Treatment of Isolated Sternal Fracture with Ultrasound-Guided Paravertebral Nerve Block: a Case Report and Literature Review / 고신대학교의과대학학술지

In the case of isolated sternal fractures, conservative treatment with analgesics is common, but pain can persist for more than 10 weeks, which can significantly interfere with daily life. Ultrasound-guided paravertebral nerve block is reported to be a successful means of pain control in patients with chest wall injury or rib fracture.A 70-year-old female patient presented with anterior chest pain that had persisted for 2 weeks despite conservative treatment. Sagittal reconstruction chest computed tomography and sternum lateral oblique x-ray revealed an isolated sternal fracture. An ultrasound-guided bilateral paravertebral nerve block was performed for pain control. After performing the procedure twice at a 1-week interval, the patient reported complete pain alleviation, and no other problems were observed over the 3-month follow-up period.Ultrasound-guided bilateral paravertebral nerve block can help patients with isolated sternal fractures to manage pain and return to normal activities sooner than with oral analgesics.

Therapy of thermal injury due to bone cement leakage by cooled normal saline irrigation through epidural catheterization: A case report

A 72-year-old woman was diagnosed with Kümmell's disease of the T12 and L3 vertebrae. During bone cement injection under continuous fluoroscopic guidance, bone cement spread beyond the posterior border of the T12 vertebral body. We halted the injection immediately. A few minutes later, the patient complained of increasing right lower quadrant abdominal pain. This was diagnosed as a preceding sign of neurological complication due to thermal injury. Consequently, we administered an epidural steroid injection, followed by cooled normal saline irrigation through an epidural catheter to minimize and treat the thermal injury. The pain gradually decreased after saline irrigation and completely disappeared after approximately 10 minutes. After completing the percutaneous vertebroplasty, the patient's lower back pain improved without neurological complications. In conclusion, immediate epidural steroid injection followed by cooled normal saline irrigation through epidural catheterization can be used to treat thermal injury due to bone cement leakage.

Treatment of radiation-induced cystitis and vulvodynia via a ganglion impar block using a lateral approach under computed tomography guidance: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) after colorectal cancer surgery can prevent local recurrence, but has several side effects. Precise injection of drugs into the affected areas is complicated by radiation-induced fibrosis of soft or connective tissue. A 48-year-old woman experienced severe intractable perineal pain, dysuria, urinary urgency, and frequent urination after rectal cancer surgery and adjuvant RT, and was diagnosed with radiation-induced cystitis and vulvodynia. Her symptoms persisted despite two fluoroscopy-guided ganglion impar blocks. Fluoroscopy revealed atypical needle tip positioning and radiolucent dye distribution, presumably due to radiation-induced fibrosis in the target region. We performed two computed tomography (CT)-guided ganglion impar blocks by using a lateral approach, which allowed more accurate po-sitioning of the needle tip. Her pain visual analog score decreased from 9 to 3, and she recently resumed sexual intimacy. CT guidance is a viable alternative to fluoroscopy guidance when performing ganglion impar blocks in fibrotic areas.

Interventional treatments for cancer pain due to bone metastasis

More than 30% of patients with cancer do not receive adequate pain-control treatment. Metastatic bone lesion-induced pain is one of the most common causes of cancer pain. Although cancer pain is reasonably well controlled using the World Health Organization analgesic ladder in most cases, metastatic bone lesion-induced pain generally does not respond well to traditional treatments. Interventional treatments are considered only when traditional treatments are ineffective or increasing the opioids dosage is impossible because of severe complications. In these cases, interventional treatments, such as peripheral nerve block, neuraxial block, vertebral augmentation, percutaneous cementoplasty, radiofrequency ablation, and cryoablation, can be considered. Fortunately, nerve block techniques show significant effects in many cases. The recent development of the intrathecal pump makes drug delivery safer and continuous for patients, without the need for replacement, until the end. Vertebral augmentation is a very useful pain-relieving method for metastatic spinal lesion pain. Vertebral augmentation and percutaneous cementoplasty provide stability and reinforcement to the weight-bearing bones and spine, thereby improving the quality of life of patients. Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation are applicable to painful metastatic spinal and bone lesions; when performed together with vertebral augmentation or percutaneous cementoplasty, the results are even better. If interventional treatments are appropriately performed at the proper time, they can have a synergistic effect and lower the rate of side effects compared to traditional treatments; thus, increasing the quality of life of patients with cancer and restoring their dignity until the end.

Catecholamine-Induced Cardiomyopathy associated with Neuroblastoma and Treated with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation as a Bridge to Recovery / 대한중환자의학회지

Catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy associated with neuroblastoma is rarely reported. We report a case of catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy associated with neuroblastoma in a 33-month-old female that was treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). She was tentatively diagnosed with acute myocarditis and presented with hypertension. Because of rapid patient deterioration despite pharmacological treatments, ECMO was applied. ECMO can be helpful in cases of catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy associated with neuroblastoma.

Catecholamine-Induced Cardiomyopathy associated with Neuroblastoma and Treated with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation as a Bridge to Recovery / 대한구급학회지

Catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy associated with neuroblastoma is rarely reported. We report a case of catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy associated with neuroblastoma in a 33-month-old female that was treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). She was tentatively diagnosed with acute myocarditis and presented with hypertension. Because of rapid patient deterioration despite pharmacological treatments, ECMO was applied. ECMO can be helpful in cases of catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy associated with neuroblastoma.

Microarray Analysis for Genes Associated with Angiogenesis in Diabetic OLETF Keratocytes

The purpose of this study was to identify the differences in angiogenesis gene expression between normal and diabetic keratocytes stimulated with interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Primarily cultured normal and diabetic keratocytes were treated with 20 ng/mL of IL-1a and TNF-alpha for 6 hr. cDNA was hybridized to an oligonucleotide microarray. Microarray analysis was used to identify differentially expressed genes that were further evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Diabetes keratocytes overexpressed vital components of angiogenesis including Agtr1, and under-expressed components related to the blood vessel maturation, including Dcn. Cytokine-treated diabetic keratocytes differentially expressed components of angiogenesis. OLETF keratocytes after treatment with IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha showed the newly expressed 15 and 14 genes, respectively. Newly and commonly under-expressed five genes followed by treatment with both IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha were also evident. RT-PCR showed results similar to the microarray results. Agtr1 and Itga1 showed an increased expression in diabetic keratocytes compared with normal corneal keratocytes, especially after TNF-alpha treatment. Il6 appeared strong expression after interleukin-1alpha treatment, but showed down expression after TNF-alpha treatment. Further studies to analyze and confirm the significance of the identified angiogenetic genes of diabetes are needed.

Forearm extravasation injury during robot-assisted low anterior resection / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Forearm extravasation injury during robot-assisted low anterior resection / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Assessment and Treatment of Pain in Adult Intensive Care Unit Patients / 대한구급학회지

In most cases, patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) have suffered from severe trauma, undergone major surgery or been treated for a serious medical illness. Although they often experience more intense pain than general ward patients, they are frequently unable to communicate their experiences to health care providers, thus preventing accurate assessment and treatment of their pain. If appropriate measures are not taken to treat pain in critically ill patients, stress response or sympathetic overstimulation can lead to complications. The short-term consequences of untreated pain include higher energy expenditure and immunomodulation. Longer-term, untreated pain increases the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder. Because pain is quite subjective, the accurate assessment of pain is very difficult in the patients with impaired communication ability. The current most valid and reliable behavioral pain scales used to assess pain in adult ICU patients are the Behavioral Pain Scale and the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool. Once pain has been accurately assessed using these methods, various pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies should be performed by the multidisciplinary care team. Accurate assessment and proper treatment of pain in adult ICU patients will improve patients outcome, which reduces the stress response and decreases the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Analysis of dispersion of lumbar interlaminar epidural injectates / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Analysis of dispersion of lumbar interlaminar epidural injectates / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Computed tomography-guided cervical selective transforaminal epidural block for a patient with bilateral anatomical variations of vertebral artery: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

A 56-year-old woman complained of radiating pain to the left arm. She was diagnosed with left-sided foraminal stenosis at the C5-6 level. The neurosurgeon requested a left C6 cervical selective transforaminal epidural block (CSTE). Cervical MRI showed a left-sided large tortuous vertebral artery (VA) at the C5-6 level. Before performing CSTE, a CT angiogram was carried out and showed bilateral tortuous VAs. To minimize adverse events, CSTE was performed with non-particulated steroids and under CT guidance. Following the procedure, the patient's symptoms were relieved completely. Although complication rates of CSTE are generally low, if it occurs, disastrous situation could be. Additionally, if the patient has anatomical variations, the possibility of a complication occurring is greatly increased. It is therefore important to determine whether the patient has any anatomical variations of the VA before performing procedures such as CSTE, and to ensure that needle placement is correct during the procedure and an appropriate drug, such as a non-particulated steroid, is selected.

