Erratum: Effect of needle approach to the axillary artery on transarterial axillary brachial plexus block quality

Figure 1 was printed with incorrect text. In the Figure, “Radial artery” should be corrected to “Axillary artery.”

Effect of needle approach to the axillary artery on transarterial axillary brachial plexus block quality

BACKGROUND: The authors sought to determine whether a shallow needle approach to the axillary artery would improve complete sensory blocks of median, radial, and ulnar nerves as compared with a perpendicular approach when transarterial axillary block is performed using a scalp vein needle (23G, 3/4'). METHODS: Fifty-four patients were allocated equally to a perpendicular group (the PA group) or a shallow approach group (SA group). Sensory and motor scores were evaluated and compared in the two groups at 5-minute intervals for 20 minutes after block. The main outcome variables were rates of blockage of median, radial, and ulnar nerves. RESULTS: Excellent block rates (defined as completion of surgery using brachial plexus block alone) were obtained in both groups (SA group 77.8% vs. PA group 70.3%, P = 0.755). However, the rate of blockage of all three nerves was significantly higher in the SA group (74% vs. 40.7%, P = 0.013). Furthermore, the rate of complete sensory block of the radial nerve at 20 minutes was significantly greater in the SA group (85.2% vs. 59.3%, P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: A shallow needle approach to the axillary artery resulted in a significantly higher median, radial, and ulnar nerve block rate at 20 minutes after LA injection than a perpendicular approach.

Effect of needle approach to the axillary artery on transarterial axillary brachial plexus block quality

BACKGROUND: The authors sought to determine whether a shallow needle approach to the axillary artery would improve complete sensory blocks of median, radial, and ulnar nerves as compared with a perpendicular approach when transarterial axillary block is performed using a scalp vein needle (23G, 3/4'). METHODS: Fifty-four patients were allocated equally to a perpendicular group (the PA group) or a shallow approach group (SA group). Sensory and motor scores were evaluated and compared in the two groups at 5-minute intervals for 20 minutes after block. The main outcome variables were rates of blockage of median, radial, and ulnar nerves. RESULTS: Excellent block rates (defined as completion of surgery using brachial plexus block alone) were obtained in both groups (SA group 77.8% vs. PA group 70.3%, P = 0.755). However, the rate of blockage of all three nerves was significantly higher in the SA group (74% vs. 40.7%, P = 0.013). Furthermore, the rate of complete sensory block of the radial nerve at 20 minutes was significantly greater in the SA group (85.2% vs. 59.3%, P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: A shallow needle approach to the axillary artery resulted in a significantly higher median, radial, and ulnar nerve block rate at 20 minutes after LA injection than a perpendicular approach.

The Influence of Genotype Polymorphism on Morphine Analgesic Effect for Postoperative Pain in Children

BACKGROUND: Although opioids are the most commonly used medications to control postoperative pain in children, the analgesic effects could have a large inter-individual variability according to genotypes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms and the analgesic effect of morphine for postoperative pain in children. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in 88 healthy children undergoing tonsillectomy, who received morphine during the operation. The postoperative pain score, frequency of rescue analgesics, and side effects of morphine were assessed in the post-anesthesia care unit. The children were genotyped for OPRM1 A118G, ABCB1 C3435T, and COMT Val158Met. RESULTS: Children with at least one G allele for OPRM1 (AG/GG) had higher postoperative pain scores compared with those with the AA genotype at the time of discharge from the post-anesthesia care unit (P = 0.025). Other recovery profiles were not significantly different between the two groups. There was no significant relationship between genotypes and postoperative pain scores in analysis of ABCB1 and COMT polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic polymorphism at OPRM1 A118G, but not at ABCB1 C3435T and COMT Val158Met, influences the analgesic effect of morphine for immediate acute postoperative pain in children.

Ultrasound-guided superficial cervical plexus block for carotid endarterectomy in a patient with Lemierre syndrome: A case report

A 70-year-old woman with an infectious thrombus in her left internal jugular vein (IJV) underwent carotid endarterectomy for stenosis and a highly movable plaque in her right carotid artery. She had been treated with antibiotics for four weeks before surgery due to Lemierre syndrome, a rare septic thrombophlebitis in the IJV secondary to an oropharyngeal infection. The right IJV was in a two-fold dilated state due to compensation for a thrombotic left IJV. Accordingly, superficial cervical plexus block was performed under ultrasound guidance to ensure safety and accuracy. During surgery, the alertness was maintained and the patient did not complain of pain in the absence of additional analgesics. No block-related complications were encountered. The authors report for the first time their regional anesthetic experiences in a patient with Lemierre syndrome.

