PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of Tc-99m DTPA diuretic renal scans in children upper urinary tract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed diuretic renal scans of 14 pediatric patients (age range: 3 days to 4 years) with unilateral hydronephrosis diagnosed by ultrasonography. Diuretic renal scan was done using Tc-99m DTPA and standardized protocol. In 3 neonates, diuretic renal scans were performed within 1 week and 3-7 months after birth. RESULTS: Six patients required pyeloplasty and eight were managed conservatively. All 6 patients requiring pyeloplasty were diagnosed as having ureteropelvic junction obstruction in the diuretic renal scan. In these 6 patients, post-operative renal scans at 3-12 months after surgery were converted to nonobstructive pattern in 5 and a nonobstructive patterns in 1. In 3 patients who underwent diuretic renal scan within 1 week after birth., nonobstructive patterns of initial scan were coverted to obstructive patterns in the follow-up scan. However, all patients with nonobstructive diuretic renal scans performed after the neonatal period did well on serial ultrasonography and showed favorable clinical outcome without progression to obstruction. CONCLUSION: Tc-99m DTPA diuretic renal scan with standarized protocol is useful in assessing suspected ureteropelvic junction obstruction in children as an initial diagnostic or post-operative follow-up modality. Nonobstructive or indeterminate scan RESULTS in the neonatal period requires follow-up scan to monitor development of the obstructive pattern.
Child* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Infant, Newborn ; Kidney Pelvis ; Parturition ; Pentetic Acid* ; Radioisotope Renography* ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract*

Systolic time interval measurements were made sequentially during second, third trimesters and postpartum period. Recordings were made in the supine position after bed rest for at least five minutes in order to obtain a steady state. In second trimester, pre-ejection period index (PEPI) was significantly shortened and left ventricular ejection period index(LVETI) remained normal while PEP/LVET decreased. Four possible mechanisms may be involved to account for the alterations in hemodynamic changes during this period(late stage of second trimester) : (1) increased metabolic demands of pregnancy: (2) hemodynamic effects of hypervolemia: (3) circulatory adjustments secondary to an arteriovenous shunt-like effect of the placental circulation: (4) cardiovascular effect of steroid hormone. The third trimester was characterized-by a markedly shortened LVETI, a prolonged PEPI and PEP/LVET. This findings are consistent with impaired left ventricular performance and are probably due to decreased left ventricular preload resulting from diminished venous return secondary to inferior vena caval obstruction by the large gravid uterus. In the postpartum period, the PEPI and PEP/LVET remained elevated and the LVETI shortened in the supine position. It is concluded that alterations in systolic time intervals occur normally during the course of uncomplicated pregnancy and persist into the postpartum period.
Bed Rest ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Placental Circulation ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third* ; Supine Position ; Systole* ; Uterus

PURPOSE: In order to investigate the incidence of relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) in normal adolescence and if there is any interocular difference in the case with RAPD. METHODS: Fifty-eight adolescence in 14 to 36 years of age who showed normal findings on measurement of visual acuity, intraocular pressure, slit lamp examination, and funduscopic examination except refractive errors underwent swinging flashlight test and infrared pupillography. The case with RAPD further underwent optical coherence tomography, color vision test, Humphrey visual field test, and Bryngelson test (hole-in-the-card test). RESULTS: One out of 58 cases, in whom more pronounced myopic astigmatism and lower mean deviation on Humphrey visual field test within normal limits were found, showed RAPD in the dominant right eye with swinging flashlight test and infrared pupillography. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of RAPD in normal adolescence was 1.7%. Myopic astigmatism was higher in the eye with RAPD.
Adolescent ; Astigmatism ; Color Vision ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intraocular Pressure ; Pupil Disorders* ; Refractive Errors ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Field Tests

Pheochromocytomas can arise wherever chromaffin cells are found, and most of them(90%) are in one or both adrenal glands. But they may be located anywhere along the sympathetic chain and rarely in aberrant sites. One of the common extra-adrenal sites from which these tumors can arise is a collection of para-aortic and para-ganglion cells around the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery. We experienced a case of extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma located at the organ of Zukerkandl in a 21-year-old female patient with abdominal colic and paroxysmal hypertension, whose symptoms and blood pressure returned to normal after successful surgical excision of the tumor.
Adrenal Glands ; Blood Pressure ; Chromaffin Cells ; Colic* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute* ; Leukemic Infiltration* ; Lymphatic Diseases* ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Echocardiography, Doppler, Color* ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency*

BACKGROUND: As of July 2015, per diem payment was changed from fee for service Therefore, this study aims to analyse changes in medical charges and medical services before and after enforcement of the palliative care, targeting palliative care wards in a general hospital, and provide basic data needed for development of per diem payment. METHODS: The subjects of the study were a total of 610 cases consisting of 351 patients of service fee who left hospital (died) from July 2014 to June 2016 and 259 ones of per diem payment at Chosun University Hospital in Gwangju Metropolitan City. RESULTS: The results are summarized as follows. First, after the palliative care system was applied, benefit medical service charges and insurance increased significantly (p<0.001). As benefit medical service charges increased, benefit private insurance payment increased significantly (p<0.001). Second, after the per diem payment was applied, total private insurance payment to medical institutes decreased significantly (p=0.050) and non-benefit also decreased significantly (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that additional rewards in the obligatory palliative care items should be continuously remedied and monitored to provide good quality hospice palliative care.
Academies and Institutes ; Fee-for-Service Plans ; Fees and Charges ; Gwangju ; Hospices ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Insurance ; Palliative Care ; Reward

PURPOSE: Surgical site infection (SSI) is the most common nosocomial infection in surgical patients, and this accounts for 38% of all patients with nosocomial infections. Despite the advances in techniques and knowledge to prevent infection, SSI remains a significant source of postoperative morbidity and mortality, and it results in a prolonged hospital stay and increased cost. This study aims to assess the incidence of SSI and to identify the risk factors associated with SSI for patients who undergo abdominal operation. METHODS: The data on 347 abdominal operations that were done under general anesthesia from 1 August 2005 to 31 July 2006 was collected and reviewed. RESULTS: The overall incidence of SSI was 4.9%. Comorbidity was the independent risk factor for the development of SSI (P=0.011). The development of SSI was related with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) preoperative assessment score (P=0.025). The duration of the operation had a statistically significant association with an increased risk of SSI on univariate analysis. The wound classification was not associated with SSI. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated organism, and all of the cases were methcillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrate that comorbidity is a significant independent risk factor for SSI.
Anesthesia, General ; Comorbidity ; Cross Infection ; Humans ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Risk Factors ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus

PURPOSE: To evaluate the postoperative CT appearance, complications and potential pitfalls of radical cystectomy with orthotopic neobladder reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 46 patients [43 men and 3 women aged 34-72 (mean, 56.7) years] who had undergone neobladder reconstruction (ileocolic neobladder in 25 patients and ileal-W neobladder in 21). The CT scans were assessed in terms of their depiction of normal anatomy, namely the shape, location and internal architecture of the neobladder, the location of bladder bases, and the ureteral course. Early and late complications were also assessed. RESULTS: The characteristics of ileocolic neobadder were a right-side location, a lobulated outer margin, internal projections due to haustra or plication, a base in the retropubis, and right-side insertion of both ureters. In contrast, the characteristics of an ileal-W neobladder were a central location, an ovoid shape, nodular thickening at the ureteral insertion site, internal projections due to plication, and a retropubic bladder base. Early complications included hematoma with abscess formation (n=2), and postoperative peritonitis (n=1), while late complications were hydronephrosis due to stricture at the ureteral anastomotic site (n=16), tumor recurrence at this site (n=1), distal ureteral stone (n=1), mucus urinary retention (n=1), incisional hernia (n=2), tumor recurrence in the pelvic side wall (n=1), carcinomatosis peritonei (n=1), and liver metastasis (n=2). CONCLUSION: A knowledge of normal anatomic changes is essential for the accurate interpretation of CT scans. CT is a useful modality for the evaluation of postoperative change and the complications occurring in patients who have undergone radical cystectomy with othotopic neobladder reconstruction.
Abscess ; Carcinoma ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Cystectomy ; Female ; Hematoma ; Hernia ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Liver ; Male ; Mucus ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Peritonitis ; Recurrence ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Retention

Congenital arteriovenous malformation (AVM) usually involves the head, extremities and internal organs, but isuncommon in the chest wall. It is, moreover, rarely combined with aneurysms. It can be cured by surgery, but isoften difficult to treat. The purpose of this study is to report a case of extensive AVM involving the rightlateral chest wall combined with multiple aneurysms, which was successfully treated by transcatheter embolizationusing several embolic materials.
Aneurysm ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Extremities ; Head ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax*