• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.110-116
• /
• 2022

Objectve: To inform a clinical usefulness of Nangan-geon (暖肝煎) decoction to treat a refractory abdominal pain especially in eldery. Methods: This case report presents an 85-year old male patient who had been suffered with a refractory abdominal pain without any abnormality in laboratory test and radiological examination for 5-years. The clinical outcome was observed by numerical rating scale (NRS) of self-reporting method. Results: Based on his previous multiple normal examination results from Western hospitals and clinical features including thin body (19.6 BMI), nocturnal pain around lower abdomen and cold-sensitivity, author diagnosed him as "deficiency and cold of liver-Qi (肝氣虛寒)" similar to intestinal spasm. After prescription with Nangan-geon (暖肝煎) for one month, all symptoms became improved notably (NRS 5), and almost completely recovered as a level of normal condition in 3 months (NRS 1). Conclusion: This study would show the potential of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) therapies for a refractory functional abdominal pain, and especially efficacy of Nangan-geon against cold-pattern of nonspecific abdominal pain in elderly patients.

• Clinical Endoscopy
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.570-575
• /
• 2018

Background/Aims: Capsule endoscopy is a diagnostic method for evaluating the small bowel lumen and can detect undiagnosed lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield and clinical impact of capsule endoscopy in patients with refractory diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain. Methods: This study involved a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, maintained in a database. Patients with refractory diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain within the period of March 2012 to March 2014 were included. Capsule endoscopy was used to detect small bowel pathologies in both groups. Results: Sixty-five patients (53.8% female) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and had a mean (${\pm}$standard deviation) age of $50.9{\pm}15.9$ years. Clinically significant lesions were detected via capsule endoscopy in 32.5% of the patients in the abdominal pain group and 54.5% of the patients in the diarrhea group. Overall, 48% of patients had small bowel pathologies detected during the capsule endoscopy study. Inflammatory lesions and villous atrophy were the most frequent lesions identified in 16.9% and 15.3% of patients in the abdominal pain and the diarrhea groups, respectively. Conclusions: Routine use of capsule endoscopy in patients with irritable bowel syndrome should not be recommended. However, in patients with refractory conditions, capsule endoscopy may identify abnormalities.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.317-320
• /
• 1998

Since Reiestad and Str$\ddot{o}$mskag reported interpleural installation of local anesthetic solutions as a technique for the management of postoperative pain in the patients undergoing cholecystectomy, renal surgery and breast surgery, many physician applied this technique for upper abdominal pain from various reasons such as technically simple, effective pain relief, less respiratory depression. So we tried interpleural analgesia in two patients who suffered from severe upper abdominal pain. One had upper abdominal pain due to chronic pancreatitis and the other had right upper abdominal pain after PTBD (percutaneous transhepatic bile drainage) for biliary cirrhosis and systemic jaundice. Both were injected 10 ml of 1% lidocaine and infused continuously with 1% lidocaine (2 ml/hr) using 2-Day Baxter$^{(R)}$ infusor. After bolus injection of lidocaine, pain scores (VAS 0~100) were recorded below 25mm and had not exceed that level during continuous infusion. After removing the catheters, two patients were all satisfied with this therapy. Our experiences with this technique showed that continuous infusion of local anesthetics through an interpleural catheter is effective in the control of refractory upper abdominal pain without any complication.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.176-178
• /
• 1997

Henoch-Scholein purpura is a systemic vasculitis of small blood vessels. It is characterized by nonthrombocytopenic purpura, abdominal pain, arthralgia and renal involvement. In Henoch-Scholein purpura, severe abdominal pain may be relived by steroid, but occasionally unresponsive to steroid and conventional analgesics therapy. We tried IV-gamma globulin for severe abdominal pain, unresponsive to steroid, analgesics, and antispasmodics therapy in HSP, and experienced dramatic symptomatic improvement. So we report three cases of IVIG therapy against severe abdominal pain in HSP with a brief review of literatures

• Clinical Endoscopy
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.508-509
• /
• 2018

• Clinical Endoscopy
• /
• v.55 no.6
• /
• pp.793-800
• /
• 2022

Background/Aims: Fully covered self-expanding metal stents (FCSEMSs) are a relatively novel option for treating painful main pancreatic duct refractory strictures in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Herein, we aimed to assess the efficacy, feasibility, and safety of FCSEMSs in this patient group. Methods: This prospective single-center study included patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde pancreatography with FCSEMS placement. The primary endpoints were the technical and clinical success rates. A reduction in visual analog scale pain score of >50% compared with that before stent placement was defined as clinical success. Secondary endpoints were resolution of pancreatic strictures on fluoroscopy during endoscopic retrograde pancreatography and the development of stent-related adverse events. Results: Thirty-six patients were included in the analysis. The technical success rate was 100% (n=36) and the clinical success rate was 86.1% (n=31). There was a significant increase in stricture diameter from 1.7 mm to 3.5 mm (p<0.001) after stent removal. The mean visual analog scale pain score showed statistically significant improvement. At 19 months of follow-up, 55.6% of the patients were asymptomatic. Stent migration (16.7%), intolerable abdominal pain (8.3%), development of de novo strictures (8.3%), and mild pancreatitis (2.8%) were the most common adverse events. Conclusions: FCSEMS placement showed good technical and clinical success rates for achieving pain relief in patients with refractory main pancreatic duct strictures.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.466-477
• /
• 2013

