Clinical experiences of performing transforaminal balloon adhesiolysis in patients with failed back surgery syndrome: two cases report / 대한마취과학회지

Epidural fibrosis is a contributing factor to the persistent pain that is associated with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) and other pathophysiologies, particularly as it inhibits the passage of regional medications to areas responsible for pain. Therefore, effective mechanical detachment of epidural fibrosis can contribute to pain reduction and improve function in FBSS patients. In this report, we describe the successful treatment of FBSS patients with epidural adhesiolysis using a Fogarty catheter via the transforaminal approach.

Huge Epidural Hematoma after Epidural Neurolysis using NaviCath(R)

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVES: To report a huge epidural hematoma after epidural neurolysis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: No complications have been reported regarding to hematoma formations after neurolysis using NaviCath(R). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 67-year-old male with normal serum coagulation parameter experienced excruciating back and leg pains after neurolysis using NaviCath(R). RESULTS: After performing prompt multilevel laminotomy with hematoma evacuation, the patient recovered from pains without any neurological sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to be cautious while performing neurolysis with NaviCath(R) to avoid the epidural hematoma. Surgical treatment is an effective option to resolve the spinal epidural hematoma.

Treatment of digit ulcers in a patient with Buerger's disease by using cervical spinal cord stimulation: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans) is known as a segmental inflammatory vasculitis that involves the small-sized and medium-sized arteries, veins, and nerves. Most effective treatment for Buerger's disease is smoking cessation. Except for the cessation of tobacco use, surgical revascularization is available in severe ischemia and a distal target vessel. Amputation has been used as the last treatment option of the disease up to the present. Increasing limb survival and decreasing amputation rate is important. This case describes the use of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in patient with Buerger's disease and its effect is not only the complete healing of ulcers but also amputation is not performed.

Effect of pretreatment with gabapentin on withdrawal movement associated with intravenous rocuronium injection / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The major disadvantage of rocuronium is the withdrawal movement associated with its injection. The analgesic effect of perioperative gabapentin has been evaluated. We investigated the effects of gabapentin on the withdrawal movement induced by rocuronium injection. METHODS: 86 ASA physical status I or II patients, aged 18-69 years who were scheduled to undergo elective surgery with general anesthesia were enrolled. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either gabapentin 600 mg or placebo 2 hours prior to surgery. The patient's response to rocuronium injection was graded using a 4-point scale. RESULTS: The incidence of withdrawal movement after rocuronium administration was significantly lower in the gabapentin group (55.0% in the control group vs 28.6% in the gabapentin group). The number of patients with generalized response indicating severe pain, was 9 (22.5%) in the control group and 3 (7.1%) in the gabapentin group. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment with a single oral dose of gabapentin 600 mg reduced the incidence and severity of withdrawal movement after rocuronium administration.

Spinal anesthesia for implantation of a spinal cord stimulator in a patient with failed back surgery syndrome: A case report

Spinal cord stimulation has been applied for some patients with failed back surgery syndrome or neuropathic pain. Tests for the spinal cord stimulation can be performed under local or general anesthesia. However, if this is done during an operation with the patient under general anesthesia, it would be impossible to recognize whether an electrode induces paresthesia in the concordant painful area by the patient's self report. A 79-year-old female patient with failed back surgery syndrome had a spinal cord stimulator implanted under spinal anesthesia and the stimulation led to paresthesia on the most painful area of the patient. We report here on a case that surgical implantation of a spinal cord stimulator was successfully performed under spinal anesthesia.

The Antiallodynic Effects of Intrathecal Zaprinast in Rats with Chronic Constriction Injury of the Sciatic Nerve

BACKGROUND: Zaprinast is an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 5, 6 and 9. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors could produce anti-nociceptive effects by promoting the accumulation of cGMP. We hypothesized that intrathecal zaprinast could attenuate the allodynia induced by chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve in rat. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were prepared with four loose ligations of the left sciatic nerve just proximal to the trifurcation into the sural, peroneal and tibial nerve branches. Tactile allodynia was measured by applying von Frey filaments to the lesioned hindpaw. The thresholds for the withdrawal responses were assessed. Zaprinast (3-100microg) was administered intrathecally by the direct lumbar puncture method to obtain the dose-response curve and the 50% effective dose (ED50). Measurements were taken before and 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min after the intrathecal doses of zaprinast. The side effects were also observed. RESULTS: Intrathecal zaprinast resulted in a dose-dependent antiallodynic effect. The maximal effects occurred within 15-30 min and then they gradually decreased down to the baseline level over time in all the groups. There was a dose dependent increase in the magnitude and duration of the effect. The ED50 value was 17.4microg (95% confidence intervals; 14.7-20.5microg). No severe motor weakness or sedation was observed in any of the rats. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecally administered zaprinast produced a dose-dependent antiallodynic effect in the chronic constriction injury neuropathic pain model. These findings suggest that spinal phosphodiesterase 5, 6 and 9 may play an important role in the modulation of neuropathic pain.

Ultrasound-guided evaluation of the bifurcation of the femoral artery and vein in pediatric patients / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The femoral arteries (FA) and femoral veins (FV) are useful access sites for diagnostic and interventional procedures. In adults, the usual puncture sites are 1-3 cm distal from the inguinal crease. In children, however, the optimal puncture site vessels are not known. The aim of our study was to assess the number of branches and bifurcation sites of the femoral vessels in children by using ultrasonography. METHODS: Color Doppler ultrasonography was used to determine bifurcation sites of the FA and FV, relative to the inguinal crease, in 48 children (median age, 4 yr; median weight, 18.7 kg) with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status (PS) score 1-2 and who were scheduled for general anesthesia. RESULTS: The numbers of FAs and FVs at the inguinal crease were 1.83 +/- 0.39 and 1.08 +/- 0.29, respectively, in infants, and 1.83 +/- 0.58 and 1.0 +/- 0.0, respectively, in 10-year-old children. The bifurcation site of the FA in infants and those aged 10 years was 0.78 +/- 0.30 cm and 1.47 +/- 0.27 cm proximal to the inguinal crease, respectively (P < 0.05), whereas the bifurcation site of the FV in these two age groups was -0.96 +/- 0.27 cm and -2.29 +/- 1.09 cm distal to the inguinal crease, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In children, the FA frequently bifurcates proximal to the inguinal crease, whereas the FV bifurcates distal to the inguinal crease. However, there are anatomical differences among age groups, so care should be taken to avoid complications during femoral vessel cannulation.

Effect of the Preoperative Intercostal Nerve Block in a Rat Model of Postthoracotomy Pain / 대한통증학회지

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain after thoracotomy has been recently reproduced in a rat model that allows investigating the effect of potentially beneficial drugs that might reduce the incidence of allodynia or alleviate pain. Local anesthetics produce antinociception in normal animals and alleviate mechanical allodynia in animals with nerve injury although their mechanisms of action may differ in these situations. Our purpose of this study was to test whether the preoperative intercostal nerve block of bupivacaine could prevent the development of allodynia in a rat model of chronic postthoracotomy pain. METHODS: All male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and the right 4th and 5th ribs were exposed surgically. The pleura were opened between the ribs to which a retractor was placed and was opened 10 mm in width. Retraction was maintained for one hour. Total 1 mg of 0.5% bupivacaine was injected at the intercostal nerves before (n = 17) or after (n = 16) surgery. A control group (n = 25) that underwent rib retraction did not receive any drug. Rats were tested for mechanical allodynia using calibrated von Frey filaments applied around the incision site during the three weeks following surgery. RESULTS: The incidence of development of mechanical allodynia in the group that received intercostal injection with bupivacaine before surgery was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative intercostal nerves block around the surgical incision before thoracotomy may decrease the incidence of postthoracotomy pain syndrome.

Effects of Fluid Therapy on Serum Glucose Level in Pediatric Outpatients / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Whether intraoperative fluid therapy should contain glucose for the pediatric outpatient surgery remains controversial. This study was designed to compare the effects of glucose and glucose-free solutions on perioperative blood glucose change. METHODS: Healthy pediatric outpatients (n = 130) for minor procedure were randomly assigned to one of two fluid therapy groups. Patients in the group H (n = 65) received lactated Ringer's solution, and patients in the group D (n = 65) received 5% dextrose perioperatively. Blood glucose was checked before infusion (a), 10 minutes after induction (b), 30 minutes after induction (c), and at the time of discharge (d). RESULTS: The preoperative fasting glucose concentrations were 97.6 +/- 12.1 mg/dl and 97.7 +/- 11.3 mg/dl for the group H and D, respectively. The patients in the group D showed significantly increased blood glucose level after induction (135.9 +/- 42.7, 150.3 +/- 36.0, 123.6 +/- 26.8 mg/dl). The patients in the group H also showed significantly increased blood glucose levels (112.2 +/- 14.0, 121.4 +/- 11.4 and 105.8 +/- 18.3 mg/dl). The glucose level of group D was significantly higher than the glucose level of group H at b, c and d. Seven patients in the group D showed hyperglycemia (> 200 mg/dl). CONCLUSIONS: Dextrose containing fluid therapy resulted dangerous hyperglycemia in the pediatric outpatient surgery. We recommend lactated Ringer's solution or other glucose-free crystalloid for the healthy outpatient pediatric population undergoing minor procedures.

The Usage Pattern of Neuromuscular Blocker at Intensive Care Unit / 대한구급학회지

BACKGROUND: The neuromuscular blocker is helpful to intubate the patients and reduce the amount of anesthetic agent. It also used at intensive care unit (ICU) to maintain airway patency, to achieve proper ventilatory care, etc. This survey is to determine the neuromuscular blocker usage patterns in ICU settings. METHODS: Three hundred general hospitals with ICU settings were chosen. We designed a 10 itemed questionnaire which has several subquestions with multiple choices and sent it to them. After three months, forty seven hospitals returned the questionnaire and we made careful analysis with it. RESULTS: The most frequent indication of neuromuscular blocker was to facilitate the mechanical ventilation (80.9%). Vecuronium was the most common neuromuscular blocker used (97.9%). Only 6.4% of them used peripheral nerve stimulator and the rest of them (89.4%) used clinical information to determine the degree of neuromuscular blocker. The respondents reported that recovery from muscle relaxation was needed on a periodic basis for regular neurological examinations (59.6%) in ICU settings. All respondents used the sedatives or narcotics with neuromuscular blocker and only 6.4% used reversal agents. CONCLUSIONS: Although the rate of reply was not much (15.7%), we could get the current usage pattern of neuromuscular blocker at ICU. We recommend using short to intermediate acting neuromuscular blocker than long acting agents. Continuous infusion with careful dosage titration by peripheral nerve stimulator would be helpful to achieve rapid recovery. Additional sedatives and narcotics are beneficial to reduce the amount of neuromuscular blocker and to make patients comfortable as well.