No abstract available.
Eating* ; Foreign Bodies*

Despite recent advances in nutritional support, patient monitoring, and surgical intensive care, as well as some improvement in surgical techniques, post-operative fistulas have been regarded as one of the most serious complications in abdominal surgery. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) alone (group A, n=26) or with TPN combined with octreotide, a long-acting analog of somatostatin (group B, n=20) in post-operative enterocutaneous fistulas. In group A, we treated 2 biliary, 10 pancreatic and 14 intestinal cutaneous fistulas with total parenteral nutrition. In group B, we treated 6 biliary, 8 pancreatic and 6 intestinal cutaneous fistulas with octreotide. The results obtained from the analysis are as follows: 1) The spontaneous closure of the fistulas was 69.2% in group A and 75.0% in group B. 2) The mean interval of time to achieve the healing of the fistula was 30.44 days in group A and 14.53 days in group B. 3) The mean interval of time to achieve a fistula output reduction of 50% was 6.44 days in group A and 2.44 days in group B. 4) In patients with low-output fistulas, the spontaneous closure of the fistula was 81.8% in group A and 80.0% in group B. In patients with high-output fistulas, the spontaneous closure of the fistula was 60.0% in group A and 73.3% in group B. 5) In patients with low albumin (< 3.0 g/dl), the spontaneous closure of the fistula was 54.5% in group A and 50.0% in group B. In patients with high albumin (> or = 3.0 g/dl), the spontaneous closure of the fistula was 80.0% in group A and 85.7% in group B. 6) In patients with an abdominal abscess, the spontaneous closure of the fistula was 40.0% in group A and 40.0% in group B. In patients without an abdominal abscess, the spontaneous closure of the fistula was 87.5% in group A and 86.7% in group B. 7) As compared with TPN, the spontaneous closure of the fistulas treated with octreotide was increased in the gastroduodenum and the external biliary system, was similar in the small bowel and the pancreas, but was decreased in the colon. We conclude that octreotide is a useful therapeutic complement in the conservative treatment of selected patients with post-operative cutaneous fistulas, especially fistulas in the external biliary system and the gastroduodenum.
Abdominal Abscess ; Biliary Tract ; Critical Care ; Colon ; Complement System Proteins ; Cutaneous Fistula ; Fistula ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula* ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Nutritional Support ; Octreotide ; Pancreas ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Somatostatin

No abstract available.

Subcutaneous emphysema is one of the rare complication of tracheal intubation and it's mechanism has been known as airleakage to subcutaneous tissue from the perforated site of larynx, trachea and esophagus by the trauma of laryngoscopic blade, stylet and endotracheal tube. We experienced a case of subcutaneous emphysema during unexpected difficult endotracheal intubation. At the initial laparoscopic examination, the patient's laryngeal view was grade IV of Cormack and Lehane's calssification. After several trial of the intubation, cervical subcutaneous emphysema developed by the trauma of laryngoscopic blade, stylet and endotracheal tube, even though failed to confirm the perforated site at postanesthesia one day.
Esophagus ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Larynx ; Subcutaneous Emphysema* ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Trachea

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to predict spontaneous labor onset delivery within 7 days in low risk pregnant women at 38 weeks' of gestation by ultrasonographic examination of cervical changes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study included 110 singleton low risk pregnancies between 37(+0) and 37(+6) weeks of gestation. Fifteen cases were lost during follow-up and finally 95 pregnant women (58 nulliparous, 37 multiparous) were analysed. The study period was from Oct/2005 to May/2007. Four cervical changes (length, gland thickness, funneling and canal formation) were evaluated. Main outcome was remaining day to delivery after the examination. Remaining days to actual delivery with spontaneous labor onset were recorded and the pregnancies were divided into two groups according to remaining days (within 7 days, over 7 days) to compare predicting power of delivery within 7 days. ROC curves were drawn to find out cut-off values of cervical length and gland thickness. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were extracted from four cervical changes. RESULTS: Mean cervical length of pregnant women at 38 weeks' of gestation was 25.8 (+/-10.0) mm and mean cervical gland thickness was 4.3 (+/-1.2) mm. Funnelings of uterine cervix were detected in 13 cases (13.7%), canal formations in 6 cases (6.3%). All four cervical changes were statistically valuable to predict delivery within 7 days and the cervical length showed highest sensitivity. When the cervical length was measured under 20 mm, the possibility of delivery within 7 days was 78.6% (p<0.001). The cervical gland thickness less than 4 mm could predict the delivery within 7 days with sensitivity of 57.1% (p<0.01). Sensitivities of funneling and canal formation for delivery within 7 days were 54.5%, 36.4% each. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic examination of the cervical changes in low risk singleton pregnancy at 38 weeks' of gestation are valuable for predicting spontaneous labor onset delivery within 7 days. Among four cervical changes, cervical length is most sensitive ultrasonographic marker.
Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Labor Onset ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Reconstruction of the soft tissue defects on the plantar foot continues to be a difficult challenges because of the unique anatomical features. It should endure constant weight loading or alternate stimulus of shoes while standing or walking. The methods used for reconstruction of the soft tissue defects on the plantar foot are skin graft, local flap, cross leg flap, myocutaneous flap, neurovascular island and free flap. However, it is verb difficult to find a proper method to reconstruct the soft tissue defect of the first toe plantar area. The ideal reconstruction should provide tissue as durable yet sensitive, provide tissue components similar to the original lost tissue, be reliable, result in a donor site that is well tolerated, and entail one operative procedure with minimal morbidity Although the medial plantar flap was initially described to surface heel defects, many surgeons haute used this flap as a cross leg flap or a free flap to recover the first toe plantar area. Its use has always required a secondary surgical procedure or a difficult technique. In order to overcome this inconvenience, we used the flap based on the principle of reversing the direction of blood flow in a distal vascular pedicle to restore a defect of the anteromedial aspect of the foot. We haute experienced 3 cases of reverse medial plantar flap for the reconstruction of the great toe plantar area. Good functional and aesthetic results were obtained.
Foot ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Heel ; Humans ; Leg ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Shoes ; Skin ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Tissue Donors ; Toes* ; Transplants ; Walking

