* ; Appendicitis ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Ear ; Fasting ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Length of Stay ; Postoperative Complications ; Prospective Studies

As the radiotherapy technique development, the needs for using of medical electronic chart in the department of radiation oncology is growing. However, the complexity of affairs of radiation oncology make it difficult to develop a electronic medical chart. In this study, we introduce the electronic medical chart developed by domestic hospital. The function and example of electronic medical chart designed as radiation treatment progress was showed and the future study was presented.
Electronics ; Electrons ; Radiation Oncology

As the radiotherapy technique development, the needs for using of medical electronic chart in the department of radiation oncology is growing. However, the complexity of affairs of radiation oncology make it difficult to develop a electronic medical chart. In this study, we introduce the electronic medical chart developed by domestic hospital. The function and example of electronic medical chart designed as radiation treatment progress was showed and the future study was presented.
Electronics ; Electrons ; Radiation Oncology

Child ; Dental Arch ; Diagnosis ; Facial Asymmetry ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Jaw Relation Record ; Mandible ; Parents ; Splints ; Temporomandibular Joint