• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.294-299
• /
• 2017

The aim of this study was to detect the status of epilepticus and seizure based on the initial patterns observed in the first 30 minutes of continuous electroencephalogram (cEEG) monitoring. An cEEG was recorded digitally using electrodes applied according to the International 10~20 System. The EEG data were reviewed from January 2014 to December 2015. The baselines of the EEG patterns were characterized by lateralized periodic discharges, generalized periodic discharges, burst suppression, focal epileptiform, asymmetric background, generalized slowing, and generalized periodic discharges with a triphagic wave. The etiology was classified into five categories. The subjects of this study were 128 patients (age: $56.9{\pm}17.5years$, male:female, 74:54). The mean cEEG monitoring duration was $5.5{\pm}5.1$ (min:max, 1:33) days. The EEG pattern categories included lateralized periodic discharges (N=7), generalized periodic discharges (N=10), burst suppression (N=6), focal epileptiform (N=19), asymmetric background (N=24), generalized slowing (N=51), and generalized periodic discharges with a triphagic wave (N=11). The etiological classifications of the patients with status epilepticus were remote symptomatic (N=4), remote symptomatic with acute precipitant (N=9), acute symptomatic (N=6), progressive encephalopathy (N=2), and febrile seizure (N=1). cEEG monitoring was found to be useful for the diagnosis of non-convulsive epileptic seizures or status epilepticus. The seizure was confirmed by the EEG pattern.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.46 no.8
• /
• pp.784-788
• /
• 2003

Purpose : Perinatal asphyxia occurring in newborn is one of the major causes of acute mortality and chronic neurological disability in survivors. We have studied the relationship between early electroencephalography(EEG) findings and clinical course and neurologic outcome in severe asphyxiated neonates. Methods : Between the period of July 1999 and June 2002, 25 neonates who were diagnosed with severe perinatal asphyxia(1-minute Apgar score of ${\leq}3$ and initial pH is less than 7.2) at NICU in Dongsan Medical Center were enrolled. An EEG was recorded and analyzed within three days of life and divided into two groups - group 1(normal or focal change on EEG) and group 2(generalized abnormal EEG). Between the two groups, clinical courses and neurologic outcomes were compared. Results : Fifteen infants(60%) were group 1 and ten infants(40%) were group 2(polyspikes, burst-suppression, generalized low voltage). Associated maternal disease, days of hospitalization, need for ventilator support, delay of oral feeding and convulsion duration are significantly higher and longer in group 2. Also, poor neurologic outcome(expire, developmental delay) was significantly higher in group 2(60%) than group 1(13.3%). Conclusion : Thus, the early neonatal EEG in asphyxiated newborn can be a predictable diagnostic tool in assessment of neurologic outcome.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.45 no.10
• /
• pp.1251-1262
• /
• 2002

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to assess and compare the stress of mothers and fathers in families with epileptic children, and to assess contributing factors to their stress. Methods : We used a family stress survey with 35 questionnaires to obtain data concerning the parents' perceived stress. Data were analyzed with SPSS 8.0 program using Pearson correlation coefficient, oneway ANOVA, and multiple range test. Results : The parents' stress level seemed not so high and there was no significant difference in stress level between mothers and fathers. There was no significant correlation between most demographic variables of the parents and parents' stress level. But the time of bringing epileptic children correlates positively with the stress level. Oneway ANOVA showed the differences of parents' stress level according to the education institution, seizure type, number of antiepileptic drugs, and the combined disabilities of the sufferer. Conclusion : The results of present study indicate that the stress level in the families with epileptic children may be influenced by some treatment-related characteristics of epileptic children such as seizure type, number of antiepileptic drugs, combined disabilities and the raising method of hospital expenses.

• Neonatal Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.55-63
• /
• 2009

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the incidence and clinical manifestations of rotaviral infections in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). We also investigated whether neonates referred from other hospitals cause outbreaks of rotaviral infections in the NICU. Methods: Neonates diagnosed wit rotaviral infections in the NICU at Korea University Ansan Hospital between January 2002 and December 2006 were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Of 1,501 neonates admitted to the NICU, the number of rotaviral infections was 94 (6.3%) and the prevalence was 4.9 cases per 1,000-hospital days. Of 223 neonates referred from other hospitals to our NICU, 24 (10.8%) were confirmed to have rotaviral infections at the time of referral. Common symptoms of rotaviral infections were jaundice diarrhea or loose stools, vomiting, fever, apnea, irritability, seizures, and moaning sounds. Necrotizing enterocolitis of stage II or more was diagnosed in 3 premature neonates, accounting for 3.2% of total infected neonates and 6.8% of premature infected patients. There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of symptoms between term and preterm neonates, except for jaundice that is more frequent in premature infants. In time series analysis, the admission of neonates who were born at other hospitals and diagnosed with rotaviral infections were associated 1 month later by increased cases of neonates with rotaviral infections who were born at our hospital, whereas new cases of rotaviral infections among inborn neonates were decreased 2 and 4 months later (P<0.05). Conclusion: Rotaviral infections in NICU were not rare and showed vague symptoms. Three cases (3.2%) were diagnosed with stage II or more necrotizing enterocolitis. The referred neonates with rotaviral infections may induce outbreaks in the NICU, therefore awareness and strict surveillance for rotaviral infections should be performed at the time of referral.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.7
• /
• pp.622-628
• /
• 2007

