Unintentional Injection Into the Retrodural Space of Okada During Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection.

BACKGROUND: Transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) is commonly used for radicular pain, but can lead to an unintentional injection into the retrodural Space of Okada (RSO), an extradural space located dorsal to the ligamentum flavum, instead of the epidural space. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and describe the fluoroscopic imaging features of an unintentional injection into the RSO during a TFESI and to review the history of injections into the RSO. STUDY DESIGN: Observational study and original research. SETTING: This work was conducted at Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Republic of Korea. METHODS: A total of 5,429 lumbar TFESIs performed from the September 1, 2018 through October 31, 2021 were analyzed for unintentional RSO injections using fluoroscopic-guided contrast medium patterns. RESULTS: The rate of unintentional injection into the RSO was 0.20% (11 incidents). Contrast medium patterns in the RSO had a sigmoid or ovoid shape confined to the affected facet joint, or a butterfly-shaped pattern extending into the contralateral facet joint, but rarely extending beyond the upper or lower level. LIMITATION: The rarity of unintentional injection into the RSO prevented a randomized controlled study design. CONCLUSIONS: Careful fluoroscopic examination of contrast medium patterns during lumbar TFESI is crucial to identify needle placement in the RSO. If detected, the procedure can be corrected by slightly advancing the needle into the foramen.

Systemic hemodynamic effects of norepinephrine versus phenylephrine in intermittent bolus doses during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery.

BACKGROUND: Norepinephrine, a potent α-adrenergic agonist with ß-adrenergic effects, has recently emerged as a potential alternative to phenylephrine that does not lower cardiac output (CO) and heart rate (HR) during cesarean deliveries. We examined the systemic hemodynamic effects of both agents in this setting, using intermittent bolus doses to treat spinal anesthesia-induced hypotension. METHODS: A total of 56 parturients consenting to spinal anesthesia for elective cesarean delivery were randomly assigned to phenylephrine (100 µg/ml) or norepinephrine (5 µg/ml) intermittent bolus dosing. The primary study outcome was maternal normalized CO, examining and other hemodynamic variables, maternal side effects, and fetal outcomes secondarily. RESULTS: In terms of systolic blood pressure and HR, there were significant within-group differences over time (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Normalized CO and stroke volume (SV) also showed significant differences between groups (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). In the phenylephrine group, normalized CO and SV declined (relative to baseline values) by as much as 13% and 9%, respectively; whereas in the norepinephrine group, normalized CO did not differ significantly from baseline, and SV increased up to 5% (relative to baseline). Normalized total peripheral resistance likewise displayed significant within-group differences over time (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: During elective cesarean delivery, intermittent bolus doses of norepinephrine proved effective for treating spinal anesthesia-induced hypotension, while maintaining CO and SV. No maternal complications or fetal effects were evident.

Increased expression of the Cbl family of E3 ubiquitin ligases decreases Interleukin-2 production in a rat model of peripheral neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin 2 (IL-2) influences the development and severity of pain due to its antinociceptive and immunomodulatory effects. Its production is influenced by the increased expression of c-Cbl (Casitas B-lineage lymphoma proto-oncogene) and Cbl-b E3 ubiquitin ligases. We evaluated the effects on IL-2-mediated changes in c-Cbl and Cbl-b expression in a rat model of chronic neuropathic pain. METHODS: Peripheral neuropathy was induced in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300 g by chronic spinal nerve ligation. Half of the spinal cord ipsilateral to the nerve injury was harvested at 1, 3, and 6 weeks, and the expression levels of IL-2, c-Cbl, Cbl-b, phospholipase C-γ1 (PLC-γ1), ZAP70, and protein kinase Cθ (PKCθ), as well as ubiquitin conjugation, were evaluated. RESULTS: Total IL-2 mRNA levels were significantly decreased at 3 and 6 weeks after nerve injury compared to those in sham-operated rats. The mRNA levels of c-Cbl and Cbl-b, as well as the level of ubiquitin conjugation, were significantly increased at 3 and 6 weeks. In contrast, the levels of phosphorylated ZAP70 and PLC-γ1 were decreased at 3 and 6 weeks after spinal nerve ligation. Ubiquitination of PLC-γ1 and PKCθ was increased at 3 and 6 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that ubiquitin and the E3 ubiquitin ligases c-Cbl and Cbl-b function as neuroimmune modulators in the subacute phase of neuropathic pain after nerve injury.

Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage in Patients Undergoing Neurointervention: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a very rare complication but acute and life-threatening event. Clopidogrel has generally administered for neurointerventional surgery, but there were no reports of DAH related to clopidogrel in patients undergoing neurointervention. CASE PRESENTATION: A 70-year-old male presented with DAH associated with clopidogrel after transfemoral cerebral angiography and coil embolization for cerebral aneurysm. The chest radiography showed bilateral symmetric peribronchial consolidation and bronchoscopy revealed diffuse hemorrhage on the bronchial wall at the bilateral lung. Clopidogrel was withdrawn and mechanical ventilation was applied for postoperative three days. CONCLUSIONS: Small dose of clopidogrel (75 mg) may lead to rare, life-threatening DAH, so physicians should be aware of the possibility of DAH after neurointervention in patients who have respiratory distress, worsening alveolar infiltrates accompanied by hemoptysis.

Anesthesia Experience for Open Gastrostomy With Ultrasound-Guided Unilateral Subcostal Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in a High Risk Elderly Patient: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Many papers have reported that TAP block provides effective postoperative analgesia, but the sole use of TAP block for surgical anesthesia has been rarely reported. CASE PRESENTATION: Therefore, we presented an 80-year-old male undergoing ultrasound-guided unilateral subcostal TAP block providing surgical anesthesia for open gastrostomy. Left subcostal TAP block was performed using the method described by Hebbard with the M-Turbo(®) ultrasound system and a linear probe placing immediately inferior and parallel to the costal margin. Using a 100 -mm long, 23 G short-bevel needle in-plane technique, 20 mL of 0.25% levobupivacaine was injected on the TAP. A sensory block from T7 to T11 was established and the satisfaction score was 7 - 8. CONCLUSIONS: Open gastrostomy was successfully performed under subcostal TAP block with small dose fentanyl supplementation. The subcostal TAP block is considered a useful anesthetic choice in surgery for high risk patients.

The effect of midazolam dose and age on the paradoxical midazolam reaction in Korean pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Although midazolam administration may occasionally induce a paradoxical episode, such as threatened crying and violent behavior in children, systematic studies on the causes of paradoxical reaction are limited. We investigated the effect of children's age and a dose of midazolam on the paradoxical reaction. METHODS: A total of one hundred sixty four children of 1-3 years and 3-5 years, were enrolled in this study. Each age group randomly received 0.05 mg/kg or 0.1 mg/kg of intravenous midazolam (41 patients/group). RESULTS: The incidence of paradoxical midazolam reaction in the study groups, 1-3 years with 0.1 mg/kg of intravenous midazolam, 1-3 years with 0.05 mg/kg, 3-5 years with 0.1 mg/kg, and 3-5 years with 0.05 mg/kg were as follows: 29.3%, 12.2%, 7.3% and 2.4%, respectively. The incidence among the 4 groups was significantly different (P = 0.002), highest in the 1-3 years receiving 0.1 mg/kg of midazolam (29.3%). Both age (P = 0.004, OR [95%CI] = 5.3 [1.7-16.8]) and dose of midazolam (P = 0.036, OR [95%CI] = 3.0 [1.1-8.4]) were risk factors. Perioperative clinical data including anxiety scales of children were not associated with the paradoxical midazolam reaction. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we suggest that children less than 3 years old receiving higher dose of intravenous midazolam are at risk for the paradoxical midazolam reaction.

The comparison of clinically relevant doses of intrathecal ropivacaine and levobupivacaine with fentanyl for labor analgesia.

