For the peace of postanesthesia care unit / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

A good laryngeal view does not guarantee perfectly successful tracheal intubation / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

The effect of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to ropivacaine on the bispectral index for supraclavicular brachial plexus block / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the sedative effect of dexmedetomidine (DEX) added to ropivacaine for supraclavicular brachial plexus block (BPB) using the bispectral index (BIS). METHODS: Sixty patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 or 2, aged 20-65 years) undergoing wrist and hand surgery under supraclavicular BPB were randomly allocated to two groups. Ultrasound-guided supraclavicular BPB was performed with 40 ml of ropivacaine 0.5% and 1 microg/kg of DEX (Group RD) or 0.01 ml/kg of normal saline (Group R). The primary endpoint was the BIS change during 60 min after block. The secondary endpoint was the change in the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and SpO2 and the onset time and duration of the sensory and motor block. RESULTS: In Group RD, the BIS decreased significantly until 30 min after the block (69.2 +/- 13.7), but remained relatively constant to 60 min (63.8 +/- 15.3). The MAP, HR and BIS were significantly decreased compared with Group R. The onset time of the sensory and motor block were significantly faster in Group RD than in Group R. The duration of the sensory and motor block were significantly increased in Group RD. CONCLUSIONS: DEX added to ropivacaine for brachial plexus block induced sedation that corresponds to a BIS value of 60 from which patients are easily awakened in a lucid state. In addition, perineural DEX shortened the onset time and prolonged the duration of the sensory and motor blocks.

Efficacy of Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Severe Acute Respiratory Failure

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate our institutional experience with veno-venous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients with severe acute respiratory failure (ARF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2007 to August 2013, 31 patients with severe ARF that was due to various causes and refractory to mechanical ventilation with conventional therapy were supported with VV ECMO. A partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2)/inspired fraction of oxygen (FiO2) <100 mm Hg at an FiO2 of 1.0 or a pH <7.25 due to CO2 retention were set as criteria for VV ECMO. RESULTS: Overall, 68% of patients survived among those who had received VV ECMO with a mean PaO2/FiO2 of 56.8 mm Hg. Furthermore, in trauma patients, early use of ECMO had the best outcome with a 94% survival rate. CONCLUSION: VV ECMO is an excellent, life-saving treatment option in patients suffering from acute and life-threatening respiratory failure due to various causes, especially trauma, and early use of VV ECMO therapy improved outcomes in these patients.

Patient Preference and Satisfaction with Their Involvement in the Selection of an Anesthetic Method for Surgery

This prospective study aimed to evaluate the satisfaction of patients who participated in the decision-making process for selecting an anesthesia method for surgery; the patients' preferred role (active, collaborative or passive) in the decision-making; and the patients' preferred choice of anesthetic method. The study included 257 patients scheduled for simple elective surgeries involving the upper or lower extremities. During the preanesthetic visit, patients were informed regarding two methods of anesthesia for their surgeries, and participated in selecting one option. Of the 257 patients, 69.6% preferred a collaborative role, 18.3% and 12.1% preferred an active and a passive role, respectively. Among patients requiring surgery on an upper extremity and on a lower extremity, 64.3% and 51.3% expressed a preference for general anesthesia over regional anesthesia, respectively. After surgery, the majority of our patients were satisfied (93.4%) and felt respected (97.7%). Furthermore, the patients expressed a change in preference for assuming an active role (49.4%) and a collaborative role (43.6%) in the decision-making process for their future anesthesia needs. This study may help to promote patient centered care in a department of anesthesiology.

Hypothermia, shivering, and dexmedetomidine / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Midgut volvulus as a complication of intestinal malrotation in a term pregnancy / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Shearing of an intrathecal catheter during insertion for cerebrospinal fluid drainage / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Acute Life-Threatening Neurogenic Pulmonary Edema following Rupture of an Intracranial Aneurysm

Neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) leading to cardiopulmonary dysfunction is a potentially life-threatening complication in patients with central nervous system lesions. This case report describes a 28-yr woman with life-threatening fulminant NPE, which was refractory to conventional respiratory treatment, following the rupture of an aneurysm. She was treated successfully with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), although ECMO therapy is generally contraindicated in neurological injuries such as brain trauma and diseases that are likely to require surgical intervention. The success of this treatment suggests that ECMO therapy should not be withheld from patients with life-threatening fulminant NPE after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Effect of Pulsed Radiofrequency Neuromodulation on Clinical Improvements in the Patients of Chronic Intractable Shoulder Pain

