The Comparison of Cryoanalgesia and Epidural Analgesia in Thoracotomy / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Cryoanalgesia provides postoperative analgesia following thoracotomy without serious complications compared with epidural analgesia, but little data indicates which one is better in terms of postoperative analgesia, side effects or associated complications. METHODS: Forty patients undergoing lateral thoracotomy, were randomized to receive a mixture of fentanyl and 0.15% bupivacaine at 0.5 microgram/kg/h of fentanyl via thoracic epidural catheter (Group E) or cryotherapy on the 4th, 5th, 6th, or 7th intercostal nerves using Frigitronics (Group C). Postoperative pain was assessed everyday for 7 days after the thoracotomy by a visual analog scale (VAS). The side effects and patient satisfaction of analgesia were assessed by a system of 4 grades. RESULTS: The VAS scores at rest in group C were significantly higher than those in group E. There was no side effect except numbness in group C, which continued for 3 months on the average. The incidences of side effects (nausea, vomiting, pruritus, sedation, urinary retention) were 15-35% in group E. The 35% of patients in group C were satisfied with postoperative analgesia compared with 95% in group E (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Epidural fentanyl provided a better analgesic effect than cryoanalgesia for thoracotomy, but there is a clinical advantage in cryoanalgesia over epidural fentanyl with respect to incidences of serious side effects not including. (Korean J Anesthesiol 2000; 39: 83-90)

Atrial Fibrillation during Repair of Esophageal Hiatal Hernia: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Postoperative atrial arrhythmia after thoracotomy is relatively common, with a reported incidence ranging from 8% to 30%. These arrhythmias may cause hypotension, congestive heart failure and lengthen the period of postoperative hospitalization. The most important precipitating factor is atrial dilation and identified risk factor is an advanced age of the patient. The effect of various prophylactic regimens to reduce atrial arrhythmias is controversial. We report a case of postoperative atrial fibrillation in a 73 year-old female patient undergoing repair of esophageal hiatal hernia.

Effects of Intercostal Nerve Block Combined with IV-PCA on Pain and Inspiratory Capacity after Thoracotomy / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to evaluate the effects of intercostal nerve block added in intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA; PCA) on pain, pulmonary function and the movement of the ipsilateral arm after a thoracotomy. METHODS: Forty five patients undergoing elective thoracotomy were randomly allocated into one of three groups. The groups were divided as follows: PCA, ICB-PCA (PCA and intercostal nerve blocks by direct injection of 5 ml of 0.2% bupivacaine into the intercostal spaces of two upper and two lower segments around the surgical incision) and IM groups. For the PCA, the patients that received PCA, were administered IV bolus of 0.1 mg/kg of nalbuphine followed by PCA with 0.1% nalbuphine (basal rate 0.5 ml/hr, bolus dose 1 mg and lockout interval 8 minutes). In each group, VAS score, the inspiratory capacity and the movement of the ipsilateral arm were checked postoperatively at 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours. RESULTS: Inspiratory capacity was decreased less in ICB-PCA group (P<0.05) at 6 hour, but after 24 hour, there were no differences between the groups. The analgesic effect was significantly better in ICB-PCA group as compared to the PCA or IM groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, arm motion limitation after operation was the least in ICB-PCA group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative intercostal nerve blocks added in PCA has a transient improvement of pulmonary function, and also provide better analgesia and improved ipsilateral arm motion after a thoracotomy than in PCA or IM analgesia. The authors recommend adding intercostal nerve block for patients undergoing thoracotomy who receive IV-PCA.

Clinical Evaluation of Univent Tube for One Lung Ventilation / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Univent tube(endotracheal tube with a movable blocker), introduced by Inoue et al in 1982, has properties to overcome the disadvantages of double lumen endotracheal tube for one lung anesthesia. This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of Univent tube for one lung ventilation. METHODS: Univent tube was inserted to the patients for open thoracic surgery and positioned to the side of bronchus under the guidance of fiberoptic bronchoscope that was scheduled to lung collapse. One lung anesthesia was performed with the inflation of cuff of blocker. Each case was anaylzed with respect to ease or difficulty of positioning of blocker, tube displacement, efficacy of lung collapse and adequacy of single lung ventilation. RESULTS: In the 69 patients out of 80 patients, adequate positioning was performed by first trial. In the two patients, insertion of bronchial blocker was failed that resulted in replacement with a double lumen tube. Observed disadvantages were delayed deflation(10 patients) of affected lung and displacement of bronchial cuff into the main tracheal lumen during position change or surgical manipulation(7 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Univent tube is useful for one lung anesthesia but there are several distinct limitaitons in the safe use.

Venous Air Embolism due to Iatrogenic Insufflation of Air into Intraabdominal Cavity: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Venous air embolism can occur in the various situations during operation. We experienced a case of cardiac arrest due to iatrogenic venous air embolism. A 62 year old man was underwent thoracotomy for lung cancer with one lung ventilation in the left lateral decubitus position. Finished right upper lobectomy, surgeon insufflated air into intraabdominal cavity through diaphragm to reduce dead spacce of thoracic cavity. After insufflating air, blood pressure and heart rate dropped suddenly and then cardiac arrest was developed immediately. We performed cardiac resuscitation with mannual cardiac compression, various cardiotonic drugs and removal of air through opened right atrium, and resulted in good hemodynamic recovery. At the time of discharge, the patient has recovered almost completely with mild short term memory loss and hoarseness.