Effects of Scalp Nerve Block on the Quality of Recovery after Minicraniotomy for Clipping of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms : A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective@#: This study compared the quality of recovery (QoR) after minicraniotomy for clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) between patients with and without scalp nerve block (SNB). @*Methods@#: Patients were randomly assigned to the SNB (SNB using ropivacaine with epinephrine, n=27) and control (SNB using normal saline, n=25) groups. SNB was performed at the end of surgery. To assess postoperative QoR, the QoR-40, a patient-reported questionnaire, was used. The QoR-40 scores were measured preoperatively, 1–3 days postoperatively, at hospital discharge, and 1 month postoperatively. Pain and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) consumption were evaluated 3, 6, 9, and 12 hours and 1–3 days postoperatively. @*Results@#: All QoR-40 scores, including those measured 1 day postoperatively (primary outcome measure; 155.0 [141.0–176.0] vs. 161.0 [140.5–179.5], p=0.464), did not significantly differ between the SNB and control groups. The SNB group had significantly less severe pain 3 (numeric rating scale [NRS]; 3.0 [2.0–4.0] vs. 5.0 [3.5–5.5], p=0.029), 9 (NRS; 3.0 [2.0–4.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0–5.0], p=0.048), and 12 (NRS; 3.0 [2.0–4.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0–5.0], p=0.035) hours postoperatively. The total amount of IV-PCA consumed was significantly less 3 hours postoperatively in the SNB group (2.0 [1.0–4.0] vs. 4.0 [2.0–5.0] mL, p=0.044). @*Conclusion@#: After minicraniotomy for clipping of UIAs, SNB reduced pain and IV-PCA consumption in the early postoperative period but did not improve the QoR-40 scores.

Preoperative Prognostic Nutritional Index Is a Prognostic Indicator of Cancer-Specific Survival in Patients Undergoing Endometrial Cancer Surgery

Background@#The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) reflects systemic inflammation and nutritional status. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of preoperative PNI on postoperative cancer-specific survival in patients with endometrial cancer (EC). @*Methods@#Demographic, laboratory, and clinical data were retrospectively collected from 894 patients who underwent surgical resection of EC. Preoperative PNIs were determined from the serum albumin concentration and total lymphocyte count, which were measured within 1 month before surgery. Patients were classified into high PNI (n = 619) and low PNI (n = 275) groups according to the preoperative PNI cut-off value of 50.6. The stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method was used to reduce bias: a weighting cohort divided into high PNI (n = 615.4) and low PNI (n = 272.3) groups. The primary outcome measure was postoperative cancer-specific survival. @*Results@#The postoperative cancer-specific survival rate was higher in the high PNI group than the low PNI group in the unadjusted cohort (93.1% vs. 81.5%; proportion difference [95% confidence interval; 95% CI], 11.6% [6.6–16.6%]; P < 0.001) and in the IPTW- adjusted cohort (91.4% vs. 86.0%; 5.4% [0.8–10.2%]; P = 0.021). In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model in the IPTW-adjusted cohort, high preoperative PNI (hazard ratio [95% CI], 0.60 [0.38–0.96]; P = 0.032) was an independent determinant of postoperative cancer-specific mortality. The multivariate-adjusted restricted cubic spline curve for the Cox regression model showed a significant negative association between preoperative PNI and postoperative cancer-specific mortality (P < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#High preoperative PNI was associated with improved postoperative cancerspecific survival in patients undergoing surgery for EC.

