Acute Myocardial Infarction during General Anesthesia Combined with Epidural Anesthesia: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

The general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia have many advantages, which are including early recovery, postoperative analgesia, and less requirement of inhalation anesthetic. But the complications of epidural anesthesia such as total spinal anesthesia, respiratory depression, myocardial ischemia, and local anesthetic toxicity can lead to cardiac arrest. We report a case of acute myocardial infarction in a 74-year-old female patient receiving general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia. The profound hypotension without bradycardia and ST-segment elevation in lead II occurred 1 hour after local anesthetic injection and cardiac arrest followed. After the injection of atropine, epinephrine and dopamine, and external cardiac massage, sinus rhythm was restored. Postoperative serial examinations of ECG showed ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, aVF and serum enzymes such as CPK, CK-MB, and Troponin T were elevated. Emergency percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was performed and the patient recovered uneventfully.

A case of successful laparoscopic surgical staging in patient of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor / 대한산부인과학회지

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors are rare sex cord-stromal tumors. These tumors account for less than 0.5% of all ovarian tumors. Because these tumors appear predominantly in young women (between the age of 30 and 40) and are bilateral in less than 1% of cases, conservative removal of the tumor and adjacent fallopian tube is justifiable. Recently, we experienced a case of successful laparoscopic surgical staging in patient of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor which was previously incompletely evaluated in local OBGY clinic. There are no solid data to suggest that usefulness and risk of laparoscopic surgical staging and adjuvant therapy with stage I disease of these tumors until now. So we present it with a brief review of literature.

Cardiac Perforation and Hemothorax during the Pericardiectomy and the Removal of Pectus Bar in a Patient with Constrictive Pericarditis Occurred after Pectus Excavatum Repair by the Nuss Procedure: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Nuss procedure offers excellent outcome effect in the cosmetic point of view, but the complications such as cardiac perforation, pericardial effusion, constrictive pericarditis, hemothorax, pneumothorax and bar displacement sometimes occur. We experienced a 13-year-old-male, who showed the profound hypotension with bradycardia due to the cardiac perforation and the lung laceration during the pericardiectomy and the removal of pectus bar. Emergent partial cardiopulmonary bypass was initiated and then, ruptured right atrium and lung laceration were repaired without the remarkable complications. In anesthetic management of the pectus excavatum. This case reveals that special attention should be paid to those with cardiac perforation and lung laceration.

A case of uterine inversion resulted from prolapse of huge pedunculated uterine submucosal leiomyoma / 대한산부인과학회지

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common uterine tumors. They are estimated to be present in approximately 20% of all women of reproductive age. They may be present in subserosal, intramural, or submucosal in location within the uterus, or located in the cervix, in the broad ligaments, or on a pedicle. Many studies report that the malignant potential of a preexisting uterine leiomyoma is extremely rare, occuring in less than 0.5%. Uterine leiomyomas may cause a range of syptoms, for example, severe anemia from abnormal uterine bleeding, dysmenorrhea, constipation from rectosigmoid compression, dysuria, frequency, residual sensation due to bladder compression. Patients with those symptoms or "cancer phobia" should be treated. Rare but severe symptoms associated with uterine leiomyomas are rectosigmoid compression, with intestinal obstruction, thrombophlebitis of lower extremities from venous stasis, polycythemia, ascites, severe pain from torsion and infection of prolapsed pedunculated submucosal myoma and uterine inversion from prolase of pedunculated submucosal leiomyoma. Now we report a rare case of uterine inversion resulted from prolapse of huge pedunculated uterine submucosal leiomyoma, which caused hypovolemic shock due to massive uterine bleeding.

Cardiac Arrest during the Rotation of a Stainless Steel Bar in a Patient undergoing the Pectus Excavatum Repair : A case report

A 6-year-old-man with a severe pectus excavatum and marfanoid feature was admitted for the correction of pectus excavatum. Nuss procedure was recently introduced, because of its excellent effect from the cosmetic point of view. This method is that convex steel bar is inserted under the sternum through small bilateral thoracic incisions, and when it is in position, the bar is turn over, thereby correction the deformity. We experienced a case of the cardiac arrest during the rotation of a stainless steel bar. After the injection of atropine, epinephrine and the closed cardiac massage, sinus rhythm was restored. A vasovagal reflex due to the operation could be considered the possible etiology.

A case of transverse vaginal septum with modified Garcia technique / 대한산부인과학회지

The incidence of all transverse vaginal septum is 1:2,100 - 1:72,000. The transverse vaginal septum is a developmental defect of vagina which may be fused incompletely between the Mullerian duct component and the urogenital sinus component of vagina. Serious complications may be hematocolpos, hematometra and hematosalpinx. Simple surgical excision or simple incision have been developed to treat congenital transverse vaginal septa, but also caused common complications such as secondary tissue contracture. Garcia technique using eight vaginal mucosa flaps was developed to avoid common complication of secondary vaginal stenosis. Here, we present a case of contracted transverse vaginal septum who has been performed a simple incision 13 years ago, successfully performed the modified Garcia technique without serious postoperative complication.