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) neuromodulation of suprascpaular nerve (SSN) in patients with chronic shoulder pain due to adhesive capsulitis and/or rotator cuff tear. METHODS: The study included 11 patients suffering from chronic shoulder pain for at least 6 months who were diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis (n=4), rotator cuff tear (n=5), or adhesive capsulitis+rotator cuff tear (n=2) using shoulder magnetic resonance imaging or extremity ultrasonography. After a favorable response to a diagnostic suprascapular nerve block twice a week (pain improvement >50%), PRF neuromodulation was performed. Shoulder pain and quality of life were assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) before the diagnostic block and every month after PRF neuromodulation over a 9-month period. RESULTS: The mean VAS score of 11 patients before PRF was 6.4+/-1.49, and the scores at 6-month and 9 month follow-up were 1.0+/-0.73 and 1.5+/-1.23, respectively. A significant pain reduction (p<0.001) was observed. The mean OSS score of 11 patients before PRF was 22.7+/-8.1, and the scores at 6-month and 9 month follow-up were 41.5+/-6.65 and 41.0+/-6.67, respectively. A significant OSS improvement (p<0.001) was observed. CONCLUSION: PRF neuromodulation of the suprascapular nerve is an effective treatment for chronic shoulder pain, and the effect was sustained over a relatively long period in patients with medically intractable shoulder pain.

Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting after Myringoplasty under Continuous Sedation Using Midazolam with or without Remifentanil

PURPOSE: This prospective study evaluated the effects of continuous sedation using midazolam, with or without remifentanil, on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing myringoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing myringoplasty were sedated with midazolam in the presence of remifentanil (group MR), or after saline injection instead of remifentanil (group M). RESULTS: Three patients (10%) in group M complained of nausea; two vomited. Four patients (13%) in group MR complained of nausea and vomited within 24 h after surgery. Rescue drugs were given to the six patients who vomited. No significant difference was detected between the two groups regarding the incidence or severity of nausea, incidence of vomiting, or need for rescue drugs. CONCLUSION: Midazolam-based continuous sedation can reduce PONV after myringoplasty. Compared with midazolam alone, midazolam with remifentanil produced no difference in the incidence or severity of nausea, incidence of vomiting, or need for rescue drugs.

Difficult tracheostomy tube placement in an obese patient with a short neck: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

We report a difficult case of tracheostomy in a 34-year-old obese woman with a short neck. The tracheostomy tube placement repeatedly failed because of anatomical changes due to obesity and a short neck, tracheal mucosal swelling due to prolonged intubation, and unexpected false passage; however, it was successfully performed using an endotracheal tube exchanger as a guidewire.

Cooperation with anesthesiologists for acute airway management in the emergency department: A case report

Airway management in the emergency department is one of the most important responsibilities of the emergency physician and often involves cooperation with anesthesiologists and trauma surgeons. A 21-year-old woman was transferred to our emergency department for urgent trauma management following a motor vehicle accident. Her face was severely edematous, and her lower maxilla, including the alveoli, was separated from the upper maxilla. She was diagnosed with a Le Fort I fracture with a basal skull fracture. She also had epistaxis and oral bleeding. Her airway was difficult to manage; however, our trauma team, including anesthesiologists, managed her airway successfully in the emergency room.

Erratum: Continuous infusion of two doses of remifentanil immediately after laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (Korean J Anesthesiol 2010; 58(6): 537-541) / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Recurrent spinal myoclonus after two episodes of spinal anesthesia at a 1-year interval: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Spinal myoclonus is an unusual, self-limiting, adverse event that may occur during spinal anesthesia. The exact cause and underlying biochemical mechanism of spinal myoclonus remain unclear. A few cases of spinal myoclonus have been reported after administration of intrathecal bupivacaine. We report a case in which spinal myoclonus recurred after two episodes of spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine at a 1-year interval in a 35-year-old woman. The myoclonus was acute and transient. The patient recovered completely, with no neurologic sequelae.

