Celiac plexus block with neurolytic agents is widely recommended for the management of intraabdominal pain due to malignant disease as a simple, asafe and effective method. We performed neurolytic celia: plexus block with 60% ethanol in lidocaine in 8 patients: with gastric cancer(4), hepatoma(2), pancreatic cancer(1), and chronic pancreatitis(1). Good to excellent pain relief was obtained in the 2 hepatoma cases, 1 pancreatic cancer, and a gastric cancer patient. In one patient with gastirc cancer, analgesia lasted for about 3 months but the second block was entirely unsatisfactory. The result was uncertain in one patient with chronic pancreatitis because the pain was non-specific and responded even to saline solution(placebo). In the remaing 2 patients, the result was entirely negative and eventually, epidural morphine was given periodically through an indwelling catheter.
Analgesia ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Celiac Plexus* ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Morphine ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; Stomach Neoplasms

Several methods for the management of intractable pain for various conditions including malignant disorders, herpes zoster, and low back pain and/or sciatica in 80 patients were described and analyzed. Neurolytric blocks of celiac plexus were given to the patients suffering from intra-abdominal pain from malignant origin or chronic pancreatitis. Herpes zoster was treated mainly by chemical sympathectomy via paravertebral route and occassionaly corticosteroid was administered epidurally with the local anesthetic, bupivacaine. All the patients with low back pain and/or sciatica were given epidural corticosteroid one to three times. Other peripheral were blocks and regional corticosteroid therpy were given to the rest of the patients. Fair to excellent result was obtained in 71% of the patients but the response was poor in the remaining 28% of the patients. It seems that the earlier the patients were referred to the pain clinic, the better the results were.
Bupivacaine ; Celiac Plexus ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Pain Clinics ; Pain, Intractable ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; Sciatica ; Sympathectomy, Chemical

BACKGROUND: The incidence of invasive aspergillosis has been increasing as the number of severe immunocompromised hosts has increased. We reviewed representative cases of invasive aspergillosis to describe clinical manifestations and treatment outcome. METHODS: We identified 40 cases of invasive aspergillosis on the ground of pathologic and radiologic findings from January 1991 to December 2000 and reviewed medical records and laboratory data. RESULTS: Forty cases of invasive aspergillosis included 28 'definite' cases and 12 'probable' cases. Major involved organs of invasive aspergillosis were lung (n=23, 57.5%), sinus (n=11, 27.5%), brain (n=3, 7.5%), spine (n=1, 2.5%), skull (n=1, 2.5%), and small bowel (n=1, 2.5%). Underlying diseases and risk factors were hematologic malignancies (n=21, 52.5%), high-dose steroid treatment (n=8, 20%), post-transplantation of solid organ (n=2, 5%), and ectopic ACTH syndrome (n=1, 2.5%). Immunocompetent hosts including DM patients were 8 cases (20%) and their major involved sites were sinus (n=4) and brain (n=2). Crude mortality rate of total invasive aspergillosis after 3 months and 12 months were 30% and 47.5%, respectively. 3-month and 12-month mortality rate for pulmonary aspergillosis (n=23) were 39%, 61% and those for extrapulmonary aspergillosis (n=17) were 18 %, 29%. Patients with hematologic malignancy (n=21) were in 33%, 57%, other immunocompromised hosts (n=11) were in 45%, 45%, and immunocompetent hosts (n=8) were in 0%, 25%. Patients with aggravated underlying diseases and sustained risk factors (n=20) were in 60%, 70% and patients with improved underlying diseases and no risk factor (n=20) were in 0%, 20%. CONCLUSION: Invasive aspergillosis mainly developed in severe immunocompromised hosts, but invasive sinus aspergillosis and cerebral aspergillosis occasionally developed in apparently immunocompetent hosts. The degree of immunosuppression and severity of underlying diseases affected the treatment outcome of invasive aspergillosis.
ACTH Syndrome, Ectopic ; Aspergillosis* ; Brain ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunosuppression ; Incidence ; Lung ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis ; Risk Factors ; Skull ; Spine ; Treatment Outcome*

BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of HAART (Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy), metabolic com- plications have been reported with varying prevalence. We performed a retrospective study to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of metabolic complications arising in Korean HIV/AIDS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 66 HIV positive patients on combination therapy between 1998 June to 2002 June with at least 1 protease inhibitor (PI) or/and Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) were reviewed. Hyperglycemia was defined as serum glucose >140 mg/dL on 2 or more occasions; diabetes as any random serum glucose >200 mg/dl; hypercholesterolemia as serum cholesterol >240 mg/dL; hypertriglyceridemia as serum triglyceride >200 mg/dL. We used SPSS version 9.0 for statistical analysis. One way ANOVA was used to compare the treatment groups. Multinominal logistic regression analysis was used for risk factor analysis. RESULTS: 66 patients were analyzed and total duration of follow up was 138 patient-years. The incidence of metabolic complication was 20.3%. Incidence of hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, and diabetes were 12.3%, 5.8%. 1.4%, 4.3% respectively. On risk factor analysis, factors contributing to the development of metabolic complication were age>35 years (P= 0.020) and baseline serum triglyceride >140 mg/dL (P=0.001). Baseline CD4 count <170/mm3 (P= 0.054) and use of stavudine >6 months (P=0.055) were associated with development of metabolic complications with borderline significance. CONCLUSION: The incidence of metabolic complication among Korean HIV/AIDS patients receiving HAART is 20.3%. Older age and high baseline triglyceride were risk factors for development of metabolic complications.
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Blood Glucose ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Cholesterol ; Follow-Up Studies ; HIV ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence ; Protease Inhibitors ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ; Risk Factors ; Stavudine ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of HAART (Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy), metabolic com- plications have been reported with varying prevalence. We performed a retrospective study to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of metabolic complications arising in Korean HIV/AIDS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 66 HIV positive patients on combination therapy between 1998 June to 2002 June with at least 1 protease inhibitor (PI) or/and Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) were reviewed. Hyperglycemia was defined as serum glucose >140 mg/dL on 2 or more occasions; diabetes as any random serum glucose >200 mg/dl; hypercholesterolemia as serum cholesterol >240 mg/dL; hypertriglyceridemia as serum triglyceride >200 mg/dL. We used SPSS version 9.0 for statistical analysis. One way ANOVA was used to compare the treatment groups. Multinominal logistic regression analysis was used for risk factor analysis. RESULTS: 66 patients were analyzed and total duration of follow up was 138 patient-years. The incidence of metabolic complication was 20.3%. Incidence of hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, and diabetes were 12.3%, 5.8%. 1.4%, 4.3% respectively. On risk factor analysis, factors contributing to the development of metabolic complication were age>35 years (P= 0.020) and baseline serum triglyceride >140 mg/dL (P=0.001). Baseline CD4 count <170/mm3 (P= 0.054) and use of stavudine >6 months (P=0.055) were associated with development of metabolic complications with borderline significance. CONCLUSION: The incidence of metabolic complication among Korean HIV/AIDS patients receiving HAART is 20.3%. Older age and high baseline triglyceride were risk factors for development of metabolic complications.
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Blood Glucose ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Cholesterol ; Follow-Up Studies ; HIV ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence ; Protease Inhibitors ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ; Risk Factors ; Stavudine ; Triglycerides

Plasmodium vivax malaria, which used to be endemic in the past, re-emerged in 1993 and the number of cases has increased annually. Though there has been no proven endemic drug-resistant malaria case reported, widespread use of anti-malarial chemoprophylaxis for the military personnel could cause emergence of resistance. We herein report a case of tertian malaria, which recurred three times despite the standard chloroquine-primaquine therapy. The patient is 40-year-old male, lives in Dongducheon city, Gyeonggy province, and has never been abroad. He visited hospital in September 2000, because of fever. His blood smear revealed ring forms and trophozoites of P. vivax. He took hydroxychloroquine for 3 days and primaquine for 14 days. His symptoms disappeared then. After 7 months he got fever for 2 days and his blood smear revealed schizonts of P. vivax. He took the same medicines and got well next day. Fever recurred 4 month later, and trophozoites were observed on the blood smear. Hydroxychloroquine and primaquine were prescribed in the same way and fever disappeared. Forty three days later, he had fever and positive blood smear of P. vivax trophozoite. Fever disappeared on the day drug was administered and no malaria was detected in follow up smear of 7 and 14 days. He was free of fever in follow up at 3 months later.
Adult ; Chemoprevention ; Chloroquine ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine ; Malaria* ; Malaria, Vivax ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Plasmodium vivax ; Primaquine ; Recurrence ; Schizonts ; Trophozoites

