BACKGROUND: The purpose of this article was to identify the risk factors related to development of hemodynamically significant cardiac arrythmias in patients with mechanical ventilation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Holter recording and echocardiogram were performed after 30 minutes of ventilator initiation in patients on mechanical ventilation(MV) owing to respiratory failure(RF) from various reasons. From 68 patients, hemodynamically significant cardiac arrythmias were detected in 18 patients(26.5%). Initial mean arterial pressure, maximal heart rate, and initial pH were identified as risk factors for hemodynamically significant cardiac arrythmias. Additionally, the patients with pressure-controlled ventilation as an initial ventilatory mode developed hemodynamically significant cardiac arrythmias less frequently than the patients with other modes(15.8% vs. 40%, p=0.03). In multivariate analysis, initial mean arterial pressure(<70mmHg, odds ratio[OR]:5.5;95% confidence interval[CI]:1.2 to 24.2, p=0.026), maximal heart rate(>120/min, OR:19.7;95% CI:2.0 to 190.0, p=0.01), and pressure-controlled ventilation(OR:0.13,95% CI:0.03 to 0.55, p=0.006) were associated with the development of hemodynamically significant cardiac arrhythmias. CONCLUSION: Theses findings suggest that during the early stages of mechanical ventilation with acute respiratory failure, hemodynamically significant cardiac arrhythmias are directly associated with tachycardia(>120/min), initial MAP(<70mmHg), and, inversely, the initial use of pressure-controlled ventilation.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Arterial Pressure ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Multivariate Analysis ; Respiration, Artificial* ; Respiratory Insufficiency* ; Risk Factors* ; Ventilation ; Ventilators, Mechanical

According to the Mainz classification, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) consists of three subtypes: each has characteristic genetic alterations within the chromosomal or mitochondrial DNA. The three subtypes are: clear cell type, chromophil type, and chromophobe type. E-cadherin is a Ca++-dependent adhesion molecule which plays a major role in the maintenance of intercellular adhesion in epithelial tissues. In a normal kidney, E-cadherin is expressed in the distal tubule and the collecting duct, but not in the proximal tubule. We reclassified 110 cases of RCC according to mainz classification. Immunohistochemical staining for E-cadherin was done on twenty eight cases of RCC, including 18 cases of clear cell type, four cases of chromophil type, and six cases of chromophobe type. The results were as follows: 1) of the 110 cases of RCC, 96 cases (87.3%) were of clear cell type, four cases (3.6%) of chromophil type, and ten cases (9.1%) of chromophobe type, 2) there was no significant correlation between the nuclear grade and clinical stage according to each subtype, 3) E-cadherin expression showed a strong positive reaction along the cell membranes in all six cases of chromophobe type. The differential expression of E-cadherin in RCC may suggest that the chromophobe type may have different biologic characteristics from other types of RCC.
Cadherins* ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Cell Membrane ; Classification* ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney ; Population Characteristics

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: To investigate the relation between the progression of kyphotic deformity and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in conservatively treated stable thoracolumbar fractures. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: When treated conservatively, excessive progression of kyphotic deformity and vertebral compression can emerge during follow-up. We sought to identify predictors of vertebral body deformation using MR images. METHODS: The presence in MR images of anterior longitudinal ligament (AL) or posterior longitudinal ligament (PL) injury, superior or inferior endplate disruption, superior or inferior disc injury in fractured vertebral bodies, the existence of low signal intensity on T2 weighted images, and bone edema of intravertebral bodies were assessed. RESULTS: The presence of superior endplate disruption and a higher level of bone edema were found to cause the progressions of kyphotic angle (KA), wedge angle (WA), and anterior vertebral compression (AVC) rate. When AL or superior disc injury was observed, only KA increased meaningfully. When low signal intensity was present on T2 weighted images WA and AVC increased significantly, but PL injury, inferior endplate disruption, and inferior disc injury showed no notable correlation with kyphotic deformity progression. The risk factors found to be associated with an increase of KA to >5degrees were AL injury, superior endplate disruption, superior disc injury, and a bone edema level of over 1/3, and their associated risks versus no injury cases were 14.1, 3.7, 6.8, and 10.4-fold, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: AL injury, superior endplate and disc injury, or a high level of bone edema, were critical factors that determine kyphotic deformity progression.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Edema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Kyphosis* ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Orthotic Devices ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Spinal Fractures

