Ultrasound measurement of subglottic diameter and an empirical formula for proper endotracheal tube fitting in children.

BACKGROUND: The appropriate endotracheal tube (ETT) size is commonly determined using age-based formula; ETT size determination based on ultrasound (US) measurement of subglottic diameter (SD), the narrowest portion of the paediatric upper airway, may provide a better method for accurate fit. We aimed to validate ETT size determination using US measures of SD before intubation to establish an empirical formula for ETT fitting based on SD and biographic parameters. METHODS: We included 215 children aged 1-72 months undergoing general anaesthesia. US was performed on the anterior neck to measure SD during mask ventilation under anaesthesia. Endotracheal intubation was performed with a cuffed ETT selected by age-based recommendation; the transverse outer diameter (OD) of the ETT within the trachea at the subglottis level (OD-ETT at SD) was measured. RESULTS: The OD-ETT at SD was correlated with the actual OD-ETT outside the trachea (R(2) = 0.635), showing the validity of ultrasonographic measurement; moreover, the US-measured SD revealed strong correlation with the actual OD-ETT (R(2) = 0.834). US-measured SD and biographic data (age, height and weight) showed little correlation in children less than 12 months but good correlation (age, height) in children older than 12 months (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: US-measured OD-ETT at SD was in good agreement with the actual OD-ETT, suggesting that US-measured SD helps in choosing the appropriate ETT diameter for children. In children older than 12 months, the equation 'OD (mm) = 0.01 × age (months) + 0.02 × height (cm) + 3.3' may help select the appropriate ETT.

Evaluation of radial and ulnar blood flow after radial artery cannulation with 20- and 22-gauge cannulae using duplex Doppler ultrasound.

This study evaluated ulnar and radial artery blood flow after radial artery cannulation during general anaesthesia using Doppler ultrasound. A total of 80 patients were randomly assigned to receive radial artery cannulation with either a 20-G or 22-G cannula. Arterial diameter, peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, resistance index and mean volume flow were measured at four time points in both arteries: before anaesthesia; 5 min after intubation; immediately after cannulation; and 5 min after cannulation. After radial artery cannulation, ulnar diameters and blood flow were significantly increased, and persisted until 5 min after cannulation. Radial blood flow was decreased immediately after cannulation and recovered to pre-cannulation values 5 min after cannulation. There were no statistical differences between groups at each time point. Radial artery cannulation causes compensatory increase in ulnar artery blood flow, and the difference in cannula size has minimal effect on this change.

Effect of a self-help program for mothers of hemophilic children in Korea.

Mothers of hemophilic children are under stressful situations because of the characteristics of disease and inheritance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the self-help group program for the mothers of hemophilic children. Fifty one mothers of hemophilic children were participated. The experiment group (n = 24) participated in the self-help group program for 5 weeks, while the control group (n = 27) received a self-help booklet only. Knowledge, self-efficacy, depression, parenting stress, and quality of life were evaluated using questionnaires. Data were analyzed using χ(2) -test, t-test, and analysis of covariance (ancova). The experiment and control groups were homogeneous in general characteristics and depending variables except knowledge (P < 0.05; P > 0.05, respectively). Knowledge, self-efficacy, and quality of life in the experiment group were increased after the program (P < 0.001). Especially, the knowledge in the experiment group was lower than the control group in pretest, but higher in the posttest (P < 0.001). Depression and parenting stress were reduced in the experiment group compared to the control group (P < 0.001). It is suggestive that the self-help group program can be a useful opportunity for mothers of hemophilic children to improve knowledge and self-efficay of child care and quality of life of themselves; to decrease depression and parenting stress. Extended application of the program to fathers or all family members may be needed to investigate in the future.

Effects of intravenous dexmedetomidine on low-dose bupivacaine spinal anaesthesia in elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: Dexmedetomidine (DMT) has been shown to prolong spinal anaesthesia. We evaluated the effects of intravenous DMT on low-dose bupivacaine spinal anaesthesia in elderly patients. METHODS: Fifty-one elderly patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate were randomized into two groups receiving either 1.0 µg/kg DMT (DMT group, n = 26) or normal saline (control group n = 25) intravenously prior to spinal anaesthesia with 1.2 ml of bupivacaine, 5 mg/ml. RESULTS: The mean time to two-segment regression (39 min vs. 78 min for cold, 41 min vs. 61 min for pinprick) and that to motor regression (23 min vs. 46 min) were longer in the DMT group than in the control group. The atropine-requiring bradycardia was more frequent in the DMT group than in the control group (24.0% vs. 3.8%). The median sedation scores (ranges) during surgery were 4 (2-6) in the DMT group and 2 (1-3) in the control group (P < 0.001). Two patients in the DMT group showed oxygen desaturation (peripheral oxygen saturation < 90%) during surgery. The duration of post-operative care unit stay was longer in the DMT group than in the control group (58 min vs. 96 min). Post-operative pain intensity was lower and the mean time to first request for post-operative analgesia was longer in the DMT group compared to the control group (6.6 h vs. 2.1 h). CONCLUSION: Intravenous DMT prolonged the duration of spinal anaesthesia and improved post-operative analgesia. However, more profound sedation with desaturation was observed with more frequent bradycardia, and delayed recovery should be considered in elderly patients.

