Analysis of Factors Associated with the Therapeutic Duration of Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Patients / 대한통증학회지

BACKGROUND: A transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) is one of the methods for the conservative treatment of the lumbar spinal stenosis. As efforts to prolong the therapeutic duration and to predict the outcome of TFESI are very important, we analyzed factors considered to be associated with the therapeutic duration of a TFESI. METHODS: Between August 2006 and March 2007, 69 patients (Group A: patients with no pain relief, Group B: patients with pain relief of less than 6 months, Group C: patients with pain relief of more than 6 months) who failed to the medical treatment were included to undertake a fluoroscopic-guided TFESI. Prior to treatment, the VAS (visual analogue scale), ODI (Oswestry disability index), BDI (Beck depression inventory), and BAI (Beck anxiety inventory) scores were determined to evaluate the degree of pain, disability, and psychological status. The VAS and ODI scores were used to assess the degree of pain relief. To identify the total duration of pain relief, regular outpatient visits for six months were conducted, and for the patients who were not able to visit the outpatient clinic regularly, outcome was assessed by telephone interviews after six months. RESULTS: The dural sac cross-sectional area (DSCSA), ODI, pain duration, BDI, BAI, and age showed similar distribution for patients in the A, B, and C groups. CONCLUSIONS: The DSCSA, ODI, pain duration, BDI, BAI, and age were not associated with the therapeutic duration of TFESI in lumbar spinal stenosis patients.

Nonsurgical Treatment of Gastric Perforation Complicated by Endoscopic Mucosal Resection and Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) and Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) are novel techniques used for the treatment of early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions of the stomach. However, complications such as bleeding and perforation may occur during the procedure, and these complications may raise the morbidity and mortality rates. EMR/ESD-induced perforations can be treated with conservative medical or non-surgical methods. Furthermore, an increasing number of reports have addressed conservative management of EMR/ESD-induced perforations. We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of implementing conservative treatment for perforations associated with EMR and ESD. METHODS: We reviewed 482 patients with 507 lesions who underwent EMR or ESD due to early gastric cancers or gastric adenomas between February 2003 and December 2007. We identified 14 perforations occurring as complications of EMR/ESD and investigated their clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Fourteen perforations (14/507 [2.8%]) occurred, 11 of which were immediately clipped during the procedure, and 3 of which were diagnosed after the procedure when free air was visualized on the radiograph. All patients were managed conservatively with fluid resuscitation and antibiotics (mean, 5.8 days). They recovered without surgery and were discharged in stable condition at a mean of 7.2 days post-procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic clip application might be an effective and safe option for conservative management of EMR/ESD-induced perforations.

A Study of Lumbar (L3-4, L4-5) Epidural Depth using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and its Correlation to Physical Measurements / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to evaluate the correlations between lumbar epidural depth by MRI and physical measurements. METHODS: The anatomy of the lumbar epidural space was evaluated using MRI scans of 121 patients (93 male and 31 female). Epidural depth was measured from the skin to the center of the posterior epidural space at the L3-4 and L 4-5 levels by two methods (in a parallel line to the lumbar spinous process [SKEP I] and in a vertical line to the long axis of the spine [SKEP II]). Physical measurements such as weight, height, foot size, and waist were measured, other physical measurements such as the Ponderal index (PI), body mass index (BMI), and obesity (Broca's index) were calculated. RESULTS: Significant correlations between depth from the skin to the posterior epidural space were found for Ponderal index (PI), body mass index (BMI), obesity (Broca's index), weight, waist circumference, height, and foot size. The depth from the skin to the supraspinous ligament correlated with BMI, obesity (Broca's index), PI, weight, and waist circumference. The depth from the supraspinous ligament to the posterior epidural space were found to correlate with height and foot size. CONCLUSIONS: PI had a higher predictive value for epidural depth than the other physical measurements.

Quantification and Comparison of D-dimer after Pneumatic Tourniquet Release in Patients Undergoing Arthroscopic Knee Surgery on General Anesthesia and Epidural Anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Several studies have indicated that lumbar epidural anesthesia may decrease the incidence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, particulary after total hip replacement. Moreover venous thromboembolism also occurs after the release of a tourniquet in orthopedic surgery. The d-dimer test has been reported to be useful for predicting lower limb DVT and PE. Of the d-dimer test methods, the latex agglutination method shows excellent sensitivity and specificity. METHODS: We compared the quantity of d-dimer for General (n = 21) and Epidural (n = 20) anesthesia after tourniquet release in patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. RESULTS: D-dimer significantly increased after tourniquet release in both groups, whereas the increase of d-dimer in the Epidural group was no smaller than that in the General group. Epidural group showed a correlation between tourniquet application and d-dimer. CONCLUSIONS: The present data suggest that DVT and PE after tourniquet release could occur during arthroscopic knee surgery and that epidural anesthesia may increase the fibrinolysis of a tourniquet induced thrombus.

