Endobronchial Insufflation of Air Supports Ventilation in Apneic Dogs / 대한구급학회지

BACKGOUND: Mass casualties from organophosphorus inhalation die from respiratory depression. Gas supplies and equipment are limited for mechanical ventilation of multiple subjects in emergency situation. Endobronchial insufflation of air (EIA) can be simply performed with air compressor and catheter. The author tried to examine the usefulness of EIA in five apneic dogs induced by tetrodotoxin (TTX) infusion. METHOD: Five anesthetized dogs were intubated with endotracheal tube and endobronchial insufflation catheter and instrumented with arterial catheter and ventilated with controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) while 12 microgram/kg TTX was infused intravenous over 90 minutes to produce apnea. EIA of 1 microliter/kg/min was delivered through a 35 cm long, 0.8 cm ID catheter with a forked end placed astride the carina. During conventional ventilation, arterial blood gases and pH were measured (base line, BL). The data were measured after confirmation of apnea for 1 minute (time=0, control value), and then measured serially for 4 hours of EIA. RESULT: All animals survived and were alert and neurologically normal within 24 hours. The changes of arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) were no significant difference between control value and 10, 20, 30 minute (p<0.05), and arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) were significant increase in control value compared to base line (p<0.05), and pH were no significant difference in all values (p<0.05). Spontaneous respiratory efforts slowly returned after 45 minute of EIA and resulted in the improvement of gas exchange. CONCLUSION: EIA recognized as a sort of ventilatory technique is useful only when other equipments could not be available. The EIA catheter can be placed by cricothyroidotomy. EIA is very helpful in supporting ventilation, and it also helps the apneic dogs stay in normal condition.

Continuous Axillary Brachial Plexus Block after Upper Extremity Operation / 대한마취과학회지

Background: The continuous brachial plexus block brings about the prolongation of surgical anesthesia, postoperative pain relief, and sympathectomy. Methods: The twenty-five patients scheduled for upper extremity operations had been taken the continuous axillary brachial plexus block procedure to relief postoperative pain and, to get the sympathetic block effect. We used local anesthetics less than maximum recommended dose, 0.125% bupivacaine continuously infused at 4 ml/hour via catheter. We adopted the faces pain rating scale to evaluate postoperative pain degree. The faces pain rating scale composed of six faces, based upon the degree of pain. The patients has been asked to choose these rating scale according to their painfulness three times a day for five days. Results: Clinically, we have found the effective decrease in the degree of pain. Systemic toxic reactions, hematoma and infection sign at injected site were not found. Conclusion: The pain of upper extremity after operation was controlled by continuous infusion of 0.125% bupivacaine, 4 ml/hr, usually.

Prolonged Apnea after Cesarean Section in Patient with Low Level of Plasma Cholinesterase Activity: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Succinylcholine-induced prolonged neuromuscular blockade may occur in patients with either a low level of plasma cholinesterase activity or genotypically abnormal form of that enzyme. We experienced a case of succinylcholine-induced prolonged apnea due to a low level of plasma cholinesterase activity. A 31-year-old woman, full term primigravida, underwent cesarean section for breech presentation under general anesthesia. Familial and past medical history were nonspecific and preoperative physical and laboratory findings were within normal range. After operation, delayed apnea was detected and lasted for about one hour. We performed controlled and assisted ventilation for two and half hours. Plasma cholinesterase activity measured 30.00 IU/L (colorimetric method, normal value: 1130~1960 IU/L) at the first postoperative day. She was discharged on 7th postoperative day without any sequelae. From follow-up study after six months, it measured 1.02 U/ml (EIA, normal value: 7~9 U/ml).

Comparative Study of Spinal Anesthesia between 0.5% Hyperbaric Bupivacaine( Marcaine )and Tetracaine( Pantocaine ) / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the difference in hemodynamic change and in sensory or motor block between hyperbaric tetracaine and bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia. METHODS: The sixty-three patients, belonged to ASA class 1 and 2, were divided into tetracaine group and bupivacaine group. The patients were administered 0.5% hyperbaric tetracaine(Pantocaine ) in tetracaine group and 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine(Marcaine ) in bupivacaine group, intrathecally. After intrathecal injection of the agents, we measured the change of sensory block level according to pinprick test, the motor block by the modified Bromage score until fixations was achieved, and the blood pressure and heart rate. RESULTS: The two groups did not differ significantly with loss of sensory level and onset time. Bupivacaine group was revealed a slower fixations of motor block than tetracaine group(p<0.05). Changes of systolic blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure of bupivacaine group were less than tetracaine group(p<0.05) in 2~25 minutes and 6~15 minutes, respectively. Diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were not different statistically in two groups. CONCLUSION: Spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine was revealed less changes of systolic blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure than hyperbaric tetracaine, although fixation of motor block was delayed onset. Therefore, we thought that spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine may be used more safe than hyperbaric tetracaine in hemodynamical troublesome case.