Effect of intraperitoneal CO₂ concentration on postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

PURPOSE: This study set out to identify the association between the intraperitoneal CO₂ concentrations and postoperative pain by dividing the participants into a control group and 2 experimental groups receiving irrigation (1 L and 2 L), and directly measuring their intraperitoneal CO₂ concentrations with a CO₂ gas detector. METHODS: A total of 101 patients, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification I and II patients aged 18–65 years were enrolled in the study. Group 1 did not receive irrigation with normal saline, while groups 2 and 3 were administered irrigation with 1 L and 2 L of normal saline, respectively, after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Intraperitoneal CO₂ concentrations were measured with a CO₂ gas detector through the port, and postoperative pain was assessed on a visual analogue scale at 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. RESULTS: The intraperitoneal CO₂ concentrations were 1,016.0 ± 960.3 ppm in group 1, 524.5 ± 383.2 ppm in group 2, and 362.2 ± 293.6 ppm in group 3, showing significantly lower concentrations in groups 2 and 3. Postoperative pain was significantly lower in group 3 at 6 hours after surgery, and in groups 2 and 3 at 12 hours after the surgery. However, there was no significant difference between the 3 groups in postoperative pain 24 hours after the surgery. CONCLUSION: This study found a causal relationship between the amount of normal saline used for irrigation and the intraperitoneal CO₂ concentrations in that irrigation with normal saline reduces pain on the day of the surgery.

A comparison of oxycodone and fentanyl in intravenous patient-controlled analgesia after laparoscopic hysterectomy / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: We planned to compare the effect of intravenous oxycodone and fentanyl on post-operative pain after laparoscopic hysterectomy. METHODS: We examined 60 patients were randomized to postoperative pain treatment with either oxycodone (n = 30, Group O) or fentanyl (n = 30, Group F). The patients received 10 mg oxycodone/100 microg fentanyl with ketorolac 30 mg before the end of anesthesia and then continued with patient-controlled analgesia for 48 h postoperatively. RESULTS: The accumulated oxycodone consumption was less than fentanyl during 8, 24 and 48 h postoperatively. Numeric rating score of Group O showed significantly lower than that of Group F during 30 min, 2, 4, 8 and 24 h postoperatively. The incidences of adverse reactions were similar in the two groups, though the incidence of nausea was higher in the Group O during the 24 and 48 h postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: Oxycodone IV-PCA was more advantageous than fentanyl IV-PCA for laparoscopic hysterectomy in view of accumulated oxycodone consumption, pain control and cost beneficial effect. However, patient satisfaction was not good in the group O compared to group F.

Effect of stellate ganglion block on laryngopharyngeal reflux disease / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) disease has many symptoms such as globus pharyngeus, excessive throat clearing and hoarseness. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of stellate ganglion block (SGB) in addition to proton pump inhibitors (PPI) on LPR. METHODS: Fifty patients complaining of more than 3 typical LPR symptoms for over 3 months were enrolled in the study. The P group took PPI for 8 weeks. The SP group took PPI and interwent a series of 8 SGB procedure once a week during the period of treatment. The blocks were performed one at a time unilaterally on the right and left stellate ganglions by injecting 1% mepivacaine 6 ml. We evaluated the reflux symptom index (RSI) before treatment and following 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment in both groups. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of treatment, the RSI of the P group decreased, but not significantly, to 16.6 +/- 6.8 compared with the baseline value of 19.2 +/- 2.7 (P = 0.093), whereas the RSI of the SP group decreased significantly to 9.8 +/- 3.3 compared with the baseline value of 19.0 +/- 4.7 (P = 0.000). After 8 weeks of treatment, the RSI of the P group decreased significantly to 13.7 +/- 6.7 (P = 0.001) and the RSI of the SP group also decreased significantly to 7.7 +/- 3.4 (P = 0.000). There were significant differences in the RSI between the two groups after 4 weeks (P = 0.000) and 8 weeks (P = 0.001) of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The symptoms of LPR improved earlier when PPI therapy was combined with SGB compared with PPI therapy alone.