Tension Pneumothorax following the Insertion of a Stainless Steel Bar in Patients undergoing the Pectus Excavatum Repair by the Nuss Procedure : A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Nuss procedure was recently introduced, because of its excellent effect from the cosmetic point of view and improvement of the pulmonary function, but the complications such as heart injury, bar displacement, hemothorax, pneumothorax and tension pneumothorax sometimes occur. We experienced a 12 year-old female, who showed profound hypotension with a bradycardia and severe reduction in oxygen saturation followed by the tension pneumothorax after the operation by the Nuss method. The patient was treated with the immediate thoracostomy and recovered without any other problem. In anesthetic management of the pectus excavatum repair by the Nuss method, we should always pay attention to the possible occurrence of tension pneumothorax.

Effects of laparoscopic surgery on the immune system of the patients with gynecologic diseases / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: Elective surgical approaches and trauma cause changes in the production of different cytokines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of laparoscopic surgery on the immune system of patients with gynecologic diseases. METHODS: We recruited the open surgery group (n=20) and laparoscopic surgery group (n=33). In a prospective study we examined the C-reactive protein (CRP) level, the production of the cytokines Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and TNF-alpha concentrations by ELISA. In addition the fibrinogen, transferrin, albumin, hemoglobin and hematocrit were measured. Statistical analysis was made by Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: There were significant statistical differences in the CRP, IL-6 and IL-8 between the open surgery group and laparoscopic surgery group after surgery. The CRP and IL-8 showed a more distinct increase in open surgery group 24 hours after surgery, the differences between the two surgical approaches were significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Elective surgical approaches cause changes in the immune system, which can be evaluated by the reaction of cytokines. Laparoscopic surgery cause less activation of the CRP and IL-8 than open surgery.

Anesthetic Experience in a Patient with Goldenhar Syndrome: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Goldenhar syndrome is a rare congenital disorder of hemicraniofacial and vertebral defects related to the abnormal development of the first and second branchial arches. In some infants, congenital heart disease, and pulmonary and renal defects are also present. Goldenhar syndrome commonly involves an airway which is difficult to manage. Tracheal intubation may be difficult due to a combination of retrognathia, micrognathia, mandibular hypoplasia, palatal defects and vertebral abnormities. We experienced the anesthetic management of an 8-month-old boy with Goldenhar syndrome who received excision and biopsy for conjunctival dermoid and ureteral reimplantation for vesicoureteral reflux under general anesthesia. Airway management, with thiopental, rocuronium and sevoflurane, and tracheal intubation were accomplished successfully in the patient. Surgery was performed uneventfully and the patient was discharged without complication.

A case of spontaneous rupture of liver melanoma diagnosed during pregnancy / 대한산부인과학회지

The incidence of all malignant tumor in pregnancy is 0.07-0.1%. The most frequent tumors in pregnancy are breast cancer, gynecologic tumors (cervical cancer, ovarian cancer), melanoma and lymphomas. Any malignant tumor in pregnancy has a diagnostic and therapeutic problem. Melanoma is 8% of all malignancies in pregnancy. Surgery is a definitive therapy for early-stage disease. Melanoma in pregnancy metastasize early and rapidly. So we have difficulty in making therapeutic plan. Most frequent metastatic lesions are liver and lung. We experienced melanoma of liver in pregnancy. This report represents melanoma in pregnancy with a review of literature.

Preventive Effect of Intravenous Ondansetron on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting related to Epidural Morphine after Abdominal Surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: A prospective study was performed to evaluate the preventive effect of intravenous (IV) ondansetron on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) due to epidural morphine for postoperative pain control after major abdominal surgery. METHODS: One hundred patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery were randomly devided into two groups, group O (n = 50) receiving IV ondansetron and group C (n = 50) receiving IV saline. After bolus epidural morphine were injected to all patients thirty minutes before the end of surgery, group O received ondansetron 8 mg and group C received normal saline intravenously. Incidence and severity of nausea, episodes of vomiting, patient's satisfaction, side effects such as pruritus, headache, dizziness related to epidural morphine were checked at 6, 24 hours after operation. RESULTS: The incidence and severity of nausea were significantly decreased in group O than group C during the first 24 hours after surgery. There were no significant differences in postoperative pain scores and patient's satisfaction between groups. The patients who didn't experienced PONV were significantly more satisfied than those who experienced PONV after surgery. CONCLUSION: Ondansetron decrease the incidence and severity of nausea in patients receiving epidural morphine for postoperative pain control after major abdominal surgery.