Preoperative anxiety and pain sensitivity are independent predictors of propofol and sevoflurane requirements in general anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Psychological factors are thought to drive inter-patient variations in anaesthetic and analgesic requirements. This cross-sectional study investigated whether preoperative psychological factors can predict anaesthetic requirements and postoperative pain. METHODS: Before total thyroidectomy, 100 consecutive women completed the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the pain sensitivity questionnaire (PSQ). Target-controlled propofol was administered for induction of anaesthesia, and sevoflurane-oxygen-air was given to maintain equal depths of anaesthesia, as determined by bispectral index (BIS) monitoring. RESULTS: Patients with higher anxiety scores (state and trait) required greater amounts of propofol to reach light (BIS=85) and moderate (BIS=75) levels of sedation, but only trait anxiety was significantly associated with propofol requirements in reaching a deep level of sedation (BIS=65). The MAC-hour of sevoflurane was significantly correlated only with PSQ scores. The postoperative pain intensity was significantly correlated with both STAI and PSQ. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative anxiety and pain sensitivity are independent predictors of propofol and sevoflurane requirements in general anaesthesia. Anaesthetic and analgesic doses could be modified based on the patient's preoperative anxiety and pain sensitivity.

Effect of dexamethasone in combination with caudal analgesia on postoperative pain control in day-case paediatric orchiopexy.

BACKGROUND: Dexamethasone has a powerful anti-inflammatory action and has demonstrated reduced morbidity after surgery. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a single i.v. dose of dexamethasone in combination with caudal block on postoperative analgesia in children. METHODS: Seventy-seven children (aged 1-5 yr) undergoing day-case orchiopexy were included in this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study at a single university hospital. After inhalation induction of general anaesthesia, children received either dexamethasone 0.5 mg kg(-1) (maximum 10 mg) (n=39) or the same volume of saline (n=38) i.v. A caudal anaesthetic block was then performed using 1.5 ml kg(-1) of ropivacaine 0.15% in all patients. After surgery, rescue analgesic consumption, pain scores, and adverse effects were evaluated for 24 h. RESULTS: Significantly, fewer patients in the dexamethasone group required fentanyl for rescue analgesia (7.9% vs 38.5%) in the post-anaesthetic care unit or acetaminophen (23.7% vs 64.1%) after discharge compared with the control group. The time to first administration of oral acetaminophen was significantly longer in the dexamethasone group (646 vs 430 min). Postoperative pain scores were lower in the dexamethasone group and the incidence of adverse effects was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous dexamethasone 0.5 mg kg(-1) in combination with a caudal block augmented the intensity and duration of postoperative analgesia without adverse effects in children undergoing day-case paediatric orchiopexy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov. The number of registration: NCT01041378.

The relative position of ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves in different age groups of pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Ilioinguinal nerve (IIN) and iliohypogastric nerve (IHN) blocks provide good perioperative pain relief for children undergoing inguinal procedures such as inguinal hernia repair, orchiopexy, and hydrocelectomy. The aim of this ultrasound imaging study is to compare the relative anatomical positions of IIN and IHN in different age groups of pediatrics. METHODS: Two-hundred children (aged 1-82 months, ASA I or II) undergoing day-case surgery were consecutively included in this study. Following the induction of general anesthesia, an ultrasonographic exam was performed using a high-frequency linear probe that was placed on an imaginary line connecting the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the umbilicus. RESULTS: There were significant differences in ASIS-IIN (distance from ASIS to IIN), ASIS-IHN (distance from the ASIS to the IHN), and IIN-IHN (distance between IIN and IHN) between the age groups: <12 months (n=84), 12-36 months (n=80), and >37 months (n=36). However, IIN-Peritoneum (distances from IIN to peritoneum), skin-IIN, and skin-IHN (depth of IIN and IHN relative to skin) were similar in three groups. ASIS-IIN and ASIS-IHN showed significantly positive correlations with age. CONCLUSIONS: Age should be considered when placing a needle in landmark techniques for pediatric II/IH nerve blocks. However, needle depth should be confirmed by the fascial click due to the lack of predictable physiologic factors.

Development, implementation and evaluation of a new self-help programme for mothers of haemophilic children in Korea: a pilot study.

Developing an effective support group programme is necessary to help the mothers of haemophilic children to encourage their children to live healthily and independently through early management, as well as to reduce the mothers' depression and stress. Although the need is high, there is no self-help group programme for mothers in Korea yet.The purpose of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate a new self-help group programme for mothers of children with haemophilia. Pre-experimental design was used to evaluate the effect of a pilot group. Participants were 12 mothers of haemophilic children below 15 years old. Knowledge on haemophilia, self-efficacy, depression, rearing stress and quality of life were evaluated using questionnaires. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare pre- and post-test.Knowledge, self-efficacy and quality of life were significantly increased, while depression was statistically reduced after the programme. The rearing stress was also reduced, but the result was not statistically significant.The self-help programme for mothers of haemophilic children increased the mothers' knowledge of haemophilia, self-efficacy and quality of life, while decreasing their depression symptoms. It seems that the programme was effective, but additional experimental study is necessary to verify the effects of the programme.

Titrated propofol induction vs. continuous infusion in children undergoing magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Propofol is the popular intravenous (i.v.) anaesthetic for paediatric sedation because of its rapid onset and recovery. We compared the efficacy and safety of a single dose and conventional infusion of propofol for sedation in children who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: This was a double-blind, randomized-controlled study. One hundred and sixty children were assigned to group I (single dose) or II (infusion). Sedation was induced with i.v. propofol 2 mg/kg, and supplemental doses of propofol 0.5 mg/kg were administered until adequate sedation was achieved. After the induction of sedation, we treated patients with a continuous infusion of normal saline at a rate of 0.3 ml/kg/h in group I and the same volume of propofol in group II. In case of inadequate sedation, additional propofol 0.5 mg/kg was administered and the infusion rate was increased by 0.05 ml/kg/h. Induction time, sedation time, recovery time, additional sedation and adverse events were recorded. RESULTS: Recovery time was significantly shorter in group I compared with group II [0 (0-3) vs. 1 (0-3), respectively, P<0.001]. Group I (single dose) had significantly more patients with recovery time 0 compared with group II (infusion) (65/80 vs. 36/80, respectively, P<0.001). Induction and sedation times were not significantly different between groups. There was no significant difference in the frequency of additional sedation and adverse events between groups. CONCLUSION: A single dose of propofol without a continuous infusion can provide appropriate sedation in children undergoing MRI for <30 min.

Professionalism: the major factor influencing job satisfaction among Korean and Chinese nurses.

BACKGROUND: The nursing shortage has become an internationally important issue. Nurses' professionalism and job satisfaction have been recognized as strong factors influencing their turnover. As international interchanges in nursing education are growing between Korea and China, understanding the commonalities and differences in factors associated with job satisfaction is critical to improving nurses' job retention. AIM: To compare the factors influencing job satisfaction among Korean and Chinese nurses. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. The participants were comprised of 693 nurses at three general hospitals in Jinan, People's Republic of China and 593 nurses at two general hospitals in Seoul, Korea. A questionnaire was designed to measure the nurses' professionalism and job satisfaction. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to identify factors related to job satisfaction. RESULTS: Professionalism was the common factor influencing job satisfaction in Korean and Chinese nurses. Professionalism was positively related to job satisfaction in both groups. Additional factors associated with job satisfaction were demographics and job characteristics such as age, job position and department of work, which were significant only in Korean nurses. CONCLUSIONS: Professionalism was the most important factor influencing job satisfaction in both Korean and Chinese nurses. Enhancing nursing professionalism is recommended as a common strategy to improve nurses' job retention across different healthcare systems.

Suction-curettage with combination of two different cannulae in the treatment of axillary osmidrosis and hyperhidrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of suction-curettage with a combination of two different cannulae for treatment of axillary osmidrosis and hyperhidrosis. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of patients who underwent surgery from September 2004 to September 2006. SETTING: Outpatient clinic for hyperhidrosis at a university-affiliated hospital. SUBJECTS: Sixty-five patients who were treated for axillary malodor and hyperhidrosis. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were sequentially treated with Fatemi and Cassio cannulae. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic data, severity data (assessment of malodor), degree of satisfaction, sweating, hair growth, scarring, recurrence and complications. RESULTS: Sixty of the 65 patients (96.9%) had excellent to fair results, and only 2 patients (3.1%) had poor results. Complications occurred in 4 patients (6.2%). Recurrence occurred in 3 patients (4.6%). CONCLUSIONS: This simplified and inexpensive method resulted in a high success rate with low complications and high satisfaction with minimal scarring and rapid recovery.

