PURPOSE: The purpose was to evaluate the procedure-related complications of the TIPS and its clinical significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The materials consisted of 52 patients who had 57 TIPS procedures for the management of variceal bleeding due to portal hypertension. To detect the occurrence of complications during transhepatic needle puncture(from hepatic vein to the portal vein), contrast material was injected with the withdrawl of the puncture needle. RESULTS: Procedure-related complications occurred in 28 patients (54%) among 52 patients. The corn lications were biliary tree puncture(15 cases), transperitoneal puncture(14 cases), stent malposition(3 cases) stent migration(1 case), hepatic arteries puncture(1 case), splenic vein perforation(1 case), and paroxysmal tricular tachycardia(1 case). Three patients had acute stent thrombosis with rebleeding immediately after procedure. The procedure was repeated in two patients. One patient was expired due to rebleeding. CONCLUSION: The procedure related complications were clinically insignificant in most instances, when stent thrombosis or proxysmal ventricular tachycardia was developed.
Biliary Tract ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Hepatic Artery ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Needles ; Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical* ; Punctures ; Splenic Vein ; Stents ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Thrombosis ; Zea mays

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term survival rates and prognostic factors of patients with hepatocellularcarcinoma after TAE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 225 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with TAE between January 1988 and December 1994 were studied. Hepatocellular carcinoma was diagnosed either histologically(n=13) orclinically on the basis of findings characteristic for hepatocellular carcinoma obtained using such as diagnostic imaging methods such as ultrasonography, CT, MRI, and angiography as well as on the basis of high serumalpha-fetoprotein level(n=212). TAE was carried out between one and six times(mean, 1.4 time) using a mixture of lipiodol and Adriamycin, together with Gelfoam. Cumulative survival rates from the day of the first TAE were obtained by the Kaplan-Meier method. Parameters likely to influence the prognosis were subjected to univariate analysis using the log-rank test RESULTS: Cumulative survival rates at the end of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth year were 55.9%, 32.6%, 21.9%, 17.9%, and 15.0%, respectively. The mean survival time was 727+/-76 days. Several factors, including Child-Pugh classification, Okuda's stage, tumor size, presence of portalvein invasion by tumor, of arterio-portal shunt, and of extra hepatic metastases, catheter selection level, and number of TAE showed significant correlation with the outcome. Degrees of Lipiodol accumulation in a tumor onfollow up CT were also correlated with survival rates. CONCLUSION: TAE is an effective measure for prolonging the patient's life expectancy and evaluation of prognostic factor is helpful for prognosis and in deciding on the optimal therapeutic modality.
Angiography ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Catheters ; Classification ; Doxorubicin ; Ethiodized Oil ; Fibrinogen ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To assess the safety and long term effectiveness of polyurethane-covered retrievable expandable nitinol stents in the treatment of benign and malignant tracheobronchial strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Under fluoroscopic guidance, the stents were placed in 32 patients with dyspnea whose strictures were malignant in 15 cases and benign in 17. A stent was removed when complications occurred,or -electively- 2-6 months after placement in patients with benign strictures. The range of follow-up period was 1 -98 weeks (median, 47; range, 50) weeks. RESULTS: Stent placement was well tolerated in 30 patients. After placement, all 32 showed immediate symptom improvement and in none were complications such as ingrowth of a tumor or granulation tissue observed during the follow up period. Stent migration occurred in six patients. In one of six and four of five patients from whom, respectively, stents had been electively removed two and six months after placement, tracheo-bronchial restenosis did not occur during follow up. Second stents were placed in six patients in whom dyspnea recurred due to restenosis after elective stent removal. In two of these six, stents were removed six months after placement and dyspnea did not recur during follow up. CONCLUSION: The use of covered retrievable tracheobronchial stents is safe and feasible in the conservative treatment of patients with malignant tracheobronchial strictures as well as for selected patients with benign strictures.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Dyspnea ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Stents*

Pancreatic abscess is a highly lethal infectious complication of acute pancreatitis despite a wide variety of operative approaches and percutaneous drainage for the treatment. Surgical drainage has its limitation because of high postoperative mortality, recurrence, operative hemorrhage and/or gastrointestinal fistula. Percutaneous drainage has been used only as a temporizing measure prior to operation in critically ill patient or as additional modality for a postoperative recurrent abscess. Endoscopic drainage can be indicated as a primary therapy for the well-localized paraintestinal pancreatic abscess bulging into the duodenal or gastric lumen, as it has been proven successful in patients with pancreatic pseudocyst compressing duodenum or stomach. However, the report is rare. We report a case of pancreatic abscess successfully treated with endoscopic drainage without any complications.
Abscess* ; Critical Illness ; Drainage* ; Duodenum ; Fistula ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst ; Pancreatitis ; Recurrence ; Stents* ; Stomach

