The Effect of Spinal Cord Stimulation in Patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome / 대한통증학회지

BACKGROUND: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a painful, disabling disorder for which no proven treatment has been established. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the evidence of the efficacy of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in the management of pain in CRPS patients. METHODS: Between March 2004 and June 2006, 11 patients with CRPS were treated with SCS. The visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain (0-10) and pain disability index (PDI) were obtained in all patients prior to treatment, and 1, 3 and 6 months post-implantation. RESULTS: All 11 patients, 5 men and 6 women, with a median age and duration of CRPS of 44 years and 48.8 months, respectively, successfully received a lead implantation for SCS. The mean VAS pain score prior to the treatment was 85.5 out of 100 mm. After SCS implantation, the mean VAS pain scores were 49.5, 57.0 and 56.0 at 1, 3 and 6 months after the procedure, respectively. The mean pain score for allodynia was decreased by 50%, with a significant reduction of the PDI also observed after the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our current study suggests that SCS implantation is a safe and effective method in the management of CRPS patients.

Thoracic Spinal Cord Stimulation and Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation of Lumbar Sympathetic Ganglion in a Patient with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in the Lower Extremity: A case report / 대한통증학회지

Herein is described the successful treatment of complex regional pain syndrome type II with the combination treatment of spinal cord stimulation and radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the lumbar sympathetic ganglion. A 62 years old male patient, suffering from CRPS type II in his left lower extremity, visited our pain clinic. Medication and nerve blockade produced only slight improvement in his symptoms and signs. Therefore, a linear type spinal cord simulator was inserted into the thoracic epidural space, using a non-surgical percutaneous approach, with the cephalad lead located at the T11 level. Two months later, the repositioning of the electrode to the T12 level for more effective pain control, with radiofrequency thermocoagulation of lumbar sympathetic ganglion also performed at the left L2 and 3 levels for the control of trophic change. These resulted in significant pain relief and decreased trophic change, with no complications, after which the patient was able to resume a normal life.

Botulinum Toxin Type A Therapy in Chronic Headache Patients / 대한통증학회지

BACKGROUND: Chronic headache (CH) constitutes a significant public health problem, impacting on both the individual sufferer and society. Patients with CH, unresponsive to drug therapy or nerve block, suffer considerable disability due to the frequency and severity of attacks; therefore, they should be considered for novel therapy. Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) has shown significant promise in the management of CH. In this paper, we review recent evidence on the efficacy of BoNT-A, and also report our experience with this treatment in CH patients. METHODS: BoNT-A was used to treat 69 CH patients, including 47 in a chronic migraine group and 22 in a non-migraine CH group, who showed therapy-resistance to palliative drug or nerve block. We investigated the demography, dosage and site of BoNT-A injection, and used a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and the degree of satisfaction. The data were analyzed using t-tests and a Friedman repeated measures analysis of variance on ranks. RESULTS: Significant decreases in the VAS for pain were found in both the chronic migraine and non-migraine CH groups, from 2, 4 and 12 weeks and from 4 and 12 weeks, respectively, after BoNT-A administration (P < 0.05). The chronic migraine group showed significantly lower VAS scores for pain than the non-migraine CH group from 2, 4 and 12 weeks after the BoNT-A administration (P < 0.05). Twenty eight patients (59.2%) in the chronic migraine group and eight (36.4%) in the non-migraine CH were satisfied with the BoNT-A treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This clinical study revealed that the use of BoNT-A demonstrated efficacy for CH patients resistant to drug therapy or nerve block. Moreover, BoNT-A proved itself more effective in the chronic migraine than non-migraine CH group.

The Effect of Magnesium Therapy on Thromboelastographic Findings in Patients with End Stage Liver Disease / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing liver transplantation may be a group predisposed to hypomagnesemia and bleeding tendency. There is evidence that magnesium is a crucial constituent of the blood coagulation cascade and has a pro-coagulant activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of magnesium therapy on thromboelastograph (TEG) findings and other clinical parameters in patients undergoing liver transplantation. METHODS: 27 patients scheduled for liver transplantation were included. 1.5 g of magnesium sulfate was diluted in 100 ml of normal saline and infused over a period of 5 minutes to all patients. TEG findings immediately before and after magnesium infusion were compared. Total blood transfused and CaCl2 requirements in these patients were compared with those of a group of patients who received liver transplantation without magnesium therapy. RESULTS: K time and coagulation time (r + k) showed significant reduction, and MA, A60 and TEG index showed significant increases after magnesium therapy (P < 0.05). R time reduced and alpha angle increased after magnesium therapy, but these were not statistically significant. Less blood and CaCl2 was required by these patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Magnesium therapy significantly improved TEG findings of general hypocoagulability in end stage liver disease. It was also associated with a reduced amount of total blood transfused and CaCl2 required during liver transplantation.