Changes in cerebral oxygen saturation and early postoperative cognitive function after laparoscopic gastrectomy: a comparison with conventional open surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic gastrectomy requires a reverse-Trendelenburg position and prolonged pneumoperitoneum and it could cause significant changes in cerebral homeostasis and lead to cognitive dysfunction. We compared changes in regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2), early postoperative cognitive function and hemodynamic variables in patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy with those patients that underwent conventional open gastrectomy. METHODS: Sixty patients were enrolled in this study and the patients were distributed to receive either laparoscopic gastrectomy (laparoscopy group, n = 30) or open conventional gastrectomy (open group, n = 30). rSO2, end-tidal carbon dioxide tension, hemodynamic variables and arterial blood gas analysis were monitored during the operation. The enrolled patients underwent the mini-mental state examination 1 day before and 5 days after surgery for evaluation of early postoperative cognitive function. RESULTS: Compared to baseline value, rSO2 and end-tidal carbon dioxide tension increased significantly in the laparoscopy group after pneumoperitoneum, whereas no change was observed in the open group. No patient experienced cerebral oxygen desaturation or postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Changes in mean arterial pressure over time were significantly different between the groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Both laparoscopic and open gastrectomy did not induce cerebral desaturation or early postoperative cognitive dysfunction in patients under desflurane anesthesia. However, rSO2 values during surgery favoured laparoscopic surgery, which was possibly related to increased cerebral blood flow due to increased carbon dioxide tension and the effect of a reverse Trendelenburg position.

Ultrasound-guided central cluster approach for the supraclavicular brachial plexus block: a case series / 대한마취과학회지

There are many different approaches to ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block (US-SCBPB), and each has a different success rate and complications. The most commonly performed US-SCBPB is the corner pocket approach in which the needle is advanced very close to the subclavian artery and pleura. Therefore, it may be associated with a risk of subclavian artery puncture or pneumothorax. We advanced the needle into the central part of the neural cluster after penetrating the sheath of the brachial plexus in US-SCBPB. We refer to this new method as the "central cluster approach." In this approach, the needle does not have to advance close to the subclavian artery or pleura. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of the central cluster approach in US-SCBPB.

Effect of pneumoperitoneum on the recovery from intense neuromuscular blockade by rocuronium in healthy patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effect of pneumoperitoneum on the recovery from intense neuromuscular blockade by rocuronium in healthy patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery. METHODS: Thirty adult patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery were studied. Anesthesia was induced with 1.5 mg/kg of propofol, 12 ug/kg of alfentanil and 0.6 mg/kg of rocuronium and maintained with 2 vol% of sevoflurane and 0.05-0.2 microg/kg/min remifentanil. The neuromuscular relaxation was monitored by Train-of-Four (TOF) and post-tetanic count (PTC). Additional rocuronium of 0.2 mg/kg was administered for deep neuromuscular blockade at 30 min after pneumoperitoneum. Before (PPpre) and 30 min after pneumoperitoneum (PPpost), PTC was measured at 6 min intervals. The relationship between PTC and the time interval to reappearance of T1 response was observed. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD of the intervals between the detection of 4 counts of the PTC and the first response to TOF stimulation was 13.0 +/- 1.1 min and 16.4 +/- 6.3 min PPpre and PPpost, respectively (P = 0.20). There were significant negative relationships between PTC observed and the time interval to reappearance of T1 response (adjusted R2 = 0.869, P < 0.001 for PPpre data, and adjusted R2 = 0.561, P < 0.001 for PPpost data). Comparing the difference of regression equation between PPpre and PPpost data using a parallelism test, there was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.193). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that PP with intra-abdominal pressure at the level of 13-14 mmHg did not affect the recovery from intense neuromuscular blockade by rocuronium in healthy patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery.

Coronary vasospasm caused by local infiltration of epinephrine after spinal anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Coronary vasospasm caused by local infiltration of epinephrine after spinal anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

A comparison of general anesthesia versus axillary brachial plexus block for hand and wrist surgery in the view of patient satisfaction

BACKGROUND: We evaluated whether the analgesic superiority of regional block over general anesthesia improves patient satisfaction. METHODS: Patients were anesthetized with either general anesthesia (GA) (n = 30) or axillary brachial plexus block (BPB) (n = 30). GA was standardized to include induction with propofol and alfentanil and maintenance with desflurane in an oxygen/nitrous oxide mixture. BPB was performed using an axillary perivascular approach, and 1.5% lidocaine 20 ml with epinephrine (1 : 200,000) and 0.5% levobupivacaine 20 ml were injected. Pain scores and numbers of times pushing the patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) button were measured preoperatively and at 2, 6, and 24 hours after the end of surgery. On the first day after the operation, one of our researchers visited the patients to document their opinions of their anesthetic experiences and their satisfaction scores. RESULTS: Group BPB had lower visual analog scale scores at 2 hours and 6 hours postoperatively. Numbers of times pushing the PCA button was also lower in Group BPB within the first 2 hours and between 2-6 hours postoperatively. However, patient satisfaction scores were not statistically different between the two groups (84 +/- 11 vs. 88 +/- 12, P = 0.177). CONCLUSIONS: BPB provided superior analgesia after upper limb surgery compared to GA, but for a complete understanding of patients' satisfaction, detailed consideration of factors such as sedation would be necessary.

Anesthetic management for cesarean delivery in a patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis: A case report

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, progressive cystic lung disease, characterized by a proliferation of immature smooth muscle cell (LAM cell) in the airway, parenchyma, lymph nodes and pulmonary vessels. It mainly affects women in their reproductive years. It is clinically manifested by recurrent pneumothorax, progressive dyspnea on exertion and chylothorax; it can also ultimately lead to respiratory failure. However, no curative treatment for LAM is currently available. We report an anesthetic management for cesarean delivery in a parturient newly diagnosed with LAM.

Anesthetic management for cesarean delivery in a patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis: A case report

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, progressive cystic lung disease, characterized by a proliferation of immature smooth muscle cell (LAM cell) in the airway, parenchyma, lymph nodes and pulmonary vessels. It mainly affects women in their reproductive years. It is clinically manifested by recurrent pneumothorax, progressive dyspnea on exertion and chylothorax; it can also ultimately lead to respiratory failure. However, no curative treatment for LAM is currently available. We report an anesthetic management for cesarean delivery in a parturient newly diagnosed with LAM.

Profound Hypotension after an Intradermal Injection of Indigo Carmine for Sentinel Node Mapping / 한국유방암학회지

Intradermal injections of indigo carmine for sentinel node mapping are considered safe and no report of an adverse reaction has been published. The authors described two cases of profound hypotension in women that underwent breast-conserving surgery after an intradermal injection of indigo carmine into the periareolar area for sentinel node mapping.

Effects of incrementally increasing tidal volume on the cross-sectional area of the right internal jugular vein / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Different tidal volume (TV) settings during mechanical ventilation alter intrathoracic blood volume, and these changes could alter central venous pressure and the cross sectional area (CSA) of the right internal jugular vein (RIJV). The aim of this study was to determine the optimal TV for maximizing the CSA of the RIJV in the supine and Trendelenburg positions in anesthetized patients. METHODS: Forty patients were randomly allocated to a supine group (Group S, n = 20) or a Trendelenburg group (Group T, n = 20) by computer generated randomization. RIJV CSAs were measured repeatedly after increasing the inspiratory volume in 1 ml/kg increments from a TV of 8 ml/kg to 14 ml/kg using ultrasound images. RESULTS: Peak inspiratory pressure increased significantly on increasing TV from 11 ml/kg to 14 ml/kg and between baseline (TV 8 ml/kg) and 11 ml/kg in both groups (P < 0.05). RIJV CSA was not increased versus baseline even after TV changes in either group and no intergroup difference was found. CONCLUSIONS: TV increases do not increase the CSA of the RIJV within the TV range 8 to 14 ml/kg in the supine or 10degrees Trendelenburg position.

