BACKGROUND: The addition of clonidine to local anesthetics for regional block has been shown to increase the duration of anesthesia and analgesia. This study was designed to determine whether the addition of clonidine to bupivacaine would produce an extension of the analgesic effect after intercostal nerve block (ICNB). METHODS: After informed consent, 30 ASA 1 or 2 patients undergoing appendectomy under general anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups. Before induction of anesthesia, ICNB using a posterior approach was performed with 15 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine plus epinephrine 1:200,000 with (Group BEC; n = 15) or without (Group BE; n = 15) clonidine 75 microgram. Analgesia was assessed by cold testing at 1/min intervals until cold sensation decreased. The duration of analgesia (time between injection and onset of pain) was recorded. We also recorded the visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain, the number of supplemental analgesics, heart rate and blood pressure, and side effects over 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: The onset time, duration of analgesia, number of analgesics, and heart rate and blood pressure were comparable in both groups. VAS scores were significantly lower in Group BEC than in Group BE at 12, 16, and 20 hours postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of clonidine to bupivacaine with epinephrine may be a useful adjunct and can prolong the duration of analgesia after ICNB without significant side effects.
Analgesia ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia and Analgesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics, Local ; Appendectomy ; Blood Pressure ; Bupivacaine* ; Clonidine* ; Epinephrine ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Intercostal Nerves* ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Sensation

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of propofol using a target-controlled infusion (TCI) with two currently used anesthetic regimens during major operations. METHODS: Forty-two patients undergoing major gynecological surgery were divided into three groups according to the period during which the surgeries were performed. Group propofol/TCI (n = 16) received 1% propofol using TCI-50% N2O, Group isoflurane (n = 14) received thiopental 5 mg/kg-isoflurane-50% N2O, and Group enflurane (n = 12) received thiopental 5 mg/kg-enflurane-50% N2O. All patients also received 2 microgram/kg of fentanyl before induction. Concentrations of propofol and volatile anesthetics were varied according to the patient's hemodynamic responses. Consumption of volatile anesthetics was measured by weighing the vaporizers by a precision weighing machine. RESULTS: Biometric data, duration of surgery and of anesthesia were similar in the three groups. Recovery from anesthesia was significantly shorter in the propofol/TCI group. Episodes of postoperative nausea and vomiting in the recovery room were less common in propofol/TCI group. Patient satisfaction was similar in all three groups. Total (intra- and postoperative) costs were significantly higher in the propofol/TCI group. CONCLUSIONS: When compared with the standard anesthetic regimens, the use of propofol using TCI anesthesia during major operations was associated with higher costs, but did not offer any clinically significant advantages in cost-effectiveness over the standard anesthesia regimens.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthetics ; Enflurane ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Isoflurane ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Patient Satisfaction ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Propofol* ; Recovery Room ; Thiopental

BACKGROUND: Minimal flow anesthesia preserves the moisture content of CO2 absorbents and seems to be a factor inhibiting carbon monoxide generation. In order to assess the safety of minimal flow anesthesia, we studied carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level in minimal flow anesthesia. METHODS: Forty women, ASA physical status I or II, undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy were randomly allocated to one of two groups with N2O-enflurane anesthesia. Anesthesia was maintained with O2 2 l/min and N2O 2 l/min (group 1) or O2 0.3 l/min and N2O 0.2 l/min (group 2). The arterial COHb levels were measured immediately after induction (T1), 45 min after induction (T2), 75 min after induction (T3), and after recovery from anesthesia (T4). RESULTS: Although there was no statistically significant change in both groups, the COHb level at T3 and T4 increased more than that at T1 in group 1, and that at T3 and T4 decreased more than that at T1 in group 2. There was a significant difference in the COHb level at T4 between group 1 (0.93 0.31%) and 2 (0.68 0.36%) (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that minimal flow anesthesia does not increase the COHb level and may be performed safely.
Anesthesia* ; Carbon Monoxide ; Carboxyhemoglobin* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of postural change on hemodynamics using thoracic eletrical bioimpedance (TEB) device during general anesthesia with enflurane-N2O-O2 and lumbar epidural anesthesia. The TEB device is safe, reliable and non-invasive way to measure hemodynmic values continuously. METHODS: General anesthesia (twenty patients) was induced by administration of pentotal sodium 5 mg/kg and succinylcholine 1 mg/kg intravenously, and was maintained with 1 vol% of enflurane, N2O-O2 (2 l/min-2 l/min) and vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg. Epidural anesthesia (twenty patients) was performed at the level of L3-4 epidural space using 20 ml of 2% xylocaine mixed with epinephrine (5 microgram/ml). Hemodynamic changes were measured before induction, 1 and 5 minutes after intubation or epidural injection, 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 minutes after head- down tilt and 1, 5, 10 minutes after returning to the supine position. RESULTS: HR and LVSWI were minimaly affected in group E with epidural anesthesia compared to group G with general anesthesia. BP (SBP, DBP, MAP) and SVRI were remarkably increased in group G compared to group E. BP and SVRI showed rapid increse 1 minutes after head-down tilt in group G (p<0.01) and decreased gradually thereafter. SI and CI were decreased significantly in group G compared to group E (p<0.001). SI was unchanged but CI was decreasd significantly after head-down tilt in group E (p<0.05). EDI and ACI showed lower values decreased in general significantly in group G compared to group E (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: All hemodynamic changes were more predictable, gradual, less variable, and stable in the group with epidural anesthesia compared to the group with general anesthesia for hysterectomy.
Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Anesthesia, General ; Enflurane ; Epidural Space ; Epinephrine ; Head-Down Tilt ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Injections, Epidural ; Intubation ; Lidocaine ; Mortuary Practice* ; Sodium ; Succinylcholine ; Supine Position ; Vecuronium Bromide

