BACKGROUND: Although surgical angioplasty for isolated coronary ostial stenosis is assumend as an alternative approach to CABG, the clinical features of isolated coronary ostial stenosis, postoperative complications and follow-up angiographic results would have not been well studied. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 24 patients (female : male = 20 : 4, mean age 50.0 +/- 12.3 yr) who underwent surgical angioplasty for isolated coronary ostial stenosis using patch ( 22 fresh autologous pericardium, 2 saphenous vein) during the period of March 1990 through February 1998. Repeat coronary angiography (16 patients) and echocardiography (24 patients) were performed. Aortic regurgitation was evaluated semiquantitatively (Grade I - Grade IV). RESULTS: There were 3 deaths after surgical angioplasty. One death was due to acute coronary dissection perioperatively, the second due to low cardiac output syndrome 2 weeks post-surgery, and the third due to traumatic panperitonitis 10 months post-procedure. Angina recurred in 4 patients and the remaning 18 patients were symptom-free. Repeat angiography (19.3 +/- 20.7 Mo) showed widely patent ostium with excellent run-off except 2 patients (1 distal patch stenosis, 1 ostial restenosis in Takayasu's arteritis). The third symptomatic patient was proven to have coronary spasm by ergonovine test. AR increased in the fourth patient (Grade II -> III) with patent ostium. CONCLUSION: Surgical angioplasty may be feasible and alternative operative method to CABG for isolated coronary ostial stenosis. It should however be noted that postop AR can develop and/or increase. Further investigation is needed to evaluate the clinical significance of the AR.
Angiography ; Angioplasty* ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Cardiac Output, Low ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Echocardiography ; Ergonovine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Pericardium ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Spasm

BACKGROUND: In the Far East, it is well known that hepatic resection is a best form of treatment for complicated intrahepatic stones (IHS). However, many investigators have reported that the associated intrahepatic biliary stricture is the main cause of treatment failure, requiring additional management because of recurrent cholangitis. PURPOSE: A retrospective comparative study was undertaken to clarify the long term efficacy of hepatic resection in IHS and to investigate the clinical significance of intrahepatic biliary stricture affected on treatment failure after hepatic resection. Patient and METHOD: The clinical records of 44 among 51 consecutive patients with symptomatic IHS who underwent hepatic segmentectomy or lobectomy between July 1986 and October 1996 were reviewed. We excluded 7 patients from study group because of postoperative death or incomplete follow- up. Patients were divided into two study groups: group A with intrahepatic biliary stricture (n=28) and group B without stricture (n=16). Residual or recurrent stones, recurrence of intrahepatic biliary stricture, late cholangitis, and final outcomes were analyzed and compared statistically between group A and B. Patients were followed up for a median duration of 65 months after hepatectomy. RESULTS: The overall incidence of residual or recurrent stones were 36% and 11%, respectively. The initial treatment failure rate was 50% in group A and 31% in group B. Intrahepatic biliary stricture was recurred in 46% of group A, but in none of group B (P=0.001). More than two thirds of restrictures were identified on the primary site. The incidence of late cholangitis was higher in group A (54%) than in group B (6%)(p=0.002). The late cholangitis was severe, recurrent and related to stones and strictures in 11 of the 15patients in group A. Twelve patients (ten in group A and two in group B) needed additional secondary multiple procedures at a median of 12 months after hepatectomy. These consisted of percutaneous fluoroscopic stone retrieval (n=6), postoperative cholangioscopy (POC) or percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) with electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL)(n=3), balloon dilatation (n=7)choledochotomy (n=3), S4 segmentectomy (n=1), Sphincteroplasty (n=1), drainage of the delayed subphrenic or liver abscess (n=2), and repair of prolonged biliary fistula (n=1). The final outcomes after hepatectomy with or without secondary management were good in 80%, fair in 16%, and poor in 4% of the cases. CONCLUSION: The majority of the recurrent cholangitis after hepatectomy in IHS were related to recurrent intrahepatic ductal strictures. Therefore, hepatic resection should be included the strictured duct. However, with hepatectomy alone, it is difficult to clean the IHS and relieve the ductal strictures completely, particularly in cases of bilateral IHS, so a perioperative team approaches, including both radiologic and cholangioscopic interventions, should be used for effective management of IHS.
Biliary Fistula ; Cholangitis ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Dilatation ; Drainage ; Far East ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lithotripsy ; Liver Abscess ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Recurrence ; Research Personnel ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Failure

