Vertigo mimicking labyrinthine lesions may have resulted from ischemic insult to the inner ear or the vestibular nerve and nucleus in the AICA infarction syndrome. A 56-year-old female was admitted to the emergency room with vertigo and hearing loss in right ear. On neurological examination, she had left beating jerky torsional and horizontal nystagmus with falling and past pointing to right side. Brain magnetic resonance images showed high signal intensity in anterolateral portion of inferior pons on T2- weighted images. Severe right facial palsy of peripheral type developed 24 hours after admission. Audiometry and electronystagmography documented absent auditory and vestibular function on the affected side. We argue that vertigo of the acute infarction in AICA territory can be involved the eight and seventh nerve root entry zoon and mimic labyrinthine lesions
Audiometry ; Brain ; Ear ; Ear, Inner ; Electronystagmography ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Facial Nerve* ; Facial Paralysis ; Female ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Middle Aged ; Neurologic Examination ; Nystagmus, Pathologic ; Pons ; Vertigo* ; Vestibular Nerve

BACKGROUND: Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, is known to have analgesic properties in subanesthetic doses and has been used as an analgesic in the postoperative period by variable routes. The effect of adding ketamine to analgesia using intravenous PCA morphine was evaluated in 90 women after cesarean section. METHODS: Ninety parturients were randomly allocated to three groups and each group had 30 women. The parturients in group 1 were given analgesics of morphine only, group 2 were given analgesics of the 2 : 1 mixture of morphine and ketamine, and group 3 were given analgesics of the 1 : 1 mixture of morphine and ketamine. We evaluated the analgesic requirement, numerical rating pain score, side effects and patient's satisfaction. RESULTS: The morphine requirement in group 3 was significantly lower than that in groups 1 and 2 at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours postoperatively. The pain score in group 2 was lower than that in group 1 at 3 and 6 hours and the pain score in group 3 was lowest of all groups at 3 and 6 hours. The incidence of dizziness was higher in group 3 than in groups 1 or 2. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that adding ketamine with morphine in using an intravenous PCA can decrease analgesic requirements and improve analgesic property.
Analgesia ; Analgesics ; Cesarean Section* ; Dizziness ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ketamine* ; Morphine* ; N-Methylaspartate ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis* ; Postoperative Period ; Pregnancy

The caudal block has been used as an alternative to general anesthesia in specific circumstances such as anal surgery, perineal surgery or surgery of lower extremity etc. It has been also used as an adjunct to general anesthesia, administered at the completion of surgery to provide postoperative analgesia especially in children. But, it has variable complications such as generalized intoxication, pain on the injection site, infection or urinary retention etc. We report an unusual case of metastatic sacrococcygeal tumor from adenocarcinoma of lung presenting as severe anal pain and sciatica which was aggravated after the trial of caudal anesthesia.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Analgesia ; Anesthesia, Caudal* ; Anesthesia, General ; Child ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Lung* ; Sciatica ; Urinary Retention

A case of synchronous multiple primary esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and multiple gastric adenocarcinomas is reported. The lesions were found on gastrofiberscopic examination for the evaluation of dysphagia and epigastric pain. The esophageal lesions were 2 ulceromfiltrating mass lesions at mid- and lower esophagus and 2 lesions were separated by normal mucosa. The main leiosn of stomach was an ulcerative one (Borrmanns type II) on lower body and the accessory lesion was an EGC IIc like lesion on antrum and 2 lesions were independent.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophagus* ; Mucous Membrane ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach* ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Mivacurium is a nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent hydrolyzed by pseudocholinesterase. Anticholinesterase used in the reversal of mivacurium-induced muscle relaxation may also inhibit plasma pseudocholinesterase, and delay hydrolysis of mivacurium. In this study, the effects of edrophonium and/or bovine pseudocholinesterase (BpChE) in the reversal of mivacurium were investigated with the rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation. METHODS: Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats (150 - 200 g) were randomly allocated into 10 groups based on the dosage of edrophonium and BpChE. Each animal was anesthetized with thiopental sodium (40 mg/kg I.P.). The phrenic nerve-diaphragm was dissected and mounted in a bath containing an oxygenated Krebs' solution at 32degreesC. The phrenic nerve was stimulated at supramaximal intensity and the single twitch responses and train of four (TOF) ratio were measured. After stabilization of the twitch responses, mivacurium (1ng/ml) was administered incrementally to obtain more than 95% twitch inhibition. Reversal of the mivacurium-induced block by edrophonium (0.01, 0.1, 1, or 10ng/ml) and/or BpChE (0.1 u, or 1.0 u/ml) were tested. A single twitch height more than 75% of the baseline value was considered an adequate reversal. RESULTS: Mivacurium-induced paralysis was recovered more effectively by BpChE 1.0 u/ml than the other groups. Edrophonium improved a single twitch in a dose dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Mivacurium-induced paralysis can be more effectively reversed by BpChE than edrophonium. Inhibition of pseudocholinesterase was not observed by increasing the dose of edrophonium.
Animals ; Baths ; Edrophonium* ; Hydrolysis ; Muscle Relaxation ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Oxygen ; Paralysis* ; Phrenic Nerve ; Plasma ; Pseudocholinesterase* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiopental

BACKGROUND: Recently, it was reported that bupivacaine-induced spinal block significantly reduced the hypnotic requirements for thiopentone, midazolam and propofol. We evaluated the hypnotic effect and requirements for intravenous propofol when pretreated with intravenous lidocaine. METHODS: Fifty patients, ASA I or II, undergoing minor surgical procedures were randomly divided into five groups according to anesthetic pretreatment (group N: 0.9% normal saline; group 0.5: lidocaine 0.5 mg/kg; group 1.0: lidocaine 1.0 mg/kg; group 1.5: lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg; group 2.0 lidocaine 2.0 mg/kg). Ninty seconds after the administration of normal saline or lidocaine, propofol was administered intravenously over 5 sec in bolus doses of 0.2 mg/kg every 30 sec. The inability of patients respond to a simple command ("Open your eyes," said twice) was used as the end point for hypnosis. Responses to verbal commands were evaluated 25 sec after each bolus. The total dose required to achieve complete loss of response in each patient was recorded in mg/kg. The time of the loss of response was from the adminstration of propofol to the loss of response. Mean arterial pressures and heart rates were measured before induction, after loss of response, and immediately after induction. RESULTS: The time and total dose required to achieve loss of response was significantly reduced in groups 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0. Heart rates in groups 2.0 and mean arterial pressure in groups 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 were significantly decreased after the loss of response. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that lidocaine pretreatment significantly enhances the hypnotic effect and reduces the dose requirement for propofol during the induction period.
Anesthesia* ; Arterial Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypnosis ; Hypnotics and Sedatives* ; Lidocaine* ; Midazolam ; Propofol* ; Surgical Procedures, Minor ; Thiopental

Nasotracheal intubation is used as a basic method for airway management, along with orotracheal intubation under anesthesia and intensive care. It has become an effective alternative method to orotracheal intubation with increased benefits of offering better mobility and surgical field in oral and maxillofacial surgery and possibly in trauma and critically ill patients. Nasotracheal intubation is performed through a relatively narrow nasal cavity; therefore, additional precautions are needed. Accordingly, nasotracheal intubation methods have evolved over the years with accumulated clinical experience and improved instruments to facilitate safe intubation with reduced complications. Therefore, in this review article, we summarize the basic anatomy of the nasal airways to clarify the precautions, delineate the history and development of various methods and instruments, and describe the indications, contraindications, complications, and preventive methods of nasotracheal intubation.

This paper reports a novel method for reconstructing the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) using hamstring tendon autografts, based on the results of an anatomical study by cadaveric dissection. Five fresh frozen cadaveric knees were studied. MPFL was found present in all cases, and the average length was 54 mm (49.6-59.3 mm). The shape of the MPFL was triangular wherein the femoral attachment was narrow and the patellar attachment was relatively broad. The MPFL was less stiff and a weaker structure compared to the other ligaments. This study could refl ect a novel surgical technique for the MPFL reconstruction with its anatomical and biomechanical properties. The study population comprises of 9 patients (5 males and 4 females) who underwent primary MPFL reconstruction at our clinic between April 2008 and February 2010. The mean follow-up period was 17.6 months. The Kujala score improved signifi cantly from 51.1 points to 81.4 points (p<0.001), the Lysholm score improved signifi cantly from 47.8 points to 84.9 points (p<0.001) and the Tegner activity level improved signifi cantly from 2.9 to 5.1 (p<0.001). There was no case of recurrent dislocation and complications according to the short term follow-up results. Our novel soft tissue fixation method using double bundle reconstruction with hamstring tendon autografts would not only be an anatomic reconstruction but also would be effective for reconstruction of the MPFL.
Cadaver ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Male ; Patellar Dislocation ; Tendons ; Tissue Fixation

Counselling and medication are often thought of as the only interventions for psychiatric disorders, but electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has also been applied in clinical practice for over 80 years. ECT refers to the application of an electric stimulus through the patient’s scalp to treat psychiatric disorders such as treatment-resistant depression, catatonia, and schizophrenia. It is a safe, effective, and evidence-based therapy performed under general anesthesia with muscle relaxation. An appropriate level of anesthesia is essential for safe and successful ECT; however, little is known about this because of the limited interest from anesthesiologists. As the incidence of ECT increases, more anesthesiologists will be required to better understand the physiological changes, complications, and pharmacological actions of anesthetics and adjuvant drugs. Therefore, this review focuses on the fundamental physiological changes, management, and pharmacological actions associated with various drugs, such as anesthetics and neuromuscular blocking agents, as well as the comorbidities, indications, contraindications, and complications of using these agents as part of an ECT procedure through a literature review and our own experiences.