Differences in Clinical Characteristics between Patients with Non-Erosive Reflux Disease and Erosive Esophagitis in Korea

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is caused by abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. GERD can be divided into two groups, erosive esophagitis and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of patients with erosive esophagitis to those with NERD. All participating patients underwent an upper endoscopy during a voluntary health check-up. The NERD group consisted of 500 subjects with classic GERD symptoms in the absence of esophageal mucosal injury during upper endoscopy. The erosive esophagitis group consisted of 292 subjects with superficial esophageal erosions with or without typical symptoms of GERD. Among GERD patients, male gender, high body mass index, high obesity degree, high waist-to-hip ratio, high triglycerides, alcohol intake, smoking and the presence of a hiatal hernia were positively related to the development of erosive esophagitis compared to NERD. In multivariated analysis, male gender, waist-to-hip ratio and the presence of a hiatal hernia were the significant risk factors of erosive esophagitis. We suggest that erosive esophagitis was more closely related to abdominal obesity.

Endoscopic Pancreatic Sphincterotomy: Indications and Complications

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although a few recent studies have reported the effectiveness of endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy (EPST), none has compared physicians' skills and complications resulting from the procedure. Thus, we examined the indications, complications, and safety of EPST performed by a single physician at a single center. METHODS: Among 2,313 patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography between January 1996 and March 2008, 46 patients who underwent EPST were included in this retrospective study. We examined the indications, complications, safety, and effectiveness of EPST, as well as the need for a pancreatic drainage procedure and the concomitant application of EPST and endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). RESULTS: Diagnostic indications for EPST were chronic pancreatitis (26 cases), pancreatic divisum (4 cases), and pancreatic cancer (8 cases). Therapeutic indications for EPST were removal of a pancreaticolith (10 cases), stent insertion for pancreatic duct stenosis (9 cases), nasopancreatic drainage (7 cases), and treatment of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (1 case). The success rate of EPST was 95.7% (44/46). Acute complications of EPST included five cases (10.9%) of pancreatitis and one of cholangitis (2.2%). EPST with EST did not reduce biliary complications. Endoscopic pancreatic drainage procedures following EPST did not reduce pancreatic complications. CONCLUSIONS: EPST showed a low incidence of complications and a high rate of treatment success; thus, EPST is a relatively safe procedure that can be used to treat pancreatic diseases. Pancreatic drainage procedures and additional EST following EPST did not reduce the incidence of procedure-related complications.

A Case of Crohn's Disease Presenting with Free Perforation and Portal Venous Gas / 대한소화기학회지

Crohn's disease is characterized by its chronic course and transmural inflammation of gastrointestinal tract. The accompanying fibrous reaction and adhesion to adjacent viscera appears to limit the complication of free perforation. The true incidence of free bowel perforation is difficult to assess, however, the anticipated occurrence rate is 1-2% during the course of illness. Moreover, portal venous gas is also an uncommon event in the natural history of Crohn's disease. Portal venous gas occurs when intraluminal gas from the gastrointestinal tract or gas-forming bacteria enters the portal venous circulation. The finding of portal venous gas associated with Crohn's disease does not always mandate surgical intervention. We experienced a case of Crohn's disease presenting with free perforation and portal venous gas. The literatures on the cases with perforation and portal venous gas associated with Crohn's disease were reviewed.

Successful Empirical Treatment of Intravenous Immune Globulin in Recent-Onset Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report / 대한구급학회지

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy has been introduced to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy due to their antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. But each study reported conflicting result and treatment regimen has not been clearly established. We experienced a case of 28-year-old woman with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy with severely depressed cardiac function. Its onset time was obvious within 1 month. Despite of conservative treatment of heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest was developed. We tried IVIG therapy, and her symptoms and cardiac function were improved after IVIG treatment.

Acute Pulmonary Edema after Cardioversion for Torsade de Pointes:A Case Report / 대한구급학회지

Cardioversion used for the treatment of various cardiac arrhythmias is a safe and effective procedure with infrequent complication. The restoration of sinus rhythm is followed by a improvement in hemodynamics, but acute pulmonary edema has been reported as a rare complication following successful electrical reversion of various tachyarrhythmia to normal sinus rhythm. This report describes a 42-year-old woman with a history of schizophrenia who experienced pulmonary edema after cardioversion for torsade de pointes. She had taken chlorpromazine and haloperidol for schizophrenia. The antipsychotic drugs were suspected to induce QT interval prolongation and resultant torsade de pointes. Two hours after cardioversion, pulmonary edema developed on chest X-ray and chest computed tomography. She responded to conservative treatment including oxygen therapy and the pulmonary edema improved on the second hospital day. The mechanism of pulmonary edema after cardioversion is still uncertain and remains controversial.

Etiology and Characteristics of Massive Pleural Effusions Investigated at One University Hospital in Korea / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Differential diagnosis is very important in patients with pleural effusions. A few studies on the etiologies of massive pleural effusions have been reported, but these were conducted in different decades and locations. In the present study, the etiologic spectrum of massive pleural effusions in Korea, were evaluated through an investigation at one university hospital. METHODS: Retrospective chart reviews were performed in patients having undergone thoracentesis between July 2002 and July 2005. Pleural effusions were deemed to be massive if they occurred in two thirds or more of one hemithorax. The etiologies of massive pleural effusions, pleural fluid findings, serum laboratory findings, and sputum and pleural fluid cytologies were compared. RESULTS: Of 298 pleural effusions cases, 41 (13.8%) had massive pleural effusions. The most frequent causes of massive pleural effusions were malignancy (19; 46.3%) followed by tuberculosis (15; 36.6%), parapneumonic effusion (4; 9.8%) and transudate (3; 7.3%). Compared with massive benign effusions, patients with massive malignant pleural effusions were more likely to have lower adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity, a higher amylase level and higher RBC count in their pleural fluids. Also, compared with non-tuberculosis effusions, patients with massive tuberculous pleural effusions were more likely to have lower RBC and neutrophil counts, but a higher lymphocyte count, adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity and protein level. CONCLUSION: The most common etiologies of massive pleural effusions in Korea are malignancy and tuberculosis. A high ADA content favors a tuberculous condition, while bloody effusions with a relatively lower ADA content. favors malignancy. The proportion of tuberculosis in massive pleural effusions was higher than in previous reports.

Glue Sniffing Presenting with Severe Hypokalemia and Metabolic Acidosis: A Case Report

Toluene is an aromatic hydrocarbon found in glues, cements, and solvents. Chronic or acute exposure is known to cause acid-base and electrolyte disorders and to be toxic to both the nervous system and the hematopoietic system. The three major clinical presentations involve neuropsychiatric, gastrointestinal, and muscular disorders, whereas toluene intoxication is difficult to diagnose without a history of substance abuse, such as glue sniffing. We report the case of a 27-year-old women who presented with the three major clinical manifestations associated with profound hypokalemia (K+=1 mEq/L) and metabolic acidosis (pH=7.17) after prolonged glue sniffing. To make an early diagnosis, the emergency physician should consider toluene intoxication in patients presenting with altered mental status, hypokalemic muscular paralysis, and a history of glue sniffing.