Purpose : While pediatric observation units (POU) have become a common practice in hospitals throughout developed countries, there has been no report about POUs in Korea so far. The aims of this study were to analyze our one-year's experience of the POU and to decide which disease entities are suitable for the POU. Methods : All children admitted from March 2006 to February 2007 to the POU at the Department of Pediatrics in Our Lady of Mercy Hospital were included in this study. Data were collected from retrospective reviews of their medical records. Results : There were a total of 1,076 POU admissions. Median age of patients was 2.4 years and median length of hospital stay 14.0 hours. The most common diagnoses were gastroenteritis (42.7%), pharyngotonsillitis (19.1%), bronchiolitis (7.8%), pneumonia (5.5%) and febrile seizure (5.2%). Overall, 7.5% of the POU patients required subsequent inpatient admissions due to hospital stays of longer than 48 hours. The disease entities that were most likely to require inpatient admission were pneumonia (17.0%), febrile seizure (12.5%) and asthma (11.5%). Diseases that allowed successful discharge from the POU were gastroenteritis (4.6%), upper respiratory tract infection (5.8%), such as otitis media and pharygnotonsillitis and seizure disorder (6.4%). Compared with the previous year when the POU was not in operation, there was a statistically significant reduction in the average length of hospital stays (from 4.69 to 3.75 days), as well as a rise in the bed turnover rate (from 78.8 to 98.2 patients/bed). Conclusion : Our study shows that the POU is efficient for the management of children with certain acute illnesses. Based on this study, we suggest that the POU be used as a new modality which links between the outpatient, inpatient, and emergency departments in the field of pediatrics in Korea.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.45 no.12
• /
• pp.1559-1570
• /
• 2002

Purpose : There has been no exact answer to the question of when to discontinue antiepileptic drugs(AEDs) in children with well-controlled epilepsy for a long period. This study is about the risk factors of relapse after withdrawal of AEDs in seizure(Sz)-free patients to show a guideline for discontinuation of AEDs. Methods : One hundred and sixty-nine children were diagnosed as epileptic at the Pediatric Dept. of Kyung-Hee Univ. between 1993 to 1998, in whom AEDs had been withdrawn after at least two years of Sz-free period. Univariate analysis using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate analysis using Cox-proportional hazard model were performed for sixteen risk factors. Results : Forty-nine of the 169 patients(28.9%) had recurrence of Szs. The mean follow-up after withdrawal of AEDs was 4.1 years, mean treatment period was 4.1 years, and the mean Sz-free period was 3.3 years. Factors associated with an increased risk of relapse were young age at onset, symptomatic Sz, Sz type in West and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, neurologic deficit, longer Sz-controlling period, shorter total treatment period, number of AEDs used(more than one drug), age at withdrawal of AEDs, and Sz-free period less than two years in univariate analysis using Kaplan-Meier mothod. From multivariate analysis, the factors indicating a significantly higher relapse risk were pre-treatment period after first Sz attack, Sz-controlling period, Sz-free period, number of AEDs used, neurologic abnormalities. Conclusion : For epileptic children who were Sz-free for more than two years, and were more than six-years-old, the discontinuation of AEDs should be considered positively, according to age of onset, Sz type, age at withdrawal of AEDs, total treatment period, Sz-controlling period, number of AEDs used, etiology, neurologic deficit, and the wishes of the patients and the their parents.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.274-280
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for the treatment of 15 cases of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Between 2002 and 2009, of the 25 patients who had SRS for the treatment of cerebral AVM, 15 patients (6 men, 9 women) taken a digital subtraction angiography (DSA) over 12 months after SRS were included. We retrospectively evaluated the size, location, hemorrhage of nidus, angiographic changes on follow-up on the MR angiography and DSA, and clinical complications during follow-up periods. At a median follow-up of 24 months (range 12-89), complete obliteration of nidus was observed in all patients (100%) while residual draining veins was observed in 3 patients (20%). There was no clinical complication during the follow-up period except seizure in 1 patient. The mean nidus volume was 4.7cc (0.5~11.7 cc, SD 3.7 cc). The locations of nidus were in cerebral hemisphere in 11 patients, cerebellum in 2 patients, basal ganglia in 1 patient, and pons in 1 patient respectively. 9 cases were hemorrhagic, and 6 cases were non-hemorrhagic AVMs. The SRS with LINAC is a safe and effective treatment for cerebral AVMs when the follow up period is over 4 years. However, it is recommended to continue to follow up until the draining vein on arterial phase of follow up DSA disappears completely.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.131-135
• /
• 2017

