BACKGROUND: The dose-responses of neuromuscular blocking agents may be influenced by many factors including age and inhalation anesthetics. This study was designed to determine the dose-response relationships of a new, short-acting muscle relaxant, mivacurium during nitrous oxide-halothane or nitrous oxide-enflurane anesthesia in two age groups, infants and 1 to 6 years old preschool children. METHODS: Neuromuscular blockade was monitored by recording the accelerographic activity of the adductor pollicis muscle resulting from supramaximal stimulation at the ulnar nerve at 2 Hz for 2 seconds at 10-second intervals. To estimate dose-response relationships, 24 infants or children of two anesthetic subgroups for each age group received single bolus doses of 45~100 g/kg of mivacurium. The ED50 and ED95 were estimated from linear regression plots of log-dose vs probit of twitch depression. The lag time, onset time and maximal depression of twitch height for the selective medium dose were mesured. RESULTS: The ED50 and ED95 for the infants group were 38.2 and 53.3 g/kg during halothane anesthesia, and 29.8 and 48.6 g/kg during enflurane anesthesia, respectively. And, those for preschool children group were 49.4 and 90.7 g/kg during halothane anesthesia, and 32.3 and 81.4 g/kg during enflurane anesthesia, respectively. There was a parallelism of the dose-response curve between halothane and enflurane anesthesia in either age group. Also, there was statistically significant difference in the maximal twitch depression for the selective medium dose of mivacurium between halothane and enflurane anesthesia in either group. CONCLUSIONS: The potency of mivacurium during enflurane anesthesia is higher than that during halothane anesthesia in infants and preschool children, and during either inhalation anesthesia the dose of mivacurium is less required in infants than preschool children.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, Inhalation ; Anesthetics, Inhalation ; Child ; Child, Preschool* ; Depression ; Enflurane* ; Halothane* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Linear Models ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents ; Ulnar Nerve

A variety of therapeutic options are available for managing arteriovenous malformations(AVM's) including microsurgical resection, embolization, stereotactic radiosurgery or a combination of these treatments. The primary advantages of neurosurgical resection include immediate and almost certain cure, immediate elimination of the risk of hemorrhage, and the absence of longterm delayed complications. Surgery, however, is more invasive than other therapeutic options and is associated with the potential for perioperative morbidity or mortality. A series of 42 patients undergoing microsurgical resection of AVM's of the brain between January 1990 and March 1998 were analyzed for complications and postoperative outcomes. Twelve patients(28.6%) had complications. There were 5 deaths(11.9%) which were thought to be caused by increased intracranial pressure(3 cases), venous infarction(1 case) and postoperative hemorrhage(1 case). Other nonfatal complications were 3 cases of motor weakness, a case of visual field defect following occipital lobe retraction, a case of dilated cardiomyopathy in children and two cases of new onset of seizures. All cases were graded according to the Spetzler-Martin classification. There were six cases of complications in 22 patients with Grade I AVM'(22.7%), three cases of complications in 10 patients with Grade II AVM'(30.0%), one case of complications in 7 patients with Grade III AVM'(14.2%), no complications in 1 patient with Grade IV AVM', and two cases of complications in 2 patients with Grade V AVM'(100%). The various components of the AVM' grading system were analyzed for the ability to predict complications, but there was no statistical significance in this study. The preoperative Glasgow coma scale accurately correlated with the incidence of postoperative complications(p=0.004).
Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Brain* ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Child ; Classification ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Microsurgery ; Mortality ; Occipital Lobe ; Radiosurgery ; Seizures ; Visual Fields

