Inter-arm arterial pressure difference caused by prone position in the thoracic outlet syndrome patient: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Thoracic outlet syndrome has neurologic symptoms caused by compression of brachial plexus, blood vessel symptoms are caused by compression of the artery or vein. The authors report a case of sudden decrease in blood pressure of the left arm after turning the patient from supine position to prone position. They confirmed that the patient had thoracic outlet syndrome after performing computed tomography.

Unilateral administration of a drug into the lung of a small animal / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The selective unilateral administration of drugs into a single lung of a rat is difficult because of the small airway diameter. Therefore, a simple method for unilateral administration into rat lung is needed. METHODS: Rats were assigned to 1 of 2 groups according to the direction of the catheter used for drug administration. Anesthetized rats were intubated, and curved epidural catheters were rotated up to a maximum of 90degrees toward the left lung (group L) or right lung (group R). Bronchial catheters were then inserted via a tracheal tube and fixed. Methylene blue (0.3 ml) was injected via the epidural catheter. Additionally, to compare survival rates, rats were assigned to one of two groups according to the drug administration route. In group T, bleomycin hydrochloride (20 mg/kg) in 0.3 ml of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was administrated into the lung intratracheally via a tracheal tube. In group B, the same dose of bleomycin was administrated into the lung intrabronchially via a bronchial catheter, targeting the left lung. RESULTS: Gross examination revealed that targeted administration was 100% successful. Methylene blue was observed in the right lung of all rats in the R group and in the left lung of all rats in the L group. The survival rate was higher in group B than in group T. CONCLUSIONS: The intrabronchial method offers an advantage over tracheal administration as it decreases mortality and allows the administration of a drug unilaterally into a single lung or into a localized area without the need for double-lumen tubes or more invasive procedures.

Breakage of thoracic epidural catheter: How can we deal with it?: A report of 2 cases

Breakage of epidural catheter during insertion and removal is a rare but dilemmatic complication. Although it is favorable to remove a broken catheter entrapped in tissue, there is a controversy about whether retained fragments should be managed even in asymptomatic patients. We experienced two cases of breakage of epidural catheter in patients with thoracic epidural analgesia. One case happened during removing of the entire catheter and needle together and the other, during the removal of the catheter alone. Because neurologic or infective complications were not detected until 14 days after the events, surgical interventions were withheld. In both cases, there were no sequelae on long-term follow up.