No abstract available.
Extracorporeal Circulation* ; Heart* ; Potassium* ; Thoracic Surgery*

No abstract available.
Pulmonary Aspergillosis*

No abstract available in English.
Clinical Study ; Femur ; Hip Fractures

PURPOSE: Tension-free hernioplasty has become the most popular procedure for the repair of groin hernias in the United States and United Kingdom. The purpose of this study is to describe a 7-year personal experience with Lichtenstein's tension-free groin hernia repair under local anesthesia. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the clinical outcome of 321 cases of Lichtenstein repairs, performed consecutively by an experienced surgeon between Jan. 1994 and Dec. 2000. RESULTS: Of the 321 cases, 242 (75.4%) were indirect, 34 (10.6%) were direct, 8 (2.5%) were femoral, 7 (2.2%) were pantaloon, and 30 (9.3%) were recurred hernias. The mean age was 55 years; 91% were male. The mean number of injections of analgesics required in the postoperative period was 3.2. The mean hospital stay following repair was 2.7 days. Complications occurred in 23 cases (7.1%). Most of these were minor, consisting of five cases of bruising or hematomas (1.6%), four superficial infections (1.3%), three seromas (0.9%), two hydroceles (0.6%), six patients with persisting groin pain for more than a month (1.8%), one foreign body granuloma, one urinary retention, and one testicular atrophy. There were no recurrences or operative deaths. CONCLUSION: Lichtenstein's tension-free hernioplasty is an easy and simple technique with less pain, minor complications and only rare instances of recurrence. This procedure can be performed on a same-day basis under local anesthesia. Lichtenstein repair may be the most promising technique for the repair of groin hernias.
Analgesics ; Anesthesia, Local ; Atrophy ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body ; Great Britain ; Groin* ; Hematoma ; Hernia* ; Herniorrhaphy ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seroma ; United States ; Urinary Retention

24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring has been examined for the evaluation of heart rate and longest pause in 34 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (20 patients treated with digoxin and 14 patients without treatment). Following results were obtained: 1. In 34 patients, the mean of average heart rates was 75.7±13.8/minute, fastest heart rates 148.0±32.4/minute, slowest heart rates 48.1±8.4/minute, difference between fastest and slowest heart rates in individual patients 99.9±29.0/minute and longest pauses 2.95±1.06seconds. The longest pauses of more than 4.0 seconds occurred in 4 of the 34 patients and made an exception of comparison groups. 2. In 27 of the 34 patients, ventricular premature contractures were developed and in 11 of 27, mainly occurred less than 100/24 hours and aberrant conduction occurred in all patients. 3. In 20 patients treated with digoxin (0.25 mg/day), the mean of average heart rates was 78.4±13.7/minute, fastest heart rates 152.5±33.1/minute, slowest heart rates 48.9±8.5/minute, difference between fastest and slowest heart rates in individual patients 103.6±31.7/minute and longest pauses 2.55±0.50 seconds. 4. In 10 patients without treatment, the mean of average heart rates was 78.0±10.7/minute, fastest heart rates 154.5±26.8/minute, slowest heart rates 50.6±7.1/minute, difference between fastest and slowest heart rates in individual patients 103.9±22.2/minute and longest pauses 2.66±0.39 seconds. 5. The difference of heart rates and longest pauses between patients with treatment and without treatment were statistically not significant (P>0.05). In summary, authors seemed to consider that 24-hour ambulatory ECG was useful and safe method for clinical evaluation of patients with chronic atrial fibrillation.
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Contracture ; Digoxin ; Electrocardiography* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Methods

No abstract available.

Although sacrococcygeal mass is rare and usually found in infants or children, adolescent or adult patients with protruding mass in sacrococcygeal region occasionally come to us simply for a cosmetic problem. In this situation, even though there is no definite neurological deficit, it should be evaluated whether or not the underlying bony pathology or dural defect exists. Few cases about the sacrococcygeal mass have been reported in adults. We reviewed our cases including preoperative evaluation methods and postoperative diagnosis. From March, 1993 to February, 1997, we experienced 6 adult patients with sacrococcygeal mass and no neurological abnormality. Preoperative evaluation were made by plain X-ray, myelogram, computed tomography(CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as needed. Postoperative diagnoses were 2 meningoceles, 2 lipomyelomeningoceles, 1 desmoid tumor, and 1 teratoma. From our experiences, CT or MRI is essential to evaluate the sacrococcygeal mass preoperatively. These methods can visualize the precise anatomic location and extent of the mass, its relation to the spinal cord, and associated bony abnormalities. MRI is superior to CT, especially in defining the nature of the mass and involvement of the spinal cord. Conclusively, even a simple mass in the sacrococcygeal region in adults needs MRI or CT evaluation, and MRI is the most valuable method of evaluating the mass preoperatively and provides important information to establish a treatment plan.
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningocele ; Pathology ; Sacrococcygeal Region* ; Spinal Cord ; Teratoma

No abstract available.
Aneurysm*

We observed 2 cases of multiple trichoepithelioma, which occured in 25-year- old male and 20-year-old female. They visited our department for multiple skin rashes on the face of 8 years duration in male and 7 years' duration in female patient. Both of them have similar skin lesions characterized by multiplel waxy gshiny, skin colored, firm papules scattered on the nasolabial folds, both eyelids and forehead. Each one of them has a history of similar skin lesions in the family. Literatures are briefly reviewed for discussion of clinical and histopathologicl findings in this disease.
Exanthema ; Eyelids ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Male ; Nasolabial Fold ; Skin ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Severe or massive postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) has remained a leading cause of maternal mortality for decades across the world and it results in critical obstetric complications. Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) has emerged as a gold standard adjunctive hemostatic agent for the treatment of life-threatening PPH refractory to conventional therapies although it remains off-licensed for use in PPH. We studied the effects of rFVIIa on coagulopathy, transfusion volume, prognosis, severity change in Korean PPH patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records between December 2008 and March 2011 indicating use of rFVIIa in severe PPH was performed. We compared age, rFVIIa treatment, transfusion volume, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score at the time of arrival in the emergency department and after 24 hours for patients whose SOFA score was 8 points or higher. RESULTS: Fifteen women with SOFA score of 8 and above participated in this study and eight received rFVIIa administration whereas seven did not. Patients' mean age was 31.7 ± 7.5 years. There was no statistically significant difference in initial and post-24 hours SOFA scores between patients administered rFVIIa or not. The change in SOFA score between initial presentation and after 24 hours was significantly reduced after rFVIIa administration (P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis aimed to support that the administration of rFVIIa can reduce the severity of life-threatening PPH in patients. A rapid decision regarding the administration of rFVIIa is needed for a more favorable outcome in severe PPH patients for whom there is no effective standard treatment.
Emergency Service, Hospital ; Factor VIIa* ; Female ; Humans ; Maternal Death ; Maternal Mortality ; Medical Records ; Organ Dysfunction Scores ; Postpartum Hemorrhage* ; Postpartum Period* ; Prognosis ; Recombinant Proteins ; Retrospective Studies