Study for the discrepancy of arterial blood pressure in accordance with method, age, body part of measurement during general anesthesia using sevoflurane / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Many pieces of previous research on measuring blood pressure (BP) using different methods focused on the disparity in the results. However, none of them dealt with the disparity caused by the difference in age and inhalation anesthetics. We attempted to find the variance in accordance with age, body part, and measuring methods (invasive vs noninvasive) and also studied how sevoflurane influences BP as the operation progresses. METHODS: In sixty patients, we measured the arterial BP in the upper and lower limbs by noninvasive methods before inducing anesthesia. After induction, we used sevoflurane to maintain anesthesia, and injected catheters into the radial artery and dorsalis pedis artery to measure arterial pressure at every ten minute by both invasive and noninvasive methods. RESULTS: The patients who were 40 or older showed significantly higher values in the systolic BP than the patients younger than 40. The values of systolic and diastolic BP measured by a noninvasive oscillometric method were meaningfully higher than those measured by an invasive method. As the operations progressed, the lower limbs showed higher systolic pressure than the upper limbs regardless of measuring methods, whereas the opposite is true for diastolic pressure. CONCLUSIONS: The values in the arterial BP were measured high by noninvasive method. Systolic BP were estimated significantly high in the older patients and in the lower leg. Due to the effect of sevoflurane, the diastolic BP in the lower limbs becomes lower than that of upper limbs regardless of measuring methods, as the operation progresses.

Lower leg compartment syndrome following prolonged orthopedic surgery in the lithotomy position: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Surgical procedures necessitating the prolonged use of the lithotomy position can be associated with neuromuscular dysfunction. Compartment syndrome of the lower leg is a grave complication which, if unrecognized, can lead to either permanent neuromuscular dysfunction or limb loss. We report a case of compartment syndrome of lower leg that occurred in male patient aged 20 years after 380 minutes arthroscopic surgery in the lithotomy position.

Allergic reactions after intravenous injection of methylprednisolone: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Corticosteroid preparations have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties and are used widely for the treatment of allergic disorders and asthma. Steroids themselves, however, can induce hypersensitivity reactions. In this study, we report the case of a 66-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who exhibited an allergic reaction (rash, bronchospasm, bradycardia, severe hypotension and cardiac arrest) immediately after the intravenous injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate. Despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation, sinus rhythm was not restored. The anesthesiologist should be aware that allergic reactions to corticosteroids can occur.

A comparison of cervical epidural analgesia and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia after mastectomy with immediate latissimus dorsi flap breast reconstruction / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Breast reconstruction following mastectomy has become increasingly popular in recent years. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of cervical epidural patient-controlled analgesia (CEA) and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) for controlling the postoperative pain and the side effects after mastectomy with immediate Latissimus dorsi (LD) flap breast reconstruction. METHODS: Sixty patients who were to undergo mastectomy with immediate LD flap breast reconstruction were randomly assigned to receive CEA [Group CEA, (n = 30), 0.15% ropivacaine + fentanyl 4 microg/ml] or IV-PCA [Group IV-PCA (n = 30) fentanyl 20 microg/kg + ketorolac 3 mg/kg] for postoperative pain control via a PCA pump (basal rate: 2 ml/h, bolus: 2 ml, lock out interval: 15 min) after their operation. Before general anesthesia, an epidural catheter was inserted at the cervical (C)7-thoracic (T)1 level in the patients of the CEA group. The resting visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, the systolic blood pressure, the heart rate and the side effects were recorded for 48 hours after operation. RESULTS: The VAS at rest was significantly lower in the CEA group than that in the IV-PCA group at 16 hours after surgery. The CEA group required less additional analgesics as compared with the group IV- PCA. There were no significant differences in the systolic blood pressure, the heart rate and the incidence of side effects between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that cervical epidural analgesia, as compared with intravenous patient-controlled analgesia, provides effective pain control and it shows a similar incidence of side effects after mastectomy with immediate LD flap breast reconstruction.

Tracheal intubation via esophagus in a patient with congenital tracheoesophageal fistula : A case report / 대한마취과학회지

H type of congenital tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is rare, occurring approximately once in 100,000 births. The presentation of this anomaly in adults is indeed uncommon. We report a case of a 47-year-old male with congenital TEF dectected during epidural hematoma removal under general anesthesia. Intermittent disappearance of normal capnography, bubbling sound at substernal area, and air leakage at oral cavity observed during manually assisted ventilation, especially during inspiration. We observed a H-type of TEF and tracheal intubation via esophagus in chest CT after operation.

