Levels of preoperative cerebrospinal fluid pro-inflammatory mediators and chronic pain after total knee arthroplasty surgery.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery are at high risk of chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP). Accumulating evidence suggests an active role of neuroinflammation in chronic pain. However, its role in the progression to CPSP following TKA surgery remains unanswered. Here, we examined the associations between preoperative neuroinflammatory states and pre- and postsurgical chronic pain in TKA surgery. METHODS: The data of 42 patients undergoing elective TKA surgery for chronic knee arthralgia at our hospital were analyzed in this prospective study. Patients completed the following questionnaires: brief pain inventory (BPI), hospital anxiety and depression scale, painDETECT, and pain catastrophizing scale (PCS). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected preoperatively and concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, TNF, fractalkine, and CSF-1 were measured by electrochemiluminescence multiplex immunoassay. CPSP severity was ascertained, using the BPI, 6 months postsurgery. RESULTS: While no significant correlation was observed between the preoperative CSF mediator levels and preoperative pain profiles, the preoperative fractalkine level in the CSF showed a significant correlation with CPSP severity (Spearman's rho = -0.525; p = .002). Furthermore, multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the preoperative PCS score (standardized ß coefficient [ß]: .11; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.06-0.16; p < .001) and CSF fractalkine level (ß: -.62; 95% CI: -1.10 to -0.15; p = .012) were independent predictors of CPSP severity 6 months after TKA surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We identified the CSF fractalkine level as a potential predictor for CPSP severity following TKA surgery. In addition, our study provided novel insights into the potential role of neuroinflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of CPSP.

[The Effect of Dexamethasone on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Posterior Correction and Fusion Surgery for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis].

BACKGROUND: Although dexamethasone is widely used to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in both adults and children, the evidence in children is mainly from minor, short surgical proce- dures such as tonsillectomy and strabismus surgery. METHODS: In this study, we reviewed medical re- cords of patients who had undergone posterior correc- tion and fusion surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoio- sis at our institution and evaluated the effect of dexa- methasone on PONV prophylaxis. RESULTS: Four of 11(36%) patients who had received prophylactic dexamethasone and 26 of 33 (79%) pa- tients who had not received dexamethasone developed PONV during the first 72 hours of surgery (OR 0.15 [95% CI : 0.04-0.681, P=0.02). Without dexametha- sone, 76% patients developed PONV within 24 hr of surgery. Although the incidence gradually declined, 24% of patients still developed PONV even later than 48 hr after surgery. In contrast the incidence of PONV during the first 24 hr in patients who had received dexamethasone was 36%, and none of them experi- enced PONV after 24 hr. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that dexamethasone is effective in reducing PONV in chil- dren and adolescents undergoing posterior correction and fusion surgery for scoliosis. A randomized con- trolled trial is needed to confirm the findings of this study.

[Difficult Perioperative Glucose Management in a Type 2 Diabetic Patient with Anti-insulin Antibody Undergoing Laparoscopic Partial Liver Resection].

A 50-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus was scheduled for laparoscopic partial liver resection. Six months prior to the surgery, he developed frequent hypoglycemic attacks and was diagnosed as anti-insulin antibody positive. The operation was performed under general anesthesia with epidural anesthesia. Intermit- tent and continuous insulin administration was required during liver resection due to persistent hyperglycemia. After termination of the liver resection, the patient exhibited uncontrolled hypo- and hypergly- cemia, and recovery from anesthesia was delayed due to severe hypoglycemia. He recovered immediately after 40% glucose administration. However, frequent glucose administration was required for two hours after transfer to the ICU due to hypoglycemia. It should be born in mind that preoperative poor glucose control might be caused by anti-insulin antibodies and lead to difficult perioperative glucose management.

Anaphylactic Reactions to Native and Light-Exposed Sugammadex Suggested by Basophil Activation Test: A Report of 2 Cases.

We describe 2 patients who developed anaphylactic shock after sugammadex administration during anesthesia. Both had no history of prior sugammadex administration. The serum tryptase concentrations were elevated after the allergic reaction. Basophil activation testing 1 month after the events was positive for sugammadex in 1 patient, and negative in the other. However, it was positive for light-exposed sugammadex solution in both patients, suggesting a possible allergic reaction to a denatured compound of sugammadex generated by light exposure of the sugammadex solution.

[Fiberscope-guided tracheal intubation using two different kinds of laryngeal mask].

We experienced two cases of difficult airway management using laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in children. LMA Classic (LMA-C) was used for a 4-year-old female patient and SOFTSEAL LMA (LMA-S) was used for a 15-year-old female patient. Both patients were successfully intubated by fiberoptic tracheal intubation through LMA. We compare these two kinds of LMA in fiberoptic intubation method. Because the diameter of the shaft is wider than LMA-C, LMA-S could pass through much larger size endotracheal tube (ETT). 4.0 mm ETT could pass through LMA #1 and #1.5 in both LMAs. 5.0 mm ETT could pass through LMA-S #2, but only 4.5 mm ETT could pass through LMA-C #2. In #2.5, LMA-S and LMA-C could be passed by 6.0 mm ETT and 5.5 mm ETT respectively. Also LMA-S and LMA-C #3 could be passed by 7.0 mm ETT and 6.5 mm ETT respectively. We conclude that SOFTSEAL LMA is more useful than LMA Classic for fiberoptic tracheal intubation technique.