Background: Bupivacaine was introduced to be a long-acting spinal anesthetic agent. It has been argued about whether the addition of epinephrine prolongs the bupivacaine action or not. The aim of this present investigation was to find out the effect of additional epinephrine on spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine. Methods: 47 patients undergoing an operation on lower extremity were randomly allocated to 2 groups. All patients were anesthetized by subarachnoid block with 0.5% bupivacaine in 8% glucose, which was mixed with 0.2 ml of normal saline in group non-E (n=24) and 0.2 ml of 1:1,000 epinephrine in group E (n=23). We evaluated blood pressure and heart rate, the sensory and motor blockade and voiding time after spinal anesthesia. Results: The systolic blood pressure (SBP) at 8 and 10 min after anesthesia were lower in group non-E than in group E (p<0.05). The trend of decreasing diastolic blood pressure was similar in both groups. The heart rate(HR) at 2 min after anesthesia was lower in group non-E than in group E (p<0.05). The sensory block in T10 was produced faster in group non-E (7 min) than in group E (11 min)(p<0.05). And the maximal sensory block level and its reaching time was T7 and 14 min in group non-E, and T8 and 17 min in group E (p=0.12, p=0.11). Two segment regression time was 124 min in group non-E, and 184 min in group E (p=011). The onset time of motor block to Bromage scale 3 was 12 min in group non-E and 16 min in group E (p=0.06). The recovery time from complete motor block to Bromage scale 1 after maximal motor block was 263 min in group non-E, and 278 min in group E. The time at which patients voided after anesthesia was 469 min in group non-E, and 466 min in group E. Three patients urinated by using a urinary catheter in each group. Conclusions: The addition of epinephrine to bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia can slow the decrease in SBP and increase the HR at early stage of anesthesia, and slow the sensory block.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Blood Pressure ; Bupivacaine* ; Epinephrine* ; Glucose ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Urinary Catheters

BACKGROUND: The risk of bleeding during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a potential deterrent in performing tracheostomy at many centers. To evaluate the safety of surgical tracheostomy (ST) in critically ill patients supported by ECMO, we reviewed the clinical correlation between preoperative coagulation status and bleeding complication-related ST during ECMO. METHODS: From April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2016, ST was performed on 38 patients supported by ECMO. We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the medical records including complications related to ST. RESULTS: Heparin was administered to 23 patients (60.5%) for anticoagulation during ECMO, but 15 patients (39.5%) underwent ECMO without anticoagulation. Of the 23 patients administered anticoagulation therapy, heparin infusion was briefly paused in 13 prior to ST. The median platelet count, international normalized ratio, and activated partial thromboplastin time before ST were 126 ×109/L (range, 46 to 434 ×109/L), 1.2 (range, 1 to 2.3) and 62 seconds (27 to 114.2 seconds), respectively. No peri-procedural clotting complications related to ECMO were observed. Two patients (5.3%) suffering from ST-related major bleeding required surgical hemostasis. Minor bleeding after ST occurred in two cases (5.3%). No significant difference was found according to anticoagulation management (P = 0.723). No fatality was attributable to ST. CONCLUSIONS: The complication rates of ST in the patients supported by ECMO were low. Therefore, ST performed by an experienced operator, and with careful optimization of coagulation status, is a relatively safe procedure; the use of ST with ECMO should thus not be dismissed on account of the potential for bleeding caused by the administration of anticoagulants.
Anticoagulants ; Critical Illness ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis, Surgical ; Heparin ; Humans ; International Normalized Ratio ; Medical Records ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Platelet Count ; Retrospective Studies ; Tracheostomy*

No abstract available.
Dinoprost* ; Female ; Laparoscopes* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Tubal*

Development of a malignant tumor within a mature cystic teratoma is a serious event, and occurs in about 1%~4% of cases. The malignant transformation occurs most frequently in the squamous epithelium with the formation of a squamous cell carcinoma. There are 10 cases reported in the literature, in Korea. We report 4 additional cases, which include 3 squamous cell carcinomas and 1 adenosquamous carcinomas, arising in cystic teratoma of the ovary.

The term malignant mesenchymoma has been applied to those tumors of the soft tissue of mesenchymal origin which are composed of tumor cells differentiating into two or more unrelated malignant forms in addition to the fibrosarcomatous element. Recently authors experienced a case of malignant mesenchymoma in the right axillary area. Microscopically the sarcoma revealed multiple pattern of differentiation, including liposarcoma, malignant schwannoma, fibrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma and rhabdomyoblastoma. The presence of rhabdomyblastic cells were proved by immunochemical study utilizing desmin. This patient was treated with surgical excision and radiation.