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: We wanted to compare and evaluate the results of using one cage and two cages with local bone grafting for each segment when performing posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). Summary of Literature Review: Some authors have reported that unilateral one-caged PLIF with local bone grafting and posterior instrumentation was no difference from bilateral two-caged PLIF regard to the fusion rates and the radiologic or clinical results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2005 to February 2006, PLIF was performed on 36 patients who had lumbar degenerative disease. They were categorized as the cases for which one cage was used for a segment and the cases for which 2 cages were used for a segment. The clinical and radiological results in each group were compared. RESULTS: There was complete union in 11 segments with using one cage (55%), complete union in 12 segments using two cages (77%) and incomplete unions in 9 segments with using one cage (45%) and incomplete union in 4 segments with using 2 cages (25%), and there wasn't any case of nonunion (p>0.05). The postoperative changes of the intervertebral disc space were a 2.0 mm increase with using one cage and a 2.2 mm increase with using two cages, yet these values decreased by 0.4 mm and 0.3 mm, respectively, on the last follow-up. The mean operation time was 89 minutes for one segment with one cage and 105 minutes for one segment with two cages. The blood loss was a mean of 602 ml with one cage and 802 ml with two cages (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the one cage group and the two cages group for the Kirkadly-Willis criteria. CONCLUSION: Posterior decompression and PLIF with one PEEK cage for treating degenerative lumbar disease was more effective for the operation time and the amount of blood loss than that with two cages, but the fusion rate, the alteration of the intervertebral disc space, the improvement of pain and the clinical results were no different. However, these results are from short term follow up, so continuous follow up will be necessary in the future for assessing the long term prognosis.
Bone Transplantation ; Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Ketones ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study OBJECTIVES: To determine MR findings that affect the bone cement leakage in patients with osteoporotic compressive fractures who are receiving percutaneous vertebroplasties and kyphoplasties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on 105 patients with 131 vertebrae treated by percutaneous vertebroplasties (group 1: 66 patients and 78 cases) and kyphoplasties (group 2: 39 patients and 53 cases) from October 2001 to October 2005. The study was performed to determine whether cement leakage was related to any of the following MR findings: level of injured vertebra, severity of anterior height loss, posterior cortical disruption, endplate disruption, presence of either vacuum or cystic portions, linear sclerosis that was low in signal intensity in T1 and T2-weighted images. RESULTS: Bone cement leakage was detected in 51 (65.3%) of 78 treated vertebrae in group 1 and 18 (33.9%) of 53 treated vertebrae in group 2. There was a statistically significant difference between the incidences (p<0.05). Vertebral endplate disruption had a positive correlation in both groups (p<0.05). There was more cement leakage in group 1 (48.5%) than in group 2 (18.1%) in cases of endplate disruption (p<0.05). Vacuum or cystic change had negative correlations to bone cement leakage in group 1 (p<0.05). No other MR findings demonstrated a statistically significant correlation with bone cement leakage. CONCLUSION: On the MR findings, vertebral endplate disruption and vacuum or cystic change in fractured vertebrae demonstrated a significant correlation with bone cement leakage in group 1. There was relatively less cement leakage into the intervertebral spaces with kyphoplasties than with vertebroplasties in the cases of vertebral endplate disruption.
Fractures, Compression* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kyphoplasty* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sclerosis ; Spine ; Vacuum ; Vertebroplasty*

This clinical study was conducted to survey 300 cases of total laparoscopic hysterctomy (TLH) by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Boram Hospital in Ulsan, Korea from January, 2000 to June, 2001. TLH has been described in much of the recent literature. We analyzed 300 cases of TLH to evaluate the clinical data such as distribution of age, parity, clinical indication, previous operation history, type of surgery, operation time, weight of uterus, Hb change of post-operation first day and the complications of using this technique. The mean age of patients was 41.3. The mean parity of patients was 2.6. The clinical indications for TLH were myoma (72.3%), adenomyosis (11.3%), PID (5.3%), CIS (4%) and others (5.7%). The most previous operation was bilateral tubal ligation. Others were cesarean section, appendectomy. The most concomitant procedure with TLH was posterior colpoperineorrhaphy. Salpingo-oophorectomy and appendectomy were also carried out concomitantly. The mean operation time was 124 minutes. The mean weight of the uterus was 230 gm. The mean Hb change post-operation on the 1st day was 1.3g/dL. The complications of TLH were bleeding to need blood transfusion, ureteral injury and bladder injury. Thus this technique can be safely performed by skilled laparoscopists for properly selected patients but there is a need for prospective studies for comparision with various laparoscopic hysterctomies.
Adenomyosis ; Appendectomy ; Blood Transfusion ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Gynecology ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Korea ; Myoma ; Obstetrics ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Sterilization, Tubal ; Ulsan ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterus

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical results of kyphoplasty between osteoporotic patients with compression fractures and rib hot uptake on bone scan and patients without rib hot uptake. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The incidence of osteoporotic rib fractures is 0.3% in postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 2005 and July 2006, 72 kyphoplasties for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were performed, and all patients had a bone scan study. On bone scan study, 41 patients (57.7%) had hot uptake in their ribs. Results were assessed by visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: The incidence of hot uptake was 67.8% in thoracic fractures, 40.0% in lumbar fractures, and 72.7% in thoracolumbar fractures. Hot uptake was significantly more common with thoracic and thoracolumbar fractures than with lumbar fractures (p<0.05). The incidence of hot uptake was 49.1% in one- and two-level fractures and 84.6% in over three-level fractures. This finding demonstrated significant difference between the two groups (p<0.05). The mean VAS scores for all cases were 8.2/3.4/3.2 at preoperative/immediate postoperative/after 3 months, respectively. In thoracic fractures, they were 8.2/3.9/3.1; lumbar fractures 8.0/3.2/3.1; and thoracolumbar fractures 8.3/3.7/3.0, respectively. The immediate postoperative VAS score in lumbar fractures was better than in thoracic fractures (p<0.05). The VAS scores in thoracic fractures with hot uptake were 8.3/4.1/3, and those without hot uptake were 7.8/2.8/3.0. The immediate VAS score in thoracic fractures without hot uptake was better than in those with hot uptake (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic and multiple osteoporotic compression fractures are often accompanied by rib fractures. Bone scan is a useful tool to detect rib fractures and predict the prognosis of kyphoplasty.
Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kyphoplasty ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Rib Fractures ; Ribs

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical features and radiographical landmarks of patients who has a thoracolumbar fracture combined with posterior ligament complex injury retrospectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The preoperative plain radiographys, axial CT, MRI and medical records of 27 patients were reviewed who were confirmed the posterior ligament complex injury in operation from January, 2002. to December, 2004. RESULTS: The patients were from 15 years to 75 years of age (mean 39.1 years), 20 males and 7 females. The mechanisms of injury were 17 falls from a height, 7 traffic accidents and 3 direct blow injuries. There were 17 cases (63%) in thoracolumbar transitional zone, such as 11 cases in T11-T12, 6 cases T12-L1. There were 9 cases of compression fracture and 18 cases of burst fracture according to the shape of fractured vertebra. In the plain radiograph, the degree of kyphotic angle was between 6~49 degrees (mean 22 degrees), anterior vertebral height loss was 7~70% (mean 39%), and posterior vertebral height loss was 0~8% (mean 3%). 21 cases (78%) were the anterior vertebral height loss below 50%, 23 cases (85%) were the degree of kyphotic angle below 30 degrees. Neurological deficits were not registered. 23 cases (85%) were positive in MRI and 24 cases (89%) were positive in direct focal tenderness in the view of posterior ligament complex injury. Conclusions: The posterior ligament complex injury is common finding of the thoracolumbar fracture. The high resolution MRI findings and direct focal tenderness are very importance in identifying the posterior ligament complex injury that is important prognostic factor particularly in mild anterior vertebral height loss and mild kyphotic angle in the plain radiograph.
Accidents, Traffic ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Ligaments* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the canal encroachment of fractured bony fragments and neurological deficits of pedicle screw instrumentation for the treatment of unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures with pedicle screws inserted into the fractured vertebrae. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors evaluated 18 patients treated surgically with posterior fusions using pedicle screws for unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures, from March 2000 to September 2004. The ratios of the areas occupied by the fractured bony fragments in the canals were analyzed, before and after pedicle screw insertion, by computed tomography scans of the fractured vertebrae. The kyphotic angles, anterior vertebral heights, and neurological deficits were evaluated. RESULTS: The areas occupied by the fractured fragments in the canals were improved significantly after surgery and there were no neurological complications resulting from the placement of pedicle screws or fragment displacements. The kyphotic angles and anterior vertebral heights at the last follow-up visits were improved significantly compared with the preoperative radiographs. The neurological deficits were not aggravated after pedicle screw insertion. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that pedicle screw instrumentation in fractured vertebrae is safe and effective for the treatment of unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine*

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study OBJECTIVES: To compare the radiological and clinical results of the unipedicular and bipedicular approach of kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: A unipedicular rather than a bipedicular technique has been suggested to decrease the risks associated with surgical procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 2005 and May 2006, 136 vertebrae of 97 patients, who underwent kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, were analyzed. Group 1, with the bipedicular approach, consisted of 86 vertebrae of 67 patients with a mean age of 72.2 years. Group 2, with unipedicular approach, consisted of 50 vertebrae of 30 patients with mean age of 73.4 years. The plain radiographs, MRI and surgical records were reviewed. RESULTS: The mean operation time of the single vertebral body in group 2 was statistically lower than in group 1(p<0.05). There was more disruption of the medial wall of the pedicle in group 2 than in group 1(p<0.05). In the aspect of the volume of cement injected in the thoraco-lumbar junctional vertebrae, group 2 used significantly less cement than group 1(p<0.05). There were no significant differences in the cement leakage, vertebral height restoration, kyphotic deformity correction, admission time and VAS scores between groups 1 and 2(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in clinical satisfaction and radiological results between the unipedicular and bipedicular kyphoplasty. The advantage of a unipedicular approach is the shorter procedure time than the bipedicular approach. This is particularly useful in multi-level compression fractures. The rate of the unipedicular approach in upper and mid thoracic spine is higher because of the higher convergence of the pedicle and the lower volume of vertebral body despite the disadvantages of instrument insertion through the medial pedicle wall.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Fractures, Compression* ; Humans ; Kyphoplasty* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Osteoporosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine