Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on patients with chronic pain: multicenter study in Korea

Background@#The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant changes. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on patients with chronic pain. @*Methods@#Patients with chronic pain from 23 university hospitals in South Korea participated in this study. The anonymous survey questionnaire consisted of 25 questions regarding the following: demographic data, diagnosis, hospital visit frequency, exercise duration, time outside, sleep duration, weight change, nervousness and anxiety, depression, interest or pleasure, fatigue, daily life difficulties, and self-harm thoughts. Depression severity was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between increased pain and patient factors. @*Results@#A total of 914 patients completed the survey, 35.9% of whom had decreased their number of visits to the hospital, mostly due to COVID-19. The pain level of 200 patients has worsened since the COVID-19 outbreak, which was more prominent in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Noticeable post-COVID-19 changes such as exercise duration, time spent outside, sleep patterns, mood, and weight affected patients with chronic pain. Depression severity was more significant in patients with CRPS. The total PHQ-9 average score of patients with CRPS was 15.5, corresponding to major depressive orders. The patients’ decreased exercise duration, decreased sleep duration, and increased depression were significantly associated with increased pain. @*Conclusions@#COVID-19 has caused several changes in patients with chronic pain.During the pandemic, decreased exercise and sleep duration and increased depression were associated with patients’ increasing pain.

Multicenter survey of symptoms, work life, economic status, and quality of life of complex regional pain syndrome patients

Background@#Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is an intractable pain disease with various symptoms. Here, we investigated the disease status, work life, sleep problems, medical insurance, economic status, psychological problems, and quality of life (QOL) of CRPS patients. @*Methods@#CRPS patients from 37 university hospitals in South Korea were surveyed.The survey questionnaire consisted of 24 questions on the following aspects of CRPS patients: sex, age, occupation, cause of injury, activities of daily living (ADL), pain severity, sleep disturbance, level of education, economic status, therapeutic effect, and suicidal ideation. Additionally, the abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, consisting of 26 questions, was used to identify the status of QOL. @*Results@#A total of 251 patients completed the questionnaire. According to the survey, 54.2% patients could not perform ADL on their own. Over the previous week, the mean pain score was 7.15 ± 1.78 (out of a total of 10 points); 92.1% of patients had sleep disorders and 80.5% had suicidal ideation, with most patients suffering from psychological problems. The average for each domain of WHOQOL-BREF was as follows: 21.74 ± 14.77 for physical, 25.22 ± 17.66 for psychological, 32.02 ± 22.36 for social relationship, and 30.69 ± 15.83 for environmental (out of a total of 100 points each). Occupation, ADL, sleep time, therapeutic effect, and suicidal ideation were statistically correlated with multiple domains. @*Conclusions@#Most patients had moderate to severe pain, economic problems, limitations of their ADL, sleep problems, psychological problems, and a low QOL score.

Multicenter survey of symptoms, work life, economic status, and quality of life of complex regional pain syndrome patients

Background@#Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is an intractable pain disease with various symptoms. Here, we investigated the disease status, work life, sleep problems, medical insurance, economic status, psychological problems, and quality of life (QOL) of CRPS patients. @*Methods@#CRPS patients from 37 university hospitals in South Korea were surveyed.The survey questionnaire consisted of 24 questions on the following aspects of CRPS patients: sex, age, occupation, cause of injury, activities of daily living (ADL), pain severity, sleep disturbance, level of education, economic status, therapeutic effect, and suicidal ideation. Additionally, the abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, consisting of 26 questions, was used to identify the status of QOL. @*Results@#A total of 251 patients completed the questionnaire. According to the survey, 54.2% patients could not perform ADL on their own. Over the previous week, the mean pain score was 7.15 ± 1.78 (out of a total of 10 points); 92.1% of patients had sleep disorders and 80.5% had suicidal ideation, with most patients suffering from psychological problems. The average for each domain of WHOQOL-BREF was as follows: 21.74 ± 14.77 for physical, 25.22 ± 17.66 for psychological, 32.02 ± 22.36 for social relationship, and 30.69 ± 15.83 for environmental (out of a total of 100 points each). Occupation, ADL, sleep time, therapeutic effect, and suicidal ideation were statistically correlated with multiple domains. @*Conclusions@#Most patients had moderate to severe pain, economic problems, limitations of their ADL, sleep problems, psychological problems, and a low QOL score.

Patients’ perception about opioids and addiction in South Korea

Background@#Chronic pain affects approximately 22% of the world’s population. Opioids can be useful in chronic pain management. However, some patients have negative perception of opioids. The purpose of this research was to evaluate patients’ perception about opioids and investigate problems associated with prescribing and taking opioids in South Korea. @*Methods@#Patients who visited a pain clinic in 14 university hospitals of South Korea from September through October 2018 were asked to complete anonymous questionnaires about taking opioids. @*Results@#Of the 368 patients that were surveyed (female 53.3%, male 46.7%), 56.8% were prescribed opioids. In the opioid group, 92.8% patients had heard of opioids from their doctor and 72.6% of them had a positive perception about opioids. The side effects associated with opioid use were constipation (35.4%), dizziness (24.6%), nausea and vomiting (17.4%), dysuria (6.2%), and addiction (2.0%). In the no opioid group, the primary sources of information about opioids were doctors (49.2%), mass media (30.8%), and the internet (16.2%). The main reasons why 39.0% patients did not take opioids were fear of addiction (57.7%) and side effects (38.5%). There were 71.5% and 60.9% patients in the opioid and no opioid group, respectively, who wished to take opioids when their numeric rating scale pain score was ≥ 7. @*Conclusions@#Perception of opioids among patients who take them was either neutral or positive. However, 39.0% patients who have not been prescribed opioids did not want an opioid prescription, citing fear of addiction and side effects as the primary reasons.

A survey of patients’ perspectives of steroid injection (ppyeojusa) in Korea / 대한통증학회지

BACKGROUND: Steroid injections are commonly used in pain clinics to relieve pain and treat inflammation. In Korea, these steroid injections are well known as ‘ppyeojusa’, which means to inject into the bone in Korean. Some patients often have a negative perception of this treatment method due to inaccurate information about the treatment and side effects of steroids. The purpose of this study is to investigate patients’ perception and knowledge of ppyeojusa. METHODS: A questionnaire about ppyeojusa was completed by patients who visited one of the pain clinics in nine university hospitals, from August 1 to September 10, 2017. RESULTS: Three-hundred seventy-four patients completed the survey. Eighty-five percent of patients had had ppyeojusa, and 74% of the respondents had heard of ppyeojusa from the mass media, friends or relatives. Only 39% of the patients answered that this injection was safe without side effects if properly spaced. Of the patients surveyed, 21% responded that ppyeojusa are “injections into the bone”; while 15% responded that ppyeojusa are “terrible injections that melted ‘the bone if used a lot’”. Half of the patients did not know what the active constituent is in ppyeojusa. If steroid injections are advised by the pain specialists, 89% of the patients would consent. CONCLUSIONS: Most pain clinic patients have heard of ppyeojusa. Most patients obtained information about ppyeojusa from mass media, rather than their physicians. Therefore, it is likely that most patients have inaccurate knowledge.

The clinical feature of the muscle cramps and the effects of eperisone hydrochloride in treatment for the muscle cramps of the patients with liver cirrhosis / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Muscle cramps in cirrhotic patients are not serious symptoms but have frequently bad effect on their quality of life. We have evaluated the effectiveness of treatment with eperisone hydrochloride, an antispastic agent, on muscle cramps in cirrhotic patients. METHODS: Sixty five cirrhotic patients (cramps 35, no cramps 30) were included in our study. Thirty five patients with muscle cramps were questioned about the frequency and localization of muscle cramps. All patients were evaluated a physical findings and blood chemistry at the beginning of the study and after one month. Eperisone hydrochloride 50 mg per day were given orally to the patients with muscle cramps. RESULTS: There were significant differences for the number of diuretics use (p=0.019), hemoglobin (p=0.005), platelet (p=0.007), total bilirubin (p=0.003), albumin (p=0.000), total calcium (p=0.0001) and Na+ (p=0.001) between with and without muscle cramps. Muscle cramps were found to occur in calf muscles (60%) and hands (54%), to occur several times a week (76%), mainly during sleep (73%) and to last for several minutes (53%). After a month, muscle cramps completely disappeared in 7 patients (20%), decreased in frequency in 18 patients (51%) and were unaltered in 10 patients (29%). Side effects were observed in 7 patients (epigastric discomfort in five, fatigue in two) but any patients were not stopped. CONCLUSIONS: Eperisone hydrochloride was significantly effective in treatment for the muscle cramps of the patients with liver cirrhosis. In addition, this agents was well tolerated without any serious adverse effects in the majority of the patients.

Swallowing Pattern according to Controlled Food Viscosity in Patients with Brain Lesion

OBJECTIVE: The response of the pharyngeal phase during swallowing is influenced by various factors including viscosity, shape, firmness, fracturability, and cohesive power. These factors affect the pharyngeal phase simultaneously, but little research has been conducted into their individual effects on the pharyngeal phase. This study investigated the relationship between controlled viscosity and pharyngeal transit time (PTT). METHOD: The subjects were 81 patients with naso-gastric tube due to brain dysfunction. PTT was assessed by video- esophageal fluoroscopy and the viscosity of the processed starch by Brookfield viscometer. High viscosity was defined as a controlled viscosity of 12% and 9%, medium viscosity as a controlled viscosity of 7.5%, 6%, and 4.5%, and low viscosity as a controlled viscosity of 3%, 1.5%, and 0% (liquid viscosity). RESULTS: PTT was prolonged with increasing viscosity in the experimental group. There were no significant differences between PTT of the experimental and control groups at any viscosity. Aspiration prevalence was 1.85%, 7.82%, and 22.22% in the high, medium, and low viscosity groups, respectively, and the three prevalences showed significant differences. CONCLUSION: PTT showed a tendency to be prolonged with increasing food viscosity in the experimental group.

Predisposing Factors of Postoperative Pulmonary Complication in Children with Congenital Heart Disease

PURPOSE: Postoperative care usually required 24-48 hours at intensive care unit (ICU) in children with congenital heart disease. More longer ICU stay may give more chances to produce the postoperative complications. Postoperative pulmonary complication is produced to a much higher incidence after longer immobilized state with keeping catheters and arterial and venous lines. So, we evaluated the predisposing factors those are oriented to ICU stay factors and age, hematologic abnormalities, hepatic dysfunction, infections during ICU care in children with congenital heart disease. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of postoperative factors for children undergoing open heart surgery in intensive cardiac unit, Wonkwang medical cardiac center. A total of 193 pediatric patients who had cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass in a 10 year period from Jan. 1995 until Dec. 2004 were reviewed. After logistic regression test, predisposing factors were deemed significant if associated with a pulmonary complication with P<0.05. RESULTS: Children who fell postoperative pulmonary complication in our institution occupied 15% of 193 patients with congenital heart disease. Of all clinical factors considered, those significantly associated with postoperative pulmonary complication were as follows: high ALT level, longer duration of mechanical ventilation and arterial line maintenance. CONCLUSION: Prompt weaning of mechanical ventilation and removal of arterial line during ICU stay in children underwent open heart surgery may be necessary to decrease the risks of postoperative pulmonary complication.

Tendon Transfer with a Miarovascular Free Flap in Injured Foot of Children / 대한정형외과학회잡지

We performed tendon transfer with a microvascular free flap for recovery of handicapped function and reconstruction for the skin and soft tissue loss. We review the clinical data of 11 children who underwent these operation due to injured foot by pedestrian car accident from January, 1986 to June, l994. The mean age of patients was 5.6 years old (3-8). Five cases underwent tendon transfer and microvascular free flap simultaneously. Another 6 cases underwent operations separately. The time interval between tendon trasnfer and microvascular free flap was average 5.8 months (2-15 months). The duration between initial trauma and tendon transfer was average 9.6 months (2-21 months). The anterior tibial tendon was used in 6 cases. Among these, the technique of splitting the anterior tibial tendon was used in 5 cases. The posterior tibial tendon was used in 3 cases and the extensor digitorum longus tendon of the foot in 2 cases. Insertion sites of tendon transfer were the cuboid bone in 3 cases, the 3rd cuneiform bone in 3 cases, the 2nd cuneiform bone in I case, the base of 4th metatarsal bone in I case, and the remnant of the extensor hallucis longus in 3 cases. The duration of follow-up was average 29.9 months (12-102 months). The clinical results were analyzed by Srinivasan criteria. Nine cases were excellent and 2 cases were good. The postoperative complications were loosening of the tranferred tendon in 2 cases, plantar flexion contracture in l case, mild flat foot deformity in I case and hypertrophic scar in 2 cases. So we recommend the tendon transfer with a microvascular free flap in the case of injured foot of children combined with nerve injury and extensive loss of skin, soft tissue and tendon.

Effect of Intraabdominal Pressure on Cardiopulmonary Function during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy / 대한마취과학회지

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a new surgical procedure which worldwidely applicated gallstone disease and is presenting now anesthetic challenges. The advantages of laparoscopic cholecystectomy are shorter hospital stay, more rapid retum to normal activies and less postoperative ileus, compared with open laparotomy. During the laparoscopic surgery to enable visualization of abdominal structures, pneumoperitoneum is made with CO2 insufflation but insufflation of CO2 into abdominal cavity has been reported several consequences. Hypercarbia, high peak airway pressure, cardiac arrhythmia which were all may result from CO2 insufflation. Also, increased intraabdominal pressure from the induced pneumoperitoneum can cause decreased venous return and may result in hypotension. To ascertain the cardiopulmonary effcts of the increased intraabdominal pressure by CO2 insufflation, a clinical study was performed in 80 patients who divided into four groups likes as control group (open cholecystectomy, number:No=20), group I (15 mmHg of pressure of pneumoperitoneum, No=20), group II (20 mmHg, No=20), group III (25 mmHg, No=20). We investigated the effect of CO2 insufflation to mean arterial pressure, heart rate, end-tidal CO2 partial pressure, mean airway pressure, and arterial blood gas components. The measurements were obtained from the time of skin incision(basic value) to 20 min every 5 min interval in all groups. The results are following, I. Mean arterial pressure significantly began to increase (p<0.05) at post-incision 5 min in control, group IIl & at 10 min in group I, II compared with pre-incision value(basic value), but there were no difference between control and other study groups. II. Heart rate(HR) significantly began to differ (p<0.05) at post-incision 5 min in group II, III. compared with control group. Also HR significantly began to increase (p<0.05) at post-incision 5 min in control, group III & to decrease at post-incision 15 min in group compared with basic value. III. There were significant difference in pH between control and study groups, pH change were in normal ranges clinically. PaCO2 was significantly began to decrease (p<0.05) at post-incision 5 min in study groups compared with basic value, but still in normal acceptable ranges. IV. PaCO2 significantly began to increase (p<0.05) at post-incision 10 min in group II & at 15 min in group IIl compared with control group. Also PaCO2 significantly began to increase (p<0.05) at 5 min in group I, II & at 10 min in group III compared with basic value. V. PETCO2 significantly began to increase (p<0.05) at 10 min in group II & at 15 min in group III compared with control group. Also PETCO2 significantly began to increase (p<0.05) at 10 min in group I,II,III compared with basic value. VI. PAW significantly began to increase (p<0.05) at 10 min in group I,II,III compared with basic value. Conclusively, insufflation of CO2 into abdominal cavity during laparoscopic operation was minimal change in cardiopulmonary system and arterial blood gas value at below 20 mmHg intraabdominal pressure.

Comparision of Laparoscopic and Open Cholecystectomy / 대한마취과학회지

Recently, laparoscopic cholecystectomy becomes a favorite surgical treatment of cholelithiasis instead of traditional open cholecytectomy. The reasons include small wound, small pain and short hospital-stay. But it also has disabvantages by pneumoperitoneum made of carbon dioxide insuffulation. We attempted to investigate the effect on hemodynamics, arterial blood gas parameters and pulmonary function of each surgical technique-laparoscopic(Group I) vs open cholecystectomy(Group II). We randomly selected realative healthy 30 patients for each group and baseline arterial blood gas and pulmonary function test were measured. During the operative proeedure, hemodynamic parameters(blood pressure and heart rate) were measured by 5-minute interval. Postoperatively, arterial blood gas and pulmonary function test were measured. The results are following; 1) In group I, blood pressure was increased to l14.2+/-18.0mmHg significantly(p<0.01) compared to preoperative value 101.4+/-21.5 mmHg. Heart rate was not shown significant change in both technique groups. 2) PaO2 was significantly decreased to postoperative 24hr value 82.2+/-15.8mmHg in group II and 82.3+/-19.4 mmHg in group I compared to preoperative 24hr value 98.7+/-14.8 mmHg and 94.4+/-ll.3mmHg, respectively. There was no significant difference of PaCO2 of between two groups. pH was significantly increased to postoperative 24hr value 7.42+/-0.02 in group II compared to preoperotive 24hr value 7.39+/-0.03 but no significant change in group I compared to preoperative 24hr value 7.39+/-0.03. 3) In group I, FVC and FEV1 were decreased preoperative 24hr value 77.9% and 81.1% to postoperative 24hr value 61.1% and 62.3%, respectively. But in group II, FVC and FEV1 were decreased more significantly, compared preoperative 24hr value 90.8% and 95.6% with postoperative 24hr value 59.4% and 58.6%. FEV1,/FVC value was not changed in two groups. 4) Postoperative analgesics requirement was 53% in group I, 80% in group II at the day of surgery. Also frequency was 1.8 in group I, 2,4 in group II at the day of surgery. 5) Mean Operation time was 43 min in group I, 52 min in group II and mean hospital days were 6 days in group I, 12 days in group II. Conclusively, in case of group I, blood pressure change was more labile than group II. But postoperative pulmonary function derangement, requirement of analgesics and hospital day were reduced in case of group I.

Clinical Investigation of Laryngeal Mask Airway / 대한마취과학회지

Laryngeal mask airway(LMA) is a new type of airway, which may be used as an alternative to either the endotracheal tube or the face-mask with either spontaneous or positive pressure ventilation without penetration of the larynx or esophagus. LMA have many advantages of easy intubation without laryngoscope and muscle relaxants, decreasing damages of larynx and pharynx., and also useful in difficult intubation or emergency airway care. Recently its interesting has been increased. Clinical studies of LMA was done in 242 patients, about hemodynamic changes, volume and pressure changes of cuff, problems and complications during insertion and maintaining of LMA. The results were as follows: 1) The average time taken to insert the laryngeal mask airway was 9.9sec(range:5~60sec), and 43 cases were correct placement at the second attempt. And the total insertion time was 103 min(range:15~355min). 2) Total ari volume of cuff was 20.5ml(range:15~35ml) in LMA No 3, 28.1 ml(range:25~60ml) in LMA No 4. The least volume of cuff without air leakage was 15ml in LMa No 3 and 25ml in LMA No 4. During positive pressure ventilation the peak airway pressure was 20 cmH2O(15mmHg). 3) In hemodynamic changes, blood pressure was increased about 27.5 mmHg in systolic, 21.2 mmHg in diastolic, and 22.4 mmHg in mean arterial pressure after LMA insertion. 4) Cuff pressure was increased from 70.5mmHg at insertion to 98.9mmHg after 1hours with use of N2O for anesthesia and more increased than without N2O. 5) LMA was used 229 patients in supine position and 5 patients in lateral position. In 8 cases was failed to insertion of LMA. 6) Compilcations were 3 cases of gastric distention, 1 case of difficult nasogastirc tube insertion, and 1 case of severe sore throat with mucosal bleeding on pharyax. Sor throat was complained 26.9% without regard to severity.