A Survey of the Nature of Patients' Preoperative Anxiety and Concerns Regarding Anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Although a personal interview with the patient during the preoperative visit decreases anesthesia-related anxiety, few efforts have been directed at identifying the patients' greatest concerns. The present study was undertaken to assess patients' anxiety regarding anesthetic management and their specific concerns about anesthesia. METHODS: Before any premedication or explanation of proposed anesthetic technique was given, two hundred and ninety five people (family members and patients) scheduled to undergo elective surgical procedures under general or regional anesthesia, were asked the question of what worried them about the anesthesia and what patients really want to know about their anesthesia. RESULTS: The vast majority of patients and their families want to know comprehensive information concerning their general or regional anesthesia including information about all possible complications related to anesthesia. The most common preoperative anxiety and concern regarding the anesthetic procedure relates to complications. In addition, frequent anxiety and curiosity were about recovery time after anesthesia, anesthetic method and pain. Parents and families of children undergoing general anesthesia most worried about brain damage including decline of memory and learning ability. CONCLUSIONS: Reassurance and satisfactory explanations about preanesthetic anxiety and curiosity are required for the patient and their family preoperatively in an attempt to reduce the patient's anxiety.The information from this study could help anesthetists communicate more effectively with the patient and their family during preoperative visits.

Experience of Management in "Preadmission Anesthesia Consultation Clinic" / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Some of elective surgical procedures may be postponed or cancelled due to inadequate preoperative assessment and preparation. To minimize this problem, our preadmission anesthesia consultation clinic had been designed and managed at the outpatient department. The case referral pattern and efficacy of the clinic were evaluated for 1 year. METHODS: The study was done collected prospectively on 881 patients referred to the clinic from January to December 1997, 1 year. The age, sex, departmental distribution of consultation, ASA physical status of patients, the clinical department and reasons of consultation, and satisfaction of the patients or their parents were analized prospectively. The preoperative hospital stay periods before and after the opening of the clinic were compared. RESULTS: The sex ratio(M/F) were 6/4. Thirty-seven percent of the patients were under 10 years old and 11.8% were twenties. ENT(48.4%), ophthalmology(15.6%), general surgery(12.6%) were mainly referral departments. Reasons for consultation were related to chest X-ray abnormality(28.9% of the cases) and EKG abnormality(17.9%). The majority of consultation had pediatric(30%) and cardiologic problem(26%). URI(54.2%) and liver disease(12.6%) were major disease entities to postpone their surgery. In 2.7% of the patients, their admission or operation were postponed by the anesthesiologists in the clinic. Ninety-one percent of the patients were satisfied to visit the clinic. CONCLUSION: We conclude that reduction in preoperative hospital stay and shortening in delay of surgery are provided, and most patients are satisfied to the preadmission anesthesia consultation clinic.

Does Heparin Attenuate the Renal Injury Induced by Ischemia Reperfusion in the Rabbit? / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Increasing degrees of medullary hyperemia induced by ischemia reperfusion injury were associated with renal dysfunction. A possible mechanism may be that ischemia causes alterations in the structure and function of vascular membranes which leads to an aggregation of red blood cells in the medullary vessel. It has been shown that heparin prevents postischemic endothelial cell dysfunction. Aim of this study was to evaluate heparin effects on renal hyperemia induced by ischemia reperfusion injury. METHOD: In this study, fifteen rabbits were randomized to either heparin treatment group(500 IU/kg IV bolus 10 minutes before renal artery occlusion, n=8) or control group(n=7). One side kidney underwent 60 minutes ischemia only by clamping renal pedicle and after that kidney tissue sample was obtained for histologic evaluation. The other side of kidney were permitted 60 minutes ischemia following 60 minutes reperfusion and after that kidney tissue sample was obtained for histologic evaluation. RESULTS: There was significant difference in the degree of congestion(2.6+/-0.2 vs 1.1+/-0.3, P<0.05) between outer medulla of control and heparin treatment group. CONCLUSION: Heparin significantly attenuated outer medullary congestion induced ischemic injury.