PURPOSE: Medical treatment of Peyronie's disease with tamoxifen has been initially proposed as acting upon the early phase of the disease. As recent reports show no significant benefit of tamoxifen, we review the long term results of tamoxifen treatment of Peyronie's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Time to progression during tamoxifen treatment of patients showing acute disease and chronic disease was compared. The acute phase was identified by pain during erection. Progression was defined as enlargement of plaque size or appearance of calcification. RESULTS: The average treatment duration was 15.9+/-13.8 months (range: 3 to 48 months). The median time to progression was 7 months for acute patients and 20 months for chronic patients. Eighty percent of patients in the acute phase showed relief of pain; however, overall progression was 72.1% (78.0% for acute, 66.7% for chronic). Patient history, comorbidities, serum testosterone or initial plaque characteristics, and severity of curvature were not predictive of disease progression. CONCLUSIONS: Tamoxifen showed no significant benefit in slowing the progression of Peyronie's disease in the acute phase over the chronic phase. Peyronie's disease continued to progress, though at a dampened rate for patient's in the chronic phase.
Acute Disease ; Chronic Disease ; Comorbidity ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Induration ; Tamoxifen ; Testosterone

OBJECTIVE: Cell to cell and cell to extracellular matrix interaction are crucial in tumor development and progression. Tight junction proteins such as claudins and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) play an important role in these processes. This study was performed to investigate the difference of expressions of claudin-1, claudin-4 and ZO-1 in low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (ISCC) of the uterine cervix. METHODS: The expressions of claudin-1, claudin-4 and ZO-1 were evaluated using immunohistochemical staining in 78 cervical tissue specimens (LSIL 22 case, HSIL 36 case, and ISCC 20 case). RESULTS: Claudin-1 expression was positive in 40.9% of LSIL, in 94.0% of HSIL and in 20.0% of ISCC. The expression of claudin-1 was significantly high in HSIL (p=0.0001). Claudin-4 expression was positive in 31.8% of LSIL, in 41.7% of HSIL and in 25.0% of ISCC. The expression of claudin-4 was high in HSIL, but it was not statistically different. ZO-1 expression was positive in 13.6% of LSIL, in 41.7% of HSIL, and in 25.5% of ISCC. The expression of ZO-1 was significantly high in HSIL (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: These results indicate increased expressions of claudin-1 and ZO-1 in the HSIL that includes cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 and 3, which decrease during progression to cervical cancer.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia* ; Cervix Uteri ; Claudin-1* ; Claudin-4* ; Claudins ; Extracellular Matrix ; Female ; Tight Junction Proteins ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Heterotopic pregnancy with coexistiong intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy, is a rare event in natural pregnancy. However, in recent years, the increase in the incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease and use of assisted reproductive technology had led to an increase in the frequency of heterotopic pregnancy. When the diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy is delayed, maternal mortality and morbidity may be increased, and unwanted loss of intrauterine pregnancy may occur. Therefore, the early diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy is clinically important, and clinicians have to consider the possibility of heterotopic pregnancy and conduct careful and thorough evaluation if suspected. We experienced a case of heterotopic pregnancy in a woman in the absence of the known risk factors. She underwent underwent spontaneous abortion of intrauterine pregnancy at postoperative 4th day, after laparoscopic salpingectomy for left tubal pregnancy. We report this case with brief review of literature.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Maternal Mortality ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic* ; Pregnancy, Tubal* ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Risk Factors ; Salpingectomy

Heterotopic pregnancy with coexistiong intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy, is a rare event in natural pregnancy. However, in recent years, the increase in the incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease and use of assisted reproductive technology had led to an increase in the frequency of heterotopic pregnancy. When the diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy is delayed, maternal mortality and morbidity may be increased, and unwanted loss of intrauterine pregnancy may occur. Therefore, the early diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy is clinically important, and clinicians have to consider the possibility of heterotopic pregnancy and conduct careful and thorough evaluation if suspected. We experienced a case of heterotopic pregnancy in a woman in the absence of the known risk factors. She underwent underwent spontaneous abortion of intrauterine pregnancy at postoperative 4th day, after laparoscopic salpingectomy for left tubal pregnancy. We report this case with brief review of literature.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Maternal Mortality ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic* ; Pregnancy, Tubal* ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Risk Factors ; Salpingectomy