• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.108-111
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• 2018

Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has the potential to rescue patients in cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. ECMO has two systems such as veno-arterial and veno-venous circulation. In cardiac arrest resulting from acute myocardial infarction, veno-arterial ECMO is mandatory for systemic circulation and oxygenation. A 75-year old female patient underwent primary coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction. Despite successful revascularization, recurrent ventricular tachycardia and heart failure were progressing. We performed a veno-arterial ECMO through the femoral artery and vein, then the patient seemed to be stable clinically. However, laboratory studies, echocardiography, and vital signs indicated multi-organ failure and decreasing cardiac function. We found out an error that we performed veno-venous ECMO instead of veno-arterial ECMO. We added a femoral artery cannula and exchange the circuit system to veno-arterial ECMO. While the systemic circulation seemed to be recovered, the left ventricular function was decreased persistently. A hypovolemia resulting from pulmonary hemorrhage was occurred, which lead to ECMO failure. The patient died of cardiac arrest and multi-organ failure 23 hours after ECMO. Because the color of arterial and venous circuits represent the position and efficacy of ECMO, if unexpected or abnormal circuit colors are detected, prompt and aggressive evaluation for ECMO function is mandatory.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제77권6호
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• pp.274-278
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• 2014

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by a combination of clinical criteria, including vascular thrombosis or pregnancy morbidity and elevated antiphospholipid antibody titers. It is one of the causes of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism that can be critical due to the mortality risk. Overall recurrence of thromboembolism is very low with adequate anticoagulation prophylaxis. The most effective treatment to prevent recurrent thrombosis is long-term anticoagulation. We report on a 17-year-old male with APS, who manifested blue toe syndrome, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary thromboembolism, and cerebral infarction despite adequate long-term anticoagulation therapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제25권10호
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• pp.1141-1145
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• 1992

A rare syphilitic abdominal aortic aneurysm associated with pulmonary embolism and deep vein throbosis is reported. We have experienced a huge infrarenal syphilitic abdominal aortic aneurysm which caused venous compression at left common iliac vein. A 29 year-old female was admitted via emergency room due to several episodes of hemoptysis. Clinical evaluation for this patient revealed a couple of small ill-defined masss densities on the both lung field and abominal aortic anuerysm. Emergency wedge resections of left upper and lower lobes were performed because of a massive hemoptysis. Pathologic diagnosis showed pulmonary infarction. 20 days after thoracotomy an elective operation on abdominal aortic anuerysm was successfully carried out and post operative pathology finding showed syphilitic aortitis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제60권6호
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• pp.620-626
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• 2017

Objective : Although venous thromboembolism (VTE) is frequently related to dehydration, the impact of dehydration on VTE in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is not clear. This study investigated whether dehydration, as measured by blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/creatinine (Cr) ratio, influences the occurrence of VTE in patients with AIS. Methods : This is a retrospective study of patients with AIS between January 2012 and December 2013. Patients with newly diagnosed AIS who experienced prolonged hospitalization for at least 4 weeks were included in this study. Results : Of 182 patients included in this study, 17 (9.3%) suffered VTE during the follow-up period; in two cases, VTE was accompanied by deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Patients with VTE were more frequently female and had higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, more lower limb weakness, and elevated blood urea nitrogen BUN/Cr ratio on admission. In a multivariate analysis, BUN/Cr ratio >15 (odds ratio [OR] 8.75) and severe lower limb weakness (OR 4.38) were independent risk factors for VTE. Conclusion : Dehydration on admission in cases of AIS might be a significant independent risk factor for VTE.