Pulsed Radiofrequency Lesioning of the Medial Branch in a Patient with Cervical Pain Caused by a Metastatic Tumor: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Metastatic spinal tumor may cause pain by direct tumor involvement of bone with activation of local nociceptors or compression of adjacent structures. As an adjunct to pharmacologic therapy, many patients benefit from the use of additional nerve blocks to treat cancer pain. However, they require repeated injections as nerve block under local anesthetic sometimes only give the patient temporary relief of pain. Recently, the advent of pulsed radiofrequency application has proved a successful treatment for refractory pain disorders. A 43 year-old man was presented with a constant, dull, aching pain in the posterior neck with radicular pain referred to right shoulder due to metastatic cervical spinal tumor. Right C5 and C6 medial branch nerve blocks, with local anesthetic-steroid injections were effective, but short pain relief for a couple of days. However, the pain relief lasted longer and was effective with pulsed radiofrequency application over 3 months.

Acute Renal Failure due to Rhabdomyolysis Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in a Post-Thyroidectomy Patient: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Anesthesia in post-thyroidectomy patients carries the risk of potential complications such as the depression of myocardial function, decreased spontaneous ventilation, abnormal baroreceptor function, reduced plasma volume, anemia, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, and impaired hepatic drug metabolism. In addition, these patients may be complicated by pigment induced acute renal failure such as rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis is a common syndrome in which injury to skeletal muscle results in the leakage of intracellular contents from myocytes into plasma. Moreover, massive rhabdomyolysis can produce life-threatening disseminated intravascular coagulation, myoglobinuric renal failure, acute cardiomyopathy, and various other complications. We experienced a case of acute renal failure caused by rhabdomyolysis during emergence from anesthesia in a post-thyroidectomy patient.

Allergic Reaction after the Insertion of a Latex Urethral Catheter: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Natural rubber latex is a processed plant product that is manufactured from the rubber tree, Hevea braziliensis. Allergy to natural rubber latex, which contains a complex blend of water-soluble plant proteins, is a major source of concern in clinical practice. Latex is the inciting factor in at least 10 percent of anaphylactic reactions that have been reported during anesthesia. IgE-mediated sensitization to natural rubber latex could induce hypersensitivity reactions ranging from mild contact urticaria to potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis. Because of the ubiquitous use of latex in medical equipment and devices, anesthesiologist should give more attention and to the management of the allergic reactions to latex in high risk groups. We report upon the anesthetic management of a parturient undergoing Cesarean section, in which an allergic reaction to latex developed just after the insertion of latex urethral catheter.