Background: Conventional laryngoscopy with Macintosh blade requires a movement of the head, neck and cervical spine. The Bullard laryngoscope is an anatomically shaped, potentially eliminating the need for cervical spine extension. Bullard and Macintosh laryngoscopes were compared by measuring the degree of cervical spine extension by radiological measurement. Methods: Eighteen patients requiring endotracheal intubation were studied. Anesthesia was induced in neutral head position followed by laryngoscopy. Each patients was intubated two times by Macintosh and Bullard laryngoscope in random order. Radiographic evaluation was performed to determine the degree of cervical spine extension on four occasions; before induction, during facial mask ventilation, and during Bullard and Macintosh laryngoscopy. Results: The extension of cervical spine was significantly less following Bullard laryngoscopy than Macintosh laryngoscopy for best view (p<0.05). Conclusions: The Bullard laryngoscope can be used with less cervical spine extension than Macintosh laryngoscope. It may be useful in patients in whom cervical spine movement is limited or undesirable.
Anesthesia ; Head ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laryngoscopes ; Laryngoscopy* ; Masks ; Neck ; Spine* ; Ventilation

PURPOSE: Headache is a common neurologic symptom in children but chronic headache in them must be diagnosed in different ways. The aim of this study is to determine the algorithm of diagnostic approach for children with chronic headache and know the clinical significance of dizziness in evaluating those children. METHODS: We recruited children with headache at Myongji Hospital from January 2004 to July 2006. The study was based on a retrospective review of their medical records and interviews with the children and their parents. We divided them into two groups : Group A headache with dizziness, Group B headache without dizziness. RESULTS: The medical records of 86 children and adolescents with headache were reviewed. Age for group A ranged from 10 to 15 years(73.7%) and gender ratio was 1:1.7. Age for group B ranged mostly under 7 years(56.3%) and gender ratio was 1:0.85. Headache in group A frequently occurred predominantly in the morning(37.3%). The duration of the attack was over 90 min(87.5%) in group A and over 90 min(50.0%) in group B. Associated symptoms were mainly nausea(34.2%), vomiting(18.4%), blurred vision(12.7%) in group A. Over 90% of them had headache 4 times a week and so did dizziness. The final diagnoses in cases of group A were migraine(31.6%), orthostatic hypotension(15.8%), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome(13.2%), and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo(10.5%). While in group B diagnoses included sinusitis(50.0%), migraine(31.3%), and complications of migraine(8.3%). CONCLUSION: This study revealed high percentage of headache concurred with dizziness in children. The association of headache with dizziness is complex and maybe coincidental. If chronic headache with dizziness in girls occurs mainly in the morning, it maybe related to vestibular disorder and orthostatic instability. In conclusion, dizziness and other associated symptoms or clinical features should carefully be assessed in the diagnosis of headache.
Adolescent ; Child ; Dizziness ; Headache ; Headache Disorders ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Parents ; Retrospective Studies ; Tachycardia

PURPOSE: We intended to investigate the clinical features and the predictors of febrile seizure plus(FS+), not suspected of generalized epilepsy with febrile seizure plus (GEFS+). METHODS: We selected 24 patients, aged more than 6 years old, who were admitted to Myongji Hospital of Kwandong University from January, 2001 to March, 2005 due to febrile seizures. All of those had neither a family history of febrile seizures or epilepsy nor abnormalities in the EEG or MRI. We examined sex, age of seizure onset, type of seizure, duration of seizure, the time until seizure after fever and frequency of febrile seizure. We investigated also the statistical significances of these clinical features by comparing with patients of simple febrile seizure(FS) as a control group. RESULTS: The male to female of the FS+ group was 2:1, which had no statistical significance compared with the FS. The age of seizure onsets in the FS+(39.4+/-5.0 months) was significantly older than FS the group(24.1+/-2.1 months)(P<0.05). In the types of seizures, non-generalized tonic clonic seizures occurred significantly more often in the FS+ group(20.9%) than the FS(8.4%)(P<0.05). The frequency of febrile seizures also was high in the FS+ group(n=3.2+/-0.8) than the FS group(n=1.1+/-0.1)(P<0.05). The duration of seizures and the time until seizure after fever did not have statistical significance. CONCLUSION: We suggest that FS+ can be characterized by late onsets of initial seizures, more frequent non-generalized tonic clonic seizures and recurrent febrile seizures. Therefore, FS+ should be suspected for patients more than 4 years old with non-generalized tonic clonic seizures or recurrent febrile seizures of more than 4 times.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Generalized ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile*

