BACKGROUND: It is commonly accepted that the Gambee suture is a precise and reliable suturing method in the anastomosis of the intestine, especially in the aspect of the exact apposition of the submucosal layer. Generally, Gambee suturing technique requires much time and effort, as well as complicated actions and skills. For this reason, the Gambee suture is avoided by many surgeons. PURPOSE: Nahm-gun Oh has devised a U-shaped needle, which can prevent submucosal tearing of the posterior bowel wall, owing to the short distance between its both ends. As a result, an operator to perform a Gambee stitch more easily, safely. This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness, reliability of the U-shaped needle. METHODS: The clinical analysis was made on 104 cases with Gambee anastomosed colo rectal disease who have been admitted and operated at the Department of Surgery, Pusan National University Hospital, from January, 1996 to December, 1997 and the disease and patients status, operative procedure, postoperative complication, needle holder grasping count according to anastomosis level of 104 cases were analyzed. RESULTS: Gambee anastomosis was performed in 71 cases(68.3%) of colorectal cancers and 33 cases(31.7%) of nonmalignant colorectal diseases. Postoperative complication was 20 cases(19.2%) and 2 cases(1.9%) of anastomotic site leaks were observed. In aspect of needle holder grasping according to anastomosis level, U-shaped needles allow for an entire Gambee suture from one fixed grasp, while the common half-circled suturing needle requires at least 2 or 3 different grasping positions of the needle holder. In case of anterior bowel wall anastomosis, undesirable slipping-off of the submucosal tissue was founded. Authors also suggest a hook-style barb tip so that barb tip should prevent the slipping-off. CONCLUSION: The half-ellipsed or half-track needle can prevent submucosal tearing of the posterior bowel, owing to the short distance between its both ends. Barb feature on the suturing needle tips will be able to prevent slipping-off of the submucosa contralateral from the needle holder during an entire Gambee stitch on the anterior bowel wall. We recommended, based on our results, with U-shaped suturing needle, as well as barb-tip needle feature, operators can save a lot of time and effort formerly required by other common needle in Gambee suture.
Busan ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Intestines ; Lower Gastrointestinal Tract* ; Needles* ; Postoperative Complications ; Rectal Diseases ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Sutures

PURPOSE: To clarify the chracteristic sonographic features of benign soft tissue tumors and to evaluate the usefulness of sonographic imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed ultrasonographic images of 70 cases in 68 patients with histologically proved benign soft tissue tumors. RESULTS: The tumors included 33 lipomas, 11 hemangiomas. 11 lymphangiomas, 7 neurilemmomas, 4 epidermold cysts, 2 fibromas, 1 mesenchymoma, and 1 myxoma. The SOhographic appearances of the lesions were mainly solid in 53 cases(33 lipomas, 8 hemangiomas, 2 lymphangiomas, 7 neurilemmomas, 2 fibromas and 1 mesenchymoma), mainly cystic in 14 cases(1 hemangioma, 8 lymphangiomas, 4 epidermoid cysts, and 1 myxoma), and mixed in 3 cases(2 hemangiomas and 1 lymphangioma). Although an accurate histologic prediction could not be made in most cases, certain patterns appeared to be characteristic of specific tumor types. 26 cases(78%) of lipoma were seen as lentiform, iso- or hyperechoic, solid mass. Hemangioma had variable appearance and chacteristic calcifications were seen in 3 cases. Unicameral or multiseptated cystic mass with variable thickness of echogenic septa and solid portion was the characteristic finding of lymphangioma. Neurilemmoma showed Iobulated, oval to round, relatively hypoechoic mass with or without internal cystic portion. CONCLUSION: Sonographic evaluation of benign soft tissue tumros is useful in demonstrating the location, size, extent, and internal characteristics of the mass. A relatively confident diagnosis can be made when the characteristic features of the benign soft tissue tumor are present on sonographic imaging.
Diagnosis ; Epidermal Cyst ; Fibroma ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Lipoma ; Lymphangioma ; Mesenchymoma ; Myxoma ; Neurilemmoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Hepatopulmonary Syndrome* ; Lung* ; Perfusion*