Introduction: we measured the hemodynamic changes by the thoracic electrical bioimpedance (TEB) device during induction of anesthesia, endotracheal intubation or insertion of layngeal mask airway (LMA). This TEB device is safe, reliable and estimate continuously and invasively hemodynamic variables. METHODS: We measured the cardiovascular response of endotracheal intubation or that of LMA insertion in thirty ASA class I patients. General anesthesia was induced with injection of fentany 1 microgram/kg, thiopetal sodium 5 mg/kg and vecuronium 1 mg/kg intravenously. Controlled ventilation was for 3 minutes with inhalation of 50% nitrous oxide and 1.5 vol% of enflurane before tracheal intubation or LMA insertion in all patients. The patient was randomly assinged to either tracheal intubation group (ET group) or laryngeal mask airway group (LMA group). Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), stroke index (SI) and cardic index (CI) were measured to pre-induction, pre-intubation, 1 minute after intubation, 2 minute, 3 minute, 5 minute, 7 minute. RESULTS: MAP and SVR were decreased effectively LMA group than ET group during 1 minute after intubation, 2 minute, 3 minute, 5 minute, 7 minute (p<0.05). HR was decreased effectively LMA group than ET group between pre-induction and 1 minute after intubation, between 1 minute after intubation and 2 minute after intubation (p<0.05). But, SI and CI were no difference between ET group and LMA group during induction of anesthesia and intubation (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The insertion of LMA is beneficial for certain patients than endotracheal tube to avoid harmful cardiovascular response in the management of airway during anesthesia.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Arterial Pressure ; Enflurane ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Laryngeal Masks* ; Masks ; Nitrous Oxide ; Sodium ; Stroke ; Vascular Resistance ; Vecuronium Bromide ; Ventilation