Given improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease, more patients with heart disease reach adolescence or adulthood and require noncardiac surgery. Since 1971, the Fontan operation has been widely used for the management of tricuspid atresia and a variety of univentricular heart malformations. Although the life expectancy of these patients has increased, few reports are available on their anaesthetic management when a noncardiac operation is indicated. We report on the anaesthetic management of a 40-years-old male patient scheduled for permanent pacemaker insertion who underwent a modified Fontan procedure at the age of 27 years for pulmonary stenosis, common atrioventricular cushion defect, and for corrected transposition of the great arteries
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Anesthesia ; Arteries ; Diagnosis ; Fontan Procedure* ; Heart ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Male ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Tricuspid Atresia

BACKGROUND: Because of the concern for the emergence of resistance, the prudent use of vancomycin is essential. However, it is uncertain whether the initial delay in the effective treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia adversely affects the outcome. We performed this study to determine the outcome of an initial delay in the use of antistaphylococcal antibiotics for Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 238 with SAB at a tertiary care hospital. Empirical antibiotics treatment was considered ineffective if the isolated strain was not susceptible, in vitro, to antibiotics given during the first 48 hours. The outcome was measured as SAB-related mortality within 8 weeks from the SAB. RESULTS: The mortality for the patients with ineffective empirical regimen (50/117, 42.7%) showed a trend toward being higher than that with effective empirical regimen (38/121, 31.4%), but it did not reach the statistical significance (OR 1.63 95% CI 0.96~2.77, P=0.07). However, in the subgroups of end-stage renal disease ineffective empirical antibiotics adversely affected the outcomes (OR 5.42, 95% CI 1.25~23.49, P=0.02) On multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusted OR of ineffective empirical regimen for SAB-related mortality was 2.03 (95% CI 1.08~3.82, P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that an initial delay in the use of antistaphylococcal antibiotics for the first 2 days might adversely affect the outcome when treating SAB, especially in the patients with end-stage renal disease.
Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Bacteremia* ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Logistic Models ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus* ; Tertiary Healthcare ; Vancomycin

Mucormycosis is a fatal opportunistic fungal infection that typically occurs in immunocompromised patients. The classical manifestation of mucormycosis is a rhinocerebral infection, and although primary gastrointestinal infection is uncommon, it has an extremely high mortality rate in immunocompromised patients. Furthermore, cases of gastrointestinal mucormycosis in an immunocompetent host are rarely reported. Here, we describe our experience of a male patient, with no underlying disease, who succumbed to a bowel infarction caused by intestinal mucormycosis during mechanical ventilatory care for severe pneumonia and septic shock.
Humans ; Immunocompetence ; Immunocompromised Host ; Infarction ; Male ; Mucormycosis ; Pneumonia ; Shock, Septic

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Waist circumference (WC) is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome and is related to insulin resistance (IR) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The purpose of this study was to determine the association between WC and IR and NAFLD in apparently healthy Korean adults. METHODS: The volunteers included in this cross-sectional study comprised 9,159 adults (5,052 men, 4,107 women) who participated in a comprehensive health checkup program. IR was evaluated by the homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) and was considered to be present when the HOMA-IR score was >2. NAFLD was evaluated by ultrasound examination. Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was defined as >40 IU/L in men and >35 IU/L in women. Logistic regression was performed to determine the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for NAFLD, IR, and ALT according to categorized levels of WC. RESULTS: NAFLD was found in 2,553 (27.9%) of the participants (82.6% men, 17.4% women), while IR and elevated ALT were found in 17.2% (68.1% men, 31.9% women) and 10% (83% men, 17% women), respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, the prevalence of NAFLD, IR, and elevated ALT was significantly associated with increases in WC quartile: highest quartile for NAFLD in men, OR=15.539, 95% CI=12.687-19.033; highest quartile for NAFLD in women, OR=48.732, 95% CI=23.918-99.288 (P<0.001); and highest quartile for IR in men, OR=17.576, 95% CI=13.283-23.255; highest quartile for IR in women, OR=11.078, 95% CI=7.813-15.708 (P<0.001); highest quartile for elevated ALT in men, OR=7.952, 95% CI=6.046-10.459; and highest quartile for elevated ALT in women, OR=8.487, 95% CI=4.679-15.395 (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: WC contributes to IR and NAFLD in apparently healthy Korean adults, and thus may be an important factor in the development of IR and NAFLD.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Area Under Curve ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Mass Index ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fatty Liver/*diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; *Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; *Waist Circumference