No abstract available.
Head* ; Neck*

Gallstone ileus is a well-known complication of cholelithiasis, but is relatively rare. Most ectopic gallstones are located in the small bowel; they are rarely found in the stomach and duodenum. We describe the imaging findings of a case of intragastric gallstone, as well as a case in which duodenal obstruction was caused by a large gallstone (Bouveret's syndrome).
Cholelithiasis ; Duodenal Obstruction ; Duodenum ; Gallstones* ; Ileus ; Stomach

Isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase from purified extracts of liver, intestine, pancreas and bone of rats were determined by their isoelectric points and compared with those from serum. 1) The extracts obtained from homogenized tissues were centrifuged at 65,000xg and filtered through an Ultrogel AcA 34 column. Among the three major peaks obtained by gel filtration, the second peak fractions were further separated by isoelectric focusing. Isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase were found only in the second peak. 2) Isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase were distinguishable with pH 3.5-10 ampholytes. When pH 3-6 ampholytes were used, isoenzymes were more clearly separated, e.g., 4in serum, 5 in intestine and 2 each in the liver, pancreas, and bone. 3) Comparing the bands of the isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase to those of serum, only the band with 5.04 pI was the same between serum and intestine. These results indicate that several forms of alkaline phosphatase, even though all are from the rat, may exist; and some of the isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase found in the serum originated from the intestine.
Alkaline Phosphatase/analysis* ; Alkaline Phosphatase/blood ; Animal ; Isoenzymes/analysis* ; Isoenzymes/blood ; Rats

Background: The highly lipid soluble opioid, fentanyl, has a rapid onset and short duration of action. The present study was designed to examine the analgesic efficacy and side effects of the combination of fentanyl with morphine in patients using intravenous PCA. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive one of three PCA regimens: M4 group (40 mg morphine+90 mg ketorolac+1.5 mg dorperidol), M2F2 group (20 mg morphine+200 ug fentanyl+90 mg ketorolac+1.5 mg dorperidol), or M2F4 group (20 mg morphine+400 ug fentanyl+90 mg ketorolac+1.5 mg dorperidol). All patients were given initial loading dose of 0.1 mg/kg morphine plus 1 mg droperidol at the end of surgery. Pain score, side effects, and overall satisfaction were assessed at 30 min, 1 hr, 8 hr, 24 hr, and 48 hr postoperatively. Results: The pain score was significantly higher in the M2F2 group than in the M4 group and M2F4 group during 1 hr and 8 hr postoperatively. The total opioid consumption was significantly greater in the M2F4 group than in the M4 group. Patient satisfaction was better in the M2F4 than other two groups. There were no differences in the overall incidence of side effects among three groups. Conclusions: The present results suggest that the combination of fentanyl with morphine for intravenous patient-controlled analgesia is a useful method, and the double dose of fentanyl in comparison with the equipotent morphine dose is recommended in the early postoperative period.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Droperidol ; Fentanyl* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Morphine* ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Patient Satisfaction ; Postoperative Period

Background: We hypothesized that intravenous lidocaine mixed with propofol may have an influence on anesthesia induction and hemodynamic responses to propofol induction and endotracheal intubation as well as propofol-induced pain on injection. Methods: Seventy-five patients were allocated to group L1 (2% lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg, n=25), group L2 (2% lidocaine 2 mg/kg, n=25) or group C (normal saline 0.05 mL/kg, n=25) according to the lidocaine dosage mixed with propofol 2 mg/kg. The pain on injection was scored as none, mild, moderate, and severe. The site of pain and recall of pain were also recorded. Loss of verbal response was observed during induction. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded before anesthetic induction (baseline value), immediately before and after endotracheal intubation, and every min until 5 min thereafter. Results: Ninety-two percent of patients reported pain upon injection in group C, whereas 8% of the patients in group L1 and no patient in group L2. Loss of verbal response before injection of total dose of propofol was observed in 44% in group L2, 36% in group L1 and 28% in group C. Lowered MAP caused by propofol increased significantly after endotracheal intubation in all three groups (p<0.05). HR increased immediately and 1 min after endotracheal intubation in all three groups (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our results indicate that intravenous lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg or 2 mg/kg mixed with propofol 2 mg/kg significantly reduces the incidence and the degree of pain, but does not affect anesthesia induction and hemodynamic responses to propofol and tracheal intubation.
Anesthesia ; Arterial Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Lidocaine* ; Propofol*