Background/Aims: Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) risk for non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) compared with warfarin is largely unknown. We aimed to determine the risk of overall and post-polypectomy GIB for NOACs and warfarin. Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance database, we created a cohort of patients who were newly prescribed NOACs or warfarin between July 2015 and December 2017 using propensity score matching (PSM). Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank test was performed to compare the risk of overall and post-polypectomy GIB between NOACs (apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban) and warfarin. Post-polypectomy GIB was defined as bleeding within 1 month after gastrointestinal endoscopic polypectomy. Results: Out of 234,206 patients taking anticoagulants (187,687 NOACs and 46,519 warfarin), we selected 39,764 pairs of NOACs and warfarin users after PSM. NOACs patients showed significantly lower risk of overall GIB than warfarin patients (log-rank P<0.001, hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.78–0.94; P=0.001). Among NOACs, apixaban showed the lowest risk of GIB. In the subgroup of 7,525 patients who underwent gastrointestinal polypectomy (lower gastrointestinal polypectomy 93.1%), 1,546 pairs were chosen for each group after PSM. The NOACs group showed a high risk of post-polypectomy GIB compared with the warfarin group (log-rank P=0.001, hazard ratio, 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.16–3.33; P=0.012). Conclusions This nationwide, population-based study demonstrates that risk of overall GIB is lower for NOACs than for warfarin, while risk of post-polypectomy GIB is higher for NOACs than for warfarin.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The mortality of hospitalized patients undergoing treatment with an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) due to cardiogenic shock is well known as quite high. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with an IABP in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and cardiogenic shock and identify the predictors of in-hospital mortality. METHODS: 134 patients who underwent PCI with IABP due to ACS complicated by cardiogenic shock were consecutively enrolled. Outcomes were obtained and analyzed during hospitalization and after 1 year. RESULTS: The incidence of all-cause mortality was 35.8% (in-hospital mortality, 34.3%; 1-year mortality, 1.5%). The nonsurvival group exhibited higher peak levels of creatine kinase MB; lower ejection fractions; and higher incidences of ST elevation myocardial infarction, ventricular arrhythmia, and use of an assistive device than did the survival group. Aging (hazard ratio 2.839; 95% confidence interval 1.408-5.723; p = 0.004), the use of a temporary pacemaker (2.035; 1.114-3.720; 0.021), the use of a mechanical ventilator (4.376; 1.852-10.341; 0.001), and the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (2.219; 1.017-4.839; 0.045) were independent predictors for in-hospital mortality. However, out-of-hospital mortality among in-hospital survivors was not affected by predictors of in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of in-hospital mortality was high, as expected in patients undergoing PCI with IABP due to ACS with cardiogenic shock. Aging, CPR, and additional procedures such as pacemaker use and mechanical ventilation were predictors of in-hospital mortality. However, the patients who were successfully discharged after the complex procedure showed acceptable 1-year outcomes.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Aging ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Creatine Kinase ; Hospital Mortality ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* ; Respiration, Artificial ; Self-Help Devices ; Shock, Cardiogenic* ; Survivors ; Ventilators, Mechanical

Adult-onset Still's disease is an uncommon systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology and pathogenesis. It is characterized by an evanescent rash, spiking fever (>39degrees), arthralgia, sore throat, abnormal liver function tests and leukocytosis (>10,000/mm3). We report a case involving a 41-year-old male with initial symptoms suggestive of anaphylactic and septic shock. Steroid therapy led to recovery. Adult-onset Still's disease was ultimately confirmed.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Adult ; Anaphylaxis ; Arthralgia ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Pharyngitis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Shock ; Shock, Septic ; Still's Disease, Adult-Onset

Adult-onset Still's disease is an uncommon systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology and pathogenesis. It is characterized by an evanescent rash, spiking fever (>39degrees), arthralgia, sore throat, abnormal liver function tests and leukocytosis (>10,000/mm3). We report a case involving a 41-year-old male with initial symptoms suggestive of anaphylactic and septic shock. Steroid therapy led to recovery. Adult-onset Still's disease was ultimately confirmed.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Adult ; Anaphylaxis ; Arthralgia ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Pharyngitis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Shock ; Shock, Septic ; Still's Disease, Adult-Onset