Cardiovascular and respiratory changes in children during diagnostic laparoscopy and laparoscopic surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Information concerning the cardiopulmonary effects of pneumoperitoneum in children is lacking. METHODS: Twenty eight patients were assigned to receive diagnostic laparoscopy (n = 12) or laparoscopic surgery (n = 16). Before insufflation of CO2, tidal volume was set at 10 ml/kg and respiratory rate was adjusted to achieve an end-tidal CO2 (P(ET)CO2) of 30-35 mmHg. Abdominal pressure was maintained at 10-15 mmHg by a CO2 insufflator. We measured the changes of systolic arterial pressure (SAP), heart rate (HR), P(ET)CO2 and peak airway pressure (PAP) at 5 min before (control value) and after CO2 insufflation and 5 min after CO2 deflation. RESULTS: SAP and PAP were increased significantly after pnemoperitoneum compared with the control both in diagnostic laparoscopy and laparoscopic surgery (P < 0.05). P(ET)CO2 was increased significantly after pneumoperitoneum and after CO2 deflation in laparoscopic surgery compared with the control and also with diagnostic laparoscopy (P < 0.05). Driving pressure (the difference between peak airway pressure and abdominal pressure) was increased significantly after pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic surgery compared with diagnostic laparoscopy (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SAP, PAP and P(ET)CO2 increases during diagnostic laparoscopy and laparoscopic surgery, but this effect appears to be of smaller magnitude in diagnostic laparoscopy compared to laparoscopic surgery. We found that these changes had no clinically deleterious effects in healthy children.

Acute Myocardial Infarction during General Anesthesia Combined with Epidural Anesthesia: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

The general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia have many advantages, which are including early recovery, postoperative analgesia, and less requirement of inhalation anesthetic. But the complications of epidural anesthesia such as total spinal anesthesia, respiratory depression, myocardial ischemia, and local anesthetic toxicity can lead to cardiac arrest. We report a case of acute myocardial infarction in a 74-year-old female patient receiving general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia. The profound hypotension without bradycardia and ST-segment elevation in lead II occurred 1 hour after local anesthetic injection and cardiac arrest followed. After the injection of atropine, epinephrine and dopamine, and external cardiac massage, sinus rhythm was restored. Postoperative serial examinations of ECG showed ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, aVF and serum enzymes such as CPK, CK-MB, and Troponin T were elevated. Emergency percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was performed and the patient recovered uneventfully.

Intraoperative and Postoperative Complications in the Patients Undergoing the Pectus Excavatum Repair by the Nuss Procedure: A Retrospective Study / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The popularity and the demand for Nuss procedure have increased dramatically. Many pediatric surgeons became familiarized with Nuss procedure and have applied it to a large number of patients. But the intraoperative and the postoperative complications have not been defined yet. METHODS: 630 patients, who underwent the Nuss procedure between August 1999 and December 2006, were studied retrospectively. Risk factors and complications were obtained from chart review and anesthesia records, and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Complication rates were 127/630 (20.1%) in total patients. Frequent complications were arrhythmia 37 (5.8%), pneumothorax 29 (4.6%), pleural effusion 15 (2.4%), wound infection 14 (2.2%), bar displacement 13 (2%) and pericarditis 9 (1.3%) in order. Resk factors are severity of pectus excavatum and lack of surgeon's experience (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nuss procedure has evolved into an effective method of pectus excavatum repair. To reduce the complications, there must be precise preoperative assessment of computed tomography index (CTI) and intensive postoperative management in the operative day.

Anatomical Investigations for Appropriate Needle Positioning in Thoracic Paravertebral Blockade / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Thoracic paravertebral blockade (TPVB) can be effective in many clinical settings. However, many clinicians are reluctant to use this technique due to its adverse effects such as pneumothorax. The aim of this study was estimate the appropriate depth and width for safe needle positioning. METHODS: The depth from skin to the paravertebral space (PVS) and the width from the spinous process (SP) to the PVS and the lateral tip of the transverse process (LTTP) were measured in all available sections from 84 patients examined by chest computed tomography (CT). The correlation between age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and each measured value was analyzed. RESULTS: All 828 sections from the 84 patients aged between 19 and 65 years old were evaluated. The minimum and maximum values of the mean depth from the skin to PVS were 40.3-52.4 mm in men and 41.2-55.9 mm in women. The minimum and maximum values of the mean width from the SP to LTTP were 29.2-34.6 mm in men and 23.7-31.0 mm in women. At every thoracic level, the depth to PVS was similar in both genders but the width from the SP to the NEP in men was significantly higher than in women. Weight significantly influenced the width from the SP to LTTP in men but height and BMI did not. Also weight and BMI significantly influenced the depth from skin to PVS in almost all of the thoracic region at both sex, but height did not influence the depth from skin to PVS in both sex. CONCLUSIONS: We report clinically useful estimates that may be used to help avoid side effects such as pneumothorax and achieve a successful thoracic paravertebral blockade.

