Clinical Outcomes of Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy Using Dekompressor(R) / 대한통증학회지

BACKGROUND: Discogenic leg pain is a major cause of health problems, often due to herniation of the intervertebral disc, and has traditionally been treated conservatively or with an open surgical discectomy. Conventional open surgery has many complications, such as nerve root injury, discitis and a relatively high mortality rate; failure of conservative treatments is also common. Recently, the Dekompressor(R) Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy probe was developed. Herein, we present the early results for a percutaneous lumbar discectomy in herniated lumbar disc disease. METHODS: Eleven patients, including 8 men and 3 women, with ages ranging from 22 to 78 years, were enrolled in this study. Those patients with a previous history of back surgery were not excluded from the study. All patients were postoperatively evaluated for their clinical outcomes, such as visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain after 1 and 3 months, reduction in analgesics, functional improvement and overall satisfaction. RESULTS: The percutaneous lumbar discectomy was completed in 11 patients (17 levels), with average reductions in pre-VAS of 61.3 and 60.2% at 1 and 3 months, respectively. Also, 72.7% of patients reported functional improvement, with 81.1% expressing overall satisfaction. There were no procedural related complications. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that a percutaneous lumbar discectomy is a safe and effective treatment modality for a herniated lumbar disc.

Correlation between Epidural Depth and Physical Measurements / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to accurately discover the correlation between the epidural depth and physical measurements. METHODS: We measured the L2-3, L3-4 epidural depth pre-marked on the needle shaft only when the block was successful. Correction of the depth was made by the angulation of the needle from the perpendicular line (with regard to both the x- and y-axis) to the skin. Height and weight from the medical record was noted and neck, waist, and hip circumferences of each subject was measured. Physical parameters such as waist/neck (waist circumference-to-neck circumference ratio), waist/height (waist circumference-to-height ratio), waist/hip (waist circumference-to-hip circumference ratio), weight/neck (weight- to-neck circumference ratio), weight/height (weight-to-height ratio) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. Peason's correlation and a regression test between the epidural depth and the physical mea surements were performed. RESULTS: Significant correlation with epidural depth was found in weight, waist, hip, neck, BMI, waist/height, waist/hip, weight/neck, and weight/height. With the regression test, we found weight to be the most important for predicting epidural depth (R square = 0.330, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Weight has the highest predictive value for lumbar epidural depth.

Comparison between Laryngeal Mask Airway and Uncuffed Tracheal Tube for Positive Pressure Ventilation in Paralyzed Pediatric Patients: A Randomized Crossover Study / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: This randomized cross over study was performed to compare the effect of positive pressure ventilation (PPV) through a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) with that through an uncuffed endotracheal tube (ETT) in paralyzed pediatric patients. Additionally, this study was to determine the protective effect of LMA for the aspiration of oral secretion. METHODS: Pediatric patients (n = 158) weighing less than 30 kg, of ASA physical status 1 or 2 were studied. LMA or ETT was randomly selected and connected to a volume-type ventilator. After measurement and extubation, the other that was not initially used was inserted. Expiratory tidal volume (VT) and airway pressure were measured at the same ventilator setting by a simple pneumo-tachometer, and the expiratory tidal volume ratio (VTR) was calculated as expiratory VT of LMA/expiratory VT of ETT. In randomly selected 39 patients out of 158, methylene blue diluted 1:10 with saline was injected into the oral cavity during PPV through an LMA. At the end of the surgery, fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed to observe any staining of methylene blue in the trachea. RESULTS: Successful placement of the LMA was achieved in 98% (155/158) of the cases. Expiratory VT through the LMA 1 or 1.5 was decreased if compared with that through the ETT. Leaking pressure of the LMA was lower than that of the ETT except LMA 2.5. VTR of the LMA size 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 (mean +/- SD) was respectively 0.94 +/- 0.22, 0.94 +/- 0.14, 1.02 +/- 0.18 and 1.06 +/- 0.19. There was no patient whose trachea was soiled with methylene blue. CONCLUSIONS: Only in older children who are indicated for LMA 2.5, did LMA have the same leakage and the same leaking pressure as ETT during PPV. LMA may not be recommended for the maintenance of PPV in young children less than 10 kg. Inflated LMA seems to have a protective effect against oral secretion.