Heated wire humidification circuit attenuates the decrease of core temperature during general anesthesia in patients undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative hypothermia is common in patients undergoing general anesthesia during arthroscopic hip surgery. In the present study, we assessed the effect of heating and humidifying the airway with a heated wire humidification circuit (HHC) to attenuate the decrease of core temperature and prevent hypothermia in patients undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery under general anesthesia. METHODS: Fifty-six patients scheduled for arthroscopic hip surgery were randomly assigned to either a control group using a breathing circuit connected with a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) (n = 28) or an HHC group using a heated wire humidification circuit (n = 28). The decrease in core temperature was measured from anesthetic induction and every 15 minutes thereafter using an esophageal stethoscope. RESULTS: Decrease in core temperature from anesthetic induction to 120 minutes after induction was lower in the HHC group (–0.60 ± 0.27℃) compared to the control group (–0.86 ± 0.29℃) (P = 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of intraoperative hypothermia or the incidence of shivering in the postanesthetic care unit. CONCLUSIONS: The use of HHC may be considered as a method to attenuate intraoperative decrease in core temperature during arthroscopic hip surgery performed under general anesthesia and exceeding 2 hours in duration.

Thoracic interfascial nerve block for breast surgery in a pregnant woman: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Regional anesthesia for non-obstetric surgery in parturients is a method to decrease patient and fetal risk during general anesthesia. Thoracic interfascial nerve block can be used as an analgesic technique for surgical procedures of the thorax. The Pecs II block is an interfascial block that targets not only the medial and lateral pectoral nerves, but also the lateral cutaneous branch of the intercostal nerve. Pecto-intercostal fascial block (PIFB) targets the anterior cutaneous branch of the intercostal nerve. The authors successfully performed a modified Pecs II block and PIFB without complications in a parturient who refused general anesthesia for breast surgery.

Thoracic interfascial nerve block for breast surgery in a pregnant woman: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Regional anesthesia for non-obstetric surgery in parturients is a method to decrease patient and fetal risk during general anesthesia. Thoracic interfascial nerve block can be used as an analgesic technique for surgical procedures of the thorax. The Pecs II block is an interfascial block that targets not only the medial and lateral pectoral nerves, but also the lateral cutaneous branch of the intercostal nerve. Pecto-intercostal fascial block (PIFB) targets the anterior cutaneous branch of the intercostal nerve. The authors successfully performed a modified Pecs II block and PIFB without complications in a parturient who refused general anesthesia for breast surgery.

Heated carrier fluids in decreasing propofol injection pain: a randomized, controlled trial / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Propofol is a commonly used intravenous drug during anesthetic induction because of its rapid onset and short duration. However, the injection pain that patients experience is so severe that they recall the induction of anesthesia as the most painful part of the perioperative period. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of heated carrier fluids (40℃) in decreasing propofol injection pain. METHODS: A randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted in 90 patients aged 18 to 65 who were scheduled for either elective or urgent surgery under general anesthesia classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II. Patients were allocated into the following 3 groups: 1) Group W (n = 30) who received 200 ml of heated carrier fluids for 20 minutes prior to propofol injection; 2) Group L (n = 30) who received 200 ml of heated carrier fluids for 20 minutes prior to 0.5 mg/kg 1%lidocaine 1 minute before propofol injection; 3) Group C (control group, n = 30) who received 200 ml of room temperature fluids prior to propofol injection. Pain was evaluated using verbal pain score (VPS). RESULTS: Group W and Group L showed significant reduction (P = 0.001) in the incidence and severity of injection pain compared to Group C. VPS scores were significantly lower in Group W and Group L compared to those of Group C. Incidence of propofol injection pain was statistically different between Group W (P = 0.005) and Group L (P = 0.037) compared to Group C, but not statistically different between Group W and Group L (P = 0.432). CONCLUSIONS: Both sole injection of heated carrier fluids and the combination of 0.5 mg/kg 1%lidocaine pretreatment effectively reduced propofol injection pain.

Failed intubation of an unanticipated postintubation tracheal stenosis: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Encountering a patient with unanticipated laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) during anesthetic induction is challenging for an anesthesiologist. Because routine history taking and pre-anesthetic evaluation cannot rule out the possibility of LTS, other measures should be taken. Perioperative airway maintenance is considered crucial for avoiding complications such as airway edema, bleeding, obstruction, collapse, and ultimately respiratory failure and arrest. We report an unanticipated tracheal stenosis discovered during anesthetic induction that hindered endotracheal intubation. Because airway maintenance was difficult, we postponed surgery until determining the cause of the difficult entry, considered possible therapeutic approaches (both anesthetic and surgical), and provided successful surgery with a continuous epidural block.

Anesthesia and sedation outside of the operating room / 대한마취과학회지

Due to rapid evolution and technological advancements, medical personnel now require special training outside of their safe zones. Anesthesiologists face challenges in practicing in locations beyond the operating room. New locations, inadequate monitoring devices, poor assisting staff, unfamiliarity of procedures, insufficient knowledge of basic standards, and lack of experience compromise the quality of patient care. Therefore, anesthesiologists must recognize possible risk factors during anesthesia in nonoperating rooms and familiarize themselves with standards to improve safe practice. This review article emphasizes the need for standardizing hospitals and facilities requiring nonoperating room anesthesia, and encourages anesthesiologists to take the lead in applying these practice guidelines to improve patient outcomes and reduce adverse events.