Antiallodynic effects of vitamin C and vitamin E in chronic post-ischemia pain rat model / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Recent research has shown that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a significant role in the development and persistence of neuropathic pain through central sensitization via N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation. In the present study, we examined whether the intraperitoneal administration of vitamins C and E alone or together could alleviate mechanical allodynia in a chronic post-ischemia pain (CPIP) rat model. METHODS: Vitamins C and E were administered intraperitoneally to 48 male Sprague Dawley rats once per day for 3 days before hindpaw ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury was induced. On the third day, the CPIP rat model was produced by inducing ischemia in the left hindpaw by applying an O-ring for 3 h, followed by reperfusion. Three days after reperfusion, hindpaw mechanical allodynia was assessed by measuring the withdrawal response to von Frey filament stimulation. The rats were sacrificed immediately after behavioral testing to determine the phosphorylated NMDA receptor subunit 1 (pNR1) and extracellular-signal-regulated kinases (pERK) levels in the spinal cord. RESULTS: When the antioxidant vitamins C and E were administered intraperitoneally to CPIP rats, I/R injury-induced mechanical allodynia was attenuated, and pNR1 and pERK levels were decreased in the rat spinal cord. Additionally, the co-administration of both vitamins had an increased antiallodynic effect. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced phosphorylated NR1 and ERK levels indicate that vitamins C and E inhibit the modulation of spinal cord neuropathic pain processing. Co-administration of vitamins C and E had a greater antiallodynic effect.

Bell's Phenomenon during Screening Examination for Retinopathy of Prematurity

PURPOSE: Bell's phenomenon (BP), which may disturb screening examinations for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), is known to present infrequently in premature babies. Stress associated with the examinations can influence expression of BP. The authors of the present study evaluated BP during examinations for ROP. METHODS: The present study included 102 eyes of 51 premature babies. Expression of BP was assessed at 3 steps of the examination in the following order: after insertion of a speculum, after illumination of an indirect ophthalmoscope and after scleral depression. The relationship between the expression of BP and the gestational age at the examination was analyzed in each step of the examination. RESULTS: The frequency of BP after the speculum insertion and the illumination was 77% to 92% in infants 32 weeks of age or younger, and decreased significantly to 16% to 57% in infants 42 weeks of age or older (p < 0.005). BP after the scleral depression had no significant association with the gestational age. Frequency of BP increased significantly as the steps of the examination proceeded (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: BP was frequent in premature infants during ROP examination in spite of neurological immaturity. The examiner should take BP into consideration, which frequently occurs in younger infants.

Ultrastructural Investigation of the Retinal Changes in Diabetic Rat (OLETF)

PURPOSE: To compare retinal ultra-structures of diabetic rats (OLETF, Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty) with those of agematched non-diabetic rats (LETO, Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka) using transmission electron micrography (TEM). METHODS: The body weights and blood sugar levels of the OLETF rats and LETO rats (n=5) were measured at 10 and 50 weeks of age. Using a TEM, we compared the ultra-structural changes between the retinas of the 50-week-old OLETF and LETO rats. We analyzed the sizes of the pericytes and the thicknesses of the retinal capillary basement membranes between the two groups. Comparisons were made using a Scion Image(R). RESULTS: The mean body weight and blood sugar levels of the 50-week-old OLETF rats were significantly higher than those of the LETO rats (p(R)0.05). The thicknesses of the retinal capillary basement membranes in the outer plexiform layer and the size of pericytes were significantly increased in the OLETF rats at 50 weeks of age (p<0.05). The number of nuclei in the inner nuclear layer and the outer nuclear layer (photoreceptor cell nuclei) significantly decreased (p<0.05). However, the height of the RPE cells and basal in-foldings showed no significant differences between the OLETF and LETO rats. CONCLUSIONS: The retinal changes in the OLETF rats were observed relatively early at 50 weeks of age. These changes are similar to those seen in human diabetic retinopathy. Change in the capillaries is one feature of early retinal change. OLETF rats may be a useful animal model in NIDDM to examine diabetic retinal changes.

Comparison of Results of 2-Hour, 6-Hour and Full-Time Patching Regimens in Treatment of Monocular Amblyopia

PURPOSE: To compare effects of a 2-hour, 6-hour, and full-time patching regimens in monocular amblyopia patients under 10 years of age. METHODS: This study recruited monocular amblyopia patients under 10 years of age. The patients were divided into a 2-hour patching group (group A, n=34), a 6-hour patching group (group B, n=33), and a full time patching group (group C, n=28) according to the patching time. A prospective analysis was then performed. The ages at the start of treatment, differences of corrected visual acuity between the 2 eyes and severity of the 3 groups were compared and analyzed. On the final evaluation, 'success' was defined when the difference of corrected visual acuity between the 2 eyes converted into logMAR was less than 0.1. RESULTS: The ages at the start of treatment in group A, B, C were 5.61, 5.48 and 5.71 years, respectively. The best corrected visual acuity of an amblyopic eye converted into logMAR changed to 0.13 after treatment in group A, to 0.16 in group B and to 0.19 in group C. Although visual acuity after the treatment was increased significantly compared to the beginning of treatment in all 3 groups, the final visual acuity showed no statistically significant difference among the 3 groups. Because the occlusion therapy success rates were 70.6%, 69.7% and 64.3% for groups A, B and C, respectively, there was no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: In the 2-hour, 6-hour, and full-time patching regimens, all patients showed a significant improvement in visual acuity although their success rates were not significantly different. Therefore, the part-time patching therapy favored by patients and parents is effective for the first treatment of amblyopia.

