The Hemodynamic Effect of Epinephrine-Containing Local Infiltration Analgesia After Tourniquet Deflation During Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Local infiltration analgesia (LIA) is widely used in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty and often contains epinephrine for a prolonged analgesic effect and to reduce systemic absorption of the local anesthetic. This retrospective observational study investigated the hemodynamic effect of locally infiltrated epinephrine after deflation of the tourniquet during total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: We reviewed the electronic medical records of patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty between January 2017 and February 2018 at a tertiary care university hospital. Total knee arthroplasty was performed using a conventional technique with a pneumatic tourniquet. LIA consisted of ropivacaine, morphine sulfate, ketorolac, and methylprednisolone. The patients were grouped according to whether or not epinephrine was included in the LIA. The incidence of a hypertensive response (systolic blood pressure >160 mmHg or mean blood pressure >110 mmHg) after deflation of the tourniquet was compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: A total of 452 patients had received LIA with (n = 188) or without (n = 264) epinephrine. A hypertensive response after deflation of the tourniquet was more common in patients who received LIA containing epinephrine (42/188 [22.3%]) than in those who received LIA without epinephrine (14/264 [5.3%], P < .001). However, the incidence of hypotension after deflation of the tourniquet was not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = .976). CONCLUSION: Because epinephrine-containing LIA can result in a hypertensive response after deflation of the tourniquet during total knee arthroplasty, it should be cautiously administered, especially in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities.

Diagnostic value of terminal ileum intubation during colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Since the diagnostic value of ileoscopy is not well documented, it is uncertain if terminal ileum intubation should be performed routinely in patients undergoing colonoscopy. We aimed to assess the diagnostic yield of terminal ileum intubation during colonoscopy according to indications for colonoscopy. METHODS: We routinely performed terminal ileum intubation in subjects who underwent colonoscopy at Ajou University Hospital between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2005. Demographic data, indications for colonoscopy, endoscopic, and histopathologic findings of the terminal ileum were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 3921 subjects underwent colonoscopy. The terminal ileum was successfully intubated in 3417 cases (87.1%). Macroscopic abnormality on terminal ileum was present in 125 cases (3.7%), and biopsies were taken for all of them. Clinically significant histopathology was observed in 11 cases, giving a 0.3% diagnostic yield in all ileoscopies. Seven out of 11 cases were diagnosed as Crohn's disease. The rate of diagnostic yield was 1.8% in patients with right lower quadrant (RLQ) abdominal pain and 0.4% in patients with diarrhea. This rate in cases with RLQ pain was significantly greater compared with the indications for medical check-ups. CONCLUSIONS: Terminal ileum intubation during colonoscopy identifies significant pathology in 1.8% of cases who have RLQ abdominal pain, suggesting diagnostic value in this setting. However, its diagnostic yield is very low in other indications for colonoscopy. Thus the decision to perform ileoscopy or not during colonoscopy needs to be made on a case-by-case basis.

[Relapse rates of ulcerative colitis in remission and factors related to relapse].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with heterogeneous clinical features. Data on the disease course and prognosis of UC patients who have been regularly treated are lacking. We aimed to investigate relapse rates of UC in remission and factors related to relapse. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical courses of 84 patients (43 males, median age 43 years, ranged 20-73 years) diagnosed as UC at Ajou University Hospital between January 1997 and December 2005 based on clinical, endoscopic and pathologic findings, and who were regularly followed for at least one year after the remission. RESULTS: Study subjects consisted of 32 proctitis (38%), 21 left-sided colitis (25%), and 31 subtotal or total colitis (37%). Of 84 patients, relapse was observed in 52 patients (62%) during the follow-up period (ranged 1-9 years). The relapse rate was 24%, 41%, 51%, 65%, 71%, and 79% at 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years and 6 years, respectively. Among sex, age, hemoglobin, ESR, and the extent of disease on admission, decrease of hemoglobin level was the only independent factor related to relapse (odds ratio=2.67, 95% CI (1.32-5.42), p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In Korea, relapse of UC in remission is not rare. Decrease of hemoglobin level is an independent risk factor related to its relapse, while the extent of disease is not.

Association between serum anti-Müllerian hormone level and ovarian response to mild stimulation in normoovulatory women and anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and ovarian response to mild stimulation in normoovulatory women and anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: Seventy-four cycles of mild stimulation (clomiphene citrate+gonadotropin followed by timed intercourse or intrauterine insemination) performed in normoovulatory women (57 cycles) and anovulatory women with PCOS (17 cycles). Ovarian sensitivity was defined by the number of mature follicles (≥14 mm) on triggering day per 100 IU of gonadotropin. A correlation between ovarian sensitivity and the baseline serum AMH level (absolute or multiples of the median [MoM] value for each corresponding age) was calculated. Correlation between ovarian response and serum AMH level was evaluated. RESULTS: Ovarian sensitivity to mild stimulation was positively correlated with absolute serum AMH (r=0.535, p<0.001) or AMH-MoM value (r=0.390, p=0.003) in normoovulatory women, but this correlation was not observed in anovulatory women with PCOS (r=0.105, p>0.05, r=-0.265, p>0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Ovarian response to mild stimulation is possibly predicted by the serum AMH level in normoovulatory women, but not in anovulatory women with PCOS.

Concept of minimal heart rate for each pitch value to avoid interpolation artifact when using dual-source CT: a phantom study.

Interpolation artifact is known to occur when the heart rate is decreased lower than the critical value for the specific pitch. The purpose of our study is to determine the minimum heart rate (minHR) for the specific pitch that provides images without interpolation artifact when using dual-source computed tomography (DSCT). We scanned the 'thin slice thickness block' of the CT performance phantom provided by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine using DSCT for variable pitches. Change in heart rate was simulated through ECG editing by changing R-R interval. Axial, sagittal, and coronal image sets were reconstructed and assessed for the presence and extent of interpolation artifact. MinHR at which no interpolation artifact was detected for each pitch value was determined. Length of interpolation artifact (LOA) on sagittal view was also measured when the heart rate was simulated at 10 bpm lower than the minHR on each pitch setting. MinHRs for each pitch value were 9-10 bpm from the estimated heart rate. However, minHR for the lowest pitch value 0.2, estimated heart value 40 bpm was 37 bpm. LOA was larger in the low heart rate condition. Measured values of minHR were correlated exactly with the calculated values. MinHRs that provide images without interpolation artifact for each pitch value when using DSCT were determined. The concept of minHR is important for obtaining high quality images of cardiac CT angiography when using DSCT.