Objectives : To report and demonstrate the effect of decreasing ascites volume by SB intraperitoneal injection to a refractory ascites patient with synchronous colorectal liver metastasis and metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis. Methods : Two cycles of intraperitoneal and intravenous SB injection were conducted. Each injection cycle was made up of 4 days. Nine vials of SB were injected to the patient every day. To compare the volume of ascites between pret- and post-treatment, follow-up computed tomography was done on June 3, 2013. To observe other therapeutic effects of SB injection, laboratory tests were conducted periodically. Results : On the follow-up computed tomography images, the amount of ascites and pleural effusion had decreased compared to the April 30, 2013 computed tomography images. The levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase decreased significantly from May 9, to May 30, 2013. The amount of oral intake increased constantly during hospitalization. The patient's symptoms such as abdominal distension, abdominal pain and dyspnea were improving until discharge. Conclusions : Even if thiese results cannot be applied to every synchronous colorectal cancer liver metastasis patient, we demonstrated that SB intraperitoneal injection has ascites-decreasing effect to refractory ascites patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastasis and metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.214-220
• /
• 2016

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a treatment designed to correct gut dysbiosis by administration of feces from a healthy volunteer. It is still unclear whether FMT for children with ulcerative colitis (UC) is effective or hazardous. Here we describe a young patient to have received FMT for UC. A three-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital with severe active UC, and treated with aminosalicylates and various immunosuppressive drugs. As remission was not achieved, we decided to try FMT before colectomy. We administered donor fecal material a total of six times by retention enema (${\times}2$) and via a nasoduodenal tube (${\times}4$) within 10 days. The patient developed abdominal pain and pyrexia after each FMT session. Analyses revealed the transferred donor fecal microbiota had not been retained by the patient, who ultimately underwent colectomy. The severity of the UC and/or timing of FMT may have partly accounted for the poor outcome.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.485-488
• /
• 2010

Purpose: Paragonimiasis is infectious disease occurred by Paragonimus Westermani, which invades into human body as a final host. Habitual eating the freshwater crab or crawfish unboiled is one of the reason of infection. Paragonimiasis raged in 1970s in Korea, Japan, China and other Asian countries but the incidence decreased rapidly. Once people eat infected second host, parasite penetrates the duodenal wall and migrates to the lung. During this migration period, the parasite can migrate to other organ, such as brain, spinal cord, liver and subcutaneous tissue, but the cases are rarely reported. The objective of our study is to present our experience of the ectopic migration of parasite to the subcutaneous tissue of the abdomen, which was easily treated with excision and Praziquantel medication. Methods: A 59-year-old woman who likes eating unboiled freshwater crab was diagnosed as Paragonimiasis 15 months ago. Her symptoms were fever and cough, and she was treated with Praziquantel medication. 3 months after discharge, she visited our hospital with left pleuritic chest pain, cough with fever, and palpable mass formation on left lower quadrant of the abdomen. Wedge resection of the left lung and Praziquantel medication was maintained for a week. Nevertheless, fever persisted after the treatment. The patient received total excision of the abdominal soft tissue mass, and the fever was relieved. Results: Pathologic findings of the mass showed multiple cyst and abscess formation with crystal structure which is suspicious parts of the parasite or calcified egg shells. Uncontrolled fever was relieved after the operation, and there was no evidence of recurrent Paragonimiasis and ectopic migration for 1 year follow up period. Conclusion: Ectopic migration of Paragonimus is rare, but multiple organ can be involved. Patient with Paragominiasis who was refractory in fever control after Praziquantel medication or surgical evaluation of the lung should be considered as ectopic migration of the Paragonimiasis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.7
• /
• pp.784-789
• /
• 2006

Purpose : $Henoch-Sch{\ddot{o}}nlein$ purpura(HSP) is a systemic vasculitis involving small vessels of skin, gastrointestinal(GI) tract and kidney. Digestive involvement of HSP can be serious with massive GI bleeding, perforation, and intussusception. However, some patients do not respond to conventional corticosteroid therapy. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for serious digestive manifestations not responding to steroid. Methods : From April 1999 to January 2005, 22 children diagnosed as HSP with severe GI symptoms were included. Initially, all patients were treated with intravenous methylprednisolone. IVIG 2 g/kg of body weight was infused in children refractory to steroid therapy. Clinical data were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Among 22 children, 12 children underwent IVIG therapy. The mean duration of corticosteroid therapy was $5.61{\pm}4.9$ days before IVIG therapy, and 11 of 12 patients experienced disappearance of GI manifestations after the initiation of IVIG infusion. In one patient, IVIG was ineffective in relieving abdominal pain, but melena subsided. Comparison of the duration of hospitalization between IVIG group and corticosteroid group revealed no significant difference($12.8{\pm}7.6$ days vs. $13.2{\pm}7.8$ days, P=0.777). But, the total duration of abdominal pain decreased in IVIG group although the difference between two groups was not significant($8.8{\pm}8.1$ days vs. $14.8{\pm}16.9$ days, P=0.306). Among 10 children treated with steroid only, 2 children were operated for bowel perforation and intussusception. In contrast, there was no perforation in 12 children who underwent IVIG therapy. Conclusion : IVIG could be the alternative therapy to corticosteroids in children with severe digestive manifestations of HSP.