PURPOSE: A retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy is theoretically the ideal procedure for an adrenalectomy. However, it is not popular due to its technical difficulty. Herein, we report our experience with retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomies and describe the difficulties encountered during the operations. METHODS: From November 1996 to October 1999, a total of 41 retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomies were performed. Forty (40) patients had a unilateral adrenal tumor (size: 1-6 cm): 21 aldosteronomas, 12 Cushing adenomas, 3 neurogenic tumors, 2 nonfunctioning adenomas, 1 vascular cyst, and 1 angiomyolipoma of the kidney. One (1) had bilateral hyperplasia. The operations were carried out in prone position in all cases with 3 trochars. RESULTS: Thirty five (35) operations were completed endoscopically. Five were converted to open procedures, and one was converted to a transperitoneal laparoscopic approach. The causes of conversion were 1 severe subcutaneous emphysema, 2 technical difficulties, 1 bleeding, 1 partial nephrectomy, and 1 missing tumor. The average operating time for the complete endoscopic adrenalectomies was 183 minutes in the first 14 cases and 142 minutes in the next 21 cases. There was no operative morbidity or mortality. The average hospital stay was 4.3 days in the first 14 cases and 2.8 days in the next 21cases. CONCLUSION: A retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy is a less invasive procedure than any other adrenalectomy procedure, and its only disadvantage is technical difficulty. However, the technical difficulty can be overcome with increasing experience.
Adenoma ; Adrenalectomy* ; Angiomyolipoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Kidney ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Nephrectomy ; Prone Position ; Subcutaneous Emphysema

We describe a case of traumatic aortic dissection associated with cardiac compression in a patient with anaphylactic cardiac arrest who underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A 54-year-old man who was scheduled to undergo surgery for gastric cancer went into cardiac arrest caused by an anaphylactic reaction to prophylactic antibiotics in the operating room. Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was performed. CPR, including chest compressions, was performed for 35 minutes, and the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) after spontaneous circulation returned. The patient received ECMO for 9 hours until confirmation of normal cardiac function on transthoracic echocardiography. Twenty days after cardiac arrest, an aortic dissection and fractures in the left fourth and fifth ribs due to chest compression were detected by abdominal computed tomography. The DeBakey type III aortic dissection extended from the distal arch of the thoracic aorta to the proximal level of the renal artery, involving the celiac trunk. It was considered an uncomplicated type B aortic dissection with no sign of malperfusion of the major vessels. This case demonstrates the potential traumatic injuries that can occur after CPR and encourages proper management of mechanical complications in cardiac arrest survivors.
Anaphylaxis ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Echocardiography ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Middle Aged ; Operating Rooms ; Renal Artery ; Ribs ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survivors* ; Thorax ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

PURPOSE: A retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy is theoretically the ideal procedure for an adrenalectomy. However, it is not popular due to its technical difficulty. Herein, we report our experience with retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomies and describe the difficulties encountered during the operations. METHODS: From November 1996 to October 1999, a total of 41 retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomies were performed. Forty (40) patients had a unilateral adrenal tumor (size: 1?? cm): 21 aldosteronomas, 12 Cushing adenomas, 3 neurogenic tumors, 2 nonfunctioning adenomas, 1 vascular cyst, and 1 angiomyolipoma of the kidney. One (1) had bilateral hyperplasia. The operations were carried out in prone position in all cases with 3 trochars. RESULTS: Thirty five (35) operations were completed endoscopically. Five were converted to open procedures, and one was converted to a transperitoneal laparoscopic approach. The causes of conversion were 1 severe subcutaneous emphysema, 2 technical difficulties, 1 bleeding, 1 partial nephrectomy, and 1 missing tumor. The average operating time for the complete endoscopic adrenalectomies was 183 minutes in the first 14 cases and 142 minutes in the next 21 cases. There was no operative morbidity or mortality. The average hospital stay was 4.3 days in the first 14 cases and 2.8 days in the next 21 cases. CONCLUSION: A retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy is a less invasive procedure than any other adrenalectomy procedure, and its only disadvantage is technical difficulty. However, the technical difficulty can be overcome with increasing experience.
Adenoma ; Adrenalectomy* ; Angiomyolipoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Kidney ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Nephrectomy ; Prone Position ; Subcutaneous Emphysema

PURPOSE: A retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy is theoretically the ideal procedure for an adrenalectomy. However, it is not popular due to its technical difficulty. Herein, we report our experience with retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomies and describe the difficulties encountered during the operations. METHODS: From November 1996 to October 1999, a total of 41 retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomies were performed. Forty (40) patients had a unilateral adrenal tumor (size: 1?? cm): 21 aldosteronomas, 12 Cushing adenomas, 3 neurogenic tumors, 2 nonfunctioning adenomas, 1 vascular cyst, and 1 angiomyolipoma of the kidney. One (1) had bilateral hyperplasia. The operations were carried out in prone position in all cases with 3 trochars. RESULTS: Thirty five (35) operations were completed endoscopically. Five were converted to open procedures, and one was converted to a transperitoneal laparoscopic approach. The causes of conversion were 1 severe subcutaneous emphysema, 2 technical difficulties, 1 bleeding, 1 partial nephrectomy, and 1 missing tumor. The average operating time for the complete endoscopic adrenalectomies was 183 minutes in the first 14 cases and 142 minutes in the next 21 cases. There was no operative morbidity or mortality. The average hospital stay was 4.3 days in the first 14 cases and 2.8 days in the next 21 cases. CONCLUSION: A retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy is a less invasive procedure than any other adrenalectomy procedure, and its only disadvantage is technical difficulty. However, the technical difficulty can be overcome with increasing experience.
Adenoma ; Adrenalectomy* ; Angiomyolipoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Kidney ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Nephrectomy ; Prone Position ; Subcutaneous Emphysema

