Antihyperalgesic Effects of Ethosuximide and Mibefradil, T-type Voltage Activated Calcium Channel Blockers, in a Rat Model of Postoperative Pain / 대한통증학회지

BACKGROUND: A correlation between a T-type voltage activated calcium channel (VACC) and pain mechanism has not yet been established. The purpose of this study is to find out the effect of ethosuximide and mibefradil, representative selective T-type VACC blockers on postoperative pain using an incisional pain model of rats. METHODS: After performing a plantar incision, rats were stabilized on plastic mesh for 2 hours. Then, the rats were injected with ethosuximide or mibefradil, intraperitoneally and intrathecally. The level of withdrawal threshold to the von Frey filament near the incision site was determined and the dose response curves were obtained. RESULTS: After an intraperitoneal ethosuximide or mibefradil injection, the dose-response curve showed a dose-dependent increase of the threshold in a withdrawal reaction. After an intrathecal injection of ethosuximide, the threshold of a withdrawal reaction to mechanical stimulation increased and the increase was dose-dependent. After an intrathecal injection of mibefradil, no change occurred in either the threshold of a withdrawal reaction to mechanical stimulation or a dose-response curve. CONCLUSIONS: The T-type VACC blockers in a rat model of postoperative pain showed the antihyperalgesic effect. This effect might be due to blockade of T-type VACC, which was distributed in the peripheral nociceptors or at the supraspinal level. Further studies of the effect of T-type VACC on a pain transmission mechanism at the spinal cord level would be needed.

Hemodynamic Changes Measured by Esophageal Doppler Monitor during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Gynecologic Pelviscopy / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and gynecologic pelviscopy need to induce pneumoperitoneum to allow visualization of the operative field, but the former requires a head-up position whereas the latter needs a Lithotomy-Trendelenburg position. The authors observed hemodynamic changes using an esophageal doppler monitor in both cases. METHODS: Eight females planned for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were assigned to Group 1 and 10 females for gynecologic pelviscopy were assigned to Group 2. Thiopental (5 mg/kg) and vecuronium (0.1 mg/kg) were used to induce general anesthesia. 50% O2-N2O and 1.5 vol.% isoflurane were used to maintain anesthesia. Mechanical ventilation was used with a tidal volume of 10 ml/kg and a respiratory rate of 12 breaths per minute. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, end-tidal CO2 and peak airway pressure were measured and cardiac output, corrected flow time, and peak velocity were monitored using an esophageal doppler monitor in each group after inducing anesthesia, CO2 inflation, position change, and CO2 deflation. RESULTS: Mean arterial pressure increased in each group while changing position. No significant changes in the heart rate were observed in each group. End-tidal CO2 increased in each group after changing position, and remained elevated even with position reversal and deflation. Peak airway pressure was elevated in each group after CO2 inflation and increased more so with changing posture in group 2 (post inflation: 18.5 +/- 1.4 cmH2O, after position change: 21.4 +/- 2.0 cmH2O). Cardiac output and cardiac index were reduced after the induction of pneumoperitoneum in each group, and reduced more on changing posture in group 2 (CO: 5.9 +/- 2.0 L/min vs. 4.4 +/- 1.5 L/min, CI: 3.7 +/- 1.4 L/min/m2 vs. 2.7 +/- 1.1 L/min/m2). Stroke volume also reduced after changing posture in each group. Corrected flow time was not changed, but peak velocity decreased after CO2 inflation in each group (group 1: 97.4 +/- 30.0 cm/s vs. 78.9 +/- 27.3 cm/s, group 2: 111.9 +/- 14.1 cm/s vs. 88.3 +/- 12.6 cm/s). CONCLUSIONS: The Lithotomy-Trendelenburg position can augment the hemodynamic changes resulting from pneumoperitoneum. Therefore, additional caution is required in patients with cardiovascular disease who are undergoing gynecologic pelviscopy.

Neuralgic Amyotrophy: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Neuralgic amyotrophy is an uncommon disorder characterized by acute onset of severe shoulder and upper arm pain followed by marked upper arm weakness. It is easily confused with other neck and upper extremity abnormalities, such as cervical spondylosis and cervical radiculopathy. The diagnosis is based on histroy, clinical findings, electromyography and excluding other disease. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment is important to avoid unnecessary tests and surgery, and prevent complications, especially adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. 20-year old female patient presented with a history of severe pain involing left shoulder and upper extremity. 1 month after onset of pain suddenly, she noted weakness of left shouler muscles, especially abduction and flexion. At first visit in our clinic, she felt persistant pain for 4 months in the left shoulder, upper extremity and mild pain in the left lower extremity. She diagnosed with neuralgic amyotrophy with complex regional pain syndrome. Her pain managed with epidural block, sympathetic ganglion block, brachial plexus block, stellate ganglion block, intravenous regional block, intravenous local anesthetic infusion, oral analgesics, and exercise therapy. 5 months after the onset of pain, weakness of her shoulder muscles were fully recovered and 9 weaks after caring in our clinic, she had tolerable pain in her extremities and discharged.

A Case of Obstructive Esophageal Hematoma after Endoscopic Variceal Ligation / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL) is an accepted alternatives to endoscopic injection sclero- therapy(EIS) in many patients with bleeding esophageal varices. Esophageal hematoma is rare and an unusual complication after EVL or EIS. We present a patient with liver cirrhosis who developed an obstructive esophageal hematoma after EVL.