Purpose: Oral naloxone is combined with oxycodone to alleviate or prevent opioid-induced constipation in cancer pain patients. However, there is still concern that oral naloxone may precipitate opioid withdrawal symptoms in patients on opioids. We retrospectively investigated clinical characteristics of cancer patients who experienced opioid withdrawal symptoms. Methods: We reviewed medical records of all patients who were prescribed with oral oxycodone/naloxone at a tertiary cancer center from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2016. Eligible patients were screened based on demographics, opioid and naloxone dosages, clinical manifestation and pain intensity. Results: Among a total of 1,641 patients, 10 patients were selected. Seven patients were male, and the average age was 68.1 years. The median dose of naloxone that induced withdrawal symptoms was 20 mg. Most common withdrawal symptom was shivering (seven patients) followed by cold sweating (five), and muscle twitching (five). Other symptoms included restlessness, fever, dizziness, and yawning. Pain was exacerbated from the median intensity of numeric rating scale (NRS) 3 to NRS 6. Conclusion: Opioid withdrawal symptoms may occur when switching to oral oxycodone/naloxone for cancer patients who have been treated with other strong opioids. A prospective, multicenter study on this issue should be conducted in future.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.107-118
• /
• 2007

Background : It is well known that non-rapid eye movement(NREM) sleep activates the occurrence of interictal epileptiform discharges(IED) in many epileptic syndromes. We performed this study to assess the effect of NREM sleep on IED in epileptic patients with organic brain lesions. Materials and Methods : We analyzed awake and sleep electroencephalopathy(EEG) recorded simultaneously after partial sleep deprivation in 50 patients. We calculated the awake and sleep spike index (ASI and SSI, spikes/epoch), and the percentage increase of ASI and SSI during sleep. Results : In the 50 patients, the IEDs were recorded exclusively during the awake state in 1 (2%) patient, and during the sleep state in 13(26%) patients. The SSI was higher in 44 (88%) patients, and the ASI was higher in 5 (10%) patients. The mean ASI and the SSI in patients with organic brain lesions were $0.058{\pm}0.121$ and $0.148{\pm}0.187$, and it was $0.081{\pm}0.150$ and $0.174{\pm}0.226$ in patients without organic brain lesions. There were significant increases in the spike index (P<0.05) during NREM sleep in both groups (n=36), but no significant difference in the percent increase of spike index (P>0.05). Conclusion : The IEDs were activated significantly during NREM sleep both in patients with and without organic brain lesions, but there were no differences in the degree of activation in both groups. The activating effect of NREM sleep was not correlated with clinical factors such as, frequent nocturnal seizures, frequent generalized tonic clonic seizures, type of epilepsy and taking anticonvulsants. We conclude that the routine EEG used to evaluate epileptiform discharges in epileptic patients should include sleep recordings after partial sleep deprivation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.10
• /
• pp.959-964
• /
• 2007

Purpose : The purpose was to investigate the clinical considerations of patients affected by meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) and the effect of suctioning through endotracheal intubation immediately after delivery on the prognosis of MAS. Methods : A total of 44 inpatients diagnosed as MAS in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Cheil Hospital were selected from January 2004 to June 2006. They were divided into two groups. In the early aspiration group (12 patients), suctioning through endotracheal intubation was performed according to the neonatal resuscitation program of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association because infants born through meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) were not vigorous after birth. In the early non-aspiration group (32 patients), endotracheal intubation was not performed because the infants born through MSAF were vigorous after birth. These two groups were analyzed retrospectively by medical records in the fields of clinical features, obstetric risk factors, complications, treatment, and duration of hospitalization. Results : There was no significant difference in mean gestational age, mean birth weight, sex, and delivery mode between the early aspiration group and the early non-aspiration group. Mean Apgar score of the early aspiration group both in 1 and 5 minute score was significantly lower than in the early non-aspiration group. Lengths of hospitalization and duration of mechanical ventilator care were longer in the early non-aspiration group, but there was no significant difference. Total duration of oxygen therapy was significantly longer in the early non-aspiration group than in the early aspiration group. Conclusion : In this study, the early non-aspiration group used surfactant more and had a longer duration of mechanical ventilator and hospitalization, but there was no significant difference. Total duration of oxygen therapy was significantly longer in the early non-aspiration group. Therefore, more detailed guidelines for vigorous infants born through MSAF are needed and we should study and follow up the long term prognosis of neurological complications of MAS.