No abstract available.
Blood Pressure* ; Body Mass Index*

No abstract available.
Prune Belly Syndrome*

No abstract available.
Lymphoma* ; Trachea*

Effects of beta-adrenergic blockers and related agents were investigated on experimental convulsions of chicks induced with strychnine, pentylenetetrazol or electroshock and on thiopental sleeping time of rabbits. Convulsions of chicks due to strychnine were significantly inhibited by all beta-adrenergic blockers except dichloroisopreterenol. Propranolol inhibited electroshock convulsion as well, but none of the blockers inhibited pentylenetetrazol convulsion. Furthermore, the mortality of chicks due to large dose of pentylenetetrazol was greatly increased by treatment of beta-adrenergic blockers. Pindolol alone showed diazepam-like anticonvulsive effect against low doses of pentylenetetrazol. Pretreatment with beta-adrenergic blockers caused a marked increase in thiopental sleeping time in rabbits. Prolongation of thiopental sleep due to propranolol was abolished by premedication of animals with reserpine or tranylcypromine. Thiopental sleeping time was prolonged by Zizyphus extract, though less effective than beta-adrenergic blockers. It is felt that the anticonvulsive or sleep enhancing effect of beta-adrenergic blocking agents has an intimate relationship with endogenous adrenergic amines and the receptors.
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/pharmacology* ; Anesthesia ; Animal ; Anticonvulsants* ; Blood Pressure/drug effects ; Chickens ; Convulsions/chemically induced ; Heart Rate/drug effects ; Male ; Propranolol/pharmacology* ; Rabbits ; Strychnine/antagonists & inhibitors ; Thiopental

OBJECTIVE: Endometriosis is a disease affecting a large population of women all over the world. A local sterile inflammation occurs in the peritonel cavity of patients with endometriosis. It suggests that immunological events play a major role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. We have studied the levels of serveral T cell and monocyte derived cytokines, especially IL-6 (promoter of immune response) and IL-10 (inhibitor of immune response), in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis to characterize the change of immune response that occurs at the site of endometriosis. Method: This study was performed in Hallym university hospital from October, 1997 to October 1998 and enrolled 29 women with gross or microscopic findings of minimal to severe endometriosis in case group, and 28 women without visual evidence of pelvic endometriosis and with benign gynecologic disease in control group. IL-6 and IL-10 levels in the peritoneal fluid were determined using commercial ELISA and compared between endometriosis and controls and between fertile and infertile women with endometriosis and according to the revised American Fertility Society classification. RESULT: IL-6 was higher and IL-10 was lower in the peritoneal fluid of endometriosis group than of control group. Cyclic variations in the IL-6 concentrations were seen in endometriosis group : the concentrations in the secretory phase were significantly higher than those in the proliferative phase. In endometriosis group, IL-6 concentrations of infertile women were higher than fertile women. Both IL-6 and IL-10 in the peritoneal fluid of endomtriosis group did not show significant correlation according to r-AFS stages. CONCLUSION: Increased IL-6 and decreased IL-10 levels in the peritoneal fluid may be related to infertility and pathogenesis in the endometriosis, suggesting that partially contribute to the disturbed immune regulation observed in endometriosis.
Ascitic Fluid* ; Classification ; Cytokines ; Endometriosis* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fertility ; Genital Diseases, Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-6* ; Monocytes

PURPOSE: To analyze CT and follow-up chest radiographic findings in patients with necrotizing pneumonia and to evaluate clinical significance of the extent of necrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed medical records and retrospectively analysed CT scans and follow-up chest radiographs of 22 patients with necrotizing pneumonia, confirmed by biopsy(n=7) and culture (n=15). Inclusion criteria for necrotizing pneumonia was necrotic low attenuation, with or without cavitation on postcontrast enhanced CT scan. The study group included 15 men and seven women, aged 11-66 years (average: 47years). RESULTS: The pathogens of necrotizing pneumonia were Klebsiella spp(n=7), Enterobacter spp(n=5), Actinomyces spp(n=4), Pseudomonas spp(n=4), Nocardia spp(n=4), and others(n=5). Average duration of pneumonia was 4.1 months. On CT scan, pneumonic consolidations were well-marginated in 14 patients and there were cavities on initial CT scan in 16 cases. Margins of the necrotic portion on CT scan were well-demarcated in majority of the patients(16/22). Low attenuation areas on initial CT scan resulted in cavitation, fibrosis and volume loss as shown on follow-up chest radiographs. The larger the necrotic areas on CT, the more the volume loss was. CONCLUSION: CT findings of necrotizing pneumonia were well-marginated air-space consolidation with low attenuation area, with or without cavity. The extent of necrotic area was closely related with the degree of fibrotic change later on. CT is important tool for diagnosis and prediction of parenchymal damage in necrotizing pneumonia.
Actinomyces ; Diagnosis ; Enterobacter ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Klebsiella ; Male ; Medical Records ; Necrosis ; Nocardia ; Pneumonia* ; Pseudomonas ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed