In clinical practice, creatinine clearance (Ccr) remains the most commonly used laboratory assessment of glomerular function despite methodological and technical problems of urine collection. Schwartz et al. in 1976, reported that an accurate estimate of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) could be obtained from the simple determinations of plasma creatinine (Per) and body length (L): GFR (ml/min/1.73m2)=kL (cm)/Per (mg/100 ml), (k=constant). The subject of this study were 81 children admitted to our pediatric department from July, 1985 to June, 1987 and they were divided into three groups; group I, from 1 to 5 years old, group II, from 6 to 10 years old, group III, from 11 to 15 years old. The results were as following: 1) Measured creatinine clearance Ccr(M), ml/min/1.73m²) were 109.73±9.97 in group I, 108.26±9.02 in group II, 96.20±4.72 in group III and 105.48±5.23 in all age group. 2) Measured k(k(M)) obtained from CcrM=k Ht/Pcr were 0.49±0.03 in group I, 0.48±0.02 in group II, 0.43±0.02 in group III, and 0.47±0.02 in all age group (Ht; height). 3) Linear equations and correlation coefficient between Ht/Pcr (x) and Ccr (y) were y=0.82x-65.63 (r=0.99) in group I, y=0.61x-23.46(r=0.72) in group II, y=0.18x+54.44 (r=0.54) in group III and y=0.58x-22.13 (r=0.81) in all age group. 4) Ccr(E) was again estimated from linear equations between Ht/Pcr and Ccr(M) and k(E) was calculated with Ht/Pcr and Ccr(E) were 0.48±0.01 in group I, 0.49±0.01 in group II, 0.43±0.01 in group III and 0.47±0.00 in all age group. 5) Consistent values of k(E) and k(M) were highly significant as 95~97.5% in group I and II, 90~95% in group III and 97.5~99% in all age group. In summary, we could estimate GFR with height, plasma creatinine and measured k(k(M)) according to the age in easy and rapid way.
Child* ; Creatinine* ; Glomerular Filtration Rate* ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Urine Specimen Collection

CT is a valuable method in determining number, location and extent of lesions, although a definite diagnosisis often not possible on CT. In intracranial tuberculosis, CT was helpful in the diagnosis, assessing the degreeof hydrocephalus and evaluating the effectiveness of antituberculous therapy. Twenty-one cases of clinical lyproven intracranial tuberculosis were studied by CT in our hospital during last 3 years. Of them, eighteen caseswere tuberculous meningitis and the rests were tuberculoma. The results were as follows; 1. Tuberculous meningitis presented the following three patterns of CT findings according to its disease process. a. In early stage of the disease, suspcious multiple isodense small nodules in the cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres showed dense enhancement in postcontrast scan representing miliary tubercles. b. In later stage of the disease, precontrastscan showed partial or total obliteration of the basal and sylvian cisterns with mild dilatation of ventricularsystem. Postcontrast scan showed dense enhancement of basal and sylvian sisterns. This type of finding was themost common in our series. c. Moderate to marked dilatation of ventricle with or without a cluster ofcalcifications in suprsella area on precontrast scan was seen in far later stage or as a sequellae of the disease. No enhancement was noted in postcontrast study. 2. Tuberculoma showed an isodense or slightly hyperdense area inthe cerebral or cerebellar hemisphere with associated minimal edema in precontrast study. Postcontrast scan showeda small ring enhancement with central lucent area.
Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Edema ; Hydrocephalus ; Methods ; Tuberculoma ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal

Although the ultrasonography has been regarded as a main procedure in the diagnosis of gallbladder diseases, no many papers concerning the ultrasonographic findings of gallbladder empyema appeared in the literature. Twenty-four cases of surgically proven gallbladder empyema were studied by ultrasonography in our hospital during last 15 months. The results were as follows; 1. The size of gallbladder was enlarged in 18 cases. 2. The thicknessof gallbladder wall was more than 3mm in 16 cases. 3. The echogenicity of gallbladder wall was diminished in all cases. the inner margin of gallblaldder wall was also ill-defined in all cases. These findings are considered to be important in the diagnosis of gallbladder empyema. 4. The internal echogenicity of gallbladder (diffuse or localized) was positive in 16 cases and negative in the remainders. The echo genility was thought to beproportional to the amount of pus in gallbladder. 5. The 7 cases presented periocholecystic sonolucent area hadperforation of gallbladder and pericholecystic abscess. 6. Gallstone was found in 17 cases.
Abscess ; Cholecystitis ; Diagnosis ; Gallbladder Diseases ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones ; Suppuration ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

Cold agglutinins are autoantibodies activated at low temperature to produce red blood cell agglutination and hemolysis. Systemic hypothermia and cold cardioplegia which are employed commonly in modern cardiac operations are a potential danger to patients with the cold agglutinin disease. We report a successful use of a continuous warm retrograde delivery of cardioplegia with systemic hypothemia in a patient with cold agglutinin disease detected incidentally. Hemagglutination was found in the cold (4oC) blood cardioplegic circuit before the delivery of the cardioplegic solution. Hemagglutination was not detected in the mixture of blood and the warm cardioplegic solution (36.5oC). Therefore, cold agglutinin disease was suspected. The patient was only mildly cooled systemically. The coronary system was perfused with a normothemic cardioplegic solution. With this technique, the patient underwent an uneventful mitral valve replacement operation.
Agglutination ; Agglutinins ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune* ; Anesthesia* ; Autoantibodies ; Cardioplegic Solutions ; Erythrocytes ; Heart Arrest, Induced ; Hemagglutination ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Mitral Valve ; Thoracic Surgery*

This study was designed to evaluate the possibility of esmolol to attenuate the cardiovascular reflex due to the induction of general anesthesia, tracheal intubation and/or surgical stimulations during open heart surgery. Esmolol was infused continuously to each patient by 150 ug/kg/min from 2 minutes prior to the completion of the induction of anesthesia and then by 75 ug/kg/min throughout the skin-incision. In patients undergoing coronary bypass grafts, esmolol group of 5 individuals did not show any significant change in hemodynamics in contrast to the control group of 5 individuals, which showed singificant decreases in systolic and mean arterial pressure(p<0.05). The plasma concentrations of the catecholamines in the esmolol group were not significantly different from those in control. In patients undergoing valve replacement, esmolol group did not show any significant difference in hemodynamics from control. The plasma concentrations of the catecholamines in the esmolol group were not changed by the anesthetic and surgical procedures in contrast to the control group, which showed 3 times increase (p<0.05) in norepinephrine level and 8 times increase (p<0.05) in epinephrine level. The results of these experiments demonstrate that esmolol can suppress the hemodynamic refiex and catecholamine-release due to the stimulations of anesthetic and surgical procedures under the general anesthesia by a high concentration of fentanyl, and that esmolol can be administered safely to attenuate the hazardous sympathetic reflexes.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Catecholamines ; Epinephrine ; Fentanyl ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Intubation ; Norepinephrine ; Plasma ; Reflex ; Thoracic Surgery ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Head injury is one of the most common causes of emergency department visits and hospital admission in the pediatric populations, and most injuries are mild. In mild head injury, grading of severity and decision of hospital admission are difficult in the emergency department. Recent studies have suggested that patients with a normal head CT scan and neurologic exam following head injury can be safely discharged from the emergency department. However, previous studies have relied on incomplete patient follow-up and been limited for the most part to adult population. So we performed this study to assess clinical course and the incidence of significant CNS sequelae in children with a normal head CT scan and no focal neurologic sign after mild head injuries during hospital admission and follow-up for 1 month. METHODS: We reviewal the records of children(n=209) admitted to the department of emergency medicine with closed head injuries from Jan. 1, 1996 to Dec. 31, 1996, who's initial Glasgow Coma Scale was 13 to 15, and have no focal neurologic sign and a normal head CT scan. RESULT: 209 patients were studied with a mean age of 6.8(range 3 months to 15years), and 66.5% were male. The most common mechanisms of injury were pedestrian T.A(50.2%) and fall(11.5%). Patients had a mean Glasgow coma scale of 14.8 and mean Abbreviated Injury Score of 1.3. Patients had clinical symptoms of headache(49.3%), vomiting(44.5%), loss of consciousness(LOC)(29.6%), amnesia(10.0%), sleepiness(8.6%), irritability(8.6%), confusion(2.9%) and seizure(1.9%). The mean duration of admission was 4.3 days(range: 6 hours-20 days) and the mean duration of symptom was 36.4 hours. No child developed significant CNS sequelae during hospital admission. However, during hospital admission, aye children(all were preschooler) had psychologic complication ; one child developed post-traumatic stress disorder requiring psychologic treatment for 3 months. Three children developed enuresis and two children developed night terror. During 1 month fallow-up, one child developed a symptomatic hemorrhagic contusion 5 days after the head injury, not requiring neurosurgical treatment. CONCLUSION: Among children with an initial Glasgow Coma Scale of 13 to 15, a normal head CT scan and no focal neurologic sign after mild head injuries, delayed intracranial sequelae are extremely uncommon. So these patient may be discharged home with parental supervision and education for dose observation.
Adult ; Child* ; Contusions ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Education ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medicine* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Enuresis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Head Injuries, Closed ; Head* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Organization and Administration ; Parents ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Continuous arterial blood pressure monitoring is a highly effective method in an operation and the intensive care unit. However, the accuracy of the monitoring system could be influenced by the radius and longitude of the catheter. This study was executed to examine the effects of the radius and longitude of a catheter. METHODS: Forty-two pediatric patients scheduled to undergo open heart surgery were selected. After induction of anesthesia, the radial artery pressure was measured by a 22-gauge (1 inch) catheter and the femoral artery pressure was measured by a 20-gauge (1.16 inch) catheter, 22-gauge catheter and 20-gauge (12 cm) catheter in succession. Influences of the radius and longitude were analysed respectively. All values are expressed as mean +/- SD and analysed using the paired t-test; P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The systolic pressure of the 20-gauge (1.16 inch) catheter was higher than that of the 22- gauge (1 inch) catheter. The systolic pressure of the 20-gauge (1.16 inch) catheter was higher than that of the 20-gauge (12 cm) catheter. Mean and diastolic pressures were low in the 20-gauge (1.16 inch) catheter, compared with the 20-gauge (12 cm) catheter. CONCLUSIONS: Shorter and/or larger radius catheters could increase the pulse pressure in pediatric patients.
Anesthesia ; Arterial Pressure* ; Blood Pressure ; Catheters* ; Femoral Artery ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Radial Artery ; Radius* ; Thoracic Surgery

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery including robotic technique has become increasingly popular over the last decade. The advantages of such technique include improved cosmesis and healing, and reduced stress response, hospital and intensive care unit stay, and transfusion requirements. Robot-assisted cardiac surgery requires prolonged one-lung ventilation to optimize exposure. Remote-access perfusion requires appropriate positioning of multiple catheters to establish cardiopulmonary bypass. Carbon dioxide insufflation into the thorax can cause hemodynamic instability and carbon dioxide embolism. Limited exposure of the heart may pose difficulties with management of arrhythmia, hemostasis, myocardial protection and de-airing at the end of surgery. Limited access due to robot manipulator would make rapid intervention for cardiopulmonary resuscitation difficult or impossible. This case report describes robot-asssisted atrial septal defect repair and discusses the anesthetic issues associated with minimally invasive cardiac surgery including robotic cardiac surgery.
Anesthesia* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Carbon Dioxide ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Catheters ; Embolism ; Heart ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial* ; Hemodynamics ; Hemostasis ; Insufflation ; Intensive Care Units ; One-Lung Ventilation ; Perfusion ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamic derangement during the displacement of the beating heart in off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (OPCAB) might be related with right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. This study evaluated the influence of displacing and stabilizing the heart, for the anastomosis of coronary arteries, on hemodynamic alterations and RV function in patients undergoing OPCAB. METHODS: Twenty patients with triple vessel coronary artery disease underwent OPCAB using single pericardial sutures: a tissue stabilizer was included. The hemodynamic variables and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) were obtained using a right-heart ejection fraction thermodilution pulmonary artery catheter after the induction of anesthesia, before and after anastomosis of each coronary artery and after sternal closure. RESULTS: No significant hemodynamic changes were observed during the displacement of the heart or the placement of a stabilizer on all of the coronary arteries, except the obtuse marginal artery (OM) before anastomosis. RVEF, left ventricular stroke work index (LVSWI), stroke volume index and cardiac index (CI) decreased and mean pulmonary artery pressure increased significantly whist positioning the graft to the OM. Right ventricular volumes were not significantly changed, although central venous pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure increased. Changing CI had a close relationship with LVSWI (r2 = 0.537, P <0.05) but not with RVEF (r2 = 0.118). These hemodynamic compromises recovered to baseline values after sternal closure. CONCLUSIONS: The displacement of the beating heart for positioning during anastomosis of the graft to the OM caused significant hemodynamic instability and LV functional changes in addition to RV functional changes seemed to be responsible for hemodynamic derangements.
Anesthesia ; Arteries ; Catheters ; Central Venous Pressure ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Stroke ; Stroke Volume ; Sutures ; Thermodilution ; Thoracic Surgery* ; Transplants ; Ventricular Function, Right*