The Effect of Continuous Field Block through Intercostal Muscles after Atrial Septal Defect Closure via a Mini-Right Thoracotomy in Pediatric Patients.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain management in thoracotomy patients often is difficult. Furthermore, pediatric patients present more challenges because of their inability to effectively communicate their pain intensity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of continuous field block through intercostal muscles as postoperative pain management in pediatric thoracotomy. METHODS: Between 2014 and 2018, 11 patients underwent an ASD closure using a cardiopulmonary bypass via a mini-right thoracotomy through the fourth intercostal space. At the time of chest closure, a single-shot field block via the fourth intercostal muscles was performed with levobupivacaine (0.6 mg/kg). The first five patients were only given the single-shot field block (Single group). The remaining six patients were given levobupivacaine continuously (0.1 mg/kg/hr) through an indwelling catheter until the chest tube removal (Continuous group). The groups' vital signs, total amounts of acetaminophen used, postoperative courses were compared. RESULTS: Although the heart rate did not differ between the groups, the respiratory rate was significantly higher in the Single group versus the Continuous group at 16 and 32 hr post-surgery (35.6 ± 9.7/min vs. 18.5 ± 4.7/min; p=0.007, 43.0 ± 10.4 vs. 25.3 ± 3.1; p=0.042, respectively). The accumulated dosage of acetaminophen given by postoperative day 2 was significantly higher in the Single group versus the Continuous group (55.3 ± 22.1 mg/kg vs. 7.8 ± 17.4 mg/kg; p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Continuous field block via intercostal muscles after ASD closure via a mini-right thoracotomy in children was effective to stabilize the vital signs and reduce the analgesic medication use.

[Use of cardiovascular drugs for cardiac surgery--based on recent studies].

Protective effects of each cardiovascular drug on major organ functions are reviewed. Based on these effects, proper use of the drugs is presented. It is probable that norepinephrine and dobutamine have the most protective effect against major organ dysfunctions. It has been shown that perioperative beta-blocker administration reduces cardiovascular complications. Nicorandil is likely to have ischemic preconditioning properties. In case of hypotension, low doses of noradrenaline should be administered first, and then dobutamine should be added. In case of systolic dysfunction, low doses of dobutamine should be chosen first, and then noradrenaline, and finally olprinone could be added. In case of hypotension and systolic dysfunction, combination of norepinephrine and dobutamine is the first choice. Then adrenaline could be added. When ischemic heart disease exists, nicorandil should be given. When decreasing or stabilizing heart rate is required, an ultra-short acting beta-blocker, such as landiolol, is recommended. To maintain hypotension in a certain situation, prostaglandin E1 is better to use than nicardipine, diltiazem, and nitroglycerin. It is important to administer the drugs focusing on postoperative complications and outcome.

Subarachnoid Block-Induced Deafferentation Pain Successfully Treated with Pentazocine.

Deafferentation pain induced by subarachnoid block (SAB) is rare, but it can appear in the form of recurrent phantom lower limb pain, new acute-onset stump pain in amputees, lower limb pain in patients with tabes dorsalis, and neuropathic pain. We have previously reported that thiopental is an effective treatment for deafferentation pain induced by therapeutic SAB applied to treat neuropathic pain of central origin. Here, we report the case of an amputee who developed new stump pain in his lower limb immediately after subarachnoid tetracaine was administered prior to appendectomy. A 51-year-old man who had previously undergone right below-knee amputation for acute arterial thrombosis, and who had not previously experienced chronic phantom limb or stump pain, was scheduled for emergency open appendectomy. For anesthesia, we induced SAB with a hyperbaric tetracaine solution. No paresthesia occurred during administration. However, the patient immediately complained of severe, lightning-bolt pain in the right lower limb stump after the SAB was established. He was given intravenous pentazocine, which promptly resolved the pain. Appendectomy was then performed under sedation using intravenous midazolam. The patient did not experience further deafferentation pain during his hospital stay and has reported no stump pain since discharge from the hospital. This case report suggests that SAB induces deafferentation pain in some patients and that this unusual pain can be treated with pentazocine.

An epidural initial dose is unnecessary in combined spinal epidural anesthesia for Caesarean section.

Combined spinal epidural anesthesia is widely used for Caesarean section. Bolus administration of an epidural initial dose introduces the risk of drug flux from the epidural space to the subarachnoid space, and the volume effect of the initial dose may cause epidural top-up and extension of subarachnoid blockade. These problems may be avoided if the initial dose is not administered. This study investigated whether epidural continuous infusion without an initial dose (continuous group) can decrease postoperative pain as well as an epidural continuous infusion with an initial dose (initial dose group). Sixty-one patients undergoing elective Caesarean section were randomly assigned to the initial dose group or the continuous group. Twenty patients undergoing emergency Caesarean section with spinal anesthesia (spinal group) were also investigated to confirm that epidural block is effective for postoperative pain. Data in this study were obtained retrospectively from each patient's records. Between the initial dose group and the continuous group, there was no significant difference in the number of times flurbiprofen or pentazocine were used for postoperative pain relief. However, the number of times that pentazocine was used was significantly higher in the spinal group than in other groups. This finding suggests that an epidural initial dose is unnecessary for postoperative pain relief in combined spinal epidural anesthesia for Caesarean section.

Effect of bicarbonated Ringer's solution on the acid-base balance in patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

AIM: The present study was designed to assess whether prophylactic use of bicarbonated Ringer's solution ameliorates metabolic acidosis in patients undergoing aortic surgery. METHODS: Twenty patients undergoing elective infrarenal aortic aneurysm repair were randomly assigned to receive either bicarbonated Ringer's solution or acetated Ringer's solution. The pH, PaCO(2), and base excess (BE) were measured before surgical incision (T0), 5 min before reperfusion (T1), 5 min after reperfusion (T2), and 30 min after reperfusion (T3). Data were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Both pH and BE initially showed a slight decrease in both groups during clamping. After unclamping of the aorta, an additional decrease in pH was observed in both groups (T0 to T2, and T3). There were no significant differences in pH between the groups throughout the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic cross-clamping leads to the development of metabolic acidosis, with a decrease in pH and BE. The effect of administration of bicarbonated infusion fluid during elective abdominal aortic surgery had not significant compared with that of acetated Ringer's solution with respect to acid-base homeostasis.

Preoperative administration of methylprednisolone attenuates cytokine-induced respiratory failure after esophageal resection.

Proinflammatory cytokines have been implicated in mediating respiratory failure associated with major surgery. We investigated the effect of giving glucocorticoids preoperatively for the prophylaxis of surgical stress and the association of cytokine levels, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), with oxygenation after esophagectomy. We studied 17 patients who underwent subtotal esophagectomy. Seven patients (steroid group) were chosen at random to be given methylprednisolone (10 mg/kg) and 10 patients (control group) to be given saline intravenously before operation. Plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) IL-8 levels in the control group were significantly higher than those in the steroid group. In both groups, plasma IL-6 levels were significantly higher than those in BALF, but in contrast, BALF IL-8 levels were significantly higher than plasma levels of IL-8 postoperatively. The PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio was significantly reduced in the control group. The PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio of the control group had significantly lower values than that of the steroid group. There was significant correlation between BALF IL-8 levels and the PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio postoperatively. We conclude that preoperative administration of methylprednisolone may attenuate postoperative reduction of arterial oxygen saturation by suppressing the release of cytokines.