A complication of subclavian venous catheterization: extravascular kinking, knotting, and entrapment of the guidewire: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Various complications of central venous catheterization have been reported, some of which are well-known, while others are described as a sporadic events. We experienced a case of left subclavian venous catheterization complicated by extravascular knotting, kinking, and entrapment of the guidewire and the guidewire was removed surgically. Although minimal resistance was encountered during guidewire insertion, the guidewire was advanced approximately 30 cm. Physicians should be aware of these rare potential complications when a guidewire is advanced if any resistance is encountered.

Acute, fatal postoperative myocardial infarction after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a cardiac patient: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

This report presents the case of a 63-year-old man who had a myocardial infarction leading to coronary artery bypass graft 2 years earlier who subsequently underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. After an uneventful operation, the patient developed an acute postoperative myocardial infarction in the recovery room and died 19 days postoperatively. Anesthesiologists should be aware of the rare possibility of acute, fatal postoperative myocardial infarction and consider this complication when they perform the preoperative risk evaluation, anesthesia, and postoperative care for cardiac patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.

Continuous infusion of two doses of remifentanil immediately after laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effect and safety of the immediate postoperative continuous infusion of remifentanil at two doses in patients undergoing laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) with alfentanil-based patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). METHODS: The study enrolled 50 ASA physical status 1 or 2 patients scheduled to undergo LAVH. Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane-remifentanil-air. At the last skin suture, the sevoflurane was discontinued, and patients were randomized to receive remifentanil 0.05 microgram/kg/min (group I) or 0.1 microgram/kg/min (group II). PCA was started at the time of eye opening and response to a verbal command. In the recovery room, we monitored the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), SpO2, and bispectral index (BIS) at 5-minute intervals. Thirty minutes after starting PCA, the remifentanil was discontinued. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (0 = no pain; 100 = the worst possible pain) at 0, 5, 10, and 30 minutes after stopping the remifentanil infusion. RESULTS: The eye opening time, BIS, MAP, and HR did not differ significantly between the two groups, and pain scores were similar between the two groups. Respiratory depression (SpO2 < 90% or RR < 8/min) did not occur in group I but did occur in three patients in group II. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous remifentanil infusion (0.05 microgram/kg/min) immediately postoperatively with alfentanil-based PCA had a similar effect as a 0.1 microgram/kg/min infusion with respect to pain control without side effects. However, special attention must be given to respiratory depression.

Remifentanil-Propofol Sedation as an Ambulatory Anesthesia for Carpal Tunnel Release

OBJECTIVE: This prospective study evaluated the use of continuous sedation using propofol and remifentanil when carpal tunnel release (CTR) was performed under local anesthesia. METHODS: We sedated 60 patients undergoing CTR using local anesthesia with remifentanil at loading and continuous doses of 0.5 microg kg(-1) and 0.05 microg kg(-1)min(-1), respectively, and propofol, using a target controlled infusion (TCI) pump set to a target of 2 microg mL(-1) (group A), or with the same drug doses except that the continuous remifentanil dose was 0.07 microg kg(-1)min(-1) (group B) or 0.1 microg kg-1min-1 (group C). RESULTS: In group B, the levels of pain when local anesthetics were administered (p = 0.001), intraoperative pain (p < 0.001) and anxiety (p = 0.001) were significantly lower than those of group A. Furthermore, the incidence of adverse events, including desaturation (p < 0.001) and vomiting (p = 0.043), was significantly lower in group B than in group C. CONCLUSION: Continuous sedation using an appropriate dose of remifentanil and propofol can be used as safe, efficacious ambulatory anesthesia in cases of CTR under local anesthesia, performed using only 2 mL of local anesthetic, with a high degree of patient satisfaction.

Rami Communicans Nerve Block for the Treatment of Symptomatic Schmorl's Nodes: A Case Report

Histologically, Schmorl's nodes are defined as the loss of nuclear material through the cartilage plate, growth plate, and end plate into the vertebral body. Most Schmorl's nodes are asymptomatic, although there are some reports of symptomatic Schmorl's nodes, which should be treated similarly to vertebral compression fractures, with conservative treatment as the first choice. We report the case that we reduced the pain by blocking the ramus communicans nerve in a patient with Schmorl's node.