PURPOSE: Tumor size has been reported to be one of the prognostic factors in the preoperative setting and 8 cm has been confirmed as a cut-off value for large gastric tumors with respect to postoperative complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic features and the prognosis in patients with tumors larger than 8 cm in diameter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 2,260 patients with gastric cancer who underwent a gastrectomy from 1983 to 2001 at the Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine. For a comparative analysis we divided the cases into the large and the small groups according to tumor size. The clinicopathological factors associated with large gastric tumors were analyzed by using univariate and multivariate analyses. To determine which variables were independent prognostic factors for overall survival, we applied the Cox proportional hazards model and we used P<0.05 as the cutoff value for statistical significance. RESULTS: Univariate and multivariate analyses disclosed that tumor location (P<0.001), resection type (P<0.001), curability (P<0.001), depth of invasion (P<0.001), number of metastatic lymph nodes (P<0.001), differentiation (P<0.001) and combined resection (P<0.001) were significantly different between the two groups. The independent factors for survival identified by using the Cox proportional hazards model for large gastric tumors were nodal status (P<0.001), curative resection (P<0.001), depth of invasion (P=0.010), type of resection (P=0.018) and age (P=0.033). CONCLUSION: Large gastric tumors showed more aggressive local findings than their smaller counterparts. In patients with large gastric tumors, a curative resection was the most important factor for the prognosis. Therefore, we suggest that every effort should be made to do a curative gastrectomy and an accurate preoperative examination.
Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathologic features, treatment outcomes, and prognostic factors of gastric cancer based on 14 years' experience in a single medical center, and to compare treatment outcomes with a previous study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 2,327 patients who were operated on for gastric cancer between 1993 and 2006 at Korea University Hospital. RESULTS: The resection rate was 92.8% and curative resection was achieved for 1,960 (90.8%) patients. The 5-year survival rate was 70.0% for all patients undergoing resection and 79.2% for patients undergoing curative resection. The 5-year survival rate was 1.5% for unresected cases. Age, tumor size, location of the tumor, gross tumor type, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node involvement, distant metastasis, tumor stage, combined resection, complications, histology, and type of operation each had prognostic significance on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, lymph node involvement, depth of invasion, venous invasion, and age were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: The 5-year survival rate for patients who underwent curative resection was 79.2%. Depth of invasion, lymph node involvement, venous invasion, and age were independent prognostic factors. The fact that tumor stage is the most important prognostic factor after curative resection, increases the importance of early detection.
Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: Treatment strategies for early gastric carcinoma (EGC) should be based on achieving a complete cure, but clear indications for limited surgery have not been established. We investigated surgical outcomes for early gastric cancer to determine the optimal? treatment strategy for EGC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects included 881 patients who underwent curative surgery for EGC between 1986 and 2003. Retrospective uni & multi-variate analysis for prognostic factors, factors affecting lymph node metastasis, and risk factors for cancer recurrence were analyzed. RESULTS: In multivariate survival analyses, age, operation method, macroscopic appearance and lymph node stage proved to be independent prognostic factors. Lymph node metastasis, depth of tumor invasion, tumor size, lymphatic and venous invasion were also significant risk factors in multivariate analyses. In multivariate analyses for cancer recurrence, depth of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis proved to be significant risk factors. CONCLUSION: Appropriate surgical treatment with lymph node dissection is necessary for EGC patients with risk factors for lymph node metastasis.
Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: When performing a laparoscopic assisted gastrectomy, a function-preserving gastrectomy is performed depending on the location of the primary gastric cancer. This study examined the incidence of lymph node metastasis by the lymph node station number by tumor location to determine the optimal extent of the lymph node dissection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects consisted of 1,510 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer who underwent a gastrectomy between 1996 and 2005. The patients were divided into three groups: upper, middle and lower third, depending on the location of the primary tumor. The lymph node metastasis patterns were analyzed in the total and early gastric cancer patients. RESULTS: In all patients, lymph node station numbers 1, 2, 3, 7, 10 and 11 metastases were dominant in the cancer originating in the upper third, whereas station numbers 4, 5, 6 and 8 were dominant in the lower third. In early gastric cancer patients, the station number of lymph nodes with a metastasis did not show a significant difference in stage pT1a disease. On the other hand, a metastasis in lymph node station number 6 was dominant in stage pT1b disease that originated in the lower third of the stomach. CONCLUSIONS: When performing a laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy for early gastric cancer, a limited lymphadenectomy is considered adequate during a function-preserving gastrectomy in mucosal (T1a) cancer. On the other hand, for submucosal (T1b) cancer, a number 6 node dissection should be performed when performing a pylorus preserving gastrectomy.
Gastrectomy ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pylorus ; Stomach Neoplasms

We report a case of primary gastric malignant melanoma that was diagnosed after curative resection but initially misdiagnosed as adenocarcinoma. A 68-year-old woman was referred to our department for surgery for gastric adenocarcinoma presenting as a polypoid lesion with central ulceration located in the upper body of the stomach. The preoperative diagnosis was confirmed by endoscopic biopsy. We performed laparoscopic total gastrectomy, and the final pathologic evaluation led to the diagnosis of primary gastric malignant melanoma without a primary lesion detected in the body. To the best of our knowledge, primary gastric malignant melanoma is extremely rare, and this is the first case reported in our country. According to the literature, it has aggressive biologic activity compared with adenocarcinoma, and curative resection is the only promising treatment strategy. In our case, the patient received an early diagnosis and underwent curative gastrectomy with radical lymphadenectomy, and no recurrence was noted for about two years.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Melanoma* ; Recurrence ; Stomach ; Ulcer