The Effect of Preoperative Epidural Analgesia with Intravenous Patient-controlled Analgesia (IV-PCA) for Postoperative Pain Control in Bone Fusion and Pedicle Screw Fixation / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain control following bone fusion and pedicle screw fixation is insufficient with IV-PCA alone. Therefore, the effect of preoperative epidural analgesia in addition to IV-PCA was evaluated for postoperative pain control following bone fusion and pedicle screw fixation surgery. METHODS: Eighty patients, scheduled to undergo bone fusion and pedicle screw fixation, were randomly assigned to two groups; the study (n = 40) or control groups (n = 40). After induction, the patient was turned into the prone position, and morphine 2 mg and 10 ml of 0.2% ropivacaine were injected into the L1/2 epidural space, after dye confirmation, under C-arm guidance for the study group, with 10 ml normal saline injected into the L1/2 epidural space for the control group. After induction, IV-PCA was applied in both groups. After the operation, the NRS (numerical rating scale) and side effects were evaluated immediately post-op, and at 24 and 48 hours after the operation. RESULTS: In the study group, the NRS was more reduced for all periods compared with the control group, but the incidences of nausea/vomiting and pruritus were no different from the control group. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that preoperative epidural analgesia, in addition to IV-PCA, was a good postoperative pain control method following bone fusion and pedicle screw fixation.

On Fat Embolism Syndrome Occurred in the Recovery Room after an Intramedullary Nailing of Femur Fracture: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

The fat embolism syndrome is a serious and potentially life threatening complication of long bone trauma, blunt trauma and intramedullary manipulation. A 26-year-old woman underwent an intramedullary nailing of the femur under general anesthesia 45 hours after a traffic accident. The operation ended uneventfully and the patient was extubated in the operatirg room. About one hour after the patient arrived at the recovery room, she progressively developed tachycardia, tachypnea, cyanosis and drowsiness. The fat embolism syndrome was suspected because of the above clinical signs, and because pulmonary edema appeared on a simple chest A-P. During six days of intensive treatment in response to the fat embolism syndrome, the patient,s vital signs and ventilatory status progressively improved. The patient was uneventfully discharged from the hospital 19 days after her operation.

Anesthetic Management of Cerebral Subarachnoid Hemorrhage with Intraoperative Electrocardiographic Change Simulating Acute Myocardial Infarction: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

It is now well established that acute subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to rupture of a cerebral aneurysm can precipitate life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia. We experienced a 60 year old patient with a subarachnoid hemorrhage (neurologic grade III) due to rupture of anterior communicating artery aneurysm who presented with such intraoperative electrocardiographic changes as ST segment elevation and T wave inversion which are hallmark of acute myocardial infarction. The operation was uneventfully ended. On the postoperative laboratory examination about suspected acute myocardial infarction, the patient was found to have normal triple enzyme study and echocardiographic finding. The electrocardiogram three days after subarachnoid hemorrhage due to cerebral aneurysm returned to normal sinus rhythm. This case suggests that this patient's electrocardiographic change simulating acute myocardial infarction is transient change due to subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Induction with Intravenous 0.3 mg/kg Etomidate Maintains Venous Capacitance of Normovolemic Rat / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Etomidate is short-acting non-barbiturate intravenous anesthetic with minimal cardiovascular depression. As a small change in venous capacitance significantly alters venous return and thus cardiac output, it is important to know the effects of intravenous anesthetics on venous capacitance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of etomidate or pentobarbital (control agent) on venous capacitance. METHOD: All twenty rats (etomidate group: 10, pentobarbital group: 10), weighing 350-450 gram, were anesthetized with pentobarbital 50 mg/kg given intraperitoneally for surgical preparation. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and mean circulatory filling pressure (MCFP) were measured in the awake state(recovered from pentobarbital anesthesia for surgical preparation) as well as during anesthesia with etomidate or pentobarbital. Venous capacitance was assessed before and during anesthesia with etomidate or pentobarbital by measuring MCFP. MCFP was measured during a brief period of circulatory arrest produced by inflating a balloon inserted in right atrium. RESULTS: As compared with MCFP in the corresponding awake state, MCFP was not significantly altered by etomidate but significantly decreased by pentobarbital. As compared with MAP in the corresponding awake state, MAP was not significantly altered by etomidate but significantly decreased by pentobarbital. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that unaltered venous capacitance by etomidate may contribute to a maintained MAP but increased venous capacitance by pentobarbital decrease in MAP of the normovolemic rat.

Atelectasis Due to Epistaxis Aspiration during Awake Fiberoptic Nasotracheal Intubation / 대한구급학회지

Indication for fiberoptic intubation in an awake patient include almost any abnormality that may hinder the expeditious placement of an endotracheal tube during anesthetic induction. An epistaxis is the most frequent complication of nasotracheal intubation. The patient was admitted for open reduction and internal fixation due to severe mandible fracture. We experienced a case of atelectasis due to epistaxis aspiration during awake fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation in the conscious patient regionally anesthetized by both superior laryngeal nerve block and translaryngeal anesthesia, which is treated by saline irrigation, suction, active coughing and chest percussion.