Cardiac Perforation and Hemothorax during the Pericardiectomy and the Removal of Pectus Bar in a Patient with Constrictive Pericarditis Occurred after Pectus Excavatum Repair by the Nuss Procedure: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Nuss procedure offers excellent outcome effect in the cosmetic point of view, but the complications such as cardiac perforation, pericardial effusion, constrictive pericarditis, hemothorax, pneumothorax and bar displacement sometimes occur. We experienced a 13-year-old-male, who showed the profound hypotension with bradycardia due to the cardiac perforation and the lung laceration during the pericardiectomy and the removal of pectus bar. Emergent partial cardiopulmonary bypass was initiated and then, ruptured right atrium and lung laceration were repaired without the remarkable complications. In anesthetic management of the pectus excavatum. This case reveals that special attention should be paid to those with cardiac perforation and lung laceration.

Cardiac Arrest during the Rotation of a Stainless Steel Bar in a Patient undergoing the Pectus Excavatum Repair : A case report

A 6-year-old-man with a severe pectus excavatum and marfanoid feature was admitted for the correction of pectus excavatum. Nuss procedure was recently introduced, because of its excellent effect from the cosmetic point of view. This method is that convex steel bar is inserted under the sternum through small bilateral thoracic incisions, and when it is in position, the bar is turn over, thereby correction the deformity. We experienced a case of the cardiac arrest during the rotation of a stainless steel bar. After the injection of atropine, epinephrine and the closed cardiac massage, sinus rhythm was restored. A vasovagal reflex due to the operation could be considered the possible etiology.

Tension Pneumothorax following the Insertion of a Stainless Steel Bar in Patients undergoing the Pectus Excavatum Repair by the Nuss Procedure : A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Nuss procedure was recently introduced, because of its excellent effect from the cosmetic point of view and improvement of the pulmonary function, but the complications such as heart injury, bar displacement, hemothorax, pneumothorax and tension pneumothorax sometimes occur. We experienced a 12 year-old female, who showed profound hypotension with a bradycardia and severe reduction in oxygen saturation followed by the tension pneumothorax after the operation by the Nuss method. The patient was treated with the immediate thoracostomy and recovered without any other problem. In anesthetic management of the pectus excavatum repair by the Nuss method, we should always pay attention to the possible occurrence of tension pneumothorax.

Anesthetic Experience in a Patient with Goldenhar Syndrome: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Goldenhar syndrome is a rare congenital disorder of hemicraniofacial and vertebral defects related to the abnormal development of the first and second branchial arches. In some infants, congenital heart disease, and pulmonary and renal defects are also present. Goldenhar syndrome commonly involves an airway which is difficult to manage. Tracheal intubation may be difficult due to a combination of retrognathia, micrognathia, mandibular hypoplasia, palatal defects and vertebral abnormities. We experienced the anesthetic management of an 8-month-old boy with Goldenhar syndrome who received excision and biopsy for conjunctival dermoid and ureteral reimplantation for vesicoureteral reflux under general anesthesia. Airway management, with thiopental, rocuronium and sevoflurane, and tracheal intubation were accomplished successfully in the patient. Surgery was performed uneventfully and the patient was discharged without complication.

