BACKGROUND: To evaluate the influence of changes in mitral valve area (MVA) and left atrial pressure on pulmonary vein flow (PVF) we analyzed PVF with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) before, after and one-year after percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV) in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) in sinus rhythm. METHODS: PMV was guided with TEE. Follow-up TEE was done about one year after PMV. MVA and transmitral mean gradient (TMG) were measured. Systolic velocity (S), diastolic velocity (D), atrial reversal velocity (AR), their time-velocity integral (S-TVI, D-TVI, AR-TVI) and their ratio (S/D ratio, S-TVI/D-TVI ratio were evaluated. RESULTS: The number of patients was twenty-two (F:20). The age was 39+/-9 years (range:26-64). Follow-up duration was 16+/-6 months (range:7-28). MVA increased from 0.9+/-0.2 cm2 to 1.9+/-0.3 cm2 after PMV and decreased to 1.7+/-0.3 cm2 on follow-up TEE significantly. TMG decreased from 15.4+/-4.3 mmHg to 5.5+/-1.9 mmHg after PMV and was 6.2+/-2.4 mmHg on follow-up. S increased significantly on follow-up at both pulmonary vein (PV). D increased on follow-up at left PV. S/D ratio increased on follow-up at both PV. AR increased on follow-up at both PV. S-TVI increased after PMV at left PV and increased on follow-up at both PV. D-TVI had no change. S-TVI/D-TVI ratio increased on follow-up at left PV. AR-TVI increased on follow-up at right PV. CONCLUSIONS: The main changes after PMV in patients with MS in sinus rhythm were increasing tendency in S, S-TVI, S/D ratio, S-TVI/D-TVI ratio and AR. And these changes were statistically significant on follow-up TEE rather than immediately after PMV.
Atrial Pressure ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis* ; Pulmonary Veins

No abstract available.
Accidents, Traffic* ; Aggression*

BACKGROUND: Balloon mitral valvuloplasty is a favorable procedure as a therapy for mitral stenosis because it minimizes morbidity and shorten hospital stay compared with surgical mitral commissurotomy or mitral valve replacement. Recent reports about concomitant transesophageal echocardiography guide in addition to fluoroscopy suggest that transesophageal echocardiograpy can provide additional benefits during balloon mitral valvuloplasty especially in transseptal puncture, balloon positioning, evaluation of immediate result, and early detection of complications. We performed this study to identify the potential benefits of on-line transesophageal echocardiography guide during balloon mitral valvuloplasty. METHOD: We performed balloon mitral valvuloplasty under on-line transesophageal echocardiography guide in addition to fluoroscopy in 70 patients(male:14, female:56, mean age:44+/-13) with rheumatic mitral stenosis from May 1995 to May 1996. Thirty-two(46%) patients had atrial fibrillation. Included patients were symptomatic with more than NYHA class 2 symptom. Patients with mitral valve score more than 11 and mitral regurgitation more than 2/4 were excluded. Inoue balloons were utilized in all cases. RESULTS: The average mitral valve area increased from 0.9+/-0.2cm2 before valvuloplasty to 1.8+/-0.4cm2 after valvuloplasty(p<0.0001). The averagetransmitral pressure gradient measured by continuous wave Doppler decreased from 14+/-6mmHg before valvuloplasty to 5+/-2mmHg after valvuloplasty(p<0.0001), and the average left atrial pressure measured by catheterization decreased form 22+/-8 mmHg before valvuloplasty to 11+/-5mmHg after valvuloplasty(p<0.0001). The average procedure time was 64+/-22 minutes(ranged from 13 to 150 minutes) and the average fluoroscopy time was 19+/-15 minutes(ranged from 1 to 94 minutes). Two patients underwent surgery due to severe mitral regurgitation associated with papillary muscle rupture which developed after valvuloplasty. In one patient, transesophageal echocardiography detected pericaridal tamponade during the procedure and the transducer was quickly switched to transthoracic transducer to guide the pericardial puncture site. The pericardial tamponade was drained with pigtail catheter and the patient underwent balloon mitral valvuloplasty successfully a week later. Four patients were pregnant at the time of the valvuloplasty procedure and the valvuloplasty was successfully performed with minimal fluoroscopy time(1-3 minutes) without complications in all four patients. Five patients had thrombus in left atrial appendage, but the transesophageal echocardiography was useful in monitoring the ballon position during the procedure and the valvuloplasty was successfully performed without embolic complications in all five patients. CONCLUSION: The transesophageal echocardiography is a very useful guiding adjunct during balloon mitral valvuloplasty in transseptal puncture, balloon positioning, evaluation of immediate result, early detection of complications, and shortening fluoroscopy time especially in pregnant women.
Atrial Appendage ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Pressure ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Female ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Papillary Muscles ; Pregnant Women ; Punctures ; Rupture ; Thrombosis ; Transducers