An anesthetic experience of a patient with paraneoplastic encephalitis: A case report

Paraneoplastic encephalitis associated with an ovarian teratoma has been related to the development of antibodies to specific heteromers of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). The disorder, known as anti-NMDAR encephalitis, is characterized by psychiatric symptoms, seizures, mood and behavioral changes as well as involuntary movement. Since the NMDAR is the target of many anesthetic drugs, the presence of anti-NMDAR antibodies might influence the requirements of anesthetics or their effects. We report the presentation and anesthetic experience of a young patient with anti-NMDAR encephalitis undergoing surgical excision of two ovarian teratomas, and we also review the relevant literature.

The clinical effective dose of alfentanil for suppressing cough during emergence from desflurane anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The administration of short-acting opioids before emergence is useful for preventing emergence cough induced by an endotracheal tube. This study examined the clinically effective dose of alfentanil for suppressing cough during emergence from desflurane anesthesia. METHODS: Twenty-nine adult patients undergoing elective oral surgery were enrolled in this study. During emergence from anesthesia, the patients received alfentanil diluted in 10 ml normal saline when the end-tidal vol% of desflurane decreased to 3%. The initial alfentanil dose was 16 microg/kg. The alfentanil dose for consecutive patients, determined by Dixon's up-and-down method, increased or decreased by 2 microg/kg according to a previous patient's result. RESULTS: The 50% effective dose (ED50) of alfentanil for suppressing cough during emergence from desflurane anaesthesia was 9.3 +/- 1.5 microg/kg according to Dixon's up-and-down method. Isotonic regression revealed an ED50 and ED95 (95% confidence interval) of alfentanil 10.0 microg/kg (6.8-13.2 microg/kg) and 14.0 microg/kg (7.7-19.4 microg/kg), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The ED95 of alfentanil for suppressing emergence cough was 14.0 microg/kg. A single bolus administration of alfentanil during emergence from anesthesia was useful for suppressing emergence cough.

Effective treatment of a digital ulcer and pain in a Raynaud's syndrome patient with using a spinal cord stimulator : A case report

Raynaud's phenomenon associated with connective tissue disease (Raynaud`s syndrome) may be difficult to manage with conservative therapy, and no gold standard therapy currently exists. Raynaud's syndrome can cause digital ulcer and necrosis, digital amputation is inevitable in some patients. Spinal cord stimulation seems to be an effective treatment for ischemic vascular disease, although little is known about the mechanisms of this effect. We present here a case for which cervical spinal cord stimulation was used to treat a digital ulcer and the intractable digital pain in a 60-year-old male patient who had severe Raynaud's syndrome. The patient had Raynaud's phenomenon associated with mixed connective tissue disease for 10 years. Three years before visiting our clinic, he underwent amputation at the second and third distal phalanges of his right hand because of digital necrosis. Two months after spinal cord stimulator implantation, his pain significantly improved from 100/100 mm VAS to 0/100 mm and the function of his hands noticeably improved.

Epidemiology of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Retrospective Chart Review of 150 Korean Patients

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronically painful and disabling disorder. However, no data are available even on the epidemiology of CRPS in Korea. This study was undertaken to retrospectively assess the epidemiologic characteristics of CRPS in 150 consecutive patients at a tertiary chronic pain center from March 2002 to February 2006. Information was obtained regarding patients' demographics, nature of injury, and treatment modalities. Seventy-one percent of patients had CRPS type I. The mean 11-point verbal numerical rating scale score at initial examinations and at the time of study were 8.0 and 5.7, respectively. Thirty-two percent of patients showed no change or increase in pain intensity during follow-up at our pain center. The mean duration of CRPS symptoms prior to our pain center evaluation and prior to the time of study were 27 months and 50 months, respectively. These patients had seen on average 5 different physicians before being referred to our center. This study shows that the majority of CRPS patients were referred to our center after more than 2 yr of symptoms. The clinical implication of such delayed transfer and strategies to avoid this problem are discussed.

Spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of intractable stump pain after amputation of the both lower limbs 36 years ago: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective therapy for chronic and intractable neuropathic pain. We present a case report of successful pain control using SCS implantation in a patient with chronic, intractable stump pain for 36 years. The patient lost his two legs under the knees during the Vietnam War and had an amputation. After that he suffered stump pain for 36 years due to recurrent neuroma even after neuroma excision was performed over 30 times. We inserted the dual percutaneous leads at the level of left T9 and right T10 in this patient and could get complete pain relief without any complications.