BACKGROUND: Intrathecal labor analgesia using new local anesthetics such as ropivacaine or levobupivacaine becomes more popular by virtues of their safety and decreased motor weakness. However, the analgesic efficacy of the clinically effective intrathecal doses of these new local anesthetics combined with fentanyl has yet to be determined. METHODS: Sixty parturients who requested neuraxial analgesia in early active labor were randomly assigned to either ropivacaine (group R, n = 30) or levobupivacaine (group L, n = 30) group. Group R received 3 mg of intrathecal ropivacaine and the group L received 3 mg of intrathecal levobupivacaine mixed with 20 µg of fentanyl as part of a combined spinal-epidural (CSE) technique. The associated block parameters, such as pain scores, duration of analgesia, the highest levels of the sensory block and motor block scores 30 mins after the injection were compared between two groups. RESULTS: Intrathecal ropivacaine offered shorter analgesia (87 ± 41 min vs. 122 ± 56 min, P < 0.05) with lower sensory height (T8.5 vs. T6, P < 0.05) and led to lower incidence of complete analgesia (73 vs. 97%, P < 0.05) compared with intrathecal levobupivacaine. Although motor weakness was comparable in both groups, significantly weak perineal squeezing was noticed in Group L (7 of 30 parturients vs. 16 of 30, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Clinically relevant doses of intrathecal levobupivacaine in combination with fentanyl as part of a CSE technique provides more effective analgesia than equivalent doses of intrathecal ropivacaine in early labor, but is accompanied by slight motor weakness.

Magnesium added to bupivacaine prolongs the duration of analgesia after interscalene nerve block.

PURPOSE: Local anesthetic adjuvants have been studied previously in an attempt to prolong the duration of analgesia after peripheral nerve blockade. Magnesium has been shown to have an antinociceptive effect in animal and human pain models. We evaluated the effects of adding magnesium sulphate to long-acting local anesthetics for interscalene nerve block to prolong the duration of analgesia and improve the analgesic quality. METHODS: We enrolled 66 patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The interscalene nerve block was performed with 0.5% bupivacaine 20 mL with epinephrine (1:200,000) plus either 10% magnesium sulphate 2 mL (Magnesium Group) or normal saline 2 mL (Saline Group). The following data were recorded for 24 hr after surgery: onset times and durations of sensory and motor blocks, analgesic duration, the pain numeric rating scale (NRS), postoperative fentanyl consumption, and complications. RESULTS: The duration of analgesia was longer in the Magnesium Group than in the Saline Group [mean and (standard deviation) 664 (188) min vs 553 (155) min, respectively; P = 0.017]. Patients in the Magnesium Group had significantly reduced pain NRS scores at 12 hr (P = 0.012), but the cumulative fentanyl consumption was similar in both groups. The onset times and durations of sensory and motor blocks were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The addition of magnesium sulphate to a bupivacaine-epinephrine mixture for interscalene nerve block prolongs the duration of analgesia and reduces postoperative pain.

Downregulation of constitutive and cytokine-induced complement 3 expression by morphine in rat astrocytes.

BACKGROUND: The effect of opioids on inflammation and immune responses is an important subject of investigation because immunoregulatory cytokines are produced in the central nervous system and opioid receptors are widespread in these cells. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of morphine on the C3 expression (both constitutive and proinflammatory cytokine-induced C3 expression) in primary rat astrocytes. METHODS: Primary rat astrocytes were untreated or treated with morphine in different concentrations (10(-6) to 10(-2) M) before incubation without or with 5 U/mL tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and C3 protein and mRNA expressions were measured. Similarly, astrocytes were treated with 10(-3) M morphine and stimulated with other proinflammatory cytokines, including 10 ng/mL interleukin-8 (IL-8) and 5 U/mL IL-1ß. Astrocytes were exposed to 10(-5) M naloxone for 2 hours before adding morphine, and TNF-α and C3 protein was measured. Tumor growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) was measured from the supernatants of each proinflammatory cytokine. RESULTS: All results are expressed as mean percentages of C3 production by normalizing C3 without morphine or any cytokine treatment as 100%. Constitutive C3 protein production was decreased at morphine 10(-3) M (57.2%) and 10(-2) M (30.1%). Pretreatment with morphine suppressed induction of C3 expression at both the protein and mRNA levels in astrocytes stimulated with TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-1ß (P < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of C3 protein production by morphine (10(-3) M; 33%) was partially attenuated by naloxone (52.0%) (P < 0.05). The pretreatment of astrocytes with morphine (10(-3) M) before stimulation with TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-1ß increased by 33% (P < 0.05), decreased by 15.2% (P < 0.05), and did not change the production of TGF-ß protein, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Morphine downregulated both constitutive and proinflammatory cytokine-induced C3 expression of astrocytes at the transcriptional level, but not in a cytokine-specific manner.

Dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in living donor liver transplantation recipients -A report of two cases-.

We present two cases of dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in 2 patients who were undergoing living donor liver transplantation. On the preoperative transthoracic echocardiography, the first patient showed normal ventricular function and a normal wall thickness, but severe hemodynamic deterioration developed during the anhepatic period and this was further aggravated after reperfusion in spite of volume resuscitation and catecholamine therapy. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography revealed the systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve leaflet together with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The second patient showed left ventricular hypertrophy with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction on the preoperative echocardiography. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was used to guide fluid administration and the hemodynamic management throughout the procedure and a temporary portocaval shunt was established to mitigate the venous pooling during the anhepatic period. The purpose of this report is to emphasize the clinical significance of dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in patients who are undergoing living donor liver transplantation and the role of intraoperative echocardiography to detect and manage it.

Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for caesarian section in a patients with multiple sclerosis: A case report.

The use of neuroaxial blocks in patients with multiple sclerosis has been controversial, because the effect of local anesthetic drugs on the course of the disease is unclear. We report an obstetric patient with multiple sclerosis whose caesarian section was performed successfully under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia and postoperative pain control was managed using patient-controlled epidural analgesia. There were no exacerbation of neurologic symptoms and no relapse of disease at two month follow-up. We suggest that the choice of anesthetic technique for patients with multiple sclerosis should be determined after evaluation of the course of the disease and informed consent. The obstetric patients with multiple sclerosis should not be denied the neuroaxial block for labor and caesarian section.

Knotting of a guidewire during internal jugular vein catheterization in an infant: A case report.

Central venous catheterization has been frequently used in pediatric patients in wide variety of conditions. Several authors have described about various complication of central venous catheterization in pediatric patients and reported complication rates of 3% to 6%. Knotting of guidewire as a complication of central venous catheterization has been reported in adult patients, but knotting of guidewire has not been reported in infants. Therefore we report an infant who experienced a knotting of guidewire during internal jugular vein catheterization which was successfully removed without any adverse events. We suggest that knot formation is possible in infants and there should be a high suspicion if resistance is felt at the time of catheter advancement.

Peripheral arteriovenous malformations with a dominant outflow vein: results of ethanol embolization.

OBJECTIVE: To assess retrospectively the treatment results of ethanol embolization of peripheral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) with a dominant outflow vein (DOV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients who had peripheral AVMs with a DOV were enrolled in this study (mean age, 29.7 years; range, 15-42 years). Fifty-one ethanol embolizations (mean, 2.7; range, 1-8) were performed by direct puncture (n = 29), the transarterial approach (n = 13), the transvenous approach (n = 5), or a combination of methods (n = 4) under general anesthesia. Coil and/or core-removed guide wire embolization of the DOV or another flow occlusion technique (i.e., use of an external pneumatic pressure cuff) to achieve vascular stasis were required in all patients during ethanol embolization. Clinical follow-up (mean, 22.2 months; range, 1-53 months) was performed for all patients, and imaging follow-up (mean, 22.1 months; range, 2-53 months) from the last treatment session was performed for 14 patients. The therapeutic outcome (cure, improvement, no change, or aggravation) was assessed according to the clinical response and the degree of devascularization at angiography. RESULTS: Ethanol embolization was considered as an effective procedure in all patients. Thirteen (68%) of 19 patients were cured and six displayed improvement. Three of six patients with improvement needed further treatment sessions for residual AVMs. Four patients (21%) experienced a total of eight complications. Five complications (three events of a distal embolism and one event each of a urinary bladder necrosis and a brain infarct related to the accidental cannulation of the common carotid artery during insertion of the Swan-Ganz catheter) were major and three complications (skin necrosis) were minor. CONCLUSION: Peripheral AVMs with a DOV can be effectively treated with a high cure rate by the use of ethanol embolization alone or in conjunction with the use of coil and/or core-removed guide wire embolization.