Recent changes in healthcare systems have changed the epidemiologic paradigms in many infectious fields including bloodstream infection (BSI). We compared clinical characteristics of community-acquired (CA), hospital-acquired (HA), and healthcare-associated (HCA) BSI. We performed a prospective nationwide multicenter surveillance study from 9 university hospitals in Korea. Total 1,605 blood isolates were collected from 2006 to 2007, and 1,144 isolates were considered true pathogens. HA-BSI accounted for 48.8%, CA-BSI for 33.2%, and HCA-BSI for 18.0%. HA-BSI and HCA-BSI were more likely to have severe comorbidities. Escherichia coli was the most common isolate in CA-BSI (47.1%) and HCA-BSI (27.2%). In contrast, Staphylococcus aureus (15.2%), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (15.1%) were the common isolates in HA-BSI. The rate of appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy was the highest in CA-BSI (89.0%) followed by HCA-BSI (76.4%), and HA-BSI (75.0%). The 30-day mortality rate was the highest in HA-BSI (23.0%) followed by HCA-BSI (18.4%), and CA-BSI (10.2%). High Pitt score and inappropriate empirical antibiotic therapy were the independent risk factors for mortality by multivariate analysis. In conclusion, the present data suggest that clinical features, outcome, and microbiologic features of causative pathogens vary by origin of BSI. Especially, HCA-BSI shows unique clinical characteristics, which should be considered a distinct category for more appropriate antibiotic treatment.
Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Bacteremia/drug therapy/*epidemiology/microbiology/mortality ; Community-Acquired Infections/drug therapy/*epidemiology/microbiology/mortality ; Cross Infection/drug therapy/*epidemiology/microbiology/mortality ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and prognostic significance of cervical lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the hypopharynx. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective review of the 64 patients who were previously untreated for SCC of the hypopharynx and underwent surgery was performed from October 1993 to June 2008. Fifty-six patients had simultaneous bilateral neck dissection, whereas eight had unilateral neck dissection. RESULTS: The median age was 61.0 years (range, 34-75 years) for the study group consisting of 62 males and two females. Evaluating according to the N stages, there were 15 (23.4%), 10 (15.6%), 37 (57.8%), and 2 (3.1%) cases with N0, N1, N2 and N3, respectively. Forty-nine patients (76.6%) had pathologically proven cervical metastasis. Contralateral occult lymph node metastasis occurred in 20.5%. Ipsilateral and contralateral occult metastasis rates for clinically node negative patients were 41.2% and 11.8%, respectively. The most frequent sites for positive neck nodes occuring at each level were as follows: II (48.5%), level III (40.6%), level IV (26.6%), paratracheal node (21.4%), level V (9.4%), levels I (7.8%), and retropharyngeal node (6.3%). The 5-year overall survival and disease-specific survival rates were 50% and 53%, respectively. Cervical nodal metastasis (p=0.044) was statistically significant prognostic factors for disease-specific survival. CONCLUSION: Metastasis to the cervical lymph node group is very frequent and has an impact on survival in patients with hypopharyngeal SCC. Therefore, we advocate bilateral neck dissection in patients with hypopharyngeal SCC with clinically positive metastasis. Ipsilateral elective neck dissection may be needed for clinically node negative patients.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Female ; Humans ; Hypopharynx ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Neck ; Neck Dissection ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Although several reports have showed the application of 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography, it is hard to find a report regarding the intraoperative use of real time 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in mitral valve repair surgery. In the present case, real time 3D TEE the one from the one TEE probe position as well as their rotated and cropped images showed detailed spatial images enough for immediate assessment of the mitral valve deformity and the characteristics of mitral regurgitation flow. Under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) employing moderate hypothermia, the prolapsed mital leaflet was excised, the ruptured cord was repaired and an annuloplasty ring was inserted to reinforce the mitral valve and to close up the defect. The 2D and 3D TEE images after CPB showed effective repair providing complete closure of the mitral leaflets and absence of residual regurgitation flow. Considering that the conventional 2D TEE requires examiner's ability to gather the various 2D TEE images and experience essential for intergrating the 2D images for full understanding of spatial structure of valvular deformity and dysfunction, 3D TEE's ability for making a comprehensive spatial image from a limited number of 2D images seems to have an additional clinical efficacy in intraoperative TEE monitoring for cardiac value surgery.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Hypothermia ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency

We report a case of intrasellar arachonoid cyst with extension to the sphenoid sinus, which is a very uncommon lesion. Preoperatively, we studied the PNS CT & Brain MRI and these images showed a large cyst in the widened sellar turcica with extension to the sphenoid anterior wall. We planned endoscopic surgery via transnasal-transphenidal approach. The endoscopic surgery was performed with no complication. We reviewed the literature and discussed the treatment of the intrasellar arachnoid cyst.
Arachnoid ; Brain ; Sphenoid Sinus

During off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (OPCAB), vigorous displacement and compression of the heart producing significant hemodynamic change are essential for optimal exposure of graft anastomoses. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is useful in determining hemodynamic compromise and prompting medical and mechanical support. However, in addition to the loss of contact between the heart and diaphragm during the displacement, swabs or snears underneath the heart interrupt the TEE signal transmission, resulting in a compromised transgastric (TG) TEE view. Therefore, TEE monitoring during OPCAB is usually limited to the mid-esophageal view. The authors placed a saline bag (a surgical glove filled with saline) underneath the heart to facilitate this anterior displacement of the heart, as well as avoid the signal interruption of the TG echocardiographic window. As a result, the optimal heart position with the minimal changes in LV regional wall motion, LV function and mitral regurgitation were found using the TG and other TEE views. The series of velocity-time integral of aortic valvular flow (VTI-Ao) in TG long axis view, in addition to SvO2, were then monitored as a surrogate marker of the cardiac output during a graft construction of the left circumflex artery. It was concluded that the use of a saline bag may be useful in avoiding compromise of the TG TEE view and determine the hemodynamic change using VTI-Ao during cardiac displacement for OPCAB.
Arteries ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Biomarkers ; Cardiac Output ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump* ; Diaphragm ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Gloves, Surgical ; Heart ; Hemodynamics ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Transplants*

The determination of arterial pressure wave-derived cardiac output (APCO) and central venous O2 saturation (ScvO2) has been introduced as a less invasive procedure for monitoring cardiac function and oxygen delivery. We have used an APCO sensor (FloTracTM) and a monitor for ScvO2 (Vigileo(TM)) in two cases of cardiac valve surgery, where placement of pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) was not applicable due to unfavorable cardiac structure (case 1) and was contraindicated due to an unstable cardiac conduction disorder and arrhythmia (case 2). In case 1, monitoring of APCO was started from the beginning of anesthesia induction and a ScvO2 monitoring central venous catheter was inserted just after anesthesia induction. APCO, ScvO2 and other hemodyanamic information such as arterial BP, CVP, and data obtained from transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during the pre- cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) period were measured. APCO and ScvO2 during the post-CPB period showed a reliable correspondence with continuous cardiac output (CCO) and mixed venous O2 saturation (SvO2) as measured by PAC at the end of CPB. In case 2, APCO and ScvO2 were monitored instead of CCO and SvO2. The values of APCO showed a good correlation to intraoperative COs indirectly calculated by the velocity-time integral of the aortic outflow determined in the TEE examination. We experienced that monitoring APCO and ScvO2 is useful for anesthesia management in cardiac valve surgery and can be an alternative to CCO and SvO2 if the placement of PAC and the thermodilution method are not applicable.
Anesthesia ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arterial Pressure* ; Cardiac Output* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Heart Valves ; Oxygen* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Thermodilution ; Thoracic Surgery*