A Study on Analgesic Effect of Metoclopramide before an Injection of Propofol / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Propofol is a good induction agent. but it has a disadvantage of pain on intravenous injection. Pretreatment of metoclopramide or lidocaine have been reported to reduce pain on injection. thus, we have evaluated the quantity and quality of anagesic effect of metoclopramide and lidocaine. We observed differences in quality of pain according to venous cannula sizes and intravenous injection sites as well as nausea and vomiting in the postoperative state. METHODS: Eighty patients scheduled for an elective operation by general anesthesia were chosen according to ASA (I or II) and divided into four groups randomly. Each group was injected through venous cannulas with normal saline (control group), metoclopramide 5 mg (group 1), metoclopramide 10 mg (group 2), or 2% lidocaine 40 mg (group 3) respectively. Then, propofol was injected of a 2 mg/kg dose with 0.5 ml/sec to all groups and we asked questions about injection pain after 10 seconds. RESULTS: Pain relief was shown in all groups compared with the control. but metoclopramide 10 mg and lidocaine 40 mg pretreatment groups showed significant pain reief. Pain was relieved significantly when the drug was injected in the antecubital area. Postoperative nausea and vomiting were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: Metoclopramide 10 mg or lidocaine 40 mg pretreatment to induction by propofol revealed a good analgesic effect for propofol injection pain.

Effect of propofol, an intravenous anesthetic agent, on KATP channels of pancreatic beta-cells in rats

ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP channels) play an important role in insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. We have investigated the effect of propofol on KATP channels in cultured single pancreatic beta cells of rats. Channel activity was recorded from membrane patches using the patch-clamp technique. In the inside-out configuration bath-applied propofol inhibited the KATP channel activities in a dose-dependent manner. The half-maximal inhibition dose (ED50) was 48.6+/-8.4 micrometer and the Hill coefficient was 0.73 0.11. Single channel conductance calculated from the slope of the relationship between single channel current and pipette potential (+20~+100 mV) was not significantly altered by propofol (control: 60.0+/-2.7 pS, 0.1 mM propofol: 58.7+/-3.5 pS). However, mean closed time was surely increased. Above results indicate that propofol blocks the KATP channels in the pancreatic beta cells in the range of its blood concentrations during anesthesia, suggesting a possible effect on insulin secretion and blood glucose level.

Cardiac Arrest in Preeclamptic Patient with Unrecognized Heart Failure during Induction of General Anesthesia for Cesarean Section / 대한마취과학회지

Better medical management, together with a number of newer surgical techniques, has enable more girls with congenital heart disease to reach childbearing age. Congenital heart lesions now constitute at least half of all cases of heart disease encountered during pregnancy. Pregnancy is characterized by marked increase in stroke volume and cardic output during the antepartum period. The hemodynamic demands of pregnancy dangerously stress the impaired cardiovascular reserve. We experienced that a case of cardiac arrest in a preeclamptic patient with unrecognized heart failure during induction of the general anesthesia for cesarean section. We found out later that she had an operation because of patent ductus arteriosus at the age of 15 and then already had mitral valve regurgitation and LVH findings in the echocardiogram. We suggested that heart failure was enhanced by the hyperdynamic cardiovascular changes of normal pregnancy and further aggrevated by preeclampsia and anemia.

A Comparison of Fentanyl, Lidocaine and Esmolol for Blunting the Hemodynamic Response during Rapid-Sequence Induction in the Hemodynamically Unstable Patients / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Tracheal intubation is accompanied by varing degrees of sympathetic stimulation as reflected by increases in heart rate, and blood pressure and several clinical trials to reduce the effects on blood pressure and heart rate by pharmacologic agents such as and blockers, calcicum channel blockers, narcotics and lidocaine, have been reported. METHODS: To evaluate the effect of fentanyl, lidocaine, esmolol on the hemodynamic changes induced by intubation, we administered thiopental 5 mg/kg only (group 1, n=12), fentanyl 2 g/kg with thiopental 5 mg/kg (group 2, n=12), lidocaine 1 mg/kg with thiopental 5 mg/kg group 3, n=12) or esmolol 0.5 mg/kg with thiopental 5 mg/kg (group 4, n=12) for induction of anesthesia, and measured heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arteiral pressure, and rate-pressure products (RPP) before induction, after induction, after intubation and at 1, 2, 3, and 5 minutes after intubation. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in heart rate, systolic blood pressure and RPP after intubation and 1 min after intubation in all groups, but in group 2, group 3 and group 4, the cardiovascular responses were more attenuated compared to group 1. CONCLUSION: The preintubation intravenous injection of fentanyl, lidocaine and esmolol may offer important roles in the hemodynamically unstable patients because it attenuate cardiovascular responses with intubation.