Osteomyelitis of the maxilla is a relatively rare disease. Although the advent of antibiotics has decreased its incidence and morbidity significantly, osteomyelitis still remains a potentially dangerous condition because of the possible risk of intracerebral complications. Clinically, patients present facial swelling, localized pain and tenderness, low-grade fever, draining sinus tracts, suppuration, dental loss, and sequestrum formation. We experienced a case of osteomyelitis of the maxilla with associated aspergillosis. In this paper, we report this case with a review of literature.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aspergillosis* ; Fever ; Humans ; Incidence ; Maxilla* ; Osteomyelitis* ; Rare Diseases ; Suppuration

PURPOSE: In many cases, the erroneous placement of a dental implant brings about undesirable results. Here, the effect of dental implant placement on the success of the final prosthesis was evaluated from the point of view of the prosthodontist. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All surgical operations were performed by the same oral surgeon with the same surgical protocol and all prosthodontic procedures were performed by the same prosthodontist. The problems faced by the prosthodontist, their causes, and their effect on prosthesis success were identified. The success of the final prostheses was evaluated by the same prosthodontist. RESULTS: Only 53% (238 implants in 105 patients) of dental implants were not associated with prosthodontic problems. Multiple implant placement (more than three implants) was associated more frequently with prosthodontic problems. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that the satisfactory construction of a prosthesis is highly dependent on the placement of the dental implant in the best possible position. It is strongly recommended that the oral surgeon and the prosthodontist engage in pre-operative discussions to establish a topdown treatment plan, as this will improve implant placement and ultimately the success of the prosthesis.
Dental Implants ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthodontics

PURPOSE: To report four cases of split cornea transplantation involving separate Descemet membrane keratoplasty and Deep anterior lamella keratoplasty from a single cornea. CASE SUMMARY: Four donor corneas were separated into the endothelium and other layers. The endothelial layers were transplanted into 4 pseudophakic bullous keratopathy patients, and the other layers were stored in corneal storage media. Deep anterior lamella keratoplasties were performed with the stored corneas in 2 lipid keratopathy and 2 keratoconus patients. Postoperatively, all grafted corneas were stable. CONCLUSIONS: The authors report the first 4 cases of split cornea transplantation in Korea, which is experiencing a shortage of donated corneas. Split cornea transplantation will be of benefit to a large number of patients by separating a single cornea into separate layers to be implanted into two patients.
Cornea* ; Corneal Transplantation* ; Descemet Membrane ; Endothelium ; Humans ; Keratoconus ; Korea ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

Anaphylaxis is an acute and fatal systemic allergic reaction to an allergen, and it can be an unpredictable and life-threatening cause during anesthesia. Latex is the second most common cause of anaphylaxis following the use of neuromuscular blocking agents during general anesthesia or surgery. We report on a 67-year-old male who had undergone surgery under general anesthesia without any problem but who presented with severe intraoperative anaphylaxis to latex surgical gloves. This case emphasizes the need for anesthesiologists to quickly diagnose and properly manage an allergic reaction in patients under general anesthesia.
Aged ; Anaphylaxis ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Gloves, Surgical ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Latex ; Male ; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents

BACKGROUND: Dexmedetomidine has a sedative analgesic property without respiratory depression. This study evaluated the efficacy of dexmedetomidine as an appropriate sedative drug for monitored anesthesia care (MAC) in outpatients undergoing cataract surgery on both eyes compared with combination of propofol and alfentanil. METHODS: Thirty-one eligible patients were randomly divided into two groups on the first operation day. Dexmedetomidine was administered in group D at 0.6 microg/kg/h, and propofol and alfentanil was infused concomitantly in group P at a rate of 2 mg/kg/h and 20 microg/kg/h, respectively. Sedation was titrated at Ramsay sedation score 3. Iowa satisfaction with anesthesia scale (ISAS) of the patients was evaluated postoperatively. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded throughout the surgery. For the second operation, the group assignments were exchanged. RESULTS: Postoperative ISAS was 50.3 (6.2) in group D and 42.7 (8.7) in group P, which was statistically significant (P < 0.001). SBP was significantly lower in group D compared with group P from the beginning of the operation. HR, RR, and SpO2 were comparable between the two groups. There were 8 cases (25.8%) of hypertension in group P, and 1 case (3.2%) in group D (P < 0.05). In contrast, 1 case (3.2%) of hypotension and 1 case (3.2%) of bradycardia occurred in group D. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the combined use of propofol and alfentanil, dexmedetomidine could be used appropriately for MAC in cataract surgery with better satisfaction from the patients and a more stable cardiovascular state.
Alfentanil ; Anesthesia ; Blood Pressure ; Bradycardia ; Cataract ; Dexmedetomidine ; Eye ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypotension ; Iowa ; Outpatients ; Oxygen ; Propofol ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Respiratory Rate

BACKGROUND: Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is a drug of choice for women with preeclampsia, with evidence that it reduces progression to eclampsia and maternal mortality. However, no previous studies have been conducted on the effect of magnesium sulfate on labor. This retrospective study investigated the effect of magnesium sulfate on the labor duration and the neonatal outcomes in parturients with preeclampsia. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 209 women who delivered vaginally with the diagnosis of preeclampsia from January 1, 2003 to June 30, 2013. They were divided into two groups, primipara (Primi group) and multipara (Multi group). Then, each group was subclassified as MgSO4-treated (Mg group) and MgSO4-untreated group (Cont group) again. Collected data included the duration of each stage of labor and neonatal outcomes. RESULTS: The duration of the 1st stage of labor was significantly longer in the Multi-Mg group, compared with the Multi-Cont group (138 +/- 149 min vs. 88 +/- 92 min, P = 0.025). However, the total labor durations were comparable between the two groups. Primi group had no difference in durations of any stage of labor and the total duration. Neonates showed worse outcomes (lower birth weight, lower Apgar, higher NICU admission rate) in the Primi-Mg group than the Primi-Cont group. CONCLUSIONS: Although preeclamptic multiparous parturients treated with MgSO4 showed longer 1st stage of labor than those untreated with MgSO4, the total labor durations were comparable between the groups.
Diagnosis ; Eclampsia ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Magnesium Sulfate* ; Maternal Mortality ; Medical Records ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies

Post-lumbar puncture headache (PLPH) is a common complication developed after lumbar puncture, and it usually begins within 48 hours. The pain is postural; the it is relieved by reclining and worsened by sitting. Moreover, there are some related symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, tinnitus and blurred vision. PLPH is rare in children and it is effectively treated by bed rest and conservative treatment. However, when the pain is too severe or continuous or different types of headache are seen after LP, it is worthwhile to conduct brain MRI for exact diagnosis and proper treatment. Therefore, we report a patient with PLPH in whom brain MRI showed diffuse meningeal enhancement and concurrent cerebral venous expansion, with a review of literatures.
Bed Rest ; Brain ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Headache* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nausea ; Post-Dural Puncture Headache ; Punctures* ; Spinal Puncture ; Tinnitus ; Vomiting