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the association between job stress and alexithymic traits in Korean workers. METHODS: Workers (n=521) who visited two university hospitals for medical check-ups were recruited for this study. Job stress was evaluated using the Korean version of Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), and alexithymic traits were assessed using the Korean version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20K). Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of job stress scales (job strain, job insecurity, and job dissatisfaction) with alexithymic traits(total TAS score > or =52) were calculated. RESULTS: High job strain compared with low strain had a high, but insignificant association with alexithymic traits (adjusted OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 0.93-5.44). High job insecurity (adjusted OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.21-4.22), and high job dissatisfaction (adjusted OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.06-3.74) had significant associations with alexithymic traits. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that job stress is associated with alexithymic traits in workers.
Affective Symptoms ; Hospitals, University ; Odds Ratio ; Questionnaires ; Sprains and Strains ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: Trichloroethylene (TCE) has been widely used as a typewriter correction fluid, paint remover, adhesive, spot removers and, particularly, as a degreasing agent in metal-fabricating operation. However, few studies have reported on the effects of TCE intoxication, in spite of numerous occupational accidents arising from TCE intoxication, even until quite recently used in small companies. TCE affects mainly the central nervous system (CNS) and is carcinogenic, even when carefully used and managed. CASE REPORT: A 48-year-old male worker visited our hospital complaining of decreased motivation and general weakness. In history taking, the patient had suffered insomnia, memory disturbance, stuttering, loss of interest and sexual desire, depressive mood for 4 years, dysesthesia with tingling sensation and pain in both extremities, and a nauseas feeling similar to a hangover which had been aggravated for 4 months before admission. The patient had been engaged in metal degreasing with TCE for 8 years. Electromyography indicated disturbance of autonomic function, but there was neither peripheral neuropathy nor cervical radiculopathy. Organic abnormalities including cerebellar atrophy and CNS infection were ruled out, while there was no indication of malignancy in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and metabolic disorders and electrolyte imbalances in laboratory test. The authors performed biological monitoring for the possible exposed chemicals. Urinary 2,5-hexanedione, a metabolite of n-hexane, was undetected but 3,331.1 mg/g creatinine of urinary trichloro-compounds, a metabolite of TCE, was detected. The patient was diagnosed as TCE intoxication due to a level of urinary trichloro-compounds in excess of the normal range (300 mg/g creatinine), in addition to an occupational history and clinical symptoms. TCE exposure was stopped in admission and the neuropsychiatric symptoms of the patient were improved as the urinary trichloro-compounds were decreased from 3,331.1 mg/g creatinine to 64.6 mg/g creatinine in 5 days. CONCLUSION: Low-dose, chronic TCE intoxication shows neuropsychiatric symptoms, which are often misrecognized merely as a psychiatric disorder; its appropriate diagnosis, early treatment and exposure assessment are therefore difficult. The neuropsychiatric symptoms in workers who have been exposed to TCE should be monitored, detailed job history should be taken and biological monitoring should be conducted to gain early insight of chronic TCE exposure.
Accidents, Occupational ; Adhesives ; Atrophy ; Central Nervous System ; Creatinine ; Early Diagnosis ; Electromyography ; Environmental Monitoring ; Extremities ; Hexanes ; Hexanones ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Memory ; Middle Aged ; Motivation ; Nausea ; Neuropsychology ; Paint ; Paresthesia ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Radiculopathy ; Reference Values ; Sensation ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Stuttering ; Trichloroethylene

BACKGROUND: Trichloroethylene (TCE) has been widely used as a typewriter correction fluid, paint remover, adhesive, spot removers and, particularly, as a degreasing agent in metal-fabricating operation. However, few studies have reported on the effects of TCE intoxication, in spite of numerous occupational accidents arising from TCE intoxication, even until quite recently used in small companies. TCE affects mainly the central nervous system (CNS) and is carcinogenic, even when carefully used and managed. CASE REPORT: A 48-year-old male worker visited our hospital complaining of decreased motivation and general weakness. In history taking, the patient had suffered insomnia, memory disturbance, stuttering, loss of interest and sexual desire, depressive mood for 4 years, dysesthesia with tingling sensation and pain in both extremities, and a nauseas feeling similar to a hangover which had been aggravated for 4 months before admission. The patient had been engaged in metal degreasing with TCE for 8 years. Electromyography indicated disturbance of autonomic function, but there was neither peripheral neuropathy nor cervical radiculopathy. Organic abnormalities including cerebellar atrophy and CNS infection were ruled out, while there was no indication of malignancy in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and metabolic disorders and electrolyte imbalances in laboratory test. The authors performed biological monitoring for the possible exposed chemicals. Urinary 2,5-hexanedione, a metabolite of n-hexane, was undetected but 3,331.1 mg/g creatinine of urinary trichloro-compounds, a metabolite of TCE, was detected. The patient was diagnosed as TCE intoxication due to a level of urinary trichloro-compounds in excess of the normal range (300 mg/g creatinine), in addition to an occupational history and clinical symptoms. TCE exposure was stopped in admission and the neuropsychiatric symptoms of the patient were improved as the urinary trichloro-compounds were decreased from 3,331.1 mg/g creatinine to 64.6 mg/g creatinine in 5 days. CONCLUSION: Low-dose, chronic TCE intoxication shows neuropsychiatric symptoms, which are often misrecognized merely as a psychiatric disorder; its appropriate diagnosis, early treatment and exposure assessment are therefore difficult. The neuropsychiatric symptoms in workers who have been exposed to TCE should be monitored, detailed job history should be taken and biological monitoring should be conducted to gain early insight of chronic TCE exposure.
Accidents, Occupational ; Adhesives ; Atrophy ; Central Nervous System ; Creatinine ; Early Diagnosis ; Electromyography ; Environmental Monitoring ; Extremities ; Hexanes ; Hexanones ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Memory ; Middle Aged ; Motivation ; Nausea ; Neuropsychology ; Paint ; Paresthesia ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Radiculopathy ; Reference Values ; Sensation ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Stuttering ; Trichloroethylene

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of dexamethasone(DM) and polyurethane(PU)-coated nitinol stent on neointimal formation in the canine great vessels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six nitinol wire stents were implanted in the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava(IVC) of six dogs. In each animal, six different types of stent (NC, non-coated; PU, polyurethane coated; DM, DM and polyurethane coated) were serially positioned in permutationally possible order in the aorta below the renal arteries and in the IVC below the renal veins. For DM stent an in-vitro drug release test was performed to determine the stability of DM release. The thickness of the intima and media of the aorta and of the intima of the IVC were measured three (n=3) or six months (n=3) after stent placement at and between the wires. RESULTS: In the in-vitro study, 25% of DM was released during the first week, and the subsequent release rate was 3 microgram/day for 6 months. The intima-to-media ratio of DM-stented aorta was less than in aortas where PU or NC stents were used (p<0.05). The neointima thickness of DM stent in the IVC was less than that of PU stent (p<0.05). These differences were less prominent between the wires than at them, and there was no significant difference between the three-and six-month groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In this canine great vessel model, newly designed DM-coated nitinol stent decreased neointimal formation.
Animals ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Dexamethasone* ; Dogs ; Neointima ; Polyurethanes ; Renal Artery ; Renal Veins ; Stents*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the success rates, long-term patency rates and factors affecting the patency rates of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and thrombolysis in the management of insufficient access during hemodialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1991 and March 1995, 37 insufficient shunts (23 native fistulae and 14 graft fistulae) were treated in 31 patients. PTA was performed in 24 shunts, and thrombolysis in13; in seven of these latter, thrombolysis was followed by PTA. The success and long-term patency rates of PTA and thrombolysis were evaluated. Shunts were subdivided according to a patient's age, type and age of the shunt, and number and length of the stenosis, and the degree of residual stenosis and in each subgroup, patency rates was compared. RESULTS: The overall success rate of PTA and thrombolysis for insufficient hemodialytic access was 78.4% (29/37). The success rates of PTA and thrombolysis were 91.7% (22/24) and 53.8% (7/13), respectively. The patency rates of PTA (85.7% at 6 months, 78.6% at 12 months, and 55.9% at 24 months) were superior to those of thrombolysis (100% at 6 months and 0% at 12 months) (p=.014). Patency rates in each subgroup were not significantly different (p>.05). CONCLUSION: The success and patency rates of PTA were superior to those of thrombolysis, and after PTA or thrombolysis, no factors affected patency rates.
Angioplasty* ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Fistula ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis* ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To evaluate the MRI appearance of Kienbock's disease and correlate this with radiographic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen clinically confirmed cases of 12 patients with kienbock's disease wereretrospectively reviewed. The significance of signal intensity and pattern of Kienbock's disease on MR images was evaluated and the findings on MR images were compared with radiographic stages classified by Lichtman. Enhanced MR images were abtained in four cases. RESULTS: Lichtman's stage I accounted for one case; stage II, two; stage III, eight; stage IV, two. On T1-weighted MR images, the lunate showed focal low signal intensity in the stage I caseand in one of the two stage II case. Eleven wrists demonstrated a generalized loss of lunate signal. On T2-weighted images, the stage I case showed focal high signal intensity. In stage II, one showed focal low signal intensity and the other exhibited generalized low signal intensity with a high spot area. In stage III, five ofeight cases showed generalized low signal intensity, and one demonstrated high signal intensity. Two showed a high spot area within the generalized low signal intensity. In stage IV, one showed generalized low signal intensity and the other exhibited high signal intensity. No enhancement was seen in the three lesions with focal orgeneralized low signal intensity both on T1 and T2-weighted images. Conversely, one lesion with low signalintensity on T1-weighted imaes and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images showed contrast enhancement. CONCLUSION: Low signal intensity of the lunate on T1-weighted images is a consistent findings of Kienbock's disease. However, further studies such as follow-up MRIs, or pathologic correlation studies and MR contrast enhancement studies will be necessary to evaluate the sighificance of high signal intensity on T2-weighted images.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Osteonecrosis* ; Statistics as Topic ; Wrist