PURPOSE: Perinatal asphyxia occurring in newborn is one of the major causes of acute mortality and chronic neurological disability in survivors. We have studied the relationship between early electroencephalography(EEG) findings and clinical course and neurologic outcome in severe asphyxiated neonates. METHODS: Between the period of July 1999 and June 2002, 25 neonates who were diagnosed with severe perinatal asphyxia(1-minute Apgar score of < or =3 and initial pH is less than 7.2) at NICU in Dongsan Medical Center were enrolled. An EEG was recorded and analyzed within three days of life and divided into two groups - group 1(normal or focal change on EEG) and group 2(generalized abnormal EEG). Between the two groups, clinical courses and neurologic outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Fifteen infants(60%) were group 1 and ten infants(40%) were group 2(polyspikes, burst- suppression, generalized low voltage). Associated maternal disease, days of hospitalization, need for ventilator support, delay of oral feeding and convulsion duration are significantly higher and longer in group 2. Also, poor neurologic outcome(expire, developmental delay) was significantly higher in group 2(60%) than group 1(13.3%). CONCLUSION: Thus, the early neonatal EEG in asphyxiated newborn can be a predictable diagnostic tool in assessment of neurologic outcome.
Apgar Score ; Asphyxia ; Electroencephalography ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mortality ; Seizures ; Survivors ; Ventilators, Mechanical

The need for a short-acting non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent to replace succinylcholine chloride(succinylcholine) is recognized widely and attempts to find such a drug have been numerous. Atracurium besylate(atracurium) is one of the new series of neuromuscular blocking agents with little cardiovascular effect and is not dependent on hepatic and renal function for terminating its action because of its self-destroying mechanism. Because succinylchline may occasionally be contraindieated for intubation in parturients we studied the use of atracurium in 23 patients having cesarean section. All patients received 0. 5 mg/kg atracurium for intubation and neuromuscular relaxation. Hemodynamic changes, the time from the injection of atracurium to maximal twitch suppression, the time between atracurium administration and the return to 10% of control twitch height were recorded and observed the degree of vocal cord relaxation and conditions of intubation and evaluated the Apgar scores. 1) Mean arterial pressure and heart rate increased significantly after intubation compared with that of control and just before intubation but there were no significant changes in 5 minutes after intubation. 2) The 90% twitch suppression following atracurium administration was 75.6+/-20.9 seconds. 3) The return of 10% of control twitch height was 2449.3+/-1114.0 seconds. 4) Intubation conditions were excellent for 19 patients. 5) The Apgar scores of 20 neonates were high. These data suggest that the use of atracurium may be a useful alternative for induction for Cesarean section when succinylcholine is contraindicated.
Arterial Pressure ; Atracurium* ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents ; Pregnancy ; Relaxation ; Succinylcholine ; Vocal Cords

To compare the time course of neostigmine and pyridostigmine antagonism of profound neu- romuscular blockade (no-twitch: when no response to peripheral nerve stimulation could be elicited) induced by vecuronium, the authors studied 30 patients who were ASA Physical Status I or II undergoing minor surgery, free from neuromuscular, renal or hepatic dieases. Train-of Four[TOF] stimulation was applied to the ulnar nerve every ISseconds and the force of contraction of adductor pollicis muscle was recorded. In all patients, anesthesia was induced with thiopental sodium(5 mg/kg) and vecuronium (0.1 mg/kg), endotracheal intubation was performed at 100% depression of the T1(the first response in the train-of-four sequence). Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups Five minutes after intubation, when there was no detectable twitch response, each patient received either neostigmine(0.03 mg/kg) with atropine sulfate(0.02 mg/kg). Neuromuscular fuction in another ten subjects were allowed to recover spontaneously. The results were as follows; 1) Profound neuromuscular blockade was not rapidly antagonized by either neostigmine or pyridostigmine but the use of anticholinesterase was effeetive for recovery. 2) The results demonstrated that there were no difference in antagonism of vecuronium induced profound neuromuscular block between neostigmine and pyridostigmine. 3) The time to 100% depression of T1 after vecuronium injection was 190.5+/-38.7 sec. 4) After anticholinesterase administration, in all groups, the changes of mean arterial pressure and heart rate were within +/-10% of control after anticholinesterase dministration were observed.
Anesthesia ; Arterial Pressure ; Atropine ; Depression ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Neostigmine* ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Peripheral Nerves ; Pyridostigmine Bromide* ; Surgical Procedures, Minor ; Thiopental ; Ulnar Nerve ; Vecuronium Bromide*

