No abstract available.
Bone Diseases* ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Low Back Pain* ; Spine* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

No abstract available.
Chondrosarcoma*

No abstract available.
Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax*

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most frequent nosocomial infections and are frequently associated with indwelling urinary catheters. It is known that adherence to standard infection control measures for urinary catheters can reduce UTIs in hospitals. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of education in reducing catheter-related UTIs (CR-UTIs) in intensive care units (ICUs) of a university hospital. METHODS: CR-UTIs were prospectively monitored for all patients with indwelling urinary catheters in ICUs from July 2006 through December 2007. Recommendations based on previously known guidelines for catheter insertion, catheter management, and specimen collection to prevent CR-UTIs were formulated and educated in March 2007. Knowledge and adherence level were evaluated before and after educating healthcare workers about the recommendations using questionnaire. Changes in knowledge and adherence level before and after education were compared by Chi-square test. Changes in the rate of CR-UTIs and urinary catheter utilization ratios were also analyzed by Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: After education, knowledge level of and adherence level to most of the recommendations were improved significantly. The rate of CR-UTIs significantly decreased by 48% from 7.43/1,000 catheter-days before intervention to 3.87/1,000 catheter-days after intervention (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: Surveillance for nosocomial infections and education for standard infection control measures are very important in preventing CR-UTIs in ICUs.
Catheters ; Cross Infection ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Prospective Studies ; Specimen Handling ; Urinary Catheterization ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Tract ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

BACKGROUND: Resuscitation following bupivacaine-induced cardiovascular collapse is difficult and often refractory to conventional treatment. This study was performed to assess the effect of insulin on bupivacaine-induced cardiovascular collapse in pentobarbital-anesthetized rabbits. METHODS: Bupivacaine was administered at 0.75 mg/kg/min until the heart rate decreased to 65 beats/min. A bolus of regular insulin (2 U/kg) was administered intravenously at the bupivacaine infusion endpoint (BIE) in the insulin group (n = 8), and 2 mL of 0.9% NaCl was administered to the control group (n = 8). RESULTS: All animals in the insulin group survived and four animals died in the control group. Arrythymia was rare 10 minutes after the BIE in the insulin group. CONCLUSIONS: Bupivacaine-induced cardiovascular collapse can be effectively reversed with an insulin injection, probably through facilitation of cardiac conduction and contraction.
Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Bupivacaine ; Contracts ; Heart Rate ; Insulin ; Rabbits ; Resuscitation

No abstract available.
Acetazolamide* ; Aneurysm* ; Brain* ; Humans ; Perfusion* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

No abstract available.
Cisplatin* ; Humans ; Nausea* ; Ondansetron* ; Vomiting*

Inability to synthetize adequate amounts of IL-2 has been suggested to be the basis of defective T-cell function following anesthesia with the operation. The present study was designed to examine the effect of anesthesia and operation on host defence mechenism. serum soluble IL-2R(sIL-2R) levels and hemo-dynamic parameters were measured in 30 patients. Patients were divided into two groups (G: general anesthesia with isoflurane, E:epidural anesthesia with bupivacaine) according to the method of anesthesia. Venous blood samples were taken before anesthesia(T1), 10 mins after induction of anesthesia(T2), 10 mins after injection of bupivacaine in epidural anesthesia(T2), 1 hour after skin incision(T3), 30 mins after completion of operation(T4), and 24 hours after completion of operation(T5). Simultaneously arterial blood pressure and heart rate were measured. Six mililiter of perip-heral blood was obtained for sIL-2R studies in plain tubes. Serum concentration of sIL-2R was measured by human IL-2 receptor ELISA kit(Boehringer Mannheim Biochemica, Mannheim, Germany). Any significant change in IL-2R level was not seen in patients under general anesthesia with isoflurane and operation. Also any significant change in IL-2R level was not seen in patients who had an epidural anesthesia with bupivacaine and operation. The results suggest that suppression of T-lymphocyte function and decrease in lymphocyte counts induced by anesthesia and operation is not due to alteration of intracellular metabolism, but due to extracellular immune depressor. And general anesthesia operation with isoflurane as well as epidural anesthesia with bupivgcaine is safe and can be selected for immunosuppressive patients.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Anesthesia, General* ; Arterial Pressure ; Bupivacaine* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Interleukin-2* ; Isoflurane* ; Lymphocyte Count ; Metabolism ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes

Inferior sinus venosus defect is a rare lesion in which there is a large interatrial communication adjacent to the atrial connection of the inferior caval vein. The defect is located posteriorly and inferiorly, outside the confines of the true atrial septum, and partial anomalous pulmonary venous connections are the rule. We underwent surgical repair in four patients with inferior sinus venosus defect and partial anomalous pulmonary venous return. There were three males and one female with an age range from four months to 25 years. A cross-sectional echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization had been performed preoperatively in all patients, but the correct diagnosis had been made in only one case. Surgical repair was indicated due to congestive heart failure, and one patient of 4-month-old needed urgent operation. The repair was accomplished by suturing a untreated autologous pericardial patch to the right of the pulmonary veins, so that the defect was closed and all the pulmonary venous blood was directed to the left atrium. The preoperative knowledge of the unusual anatomy allows the surgeon to repair the anomaly without difficulties. For the patients in whom interatrial communication and anomalous pulmonary venous return are suggested, surgeon has to pay careful attention to the anatomical landmarks to avoid incorrect placement of the patch.
Atrial Septum ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Heart Atria ; Heart Failure ; Heart Septal Defects ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pulmonary Veins ; Scimitar Syndrome ; Veins