BACKGROUND: The addition of various opioids to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine intrathecally seems to potentiate analgesic effects of bupivacaine and to prolong the duration of analgesia. We compared the effect of intrathecal meperidine 0.25 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg, fentanyl 0.15 microgram/kg, and placebo when administered together with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 9 mg for cesarean section. METHODS: Forty-four healthy term parturients were randomly allocated (n = 11 per group) to receive the test solution (1 ml) containing preservative-free normal saline (control group), fentanyl 0.15 microgram/kg, meperidine 0.25 mg/kg, or meperidine 0.5 mg/kg intrathecally, immediately followed by the injection of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 9 mg. We observed the effective postoperative analgesic duration (time to VAS > or = 4), quality of anesthesia and side effects. RESULTS: The effective postoperative analgesic duration significantly increased in the groups receiving opioid compared with the control group (P < 0.05); control group 101.4 +/- 28.6 min; fentanyl group 192.3 +/- 29.2 min; meperidine 0.25 mg/kg group 208.8 +/- 21.7 min; meperidine 0.5 mg/kg group 289.8 53.6 min (data expressed as mean +/- SD). The quality of anesthesia was excellent in 100% of the meperidine group but in 82% of the fentanyl group and 91% of the control group. The incidence of nausea and vomiting were higher in the meperidine 0.5 mg/kg group (73%) than in the remaining groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of fentanyl 0.15 microgram/kg or meperidine 0.25 mg/kg to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 9 mg for spinal anesthesia improves intraoperative analgesia and provides analgesia into the immediate postoperative period with no adverse effects on mother or neonate.
Analgesia ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Bupivacaine* ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Fentanyl* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Meperidine* ; Mothers ; Nausea ; Postoperative Period ; Pregnancy ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: Peritoneal dialysis related peritonitis remains one of the most common causes of hospitalization and discontinuation of peritoneal dialysis. Patient education and the individual environment play a significant role in improving the clinical outcomes. Therefore, this study focused on the preventive effects of practical training on the spot for peritoneal dialysis related peritonitis in continous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients who were started on CAPD were as the primary intended treatment modality. The patients were given to a questionnaire regarding their gender, age, place of residence, level of education, economic status, sterile technique, knowledge of personal hygiene, placing a correct region for exchanging a fluid bag, and their duration of CAPD. During a home visit, the patients were instructed in how to sterilize the region of dialysis and maintain sterility in dialysis. RESULTS: Seventy four cases of peritonitis from 35 patients were identified over the 2 year's period. In the rural residences where there is a lower socio-economic status, the rates of peritonitis decreased in those patients who had received training on the spot within 6 months from the start of peritoneal dialysis compared with the patients after the 6 month period. Lower rates of peritonitis were noted in the patients who received training earlier (r=0.19, p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Ongoing and repetitive individualized education is needed to prevent peritoneal dialysis related peritonitis. The incidence of peritoneal dialysis related peritonitis can be reduced by educating these patients individually.
Dialysis ; Education ; Hospitalization ; House Calls ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Patient Education as Topic ; Peritoneal Dialysis* ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Combination therapy of beta-blocker and a calcium channel blocker is not recommened because their additive effect on the myocardium and the atrioventricular node may precipitate heart block in susceptible patients. We experienced a 68 years old female patient who had paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia that was treated with verapamil and esmolol. She had been taking verapamil for 2 years because of her paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. She was planned for left ureteronephrectomy due to left ureteral tumor. After epidural catheterization for the postoperative pain control, she was anesthetized with isoflurane and vecuronium. During central venous catheterization, SVT (H.R. from 98 beats per minute to 190 BPM) was suddenly developed with hypotension (B.P. from 120/65 mmHg to 75/42 mmHg) when guide wire was introduced. We treated her with combination therapy of verapamil 7.5 mg and esmolol 18 mg under the monitoring of blood pressure, electrocardiogram, end-tidal CO2 tension, central venous pressure and pulse oximeter. After 20 minutes of vigorous treatment, her heart rate and blood pressure returned to a normal range.
Aged ; Atrioventricular Node ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium Channels ; Catheterization ; Catheterization, Central Venous* ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters* ; Central Venous Pressure ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Block ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Isoflurane ; Myocardium ; Pain, Postoperative ; Reference Values ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular* ; Ureter ; Vecuronium Bromide ; Verapamil*

PURPOSE: To compare clinical outcomes of extracorporeal shockwave therapy and platelet-rich plasma injection for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis of the elbow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients with a lateral epicondylitis who had refractory elbow pain more than 6 months and no response to treatment more than 3 months were recruited for this study. Diagnosis was made on the basis of physical examination and ultrasound imaging study. Prospective randomized trial was performed between two treatment groups; extracorporeal shockwave therapy versus platelet-rich plasma injection. Fifty patients for each group were allocated based on the results of power analysis. Disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) scores obtained before treatment and at 1 year after the last treatment were compared between two groups. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvement of DASH scores after treatment. The patients who had platelet-rich plasma injection showed significantly greater improvement of DASH scores (from 37.0 to 11.1) than the patients who had extracorporeal shockwave therapy (from 41.9 to 29.9). CONCLUSION: Better subjective outcomes can be expected after platelet-rich plasma injection compared with extracorporeal shockwave therapy in patients with a refractory lateral epicondylitis.
Arm ; Elbow ; Hand ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Prospective Studies ; Shock ; Shoulder

A double eyelid operation is the most prevalent form of aesthetic surgical procedure, and variable methods have been developed to suit each patients while indication of each surgery has been specialized with great details. Occasionally, we can find a blepharoptosis in the patients, who come for double eyelid operation. It is crucial to take note of this because even the smallest degree of blepharoptosis can lead to cosmetically very unsatisfactory result after double eyelid operation and so we think blepharoptosis must be corrected at the same time with double eyelid operation. There are several standardized method for blepharoptosis correction such as Fasanella-Servat, aponeurosis surgery, levator shortening(resection), frontalis suspension; the choice of most appropriate operation method depends on the function of a levator palpebrae superioris muscle and ptosis degree. Usually, in mild blepharoptosis patient with good levator function, Fasanella- Servat or aponeurosis surgery has been done. But in case, the patient want double eyelid operation at the same time, there exists great number of difficulties on operating both blepharoptosis correction and double eyelid operation simultaneously. Of course, in moderate or severe blepharoptosis patient, these two procedure must be performed seperately. But in mild blepharoptosis, with only single procedure for double eyelid operation we can correct ptosis simultaneously. Author's method is suturing dermal tissue of incisional lower flap to levator aponeurosis at 2- 3mm higher level than upper margin of tarsus. We report 3 years clinical observations of 56 patients undergoing this procedure with mild blepharoptosis, which provide a satisfactory results.
Ankle ; Blepharoptosis* ; Eyelids* ; Humans