Changes in pulse transit time according to target controlled infusion of propofol versus sevoflurane inhalation induction

BACKGROUND: Pulse transit time (PTT), the time it takes a pulse wave to travel from one arterial site to another, is a noninvasive indicator of arterial stiffness. The main objective of our study was to compare two common anesthetic techniques using PTT in order to explore which technique would bring more vascular distention. METHODS: Sixty female patients, ages 18-65, classified by ASA 1 or 2 undergoing general anesthesia, were randomly allocated into two groups, S and P. Group S (n = 30) was inducted with 2 mg/kg of propofol and remifentanil 5.0 ng/ml. Group P (n = 30) was inducted with propofol 4.0 ug/ml and remifentanil 4.0 ng/ml using a target controlled infusion (TCI) pump. Group S was anesthetically maintained with sevoflurane at 1.0 MAC and 1.0 ng/ml remifentanil while group P was anesthetically maintained with propofol 3.0 ug/ml and remifentanil 1.0 ng/ml for 10 minutes. PTT values were obtained by measuring the distance between the electrocardiographic R wave, which approximates the opening of the aortic valve, to the radial artery. Three consecutive values of prePTT, postPTT, and corresponding vital signs were measured and recorded before and 10 minutes after anesthetic induction. RESULTS: PrePTT in group S and group P was 240.18 +/- 3.66 and 239.32 +/- 3.69 ms, respectively. Ten minutes after anesthetic induction, postPTT in group S increased to 284.16 +/- 4.37 ms while postPTT in group P increased to 278.7 +/- 4.53 ms (P > 0.05). However, despite the slope of group S (43.98 +/- 22.18) being greater than group P (39.38 +/- 18.39), the difference between the two groups was statistically insignificant (P = 0.2239). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in PTT values were statistically insignificant regarding arterial distension in patients anesthetized with target controlled infusion of propofol compared to those with balanced anesthesia with sevoflurane.

Antinociceptive effect of phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone, a free radical scavenger, on the rat formalin test / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, and nitroperoxide, cause oxidative stress which interferes with normal cell functioning, resulting in cell damage. It is reported to be associated with chronic pain, especially neuropathic pain, and inflammatory pain. ROS is also closely related to central sensitization. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the effects of Phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN), an ROS scavenger, in acute, continuous, and increasing pain caused by central sensitization. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups, an intraperitoneal group (IP) and an intrathecal group (IT), and once again divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group was injected with Phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN), a free radical scavenger, either intraperitoneally or intrathecally. After inducing pain by injecting formalin into the hind paw, pain behaviors were measured. Lumbar enlargement immmunohistochemistry was performed to assess nitrotyrosine, an oxidative stress marker, to identify the degree of protein nitration. RESULTS: Both experimental groups of IP and IT showed statistically significant decreases in the number of flinches compared to the control group in phase 1 and 2. Immunohistochemical evaluation in the control group revealed an increase in nitrated proteins in the gray matter of the lumbar spinal cord, but a significant decrease in nitrated proteins in the gray matter of lumbar spinal cord of the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: Intraperitoneal and intrathecal administration of PBN decreases analgesic behaviors, allowing us to believe that ROS is mainly responsible for acute pain and central sensitization.

Antinociceptive effect of phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone, a free radical scavenger, on the rat formalin test / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, and nitroperoxide, cause oxidative stress which interferes with normal cell functioning, resulting in cell damage. It is reported to be associated with chronic pain, especially neuropathic pain, and inflammatory pain. ROS is also closely related to central sensitization. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the effects of Phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN), an ROS scavenger, in acute, continuous, and increasing pain caused by central sensitization. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups, an intraperitoneal group (IP) and an intrathecal group (IT), and once again divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group was injected with Phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN), a free radical scavenger, either intraperitoneally or intrathecally. After inducing pain by injecting formalin into the hind paw, pain behaviors were measured. Lumbar enlargement immmunohistochemistry was performed to assess nitrotyrosine, an oxidative stress marker, to identify the degree of protein nitration. RESULTS: Both experimental groups of IP and IT showed statistically significant decreases in the number of flinches compared to the control group in phase 1 and 2. Immunohistochemical evaluation in the control group revealed an increase in nitrated proteins in the gray matter of the lumbar spinal cord, but a significant decrease in nitrated proteins in the gray matter of lumbar spinal cord of the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: Intraperitoneal and intrathecal administration of PBN decreases analgesic behaviors, allowing us to believe that ROS is mainly responsible for acute pain and central sensitization.

Thoracic paravertebral block for breast surgery in a pregnant woman: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Non-obstetrical surgery during the first trimester is stressful to both the mother and the fetus. Anesthesiologists are also stressed, not only because of the effects of surgery itself, but also because of the uncertain influences of anesthesia thrown upon on the fetus. The authors present a case of breast surgery successfully performed on a woman 8 weeks pregnant requiring removal of breast abscess by the application of thoracic paravertebral block without any complications. Thoracic paravertebral block may be a safe anesthetic method for non-obstetric surgery during early pregnancy.