Topical glycopyrrolate for patients with facial hyperhidrosis.

BACKGROUND: Facial hyperhidrosis may negatively impact the quality of life. Although various conservative modalities have been suggested, the condition is not often treated successfully. OBJECTIVES: To examine whether topical glycopyrrolate could be an effective and safe treatment for facial hyperhidrosis. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with facial hyperhidrosis were enrolled and treated with 2% topical glycopyrrolate on one half of the forehead while the other half of the forehead was treated with a placebo. RESULTS: The sweat production rate of the half of the forehead treated with topical glycopyrrolate was significantly reduced to 37.6+/-2.8 mg min(-1) (mean+/-SEM) compared with 102.2+/-5.5 mg min(-1) at the placebo-treated half of the forehead (P<0.001). Patients evaluated their degree of anhidrosis as excellent in six (24%) patients, good in 16 (64%), fair in two (8%) and poor in one (4%). Twenty-four patients (96%) were partially or fully satisfied with their fair to excellent anhidrosis; only one patient (who developed a transient headache after treatment) was dissatisfied with its therapeutic effect. Only seven patients (28%) experienced recurrence within 1 day while 17 patients (68%) had recurrence within 2 days. One patient (4%) remained stable for up to 4 days. CONCLUSIONS: Topical glycopyrrolate application appears to be effective and safe for the treatment of excessive facial sweating in primary craniofacial and secondary gustatory hyperhidrosis following sympathectomy.

Determination of the optimal angle for needle insertion during caudal block in children using ultrasound imaging.

Using ultrasound imaging, the optimal angle for needle insertion during caudal epidural injection in children was estimated. After general anaesthesia, ultrasonography was performed at the sacral hiatus in 130 children aged 2-84 months positioned in the lateral position. The median [range] values for the intercornual, caudal space depth and the distance from skin to the posterior sacral bony surface were 17.0 [9.6-24] mm, 3.5 [1-8] mm and 21.0 [10-39] mm, respectively. The optimal angle showed no significant correlation with age, weight, height or body surface area. The median [range] calculated optimal angle for the needle was 21.0 [10-38] degrees. We conclude that the needle should be inserted at about 20 degrees to the skin to avoid puncture of the bone and potential intra-osseous injection.

Prediction on lengths of stay in the postanesthesia care unit following general anesthesia: preliminary study of the neural network and logistic regression modelling.

The length of stay in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) following general anesthesia in adults is an important issue. A model, which can predict the results of PACU stays, could improve the utilization of PACU and operating room resources through a more efficient arrangement. The purpose of study was to compare the performance of neural network to logistic regression analysis using clinical sets of data from adult patients undergoing general anesthesia. An artificial neural network was trained with 409 clinical sets using backward error propagation and validated through independent testing of 183 records. Twenty-two inputs were used to find determinants and to predict categorical values. Logistic regression analysis was performed to provide a comparison. The neural network correctly predicted in 81.4% of situations and identified discriminating variables (intubated state, sex, neuromuscular blocker and intraoperative use of opioid), whereas the figure was 65.0% in logistic regression analysis. We concluded that the neural network could provide a useful predictive model for the optimization of limited resources. The neural network is a new alternative classifying method for developing a predictive paradigm, and it has a higher classifying performance compared to the logistic regression model.

Effects of general and locoregional anesthesia on reproductive outcome for in vitro fertilization: a meta-analysis.

The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate prospective trials of general or locoregional anesthesia on reproductive outcomes (cleavage and pregnancy rate) for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Of 115 published studies retrieved from a search of articles indexed on MEDLINE from 1966 to February 1999, four studies with distinct general and locoregional anesthesia were deemed eligible for meta- analysis. The pooled relative risk and odds ratios were calculated. A test for homogeneity was also performed. The pooled log odds ratio was 1.03 (95% CI 0.90-1.18) in cleavage rate and 0.71 (95% CI 0.47-1.08) in pregnancy rate. Heterogeneity was negative. Cleavage and pregnancy rates were not significantly different in both the general anesthesia and locoregional anesthesia groups. Both anesthetic techniques were favorable to IVF procedure by available published evidence when anesthesia was needed.

Prediction of oculocardiac reflex in strabismus surgery using neural networks.