Treatment of Persistent Hiccups with a Single Session of Gabapentin Therapy: A report of 2 cases / 대한통증학회지

Hiccups are due to an intermittent clonic spasm of the diaphragm. In most cases, hiccups are self-limiting disease, but persistent hiccups may be related to the presence of serious underlying systemic disease. Two patients who had persistent hiccups that were not controled by conventional methods and medications were referred to the pain clinic. We administered a single oral medication of gabapentin, and then the hiccups disappeared in both cases. We concluded that gabapentin should be considered as an alternative therapy to control persistent or intractable hiccup. It could be particularly useful for those patients with solid malignancies, either alone or as an "add-on therapy" with other oral agents.

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.

Comparisons of Propofol, Enflurane, Sevoflurane, and Desflurane Anesthesia in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy on Postoperative Liver Enzyme Levels / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Many factors cause postoperative hepatic dysfunction, and anesthetic agents and type of surgery are belived to contribute to hepatic dysfunction. The authors planned this study to evaluate the effect of different anesthetic agents (sevoflurane, desflurane, enflurane or propofol) on liver enzymes in the patients who undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: 80 patients were randomly selected from among those who had undergone cholecystectomy and divided into 4 groups; an enflurane group (n = 20), a sevoflurane group (n = 20), a desflurane group (n = 20) and a propofol group (n = 20). Preoperative values of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were compared with those on postoperative days 1 and 3 in all groups. RESULTS: In all groups, ALT and AST were significantly elevated after operation, and then showed a decrease 3 days after operation, but remainrd of above preoperative levels (P < 0.05). However, no differences were observed between the 4 groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We consider that propofol, sevoflurane, desflurane and enflurane are equally usable and that they have little effect on liver function after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Comparison of Postoperative Pain by Different Methods in the Removal of Gases after Laparoscopic Hysterectomy / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery has many advantages compared with conventional methods and may allow a significant reduction in postoperative pain and analgesic consumption. Nevertheless, some patients still experience significant pain. Therefore, many clinicians have tried various methods to reduce of postoperative pain. We investigated degrees of postoperative pain and the incidences of shoulder pain versus the different methods of gas removal after laparoscopic surgery. METHODS: Sixty ASA class I or II patients were included in this study. In Group A (Control group, n = 20), residual carbon dioxide was removed by the classic method without a drain tube. In Group B (Suction group, n = 20), residual carbon dioxide was removed using a suction device aggressively without a drain tube. In Group C (Drain group, n = 20), residual carbon dioxide was removed by the classic method with a drain tube. The intensities of abdominal and shoulder pain were assessed 1, 6, 24 and 48 hours after surgery using a visual analog scale (VAS) and a verbal rating scale (VRS). We also assessed the mean hospital stay for the three groups. RESULTS: The abdominal pain scores (VAS and VRS) at 1 hour after surgery and the incidence of shoulder pain, epigastria pain and flank pain were significantly higher in Group A than in the other groups for 1hour after surgery (P <0.05). Mean hospital stay was significantly longer for group C. CONCLUSIONS: After laparoscopic surgery, the active removal of residual carbon dioxide may be a simple and safe method that significantly reduces postoperative shoulder and abdominal pain.

Retropharyngeal Dissection during Nasotracheal Intubation: A Case Report / 대한구급학회지

Nasotracheal intubation is commonly performed for oropharyngeal or facial surgery. Although retropharyngeal dissection is a rare complication of nasotracheal intubation, serious sequelae may result. We report a case of a traumatic retropharyngeal dissection during nasotracheal intubation without untoward sequelae.

Anesthetic Clinical Observations on the Use of the intraventricular Sodium Nitroprusside for Treatment of Cerebral Vasospasm: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Delayed type cerebral vasoconstriction (DCV) following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is an important cause of permanent neurological injury and death. The mechanism of DCV remains unknown. Recently many investigators have used a new treatment for DCV involving the use of intraventricular sodium nitroprusside. We report upon a clinical case where a relatively large amount of sodium nitroprusside was intrathecally delivered by intraventricular catheter for the treatment for DCV.