BACKGROUND: Flow interruption technique has been used to measure respiratory system mechanics, and its prominent advantage is to partitionate the respiratory system resistance into airway and tissue component. In this study, we investigated the effects of varing concentrations of enflurane on respiratory system mechanics using flow interruption technique. METHODS: Six cats, weighing 3.0~3.6 kg were used. Pentobarbital sodium was injected intraperitonially and endotracheal intubation was followed. Intermittent mandatory ventilation was applied with Siemens Servo 900C ventilator. The inspiratory flow rate, tidal volume, and respiratory rate were fixed, and normocarbia (PaCO2; 30~35 mmHg) was maintained throughout the experiment. The changes in the pressure and volume were recorded with Bicore CP100 pulmonary monitor at control, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 MAC of enflurane. The data were transfered to a PC and analyzed by Anadat processing software. Respiratory system, airway and tissue viscoelastic resistances, and dynamic and static compliances were calculated. RESULTS: Respiratory system resistances decreased up to 1 MAC of enflurane compared to the control value (p<0.05), but there were no significant differences in the values of resistance among 1, 1.5, 2 MAC of enflurane. There were no significant differences in tissue viscoelastic resistances, and dynamic and static compliances with varying concentrations of enflurane. CONCLUSIONS: Enflurane significantly reduces the respiratory system resistance mainly by decreasing airway resistance. Tissue viscoelastic resistance and respiratory system compliances are not influenced by changes in concentration of enflurane.
Airway Resistance ; Animals ; Cats* ; Enflurane* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Mechanics* ; Pentobarbital ; Respiratory Rate ; Respiratory System* ; Tidal Volume ; Ventilation ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: The effect of arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) during ischemia and reperfusion has been a controversial issue. In this study, the effect of PaCO2 during ischemia and reperfusion was evaluated by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). METHODS: Incomplete global cerebral ischemia was induced by ligation of carotid artery under lowered mean blood pressure (mean blood pressure= 40 mmHg) for 30 minutes followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. Eighteen cats were divided into 3 groups: For group 1 (n=6) (control group), animals were subjected to normocarbia (PaCO2=28~33 mmHg) during ischemia and reperfusion, for group 2 (n=6), animals were subjected to hypocarbia (PaCO2=18~23 mmHg) during ischemia and reperfusion, and for group 3 (n=6), animals were subjected to normocarbia during ischemia and hypocarbia during reperfusion. RESULTS: For group 1, the energy metabolism measured by [PCr/Pi] was recovered about 74.7 6.4%. For group 2, the energy metabolism failed to be completely recovered by 120 minutes of reperfusion (69.3 7.3%), whereas for group 3, the energy matabolism was completely recovered by 120 minutes of reperfusion (97.6 2.4%). There were statistically significant differences between group 1 and group 3 (p<0.05). The changes in pH were not significantly different among the groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, a condition of hypocarbia during reperfusion seems better for the energy metabolism after incomplete global ischemia of cats.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Brain Ischemia ; Brain* ; Carbon Dioxide ; Carotid Arteries ; Cats* ; Energy Metabolism* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ischemia ; Ligation ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Reperfusion

OBJECTIVE: The Adolescent Dissociative Experience Scale (A-DES) is a screening measure for dissociative experience in adolescents. The present study aimed to investigate the reliability, validity and psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Adolescent Dissociative Experience Scale. METHODS: The Korean version of the A-DES was administered to a normative group of 371 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years and a traumatized group of 33 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years with known trauma. RESULTS: The internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's alpha=0.91) and the test-retest correlation of the A-DES was high (r=0.99). Correlation between the A-DES and other measures of dissociation was moderate (r=0.48). There were no significant age differences in mean total A-DES scores for the normative sample, or for boys or girls separately. Nor were there any significant gender differences for any age group. The mean total score of the A-DES was significantly higher in the traumatized group than in the normative group. There was a statistically significant difference between adolescents with self-reported trauma and those without a trauma history in the normative group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the Korean version of the A-DES is a reliable measure with excellent internal consistency and good stability over a 4-week test-retest interval with single factor structure. It can be used to screen for dissociative symptoms in Korean adolescents between the ages 12 and 18.
Adolescent ; Aged ; Dissociative Disorders ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Psychometrics

