Medical Thoracoscopy in Pleural Disease: Experience from a One-Center Study / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Medical thoracoscopy (MT) is a minimally invasive, endoscopic procedure for exploration of the pleural cavity under conscious sedation and local anesthesia. MT has been performed at the Seoul National University Hospital since February 2014. This paper summarizes the findings and outcomes of MT cases at this hospital. METHODS: Patients who had undergone MT were enrolled in the study. MT was performed by pulmonologists, using both rigid and semi-rigid thoracoscopes. During the procedure, patients were under conscious sedation with fentanyl and midazolam. Medical records were reviewed for clinical data. RESULTS: From February 2014 to January 2016, 50 procedures (47 cases) were performed (diagnostic MT, 26 cases; therapeutic MT, 24 cases). The median age of patients was 66 years (59–73 years), and 38 patients (80.9%) were male. The median procedure duration from initial incision to insertion of the chest tube was 37 minutes. The median doses of fentanyl and midazolam were 50 µg and 5 mg, respectively. All procedures were performed without unexpected events. Of the 26 cases of pleural disease with an unknown cause, 19 were successfully diagnosed using MT. Additionally, diagnostic MT provided clinically useful information in the other six patients. Therapeutic MT was very effective for treatment of malignant pleural effusion or empyema. The median number of days with chest tube drainage was 6 (3 days for diagnostic MT and 8 days for therapeutic MT). CONCLUSION: MT is a useful and necessary procedure for both diagnosis and treatment of pleural diseases.

A Case of Erythema Nodosum Associated with Ulcerative Colitis / 대한피부과학회지

We report a case of erythema nodosurn associated with ulcerative colitis which occurred in a 13-year-old girl who showed well demarcated, painful, erythematous nodules and plaques on both upper and lower extremities. The patient also experienced frequent intermittent abdominal pain and bloody stools for about 1 year. Laboratory findings revealed polymorphonuclear leukocytosis and occult blood in the stool. Findings of sigmoidoscopy, barium enema, and rectal biopsy were consistent. with ulcerative colitis. A skin biopsy from the lesion on the right shin revealed a moderate inflammatory cell infiltrate in the septa of the subcutaneous fat layer, composed chiefly of lymphohistiocytes and a few epitheloid cells. The symptoms and signs responded well to orally administered prednisolone and sulfasalazine.

Experimental Study of Calcinosis Cutis after Extravasation of Calcium Gluconate / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Neonatal hypocalcemia is not an infrequent condition, especially in the premature neonate. It is effectively treated by intravenous administration of calcium gluconate. Complications of extravasation during intraveous infusion included calcification and, occasionally necrosis. But the exact mechanism of calcinosis cutis following extravasation of calcium gluconate remains unknown and there is no specific mode of treatment except cold packs and skin graft. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the clinical and histological features in rabbits after subcutaneous injection of 10% calcium gluconate and a mixed solution of gluconate and triamcinolone acetonide. METHODS: Two rabbits were divided into 3 groups and were subcutaneously injected with the following materials on the back; 10% calcium gluconate, a mixed solution of calcium gluconate and triamcinolone acetonide, and 25% normal saline as controls respectively. The injection site including the skin and subcutaneous fat was excised and fixed with natural buffered formalin. The biopsied specimens were stained with Hematolxylin and Eosin. RESULTS: 1) In the 10% calcium gluconate injected group, there was some erthema and induration after three days. By the fifth to the seventh days there was more erythema and firm induration. At 15 days, nodules and large ulcreated lesions developed. Multiple, linear shaped, ulcreative surfaced and indurated masses were noted at 37days.l from 45days to 2months there was progressive healing with decrease in ulceration, and gradual disapppearance of the mass. Histologically, at the 8th day calcium was seen in the walls of the arteries and veins, after 15days, the reaction was at its peak and epidermal necrosis was seen on the injected site. From 30 to 3days, calcium deposition and granuloma formation were seen in the dermis. In addition discharge of calcium deposits began to place by means of transepidermal elimination. After 45days, although the response was subsiding, the calcium and mucin deposition was observed focally in the dermis. 2. In the 10% calcium gluconate and triamcinolone acetonide adjuvant injected group, there was development of some erythema at 8days. After 15days, some erythema and induration were seen of the injected site ad this gradually disappeared. By 37days, the injection site was normal in appearance. Histologically, at 15days calcium deposition was seen on the upper dermis and the injection site was histologically normal after one month. 3. In 25% normal saline injected group, the injection site was clinically normal. Histologically there was no reaction except for focal perivascular eosinophilia after 24horus. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the important mechanism of calcinosis cutis appears to be elevated concentration as well as the tissue damage at the site of the extravasation of calcium gluconate. The final common pathway of calcification is the formation of crystalline and insoluble calcium phosphate mineral, in the form of hydroxyapatite. The intralesional injection of triamcinolone for the treatment of calcinosis cutis in our study was effective due to its antiinflammatory effect and the reabsorption of calcium in the tissues.

Experimental Study of Calcinosis Cutis after Extravasation of Calcium Gluconate / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Neonatal hypocalcemia is not an infrequent condition, especially in the premature neonate. It is effectively treated by intravenous administration of calcium gluconate. Complications of extravasation during intraveous infusion included calcification and, occasionally necrosis. But the exact mechanism of calcinosis cutis following extravasation of calcium gluconate remains unknown and there is no specific mode of treatment except cold packs and skin graft. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the clinical and histological features in rabbits after subcutaneous injection of 10% calcium gluconate and a mixed solution of gluconate and triamcinolone acetonide. METHODS: Two rabbits were divided into 3 groups and were subcutaneously injected with the following materials on the back; 10% calcium gluconate, a mixed solution of calcium gluconate and triamcinolone acetonide, and 25% normal saline as controls respectively. The injection site including the skin and subcutaneous fat was excised and fixed with natural buffered formalin. The biopsied specimens were stained with Hematolxylin and Eosin. RESULTS: 1) In the 10% calcium gluconate injected group, there was some erthema and induration after three days. By the fifth to the seventh days there was more erythema and firm induration. At 15 days, nodules and large ulcreated lesions developed. Multiple, linear shaped, ulcreative surfaced and indurated masses were noted at 37days.l from 45days to 2months there was progressive healing with decrease in ulceration, and gradual disapppearance of the mass. Histologically, at the 8th day calcium was seen in the walls of the arteries and veins, after 15days, the reaction was at its peak and epidermal necrosis was seen on the injected site. From 30 to 3days, calcium deposition and granuloma formation were seen in the dermis. In addition discharge of calcium deposits began to place by means of transepidermal elimination. After 45days, although the response was subsiding, the calcium and mucin deposition was observed focally in the dermis. 2. In the 10% calcium gluconate and triamcinolone acetonide adjuvant injected group, there was development of some erythema at 8days. After 15days, some erythema and induration were seen of the injected site ad this gradually disappeared. By 37days, the injection site was normal in appearance. Histologically, at 15days calcium deposition was seen on the upper dermis and the injection site was histologically normal after one month. 3. In 25% normal saline injected group, the injection site was clinically normal. Histologically there was no reaction except for focal perivascular eosinophilia after 24horus. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the important mechanism of calcinosis cutis appears to be elevated concentration as well as the tissue damage at the site of the extravasation of calcium gluconate. The final common pathway of calcification is the formation of crystalline and insoluble calcium phosphate mineral, in the form of hydroxyapatite. The intralesional injection of triamcinolone for the treatment of calcinosis cutis in our study was effective due to its antiinflammatory effect and the reabsorption of calcium in the tissues.