There is increasing tendency to use epinephrine injection or topical application to obtain clear operative field and hemostasis under general anesthesia. But excessive catecholamines due to inadvertent administration are known to cause a wide spectrum of cardiotoxicity. The authors have experienced a case of reversible cardiomyopathy due to accidental epinephrine overdose during mastoidectomy. This report is the first recorded case of the nearly fatal conseguences of inadvertent administration of a very large dose of epinephrine, with the subsequent development of a severe catecholamine induced "cardiomyopathy". After the initial phase of massive catecholamine excess, this patient required exogenous catecholamines to support the injured, dysfunctional myocardium and maintain adequate perfusion pressure to vital organs. These abnormalities are also transient in nature with complete recovery documented. The case suggests the need for aggressive support of patients received accidental epinephrine overdose with the expectation that, while cardiar. function may be extremely impaired early in the course of the illness, recovery is virtually complete over time.
Anesthesia, General ; Cardiomyopathies ; Catecholamines ; Epinephrine* ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Myocardium ; Perfusion ; Ventricular Fibrillation

BACKGROUND: This study was purposed to study the therapeutic value of intraluminal oxygen insufflation on the oxygenation of gut mucosa in a feline model subjected to a hemorrhagic shock followed by reperfusion. METHODS: Eighteen cats were divided into three groups : For group 1, 6 cats were subjected to sham operation as a control group ; for group 2, 6 cats were subjected to a hemorrhagic shock for 2 hours prior to reperfusion as a hemorrhagic shock(HS) group ; for group 3, 6 cats were subjected to a simultaneous insufflation of intraluminal oxygen, continued during the shock and reperfusion periods as a oxygenated hemorrhagic shock(OHS) group. Mesenteric PvO2, mesenteric venous arterial(v-a) lactate difference, mesenteric P(v-a)CO2 and mesenteric pH(a-v) were measured for every 30 minutes during the shock and reperfusion. RESULTS: The lactate(v-a) was increased during the shock. For group OHS, the lactate(v-a) returned to the baseline value after reperfusion, but for group HS, it did not return. The values of pH(v-a) and P(v-a)CO2 were increased during the shock and returned to the baseline value for group OHS, but for group HS, the increase was greater than group OHS(p<0.05), but not returned to the baseline value after reperfusion. For both pH(v-a) and P(v-a)CO2, there were statistically significant differences(p<0.05) between group HS and group OHS during the shock and reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the insufflation of intraluminal oxygen improves the oxygenation of gut mucosa in the feline model undergone a hemorrhagic shock followed by reperfusion.
Animals ; Cats* ; Insufflation* ; Lactic Acid ; Mucous Membrane* ; Oxygen* ; Reperfusion ; Shock ; Shock, Hemorrhagic

BACKGROUND: Mannitol is widely used in neurosurgical patients and may induce an increase in serum potassium concentration according to doses and administration rates with unknown mechanism. The treatment of hyperkalemia is aimed at eliminating the causes and includes calcium, sodium bicarbonate, glucose with insulin, loop diuretics and hyperventilation. This study was undertaken to observe the effects of hyperventilation on the serum potassium concentration following infusion of mannitol (2.0 gm/kg). METHODS: We studied 30 patients who were operated brain aneurysm clipping surgery and were divided into 3 groups (n=10). In control group, mild hypocapnia was maintained (PaCO2, 32 2 mmHg) before and after mannitol infusion. In group I, moderate hypocapnia was maintained (PaCO2, 27 2 mmHg) before and after mannitol infusion. In group II, mild hypocapnia (PaCO2, 32 2 mmHg) was maintained before 30 minutes of mannitol infusion and moderate hypocapnia (PaCO2, 27 2 mHg) after mannitol infusion. We started infusion of 20% mannitol with a dosage of 2.0 gm/kg, 15~20 min after cranium was opened. RESULTS: The changes of serum potassium were as follows (Mean SD mEq/l) (just before and 15min, 30min, 60min after mannitol infusion): 3.79 0.48, 4.66 0.60, 4.44 0.48, 4.13 0.40 (Control group), 3.62 0.18, 3.63 0.42, 4.14 0.51, 3.95 0.33 (Group I), 3.76 0.20, 3.91 0.15, 4.11 0.30, 4.04 0.23 (Group II). After 15 minutes of mannitol infusion, the serum potassium levels of group I and II were lower than that of control group (p<0.05) and there was no significant difference between group I and II. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that hyperventilation may blunt the increase in serum potassium concentration following rapid infusion of high dose mannitol.
Calcium ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; Hyperventilation* ; Hypocapnia ; Insulin ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Mannitol* ; Potassium* ; Skull ; Sodium Bicarbonate ; Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors

Fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease caused by Fasciola hepatica, a liver fluke, for which human acts as an accidental host. Fascioliasis, while common in some tropical countries, is rare in Korea. Endoscopie retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) has been described in only a very few cases as a useful technique for the diagnosis of fascioliasis. We report a case of fascioliasis diagnosed by ERCP, after endoscopic sphinchterotomy adult worms were removed by Dormia basket.
Adult ; Biliary Tract* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Diagnosis ; Fasciola hepatica ; Fascioliasis* ; Humans ; Korea ; Pancreas* ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Zoonoses

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular instability after induction of intravenous anesthetics may be explained partly by direct negative inotropic effects. We studied the effects of etomidate and propofol on the inward calcium currents (ICa) of rat ventricular myocytes using the whole-cell voltage-clamp technique. METHODS: ICa was elicited by progressively depolarizing cells from -40 to -50 mV. The peak amplitude of ICa was measured before, during and after the administration of equimolar concentrations of etomidate and propofol. RESULTS: Exposure to etomidate and propofol produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of ICa.; 1, 10, 100 and 300 micrometer of etomidate decreased the peak ICa (mean +/- SEM) by 14.5 +/- 6.3, 25.9 +/- 9.4, 31.9 +/- 12.1, 42.5 +/- 8.8% and 1, 10, 100 and 300 micrometer of propofol decreased the peak ICa by 15.7 +/-3.4, 21.3 +/-2.5, 59.2 +/-2.0, 69.9 +/-2.8%, respectively. COCLUSIONS: These results suggest that etomidate and propofol have a direct negative inotropic effect via inhibition of inward calcium currents in rat ventricular myocytes.
Anesthetics, Intravenous ; Animals ; Calcium* ; Etomidate* ; Muscle Cells* ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Propofol* ; Rats*

BACKGROUND: The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of etomidate against kainic acid (KA) induced neurotoxicity in rats by using the immunoreactivity of heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70) and the acid-fuchsin stain. METHODS: Administration of etomidate (20 mg/kg, I.P.) was performed in sequence; first being just one hour after a KA (10 mg/kg, I.P.) injection, then three more times at one hour intervals. Neuronal damages in the hippocampus were evaluated by using the acid-fuchsin stain to detect cell death and HSP-70 induction as an index of cell injury at 24 h after the administration of KA. RESULTS: HSP-70 induction and acid fuchsin positive neurons were increased in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus after a KA injection but significantly decreased by an injection of etomidate (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the etomidate has a potential effect on the protection of neurons against KA-induced neurotoxicity.
Animals ; Cell Death ; Etomidate* ; Hippocampus* ; Hot Temperature ; Kainic Acid ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Rats* ; Rosaniline Dyes ; Shock

The laryngeal mask as an new form of airway has recently been described. This mask is introduced blindly into the hypopharynx to form a seal around the larynx, so permitting spontaneous or positive pressure ventilation without passing the larynx, therefore associated with much reduced incidence of laryngeal damage. But endotracheal intubation is associated with a significant rate of layngeal damage and subsequent vocal cord pathology. This study was designed to investigate the effects of postoperative sore throat related to insertion of laryngeal mask airway and to compare with these effects after endotracheal intubation. One hundred randomly selected female patients who had gynecological procedures under general anesthesia were surveyed to ascertain the incidence of sore throats. The results were as follows; l) The incidence of sore throat after endotracheal intubation with the Portex tube was 48% but 12% after insertion of laryngeal mask. 2) The average volume of air required to inflate the cuff of laryngeal mask sufficiently to form air-tight seal around larynx was 11.4+/-2.8ml and cuff pressure was 25.6+/-13.2cmH2O when the laryngeal mask 3 was used for Korean adult female.
Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Female ; Humans ; Hypopharynx ; Incidence* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laryngeal Masks* ; Larynx ; Masks ; Pathology ; Pharyngitis* ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Vocal Cords