PURPOSE: We applied lateral lithotomy position to the severe ureteral stricture cases supposed to fail with only retrograde approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From October 1997 to April 1999, 13 patients with severe ureteral stricture (lenghth>2cm or complete obstruction) supposed to fail with only retrograde approach and one patient with study. The causes of ureteral strictures were pelvic malignancy in 5, tuberculosis in 4, trauma in 2 and others in 2. The patient's ipsilateral shoulder was rotated and fixed like lateral position. And ipsilateral pelvis was elevated with sandbag or pad and rotated about 45 degrees, too. The retrograde approach was tried at first, if fail, antegrade approach was combined. RESULTS: We could insert ureteral stent via retrograde approach only in 3 patients and we needed aid of antegrade approach for passage through ureteral stricture in the other 11 patients (79%). Percutaneous antegrade approaches were combined in those 11 patients and we could pass the guide wire and indwell the stent in 10 of 11 patients (91%) using this position. CONCLUSIONS: The lateral lithotomy position was very helpful to the simultaneous retrograde and antegrade approach in severe fibrotic or malignant ureteral strictures.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Pelvis ; Shoulder ; Stents ; Tuberculosis ; Ureter*

PURPOSE: We evaluated the advantages of simultaneous procedure in bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy for the management of bilateral renal stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The charts of patients with bilateral renal stones from January 1990 to April 1998 were retrospectively reviewed. We compared operative time, hospital stay, decrease in hemoglobin, and complications of simultaneous procedure with those of sequential procedure. RESULTS: Among the 13 patients with bilateral renal stones treated percutaneously, 9 patients were underwent simultaneous procedure and 4 patients were underwent sequential procedure. Mean operative time was 190 minutes in simultaneous group and 335 minutes in sequential group (p<0.05), mean hospital stay was 10.1 and 16.8 days (p<0.05) and mean decrease in hemoglobin was 2.6 and 1.6g/dl (p>0.05), respectively. Complications included blood loss requiring transfusion in 1 case and paralytic ileus in 1 of simultaneous group, and blood loss in 2 and fever in 1 of sequential group. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a well-tolerated, safe, expeditious, and cost-effective approach to patients with bilateral renal stones at centers proficient in percutaneous techniques.
Fever ; Humans ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Length of Stay ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous* ; Operative Time ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We evaluated the advantages of simultaneous procedure in bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy for the management of bilateral renal stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The charts of patients with bilateral renal stones from January 1990 to April 1998 were retrospectively reviewed. We compared operative time, hospital stay, decrease in hemoglobin, and complications of simultaneous procedure with those of sequential procedure. RESULTS: Among the 13 patients with bilateral renal stones treated percutaneously, 9 patients were underwent simultaneous procedure and 4 patients were underwent sequential procedure. Mean operative time was 190 minutes in simultaneous group and 335 minutes in sequential group (p<0.05), mean hospital stay was 10.1 and 16.8 days (p<0.05) and mean decrease in hemoglobin was 2.6 and 1.6g/dl (p>0.05), respectively. Complications included blood loss requiring transfusion in 1 case and paralytic ileus in 1 of simultaneous group, and blood loss in 2 and fever in 1 of sequential group. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a well-tolerated, safe, expeditious, and cost-effective approach to patients with bilateral renal stones at centers proficient in percutaneous techniques.
Fever ; Humans ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Length of Stay ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous* ; Operative Time ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: As preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis is sometimes difficult, various diagnostic modalities are used for accurate diagnosis. The aims of this study were to define the diagnostic parameters of ultrasonographic (USG) examination and to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of clinical scoring system in the patients with suspected acute appendicitis. METHODS: A consecutive 130 patients, admitted under impression of acute appendicitis, were underwent routine ultrasonographic examination (from December 1994 to July 1995), and analyzed the accuracy rate of ultrasonographic examination. Already applied diagnostic score (age> or =50 yrs; 1.5, steady pain in right low quadrant; 2, pain relocation to RLQ; 2, tenderness in RLQ; 2.5, rebound tenderness; 2.5, rigidity; 1, Rovsing sign; 2, Rosenstein sign; 2, and leukocyte> or =10,000/mm3; 1.5) in these same patients also analyzed for correlation with final diagnosis and ultrasonographic examination retrospectively. In the second prospective study (from August 1995 to December 1995), 102 patients were enrolled, and diagnostic scoring system was evaluated for the applicability in diagnosis of appendicitis. RESULTS: Of ninety-nine operated patients (clinical and sonography suggested appendicitis), 93 patients (94%) were confirmed as a acute appendicitis, and remaining 6 patients (6%) revealed mesenteric lymphadenitis and 31 patients were discharged without operation. Accuracy of the ultrasonographic examination was 91% of sensitivity, 86% of specificity, and 90% of accuracy rate, respectively. Diagnostic score (>10 point) of these patients revealed also a sensitive parameter in diagnosis of acute appendicitis with 94% of sensitivity, 71% of specificity, and 86% of accuracy rate. In the second prospective study, 85 patients (97% of 88 cases) with diagnostic score over 10 points had been confirmed as a acute appendicitis and only two cases (14% of 14 cases) having below 10 points in diagnostic score needed appendectomy. Over 10 ponits of diagnostic score in diagnosis of appendicitis revealed 98% of sensitivity, 80% of specificity, 96.5% of positive predict value, 85.7% of negative predict value, and 95% of accuracy rate, and relative risk 4.89 (p=0.000). Using multivariate analysis, age (> or =50 years),diagnostic score (> or =10), diameter of appendix (> or =6 mm) in USG, and Rovosing sign were significant independent factors in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that ultrasonographic examination is necessary in patients with low diagnostic score (<10) to avoid negative laparatomy, but patients with high diagnostic score (>10) can be operated without ultrasonographic examination.
Appendectomy ; Appendicitis* ; Appendix ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mesenteric Lymphadenitis ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prospective Studies* ; Retrospective Studies* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Humans