Effect of Injection Speed on the Anesthetic Level and Duration of Hypobaric Spinal Anesthesia with 0.1% Tetracaine in Jack-Knife Position at 15o Head-down Tilting / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The speed of injection of local anesthetic solutions into the subarachnoid space may influence the spread of these agents in the cerebrospinal fluid by the amount of turbulence generated, especially with large volume. To determine the proper injection speed of anesthetics in hypobaric spinal anesthesia on jack-knife position, the anesthetic level and duration were measured with the fast or slow injection speed. METHODS: Twenty patients for perianal surgery in jack-knife position under hypobaric spinal anesthesia were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Tetracaine (0.1%) in distilled water 5 ml was administered to all the patients. Group I patients received the drug with the speed of injection as 5 ml/20 sec (15 ml/min) and the others (Group II) as 5 ml/4 min (1.25 ml/min). The mean arterial pressures and heart rates at the preanesthetic period, and 5, 10, 15 and 20 min after the end of injection were measured. The anesthetic levels at 5, 10, 15 and 20 min after the injection and anesthesia duration were measured. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in mean arterial pressures, heart rates and anesthetic duration between two groups. The anesthetic level 20 min after the injection was higher in Group I than Group II, and not different at the other time sequences. CONCLUSION: At the injection speed within 1.25-15 ml/min in hypobaric spinal anesthesia on jack-knife position at 15o head-down, we acquired appropriate anesthetic level and duration for perianal surgery without any undesirable effects.

Dose Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy for Hyperhidrosis Increase Airway Pressure? / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Bilateral interruption of the upper thoracic sympathetic chain at T2 level represents a selective cure for essential hyperhidrosis. Following the surgical sympathectomy, significant changes in pulmonary function has been observed. Our hypothesis was that thoracic sympathectomy may increase airway resistance during mechanical ventilation and which may be attenuated by the anticholinergics. METHODS: 21 patients with essential hyperhidrosis in ASA physical status class 1 under going thoracoscopic sympathectomy, they were randomizely divided into two groups: glycopyrrolate premedication group (n=13) and non-premedication, control group (n=9). Glycopyrrolate 0.2 mg was administered 30 minutes before the induction of anesthesia. Blood pressure, heart rate, peak airway pressure, plateau pressure were measured at before and immediate after sympathectomy. Respiratory compliance and resistance were calculated. RESULTS: After thoracoscopic sympathectomy, there was significant increase in mean peak airway pressure (15 +/- 3 vs 18 +/- 3 cmH2O, P<0.05) and decrease in respiratory compliance (52 +/- 12 vs 45 +/- 10 ml/cmH2O, P<0.05) compared to baseline. However there was no significant difference between glycopyrolate premedication group and non-premedication group. Conclusion: Thoracoscopic upper dorsal sympathectomy in patients with essential hyperhidrosis causes increase peak airway pressure and decrease the compliance of respiratory system during mechanical ventilation.

Oropharyneal Bezoar in a Patient with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis under Mechanical Ventilation: A case report / 대한구급학회지

Bezoars are not uncommonly found during upper gastrointestinal investigations (UGI), are known to be associated with conditions causing stasis changes in gastrointestinal tract. We described here a curious presentation of an oropharyngea bezoar associated with medication and tube feeding. Only few cases of regurgated esophageal bezoar have been reported. A 54 years old man with amyotropic lateral sclerosis required ventilatory support. Nasogastric tube was placed, enteral feeding with special liquid diet (Geenvia TF) was begun. In addition, almagate was given via the feeding tube. Tracheotomy was done for long term mechanical ventilation support. On the 10th day of ICU stay, he complained of foreign body sensation in oral cavity. We could find a white brown colored 15cm solid mass in deep oropharynx. Some factors including sucralfate and the peripheral neuropathy have been suspected to be ascribed forming the esophageal bezoar. Gastrointestinal motility was decrease in patients with peripheral neuropathy. In this case, aluminum hydroxides, one of the aluminium substance like sucralfate, was given to the patient with the peripheral neuropathy. From this experience, we became to know that it is necessary to use the aluminium compound anti-ulcer drug with caution in the patients with the gastrointestinal depression.