Supraglottic airway devices: more good than bad / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Irrigation fluids used for transurethral resection of the prostate: a double-edged sword / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Pregnancy and Delivery in a Generalized Dystonia Patient Treated with Internal Globus Pallidal Deep Brain Stimulation: a Case Report

Internal globus pallidus (GPi) deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been widely accepted as an effective treatment modality of medically refractory dystonia. However, there have been few studies regarding the safety issue of pregnancy and childbirth related with DBS. This report describes a female patient who was pregnant and delivered a baby after GPi DBS surgery. A 33-year-old female patient with acquired generalized dystonia underwent bilateral GPi DBS implantation. She obtained considerable improvement in both movement and disability after DBS implantation. Four years later, she was pregnant and the obstetricians consulted us about the safety of the delivery. At 38-weeks into pregnancy, a scheduled caesarian section was carried out under general anesthesia. After induction using thiopental and succinylcholine, intubation was done quickly, followed by DBS turn off. For hemostasis, only bipolar electrocautery was used. Before awakening from the anesthesia, DBS was turned on as the same parameters previously adjusted. After delivery, she could feed her baby by herself, because the dystonia of left upper extremity and hand was improved. Until now, she has been showing continual improvement and being good at housework, carrying for children, with no trouble in daily life. This observation indicates that the patients who underwent DBS could safely be pregnant and deliver a baby.

Use of sugammadex in clinical practice / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Malignant Neuroleptic Syndrome following Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery of Globus Pallidus Pars Internus in Cerebral Palsy / 대한중환자의학회지

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare but potentially lethal outcome caused by sudden discontinuation or dose reduction of dopaminergic agents. We report an extremely rare case of NMS after deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in a cerebral palsy (CP) patient without the withdrawal of dopaminergic agents. A 19-year-old girl with CP was admitted for DBS due to medically refractory dystonia and rigidity. Dopaminergic agents were not stopped preoperatively. DBS was performed uneventfully under monitored anesthesia. Dopaminergic medication was continued during the postoperative period. She manifested spasticity and muscle rigidity, and was high fever resistant to anti-pyretic drugs at 2 h postoperative. At postoperative 20 h, she suffered cardiac arrest and expired, despite vigorous cardiopulmonary resuscitation. NMS should be considered for hyperthermia and severe spasticity in CP patients after DBS surgery, irrespective of continued dopaminergic medication.

Malignant Neuroleptic Syndrome following Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery of Globus Pallidus Pars Internus in Cerebral Palsy / 대한구급학회지

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare but potentially lethal outcome caused by sudden discontinuation or dose reduction of dopaminergic agents. We report an extremely rare case of NMS after deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in a cerebral palsy (CP) patient without the withdrawal of dopaminergic agents. A 19-year-old girl with CP was admitted for DBS due to medically refractory dystonia and rigidity. Dopaminergic agents were not stopped preoperatively. DBS was performed uneventfully under monitored anesthesia. Dopaminergic medication was continued during the postoperative period. She manifested spasticity and muscle rigidity, and was high fever resistant to anti-pyretic drugs at 2 h postoperative. At postoperative 20 h, she suffered cardiac arrest and expired, despite vigorous cardiopulmonary resuscitation. NMS should be considered for hyperthermia and severe spasticity in CP patients after DBS surgery, irrespective of continued dopaminergic medication.

The values shown on optical technology-based patient monitors must be cautiously interpreted: intravenous dye-induced errors / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

The Effects of Propofol and Thiopental Continuous Infusion on Serum Potassium Disturbances in Neurosurgical Patients

OBJECTIVE: The potassium disturbance associated with thiopental continuous infusion in neurosurgical patients is well known. However, the effect of propofol continuous infusion on serum potassium levels has not been investigated extensively. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 60 consecutive patients who received coma therapy or deep sedation for intracranial pressure control using either thiopental or propofol between January 2010 and January 2012. RESULTS: The overall incidence of hypokalemia (K5.0 mmol/L, 32.4% vs. 4.3%, p=0.010) and the peak potassium concentration (4.8 mmol/L vs. 4.2 mmol/L, p=0.037) after the cessation of therapy were higher in thiopental group. On multivariate analysis, thiopental [8.82 (1.00-77.81); p=0.049] and duration of continuous infusion [1.02 (1.00-1.04); p=0.016] were associated with rebound hyperkalemia once therapy was discontinued. CONCLUSION: Propofol was less frequently associated with moderate to severe hypokalemia after induction and rebound hyperkalemia following the cessation of continuous infusion than thiopental.

The optimal anesthetic depth for interventional neuroradiology: comparisons between light anesthesia and deep anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine the optimal anesthetic depth for the maintenance and recovery in interventional neuroradiology. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients undergoing interventional neuroradiology were randomly allocated to light anesthesia (n = 44) or deep anesthesia (n = 44) groups based on the value of the bispectral index (BIS). Anesthesia was induced with propofol, alfentanil, and rocuronium and maintained with 1-3% sevoflurane. The concentration of sevoflurane was titrated to maintain BIS at 40-49 (deep anesthesia group) or 50-59 (light anesthesia group). Phenylephrine was used to maintain the mean arterial pressure within 20% of preinduction values. Recovery times were recorded. RESULTS: The light anesthesia group had a more rapid recovery to spontaneous ventilation, eye opening, extubation, and orientation (4.1 +/- 2.3 vs. 5.3 +/- 1.8 min, 6.9 +/- 3.2 min vs. 9.1 +/- 3.2 min, 8.2 +/- 3.1 min vs. 10.7 +/- 3.3 min, 10.0 +/- 3.9 min vs. 12.9 +/- 5.5 min, all P < 0.01) compared to the deep anesthesia group. The use of phenylephrine was significantly increased in the deep anesthesia group (768 +/- 184 vs. 320 +/- 82 microg, P < 0.01). More patients moved during the procedure in the light anesthesia group (6/44 [14%] vs. 0/44 [0%], P = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: BIS values between 50 and 59 for interventional neuroradiology were associated with a more rapid recovery and favorable hemodynamic response, but also with more patient movement. We suggest that maintaining BIS values between 40 and 49 is preferable for the prevention of patient movement during anesthesia for interventional neuroradiology.

Sevoflurane versus propofol for interventional neuroradiology: a comparison of the maintenance and recovery profiles at comparable depths of anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Sevoflurane and propofol are used widely for interventional neuroradiology (INR). Using the bispectral index (BIS), we compared the clinical properties of sevoflurane and propofol anesthesia in patients undergoing INR at comparable depths of anesthesia. METHODS: The patients were allocated randomly into two groups. The sevoflurane group received propofol (1.5 mg/kg), alfentanil (5 microg/kg), and rocuronium (0.6 mg/kg) for induction, and the propofol group was induced with a target effect-site concentration of propofol (4 microg/ml), alfentanil (5 microg/kg), and rocuronium (0.6 mg/kg). After intubation, anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane or propofol with 67% nitrous oxide in 33% oxygen. Sevoflurane and propofol concentrations were titrated to maintain the BIS at 50-60. Phenylephrine or opioid was used to maintain the mean arterial pressure within 20% of the baseline values. The amounts of phenylephrine or alfentanil used, the number of patients showing movement during the procedure, and the recovery times were recorded. RESULTS: Compared to the propofol group, the sevoflurane group showed faster recovery in spontaneous ventilation, eye opening, extubation, and orientation (4 vs. 7 min, 7 vs. 9 min, 8 vs. 10 min, 10 vs. 14 min, respectively; P < 0.01). In the propofol group, significantly greater amounts phenylephrine were used (P < 0.05), and more patients moved during the procedure (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of sevoflurane in maintaining anesthesia during INR was associated with faster recovery, less patient movement during the procedure, and a more stable hemodynamic response when compared to propofol.

Validation of the APACHE IV model and its comparison with the APACHE II, SAPS 3, and Korean SAPS 3 models for the prediction of hospital mortality in a Korean surgical intensive care unit / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) IV model has not yet been validated in Korea. The aim of this study was to compare the ability of the APACHE IV with those of APACHE II, Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) 3, and Korean SAPS 3 in predicting hospital mortality in a surgical intensive care unit (SICU) population. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records for patients admitted to the SICU from March 2011 to February 2012 in a university hospital. Measurements of discrimination and calibration were performed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, respectively. We calculated the standardized mortality ratio (SMR, actual mortality predicted mortality) for the four models. RESULTS: The study included 1,314 patients. The hospital mortality rate was 3.3%. The discriminative powers of all models were similar and very reliable. The AUCs were 0.80 for APACHE IV, 0.85 for APACHE II, 0.86 for SAPS 3, and 0.86 for Korean SAPS 3. Hosmer and Lemeshow C and H statistics showed poor calibration for all of the models (P < 0.05). The SMRs of APACHE IV, APACHE II, SAPS 3, and Korean SAPS 3 were 0.21, 0.11 0.23, 0.34, and 0.25, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The APACHE IV revealed good discrimination but poor calibration. The overall discrimination and calibration of APACHE IV were similar to those of APACHE II, SAPS 3, and Korean SAPS 3 in this study. A high level of customization is required to improve calibration in this study setting.

Appropriate tube size selection based on radiological images / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Influence of Propofol and Fentanyl on Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus

We investigated the effect of propofol and fentanyl on microelectrode recording (MER) and its clinical applicability during subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. We analyzed 8 patients with Parkinson's disease, underwent bilateral STN DBS with MER. Their left sides were done under awake and then their right sides were done with a continuous infusion of propofol and fentanyl under local anesthesia. The electrode position was evaluated by preoperative MRI and postoperative CT. The clinical outcomes were assessed at six months after surgery. We isolated single unit activities from the left and the right side MERs. There was no significant difference in the mean firing rate between the left side MERs (38.7+/-16.8 spikes/sec, n=78) and the right side MERs (35.5+/-17.2 spikes/sec, n=66). The bursting pattern of spikes was more frequently observed in the right STN than in the left STN. All the electrode positions were within the STNs on both sides and the off-time Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III scores at six months after surgery decreased by 67% of the preoperative level. In this study, a continuous infusion of propofol and fentanyl did not significantly interfere with the MER signals from the STN. The results of this study suggest that propofol and fentanyl can be used for STN DBS in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease improving the overall experience of the patients.

Anesthetic management of a parturient with placenta previa totalis undergoing preventive uterine artery embolization before placental expulsion during cesarean delivery: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Placenta previa totalis can cause life-threatening massive postpartum hemorrhage, and careful anesthetic management is essential. Preventive uterine artery embolization (UAE) before placental expulsion was introduced to reduce postpartum bleeding in cases of placenta previa totalis. We describe the case of a 40-year-old woman (gravida 0, para 0) with placenta previa totalis and uterine myomas who underwent intraoperative UAE, which was preoperatively planned at the strong recommendation of the anesthesiologist, immediately after delivery of a fetus and before removal of the placenta during cesarean delivery under spinal-epidural anesthesia. After confirming embolization of both uterine arteries, removal of the placenta resulted in moderate bleeding. The estimated blood loss was 2.5 L, and 5 units of red blood cells were transfused. The parturient was discharged uneventfully on postoperative day 4. This case shows that the bleeding risk is reduced by intraoperative UAE in a patient with placenta previa totalis, and anesthesiologists have an important role in a multidisciplinary team approach.

Anesthetic management of a parturient with placenta previa totalis undergoing preventive uterine artery embolization before placental expulsion during cesarean delivery: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Placenta previa totalis can cause life-threatening massive postpartum hemorrhage, and careful anesthetic management is essential. Preventive uterine artery embolization (UAE) before placental expulsion was introduced to reduce postpartum bleeding in cases of placenta previa totalis. We describe the case of a 40-year-old woman (gravida 0, para 0) with placenta previa totalis and uterine myomas who underwent intraoperative UAE, which was preoperatively planned at the strong recommendation of the anesthesiologist, immediately after delivery of a fetus and before removal of the placenta during cesarean delivery under spinal-epidural anesthesia. After confirming embolization of both uterine arteries, removal of the placenta resulted in moderate bleeding. The estimated blood loss was 2.5 L, and 5 units of red blood cells were transfused. The parturient was discharged uneventfully on postoperative day 4. This case shows that the bleeding risk is reduced by intraoperative UAE in a patient with placenta previa totalis, and anesthesiologists have an important role in a multidisciplinary team approach.

The effect of lidocaine on apoptotic neurodegeneration in the developing mouse brain / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: General anesthetics induce neuronal apoptosis in the immature brain. Regional anesthesia using local anesthetics can be an alternative to general anesthesia. Therefore, this study investigated the possible effect of lidocaine on neuronal apoptosis. METHODS: Fifty-one 7-day-old C57BL6 mice were allocated into control (group C), lidocaine (group L), lidocaine plus midazolam (group LM) and isoflurane (group I) groups. Group C received normal saline administration. Groups L and LM were injected with lidocaine (4 mg/kg, subcutaneously) only and the same dose of lidocaine plus midazolam (9 mg/kg, subcutaneously). Group I was exposed to 0.75 vol% isoflurane for 6 h. After 6 h, apoptotic neurodegeneration was assessed using caspase-3 immunostaining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) staining. RESULTS: For the entire brain section, neuronal cells exhibiting caspase-3 activation were observed more frequently in group I than in group C (P < 0.001). In the thalamus, apoptosis of group L was more frequent than that of group C (P < 0.001), but less freqent than that of groups LM and I (P = 0.0075 and P < 0.001, respectively). In the cortex, group I experienced more apoptosis than group L and C (all Ps < 0.001). On TUNEL staining, the difference in apoptosis between the lidocaine and control groups was marginal (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lidocaine induced minimal apoptosis in the developing brain compared with isoflurane and lidocaine plus midazolam. However, we cannot fully exclude the possible adverse effect of subcutaneously administered lidocaine on the developing brain.

The neuroprotective effect of combining sevoflurane and remote ischemic preconditioning in forebrain ischemia model

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the combining effects of sevoflurane and remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on cell death of pyramidal neurons in the CA1 hippocampus induced by transient global cerebral ischemia in rats. METHODS: Twenty rats were assigned to one of two groups; sevoflurane group and combination of sevoflurane and RIPC group. RIPC was performed by occluding the bilateral femoral arteries for 10 min 3 times in an interval of 10 min. Ischemia was induced by a bilateral common carotid artery occlusion plus hemorrhagic hypotension (26-30 mmHg) and was maintained for 8 min. Histologic outcomes were measured at 7 days after ischemia in CA1 pyramidal cells of the rat hippocampus. RESULTS: The combination group contained significantly more viable cells in the hippocampal CA1 area than sevoflurane group (71% vs. 46%, P = 0.03). The mean percentage of apoptotic cells was significantly reduced in the combination group compared to sevoflurane group (11% vs. 41%, P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: A combination of sevoflurane and RIPC can offer additional neuroprotective effects after transient global cerebral ischemia in rats.

Effect of Clinical Pharmacist Interventions on Prevention of Adverse Drug Events in Surgical Intensive Care Unit / 대한구급학회지

BACKGROUND: A pharmacist's participation in medical rounds in intensive care unit (ICU) is becoming popular nowadays. In this study, we investigated the effect of pharmacologic intervention by a pharmacist's participation in medical round in ICU on prevention of adverse drug events (ADEs). METHODS: From March 2011 to July 2011, the intervention data were obtained by participating in medical round two or three times a week, and by reviewing electronic medical records of patients admitted to surgical ICU. The incidence, cause, and type of ADEs were noted, respectively. Expected cost avoidance was calculated from interventions, which were considered to be preventive of ADEs. The acceptance rate of pharmacologic interventions was noted. RESULTS: Among 2781 patients, a total of 159 intervention data were collected in 90 patients. Recommendation for drug dosage adjustment or monitoring in patients with potential overdose and sub-therapeutic dose made up 82% of the total interventions. In 8% of interventions, initiation of drug therapy was recommended. 83% of the interventions were accepted and the acceptance rate of interventions within 24 hrs was 58%. The rate of the interventions, which were considered to be preventive of ADEs was 62%. Expected cost reduction obtained by preventing ADEs was 25,867,083 Won during a 5-month period. CONCLUSIONS: A pharmacist's participation in physician rounds in ICU was associated with prevention of ADEs and subsequent reduction of the cost in drug therapy.