PURPOSE: Minimally invasive donor nephrectomy has become a favored procedure for kidney transplantation. To compare the outcomes of kidneys procured using open donor nephrectomy (ODN), laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) and hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (HALDN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 243 patients were included in the study. 177 HALDN and 24 LDN patients were compared with 42 ODN patients. The operation times, warm ischemic times, transfusions, times to regular diet, post-operation hospital stays, analgesics use, post-operation serum creatinine, complications, graft functions and survivals were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean operation times were 197+/-43, 213+/-32.7 and 189+/-28.2 minutes for HALDN, LDN and ODN, respectively. The warm ischemic times were 175+/-76.7, 174+/-67.5 and 135+/-25.4 seconds for HALDN, LDN and ODN, respectively. The mean post-operation hospital stays were shorter for the HALDN and LDN than for ODN. There were no significant differences between the three groups in terms of the times to regular diet. The graft survivals were 98, 96 and 97.6% in the HALDN, LDN and ODN, respectively. The postoperative serum creatinine levels of the recipients showed no differences between the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: HALDN and LDN are technically feasible, and appear to be safe and effective for live-donor transplantation. Evaluation of the HALDN and LDN showed less pain, a more rapid recovery and minimal cosmetic disfigurement than the ODN. The recipient graft functions were also similar in the laparoscopic and open surgery groups. Therefore, HALDN and LDN may result in increased acceptance of the donor operation and expand the pool of potential kidney donors.
Analgesics ; Creatinine ; Diet ; Graft Survival ; Hand ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Nephrectomy* ; Tissue Donors* ; Transplants ; Warm Ischemia

PURPOSE: We evaluated the early results and the learning curve of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in the first 150 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 2001 and March 2007, 150 consecutive patients with clinically organ-confined prostate cancer underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. For evaluation of the learning curve, morbidity, oncologic, and functional results of the first 50(group 1) and last 50(group 3) procedures were compared. RESULTSs: The mean operating time and hospital stay was 289+/-66 minutes and 6.3+/-2.9 days, respectively. The median postoperative period of an indwelling Foley catheter was 5 days(range, 3-46 days). The intraoperative complication rate, including transfusion, was 15.3%. A positive surgical margin rate was 37.3%. After a mean follow-up of 33.5 months, a PSA relapse was observed in 39(33.6%) patients. The continence rate was 77.1, 92.2, and 93.7% at 1, 6, and 12 months. Analysis of the learning curve revealed significant differences in the operating time, hospital stay, intraoperative complication rate, and indwelling Foley catheter days, whereas the postoperative complication rate, mean estimated blood loss, positive surgical margin rate, and continence rate 6 months postoperatively showed no influence. CONCLUSIONS: Although laparoscopic radical prostatectomy requires significant expertise with a learning curve, the morbidity is low and the oncologic continence result was promising. The learning curve for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy depends not only on the technical skills, but also on the self-perceived definition. It is likely that no complete plateau of the learning curve exists for any article. Standardized expectations and reporting of outcomes could help to better define the true learning curve for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.