Comparison of Changes in Arterial Blood Gases during Endoscopic Thyroidectomy, Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Gynecologic Laparoscopic Surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Because laparoscopic surgery has many advantages compared with conventional methods, it has recently been applied to not only intraabdominal or intrathoracic surgery but also thyroidectomy. It is possible that arterial blood gases and hemodynamic variables can be changed by patient position and insufflation of pressurized CO2 into extraperitoneal or intraperitoneal space, so we examined the changes in arterial blood gases, end tidal CO2 (P(ET)CO2) and hemodynamic variables during an endoscopic thyroidectomy with extraperitoneal CO2 insufflation, laparoscopic cholecystectomy and gynecologic laparoscopic surgery with intraperitoneal CO2 insufflation under N2O, enflurane inhalational general anesthesia. METHODS: Forty ASA class I or II patients were included in this study, endoscopic thyroidectomy group (n = 10), laparoscopic cholecystectomy group (n = 18), gynecologic laparoscopic surgery group (n = 12). All patients were underwent controlled mechanical ventilation (tidal volume: 10 ml/kg, respiratory rate: 12/min) and the ventilator mode was fixed in this volume and rate until the end of the operation. The position of patients during the endoscopic thyroidectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy were under 5 degree reverse Trendelenburg position, whereas the gynecologic laparoscopic surgery was under a 10 degree head-down lithotomy position. Variables were measured before CO2 insufflation (10 minute after induction), 10, 20 and 30 minutes after CO2 insufflation and 40 minutes after CO2 deflation. RESULTS: PaCO2 and P(ET)CO2 were significantly increased during CO2 insufflation compared with preinsufflation values in all groups, but the magnitude of increases of PaCO2 and PETCO2 was not significantly different among the three groups. The mean magnitude of increases of PaCO2 at 10 minutes after CO2 insufflation were as follows: gynecologic laparoscopic surgery (6.21 +/- 2.0 mmHg), endoscopic thyroidectomy (5.07 +/ 2.3 mmHg), and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (5.01 +/- 2.2 mmHg). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that PaCO2 and P(ET)CO2 were significantly increased during CO2 insufflation compared with the preinsufflation values in all groups, but the magnitude of increases of PaCO2 and P(ET)CO2 was not significantly influenced by CO2 insufflation site and patient position.

Effect of PaCO2, PETCO2, P(a-ET)CO2 and Regional Cortical Blood Flow on the Prognosis of Craniotomy Patients / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Carbon dioxide is a potent cerebral vasodilator. The change of carbon dioxide partial pressure may influence the intracranial pressure and the patients' neurological outcome. There are few reports about the influence of end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2), arterial CO2 (PaCO2) and its pressure difference P(a-ET)CO2 during a craniotomy on the Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score for evaluation of neurological status. In this study, authors tried to discover the influence of PaCO2, PETCO2, and P(a-ET)CO2 on neurological outcome. METHODS: The data of PaCO2 and PETCO2 and P(a-ET)CO2 during a craniotomy was saved. The correlations between each parameter, the GCS score and rCoBF were analyzed. To prevent a direct effect on carbon dioxide tension, blood pressure and body temperature were maintained within a normal range. At the same time, we inserted a probe of the thermal diffusion flowmetry monitor in the subdural space to monitor the regional cortical cerebral blood flow (rCoBF). All the data was saved simultaneously, at the moment of dura closure. RESULTS: There was a fair correlation between the PaCO2 and PETCO2. A low PaCO2 level correlated well with a good GCS score but, not with PETCO2. The mean P(a-ET)CO2 value was 4.4 +/- 3.1 mmHg. The high P(a-ET)CO2 level correlated well with a poor GCS score. High rCoBF correlated well with a good GCS score. However, the changes of PaCO2 and PETCO2 showed no correlations with the rCoBF. CONCLUSIONS: As a result, if we decrease the PaCO2 level by hyperventilation and increase the rCoBF level through proper management during anesthesia, we can improve the patients' neurological outcome.

Comparison of Conventional Chiron 348 pH/blood Gas/electrolytes Analyzer and i-STAT Portable Clinical Analyzer / 대한구급학회지

BACKGROUND: The development of so-called "Point-of-care" (POC) devices for blood or urine analysis has resulted in many systems that are widely used at home or at the bedside. We evaluated the performance of the I-STAT portable clinical analyzer for measuring blood gases (pH, PCO2, PO2) and whole blood electrolytes (sodium, potassium and ionized calcium) with reference to a conventional blood gas analyzer (Chiron 348 pH/ blood gas/electrolytes). METHODS: Thirty samples from the arterial blood were simultaneously analyzed with I-STAT system and with Chiron 348 pH/blood gas/ electrolytes analyzer. Differences between results of two methods were analyzed by paired t-test (p<0.05). RESULTS: PO2, PCO2 and Na measured with I-STAT system and Chiron 348 PH/ blood gas/ electrolytes analyzer showed no significant differences. pH, calculated HCO3, K and Ca measured by two methods showed significant difference, but observed differences would not affect clinical decisions except ionized calcium. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that blood gas and electrolyte analysis using the I-STAT portable device is comparable with that performed by a conventional Chiron 348 pH/blood gas/ electrolytes analyzer except ionized calcium.