Implanting a pacemaker is the most often used intervention for treating bradycardia. The most commonly used pacemaker is the intracardiac pacemaker, yet it can have many complications. An infected pacemaker can spread to systemic infection and the condition of the patient can quickly get worse, so if an infected pacemaker is suspected, then the pacemaker must be removed. Apart from the use of interventional methods such as a loop or a weight, we can take a more aggressive approach by using extracorporeal circulation for removal of the pacemaker. We report here on two cases in which extracorporeal circulation was used to remove the infected pacemakers.
Bradycardia ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Extracorporeal Circulation ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: Uterine sarcomas are rare and characterized by rapid clinical progression and poor prognosis. The manegement of uterine sarcoma has been challenged. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic findings and outcome of patients with uterine sarcoma METHODS: From Sep. 1990 to July. 1999, 8 patients with histologically proven uterine sarcoma at department of obstetrics and gynecology of Chonbuk University Hospital were evaluated for their clinical profiles and survival retrospectively RESULTS: The age of patients with uterine sarcoma ranged 31 to 60, and the mean age was 46 years. The most common pathologic type of uterine sarcoma was leiomyosarcoma. The common presenting symptom were irregular uterine bleeding, hypermenorrhea and lower abdominal palpable mass. The patients with uterine sarcoma were treated by surgery, post-operative radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. The mean follow up duration was 34.1 months. The 2 year survival rate was 50%. Distant metastasis were reveled at two patients, and the sites are lung and brain. CONCLUSIONS: Uterine sarcomas are aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis. The Major treatment is surgery and the effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy were undetermined.
Brain ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Lung ; Menorrhagia ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Obstetrics ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoma* ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: Remarkable progress has recently been made in achieving successful early repair of congenital heart disease with using cardiopulmonary bypass in the neonatal period. The aim of this study is to evaluate our short-term outcomes for performing neonatal cardiac surgery under extracorporeal circulation. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifty five neonates underwent open heart surgery from February 2002 to December 2007. The mean ages and body weight was 13.5 days and 3.2 kg, respectively. The diagnoses of the patients were transposition of the great arteries (14), total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (7), large ventricular septal defect (VSD) (7), coarctation of the aorta with VSD (6), interrupted aortic arch (5) and others (16). RESULT: Six patients had difficulties being weaned from extracorporeal circulation. Four patients left the operating room with an open sternum. Low cardiac output syndrome and acute renal insufficiency were observed in 3 patients each, respectively. Post-operative complications were observed in 27 patients (49.1%). The postoperative mortality was 12.7% (7 patients); 5 patients experienced early hospital death and 2 experienced late death (2). CONCLUSION: In our hospital, early surgical repair with extracorporeal circulation in neonates was feasible with tolerable mortality. Further follow-up is required to establish the long-term survival and complications.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Coarctation ; Arteries ; Body Weight ; Cardiac Output, Low ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Extracorporeal Circulation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Operating Rooms ; Sternum ; Thoracic Surgery

BACKGROUND: The objective responses of cisplatin and etoposide (PVP) combination chemotherapy as second-line therapy following CAV was high (40~50%) and, in several reports, PVP yields survival results that are at least as good as those obtained with cyclophosphamide or doxorubicin-based regimens and with less host-related toxicity in chemotherapy-naive patients. We conducted a phase II study to evaluate the effect of a combination of cisplatin and etoposide as a first-line therapy in patients with small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Sixty-one previously untreated small cell lung cancer patients with measurable lesion(s) received cisplatin(30 mg/m2 IV, day 1~3) and etoposide(100 mg/m2 IV, day 1~3). In patients with limited disease, after completion of 6 cycles of PVP chemotherapy, chest and prophylatic brain irradiation was performed in case of complete responder, chest irradiation only in partial responder. RESULTS: 1) Of 55 evaluable patients, 13(24%) had a complete response and 29(53%) had a partial response. 2) The median survival time was 55.8 weeks for all patients(N=55), 61.1 weeks for limited disease(N=31), 51.3 weeks for extensive disease(N=24). 3) The response duration was 29.1 weeks for responders(N=42). 4) There was no significant prognostic factors iufluencing response rates. 5) The toxicity was tolerable and there was no treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSION: The PVP combination chemotherapy as a first-line therapy was effective and well-tolerated in patients with small cell lung cancer.
Brain ; Cisplatin* ; Cyclophosphamide ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Etoposide* ; Humans ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma* ; Thorax

PURPOSE: We evaluated the abdominal uttrasonographic findings of Salmonellosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 64 patients who were confirmed as salmonellosis by blood culture. We retrospectively analyzed the abdominal ultrasonographic findings with particular attention to enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes(mesenteric lymphadenitis), thickening of bowel wall, especially terminal ileum and cecum(ileocecitis), hepatosplenomegaly, ascites, gallbladder wall thickening, and enlarged lymph nodes in porta hepatis. RESULTS: The 64 cases were observed as mesenteric lymph node enlargement(44 cases), wall thickening of the terminal ileum and cecum(36 cases), hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly(42 cases), minimal ascites(8 cases), gallbladder wall thickening(6 cases), and enlarged lymph nodes in porta hepatis(4 cases). No abnormal finding was seen in 10 patients. CONCLUSION: The mesenteric lymph node enlargement, wall thickening of the terminal ileum and cecum, hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly, minimal ascites, gallbladder wall thickening, and enlarged lymph nodes in porta hepatis are suggestive findings of salmonellosis on abdominal ultrasonography in patients with fever and acute abdomen.
Abdomen, Acute ; Ascites ; Cecum ; Fever ; Gallbladder ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Ileum ; Lymph Nodes ; Retrospective Studies ; Salmonella Infections* ; Splenomegaly ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Levodopa* ; Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome* ; Parkinson Disease*

We report unusual MRI findings (including those from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)) in a patient with recurrent Wernicke's encephalopathy with a remarkable cerebellar lesion. DWI showed high signal intensities in the superior portion of the cerebellar hemisphere and vermis area. After thiamine administration, clinical symptoms improved and the lesions with high signal intensities disappeared on follow-up DWI.
Cerebellum ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Thiamine ; Wernicke Encephalopathy*