Successfully predicting an oculocardiac reflex (OCR) is difficult to achieve despite various proposed maneuvers. The aim of this study was to test the models built up by neural networks to predict the occurrence of OCR during strabismus surgery in children. Premedication was not given. Atropine 0.01 mg/kg was medicated just before induction. Induction was performed with fentanyl or ketorolac, followed by propofol. Atracurium or vecuronium was given for intubation. Anesthesia was maintained with O2-N2O with continuous propofol infusion. Chi-square test was performed for induction agents, gender, weight, muscle blockade, repaired muscle, number of repaired muscles, duration of operation to detect any association between the occurrence of OCR and to develop the model of neural networks. The multi-layer perceptron, radial basis function and Bayesian backpropagation network were tested. The occurrence of OCR was significantly associated with gender and repaired muscle (p < 0.05). Gender, repaired muscle and age were considered as input for the multi-layer perceptron, radial basis function and Bayesian backpropagation network. Three neural networks had predicted the same correction rate in the occurrence of OCR as being 87.5% overall among 16 patients' records tested. These models are conceptually different in predicting compared to conventional maneuvers, and have the advantage of testing individually and foretelling the propensity. By comparison neural networks use grouped experiential data and predict OCR by the learning rule. Neural networks require a relatively abundant number of experienced and homogenous patients' records to establish an accurate model. The multi-layer perceptron, radial basis function and Bayesian backpropagation modeling network may be an alternative way, and preferable to vagal tone maneuvers if the associated relationships to the occurrence of OCR are more clearly defined.

Effects of dexamethasone on laryngeal edema following short-term intubation.

Following short-term intubation for general anesthesia, respiratory difficulty may result from laryngeal or subglottic edema after extubation. We have hypothesized that this problem could be pretreated by administering a high-dose of dexamethasone intravenously before extubation. After glottic injuries were made under direct laryngoscopic view, intubation was performed and maintained for 1 hour in 33 rabbits. The rabbits were divided into 3 groups; dexamethasone (1 mg/kg) was administered to group 1(n=12) immediately after intubation and group 2(n=10) just before extubation; group 3(n=11) received normal saline, just before extubation. After extubation, subglottic excursion pressure was measured for 4 hours. 15 injured rabbit larynges and 3 normal ones were extracted for histologic section. 2 of 12 rabbits in group 1; 3 of 10 in group 2; and 5 of 11 in group 3, showed mild stridor after extubation(p>0.05). All rabbits developed maximum increase in subglottic pressure within 2 hours after extubation. Group 1 and 2 showed less increase in pressure compared to group 3(P<0.05), but here was no statistical difference between group 1 and 2(P>0.05). Histologic sections of the larynges showed less submucosal edema, including other changes in group 1 and 2, than in group 3(P<0.05). In conclusion, administering a high-dose of dexamethasone before extubation, is effective in prophylaxis and treatment of laryngeal injuries following short-term intubation in rabbits. This is especially true in edema.

Anesthetic management of Jehovah's Witness patients.

When a Jehovah's Witness patient rejects transfusion because of his religious doctrine, the anesthesiologist is required to make an important decision. Each doctor must approach his patient respecting the patient's wishes as much as possible, while still taking into account his own ethical criteria, moral judgement of the patient, and knowledge of medicine. This writer briefly examined the basis of the religious doctrine of a Jehovah's Witness advocate and consulted a scholar of the criminal court about the legal interpretation of the doctor's behavior in our present situation where no detailed judicial precedent was available. I summarized medical solution here by referring to foreign records of medical studies and case reports in the hopes that it may aid in anesthetic management of Jehovah's Witness patients.

Intravenous oxygenation with lactated Ringer's solution.

This experimental work was performed on 4 rabbits to demonstrate that administrations of oxygenated Ringer's lactate through the central venous infusion could be used as a means of oxygenation. The oxygen tensions of Ringer's lactate were determined upon changing the amount of oxygen being bubbled and the solutions with the mean PO2 and pH of 575.5 mmHg and 6.34 were used in this study. We did not use the solutions having the values below 416.6 mmHg PO2 and pH 6.08. After the infusion of the oxygenated solution through central vein, PaO2 values throughout the 1 hour experimental procedure were significantly increased above the control value. Other parameters such as pH, PaCOs, HCO3-, BE, O2 saturation did not show any statistically significant changes. Some degree of oxygenation could be obtained by infusing the oxygenated Ringer's solution. This suggested that oxygenation by infusion through the central venous line could used clinically in the treatment of some forms of hypoxia with hypovolemia.