A study on the C-shaped root canal system of mandibular second molar / 대한치과보존학회지

C-shaped canals are known to present a complex canal anatomy with numerous fins connecting individual canals, thus requiring supplementary effort to accomplish a successful root canal treatment. This study examined the frequency of the C-shaped mandibular second molars and interrelation between the clinical records and radiographs to recognize them treated in the Department of Conservative Dentistry of the Chosun University Dental Hospital during a six-year period (1998 - 2004). This study reviewed the clinical records of 227 patients who underwent root canal treatment of the mandibular second molars. After opening the chamber, those cases with C-shaped orifices in the pulpal floor were selected, and the C-shaped root canal types were classified according to Melton's criteria. Three experienced dentists evaluated the radiographs of the C-shaped mandibular second molar on a viewer using a magnifying glass in order to determine if the root apex was fused or separated, the distal root canal was either centered or mesial shifted in the distal root, and if there was bilateral symmetry in a panorama. In conclusion, there is a high frequency of C-shaped mandibular second molars in Koreans. Simultaneous interpretation of the root shape and distal root canal using the preoperative, working length and post-treatment radiographs is important for diagnosing a C-shaped mandibular second molar.

Surgical Results of Intraoperative Adjustable Suture Strabismus Surgery under Local Anesthesia

PURPOSE: We assessed the postoperative surgical results of intraoperative adjustment technique under topical and subconjunctival anesthesia in children and adult strabismus patients. METHODS: 48 patients (55 cases) who underwent intraoperative adjustable strabismus surgery under topical and subconjunctival local anesthesia in Pusan National University Hospital between the years 2001 and 2004 were examined retrospectively. The deviations preoperatively, at postop. 1 day, 1 month, 3 months and last follow up were measured and follow up period ranged from 3 months to 39 months, average 7.5 months. Success was defined as alignment of overcorrection within 5delta and undercorrection within 10delta at horizontal strabismus, and as alignment within 5delta at vertical strabismus. RESULTS: Of the 48 patients identified (20 men and 28 women; mean age: 29.6 years), 28 had exotropia, 9 had esotropia, 4 had vertical strabismus, and 7 had both horizontal and vertical strabismus. The success rates for exotropia were 84.8% at postop. 3 months and 81.8% at last follow up and 81.8% for esotropia respectively and 72.7% for vertical strabismus respectively. Mean change in the angle of deviation between postoperative 1 day and last follow up was 5.3delta for cases of exotropia, 2.4delta for esotropia and 1.8delta for hypertropia. The visual acuity, preoperative deviation, amount of adjustment, number of operated muscles, and monocular or binocular strabismus surgery had no statistically significant influence on the surgical outcome and change of deviation. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative adjustable suture strabismus surgery under topical and subconjunctival local anesthesia had relatively successful results. Postoperative drift toward the original deviation was observed.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease Associated with Bilateral Tonic Pupils in a Pregnant Patient

PURPOSE: We report a case of bilateral tonic pupils and decreased corneal sensitivity in a patient with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease during pregnancy. CASE SUMMARY: A 33-year-old Korean woman in the sixth month of pregnancy presented with visual impairment in both eyes. Her best corrected visual acuity was 0.2 in the right eye and 0.125 in the left. Slit-lamp examination revealed cells in the anterior chamber and serous retinal detachments in both eyes. The patient was treated with topical corticosteroid in both eyes and posterior subtenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide in the left eye. The serous retinal detachment resolved completely at 2 months in the left eye and at 3 months in the right. As pigmentation of the retina developed, VKH disease was confirmed. The patient complained of photophobia, and both pupils were found to be enlarged to 8 mm without dilation. Light reflex was absent and near reflex was suppressed and slow. After instillation of 0.125% pilocarpine, the pupils were constricted to 3.5 mm and were diagnosed as tonic pupils. Though the patient's corrected visual acuity improved to 0.8 in the right eye and 1.0 in the left at 6 months, her pupils remained unchanged. Corneal sensitivity was decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Tonic pupils may be complicated with VKH disease even during pregnancy. We recommend examinations of the pupils and corneal sensitivity in patients with VKH disease, especially those complaining of photophobia.