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to compare executive functions in patients with Organic Brain Syndrome(OBS), Schizophrenia, Depression and normal control group with Wisconsin Card Sorting Test Computer Version (WCST). METHODS: WCST was administered to 82 normal adults, 32 OBS patients, 29 schizophrenic patients, and 22 depressive patients. WCST 16 indices in four groups were compared, using ANOVA and posthoc comparison. WCST performance was examined by factor analysis on the 15 indices of WCST on total subjects and the factor scores were compared. RESULT: WCST 16 indices in mental disorders (OBS, Schizophrenia, Depression) were lower than those of control groups. Three factors were derived from the analysis. These consisted of 'perseveration', 'nonperseverative error' and 'inefficient sorting'. Comparing factor scores, differences in 'perseverative error' factor and 'inefficient sorting' factor were found. CONCLUSION: The impairment of higher cognitive functions, especially executive function impairment in OBS and schizophrenia, was qualitatively different from those of depression and normal control groups. WCST can differentiate specific pattern of executive function impairment in mental disorders.
Adult ; Brain ; Depression ; Executive Function* ; Humans ; Mental Disorders ; Schizophrenia ; Wisconsin*

Fentanyl is a potent, synthetic opioid analgesic with a rapid onset and short duration of action. Recently, there have been many case reports that overuse or misuse of fentanyl patch resulted in fatal intoxication. Delayed hypoxic leukoencephalopathy typically manifests 2 to 40 days after apparent recovery from hypoxic event, and patients suffer from cognitive impairment, upper motor neuron signs, gait disturbance, or psychosis. We report first case of delayed encephalopathy with psychotic symptoms after overuse of fentanyl patch. Patient was found to have respiratory failure and mental change due to transdermal fentanyl overdose. She made a complete recovery in 2 weeks. After 4 weeks of the event, she readmitted with declining mental status. At 30 weeks after overdose, she complained of auditory and visual hallucination and showed paranoid delusion and odd behavior. Since admission into psychiatric unit, her psychotic symptoms have improved with antipsychotics. In conclusion, fentanyl patch should be used in order to prevent psychotic symptoms as well as medical complications.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Delusions ; Fentanyl* ; Gait ; Hallucinations ; Humans ; Leukoencephalopathies ; Motor Neurons ; Psychotic Disorders* ; Respiratory Insufficiency

STUDY DESIGN: Case report OBJECTIVES: To report a case of sacral stress fracture that developed after lumbosacral fusion. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Sacral stress fractures rarely develop after lumbosacral fusion, and osteoporosis, female sex, being over 60 years old, and long segment fusion are known risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 66-year-old woman with spondylolisthesis at L5 on S1 underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion and posterior instrumentation. A sacral stress fracture was found 4 weeks after the first operation, and we performed posterior reduction and posterior instrumentation with S2 alar screws. RESULTS: The patient was free from symptoms and no further displacement was found at 3 months after the last operation. CONCLUSIONS: Sacral stress fracture after lumbosacral fusion can be treated with posterior reduction and posterior instrumentation with S2 alar screws.
Aged ; Female ; Fractures, Stress ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Risk Factors ; Sacrum ; Spondylolisthesis

OBJECTIVES: To report a case of sacral stress fracture that developed after lumbosacral fusion.SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Sacral stress fractures rarely develop after lumbosacral fusion, and osteoporosis, female sex, being over 60 years old, and long segment fusion are known risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 66-year-old woman with spondylolisthesis at L5 on S1 underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion and posterior instrumentation. A sacral stress fracture was found 4 weeks after the first operation, and we performed posterior reduction and posterior instrumentation with S2 alar screws. RESULTS: The patient was free from symptoms and no further displacement was found at 3 months after the last operation. CONCLUSIONS Sacral stress fracture after lumbosacral fusion can be treated with posterior reduction and posterior instrumentation with S2 alar screws.

No abstract available.
Listeria* ; Meningitis, Listeria* ; Transplantation*