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty(PMV) is a good treatment modality for patient with mitral stenosis(MS). But it is considered relatively contraindicated in patients with left artrial thrombi because of high risk of embolism. Limitted studies have suggested the feasibility of PMV in patients with left atrial appendage(LAA) thrombi. This study was performed to evaluate the feasibility and safty of PMV in patients with LAA thrombi using Inoue balloon under the transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) monitoring. METHOD: PMV was performed in 5 patients diagnosed as MS with LAA thrombi from October, 1995 to July, 1996. Four cases were female, and one case was male. Their mean age was 525(46-58years old). Two of them had history of cerebrovascular accident(CVA). The duration of anticoagulant treatment was 6-49 moths. All patients underwent PMV using Inoue balloon catheter under the TEE monitoring. RESULTS: EKG finding of all 5 patients were atrial fibrillation(Af). Their mitral valve score were 5-10(Mean score was 82). Transmitral mean pressure gradient was decreased from 14.62.1 to 5.82.0mmHg, and mitral valve increased from 0.840.43 to 1.720.19 after PMV. There was no procedure related complication. In 3 cases of them LAA thrombi diappeared in the follow up TEE. In two patients, the LAA thrombi were calcified and remained unresolved at the time of follow up TEE( 6month-and 12 month-F/U, eath). CONCLUSION: Although the reported number of PMV in patients with LAA thrombi is small in this study, we believe that, with special precaution and TEE monitoring, LAA thrombi is no longer an absolute contraindication to PMV.
Atrial Appendage* ; Balloon Valvuloplasty* ; Catheters ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Embolism ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Moths

No Abstract Available.
Allografts* ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament*

OBJECTIVES: Psychiatry in North Korea is believed to seem very different from psychiatry in South Korea. However, there is nearly no information regarding psychiatry in North Korea until now. Our study aimed to get information about North Korean psychiatry. METHODS: Three North Korean defectors in South Korea, whose clinical experience as medical doctors in North Korea was over 10 years, were recruited. They underwent the semi-structured interview, content of which included the clinical experience with psychiatric patients, the details of psychiatry, the treatment of psychiatric patients, the stigma of mental illness, and the suicide, in North Korea. RESULTS: In North Korea, psychiatric department was called as 49th(pronounced as Sahsip-gu-ho in Korean). Only patients with vivid psychotic symptoms came to psychiatric department. Non-psychotic depression or anxiety disorders usually were not dealt in psychiatry. The etiology of mental illness seemed to be confined to biological factors including genetic predisposition. Psychosocial or psychodynamic factors as etiology of mental illness appeared to be ignored. Psychiatry was apparently separated from political or ideological issues. The mainstay of psychiatric treatment is the inpatient admission and out-of-date therapy such as insulin coma therapy. Stigma over mental illness was common in North Korea. Suicide is considered as a betrayal to his/her nation, and has been reported to be very rare. CONCLUSION: The situation of psychiatry in North Korea is largely different from that of South Korea. Although some aspects of North Korean psychiatry are similar to psychiatry in former socialist countries, North Korean psychiatry is considered to have also its unique characteristics.
Anxiety Disorders ; Biological Factors ; Convulsive Therapy ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea ; Depression ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Porphyrins ; Republic of Korea ; Suicide

Avulsion injury of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon from distal phalanx is considered as a rare injury. Accrording to the classification by Leddy and Pacter, this case is Type III, which is a large bony fragment retained by the tendon. The distal pulley prevents retraction beyond the middle phalanx. We are reporting a case with brief review of literatures.
Classification ; Tendon Injuries ; Tendons

No abstract available.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Rhinoplasty

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Osteoporosis* ; Uterine Prolapse*

No abstract available.
Facial Paralysis ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Ophthalmoplegia