ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: At present, epidural steroid injection is one of the most frequently used methods in the treatment for low back pain.. But this method is nonspecific and results in a widespread of injected agent around the target point. Therefore we thought direct injection to the nerve root is more specific and effective. METHODS: The authors evaluated the effects of lumbar paravertebral steroid injection in 39 patients with low back pain and radicular pain, retrospectively. We used triamcinolone 40mg(1ml) and 0.25% bupivacaine 3ml as injection agents and used pain relief scale(PRS) score for assessment of the effect. RESULTS: One week after injection, the patients of PRS score less than 5 were 65% in spinal stenosis and 85% in herniated intervertebral disc(HIVD). The patients of effective response more than 4 weeks after injection were 48% in spinal stenosis and 68% in HIVD, more than 12 weeks were 22% and 38%, respectively. The patients of PRS score less than 5 were 45% at the time of follow-up study. CONCLUSIONS: We think paravertebral steroid injection is effective in patients with low back pain and radicular pain. Therefore, this technique could be alternative method to epidural steroid injection.
Subject(s)
Humans , Bupivacaine , Follow-Up Studies , Low Back Pain , Retrospective Studies , Spinal Nerve Roots , Spinal Nerves , Spinal Stenosis , TriamcinoloneABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pulse oximetry has been recommended as a standard of care for ICU, CCU, Post Anesthetic Care Unit as well as general anesthesia. The device provides valuable data regarding blood oxygenation. But there are some limitations and inaccuracies of pulse oximetry. The purpose of the present study is to assess the knowledge of pulse oximetry in the doctors and nurses who frequently use pulse oximeter in their practice. METHODS: We investigated 29 doctors(resident) and 41 nurses who answered a structured questionnaire about pulse oximetry. Questions were given about the knowledge of equipment, factors affecting readings, normal values in various patients, values in hypothetical clinical situations, education experience and source of information about pulse oximetry. RESULTS: Only 20% of doctors understood how a pulse oximeter worked and about 60% of doctors and 80% of nurses were confused about factors influencing readings. About 30% of doctors and 12% of nurses had received formal training about the pulse oximetry. Sources of information about pulse oximetry were operating manual, senior, books and journal. CONCLUSION: Our survey revealed that most of resident doctors and nurses using pulse oximeter were untrained, lacked knowledge of the basic principles and factors influencing saturation values in pulse oximetry. Therefore the systematic training program is important for doctors and nurses to use of pulse oximeter.(Korean J Anesthesiol 1996; 31: 791~796)
Subject(s)
Humans , Anesthesia, General , Education , Oximetry , Oxygen , Reading , Reference Values , Standard of CareABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pulse oximetry has been recommended as a standard of care for ICU, CCU, Post Anesthetic Care Unit as well as general anesthesia. The device provides valuable data regarding blood oxygenation. But there are some limitations and inaccuracies of pulse oximetry. The purpose of the present study is to assess the knowledge of pulse oximetry in the doctors and nurses who frequently use pulse oximeter in their practice. METHODS: We investigated 29 doctors(resident) and 41 nurses who answered a structured questionnaire about pulse oximetry. Questions were given about the knowledge of equipment, factors affecting readings, normal values in various patients, values in hypothetical clinical situations, education experience and source of information about pulse oximetry. RESULTS: Only 20% of doctors understood how a pulse oximeter worked and about 60% of doctors and 80% of nurses were confused about factors influencing readings. About 30% of doctors and 12% of nurses had received formal training about the pulse oximetry. Sources of information about pulse oximetry were operating manual, senior, books and journal. CONCLUSION: Our survey revealed that most of resident doctors and nurses using pulse oximeter were untrained, lacked knowledge of the basic principles and factors influencing saturation values in pulse oximetry. Therefore the systematic training program is important for doctors and nurses to use of pulse oximeter.(Korean J Anesthesiol 1996; 31: 791~796)