Effects of Etomidate, Thiopental Sodium and Propofol on Intraocular Pressure Associated with Tracheal Intubation / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: During ophthalmologic surgery, various intravenous anesthetic induction agents are used to prevent an intraocular pressure (IOP) increase. This study was designed to compare the effects of etomidate on IOP with those of thiopental sodium and propofol in patients receiving vecronium bromide, and in whom tracheal intubation was performed. METHODS: Forty-five patients undergoing elective surgery were ramdomized to receive etomidate 0.3 mg/kg (E group, n = 15), thiopental sodium 5 mg/kg (T group, n = 15) or propofol 2.5 mg/kg (P group, n = 15). IOP, systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and heart rate (HR) were measured before induction (B), after the adminstration of the induction agents (I1), before intubation (I2) and at 1, 2 and 3 mins after intubation (T1, T2 and T3). RESULTS: The IOP after I1 and I2 in the E , T and P groups were significantly lower than in group B (P < 0.05). The IOP at T1, T2 and T3 in the E, T and P groups were not found to be significantly different from group B. The IOP, SAP and HR at T1, T2, and T3 in the E, T and P groups were significantly higher than at I1 and I2 (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between the groups in term of IOP. The SAP and HR at T1, T2 and T3 in the P group were significantly lower than in the other two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that etomidate, thiopental sodium and propofol may be useful induction agents for general anesthesia in ophthalmologic surgery but that they do not prevent IOP elevation during endotracheal intubation.

Intravenous Patient-Controlled Analgesia Using Fentanyl after Nuss Procedure in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Pectus Excavatum Repair / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Nuss procedure used in pectus excavatum repair is preferred, because of its excellent effect from the cosmetic point of view and improved pulmonary function, but it cause severe pain due to thoracic expansion after the operation. This study was designed to evaluate effective fentanyl dose using an intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) pump for pain control following pectus excavatum repair in pediatric patients. METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery were randomly assigned to received fentanyl 0.5microgram/kg/hr (Group I, n = 20), 0.7microgram/kg/hr (Group II, n = 20), and 1.0microgram/kg/hr (Group III, n = 20) via an IV-PCA pump (basal, 1 ml/h; bolus, 0.5 ml; lock out interval, 30 min) after operation. A blind observer evaluated each patient using the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario pain scale (CHEOPS) and the faces scale (FS). Incidences of side effects and pain control satisfaction were assessed at postoperative 48 hrs. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in CHEOPS or FS score between the groups the postoperative 48 hrs period. CHEOPS and FS scores at 4 and 8 hrs in groups II and III were significantly lower than in group I (P<0.05), but all groups showed lower CHEOPS and FS scores during the first postoperative 48 hrs. Satisfaction of pain control assessment by mothers was significantly higher in groups II and III than in group I (P<0.05). CHEOPS and FS scores were highly correlated with each other (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that infusion of fentanyl at 0.5microgram/kg/hr using an IV-PCA pump is effective for pain control of 5 years of age or older after Nuss procedure.

Comparisons of Propofol, Enflurane, Sevoflurane, and Desflurane Anesthesia in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy on Postoperative Liver Enzyme Levels / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Many factors cause postoperative hepatic dysfunction, and anesthetic agents and type of surgery are belived to contribute to hepatic dysfunction. The authors planned this study to evaluate the effect of different anesthetic agents (sevoflurane, desflurane, enflurane or propofol) on liver enzymes in the patients who undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: 80 patients were randomly selected from among those who had undergone cholecystectomy and divided into 4 groups; an enflurane group (n = 20), a sevoflurane group (n = 20), a desflurane group (n = 20) and a propofol group (n = 20). Preoperative values of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were compared with those on postoperative days 1 and 3 in all groups. RESULTS: In all groups, ALT and AST were significantly elevated after operation, and then showed a decrease 3 days after operation, but remainrd of above preoperative levels (P < 0.05). However, no differences were observed between the 4 groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We consider that propofol, sevoflurane, desflurane and enflurane are equally usable and that they have little effect on liver function after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Treatment of Persistent Hiccups with a Single Session of Gabapentin Therapy: A report of 2 cases / 대한통증학회지

Hiccups are due to an intermittent clonic spasm of the diaphragm. In most cases, hiccups are self-limiting disease, but persistent hiccups may be related to the presence of serious underlying systemic disease. Two patients who had persistent hiccups that were not controled by conventional methods and medications were referred to the pain clinic. We administered a single oral medication of gabapentin, and then the hiccups disappeared in both cases. We concluded that gabapentin should be considered as an alternative therapy to control persistent or intractable hiccup. It could be particularly useful for those patients with solid malignancies, either alone or as an "add-on therapy" with other oral agents.