Primary spinal glioblastoma multiforme is very rare, especially in childhood. 13-year-old boy was admitted to our neurosurgical department because of paraparesis, sensory loss below T10 and sphincter disturbance. Thoracic myelogram showed complete obstruction at T10 level and total laminectomy with partial removal of the intramedullary cord tumor mass was performed under the impression of spinal cord tumor. Postoperatively, his symptoms and signs unchanged. Pathological diagnosis was intramedullary glioblastoma multiforme involving thoracic cord.
Adolescent ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Glioblastoma* ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Male ; Paraparesis ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms

BACKGOUND: Succinylcholine (SCC) injection may be associated with adverse effects including elevated serum potassium (K ) and creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) level, and postoperative myalgia. Many studies have been made to prevent these adverse effects such as pretreatment with non-depolarizing muscle relaxants. The effects of the pretreatment with vecuronium or mivacurium, a new non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocker, on SCC-induced fasciculation, serum K and CPK level was investigated in this study. METHODS: ASA physical status I or II, 40 patients were allocated randomly into 4 groups. Group I as a control group received SCC 1 mg/kg only, while the other groups were pretreated with vecuronium 0.02 mg/kg (0.4 x ED95) (group II), mivacurium 0.02 mg/kg (0.25 x ED95) (group III) and 0.03 mg/kg (0.4 x ED95) (group IV) before the SCC 1.5 mg/kg injection, respectively. Serum K concentration was measured just before anesthetic induction and 5 minute after SCC injection, and serum CPK was estimated before induction and at 24~36 hours postoperatively. And the fasciculation after SCC injection was graded by Cullen's suggestion. RESULTS: Serum K concentration was increased in group I and decreased in pretreated groups, but the difference was not significant within each group and between the groups. Serum CPK level was increased in group I, II and IV but these changes were also insignificant between all groups. The grade of SCC-induced fasciculation was attenuated in group II and IV (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Like vecuronium, mivacurium 0.03 mg/kg is effective to reduce fasciculation after SCC injection, but 0.02 mg/kg is not. However, any complication does not occur in the two dosages.
Creatinine ; Fasciculation* ; Humans ; Myalgia ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents ; Potassium ; Succinylcholine ; Vecuronium Bromide

We experienced difficulty in ventilating the lungs of a patient after tracheal intubation. After intubation, an insufficient amount of tidal volume (VT) was delivered to the patient and the fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination identified partial abutment of the endotracheal tube (ETT) orifice against the tracheal wall. After various attempts to correctly place the ETT, a double-lumen endotracheal tube was placed to achieve a sufficient VT. It is important to notice that even an appropriately placed ETT may get obstructed due to the left sided bevel at its tip.
Airway Obstruction ; Bronchoscopy ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Intubation ; Lung ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Tidal Volume

BACKGROUND: Shivering is a frequent event during the perioperative period. We performed a prospective, randomized, double-blind study to determine whether intrathecal meperidine (0.2 mg/kg) decreases the incidence and intensity of shivering after spinal anesthesia for transurethral operations. METHODS: Fifty patients scheduled for elective transurethral resection operations under spinal anesthesia were randomly allocated to two groups. Spinal anesthesia consisted of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 8 mg and, mperidine (0.2 mg/kg) (meperidine group) or, normal saline (saline group). Data collection, including sensory block level (by pinprick), blood pressure, heart rate, sublingual temperature, incidence and intensity of shivering, pruritus, nausea, and vomiting was performed at 10 minute intervals. RESULTS: The incidence and intensity of shivering was significantly less in the meperidine group than saline group (P = 0.012 and P = 0.008, for incidence and intensity, respectively). However, pruritus was more common in the meperidine group compared with the saline group (16% vs. 0%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of meperidine 0.2 mg/kg to intrathecal bupivacaine lowers the incidence and severity of shivering during transurethral prostatectomy in elderly patients.
Aged ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Blood Pressure ; Bupivacaine ; Data Collection ; Double-Blind Method ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Incidence ; Meperidine ; Nausea ; Perioperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Pruritus ; Shivering ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVE: We report a retrospective investigation of the prognostic value of bcl-2 and bax expression, and Ki-67 proliferative index in 42 astrocytic tumors. METHODS: We classified the astrocytic tumors and reviewed the clinical information and survival time. The sections were taken from surgically resected paraffin-embedded tissue and performed immunohistochemical stains for bcl-2, bax and Ki-67. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical stain for bcl-2 revealed a positivity in only two(4.76%) among forty-two cases. The immunostain for bax was positive in 35 cases(83.3%). However, the correlation between bcl-2 & bax expression and age, sex, tumor location, size, and histologic grade was not found. By Kaplan-Meier analysis, bcl-2 & bax expression and survival time in astrocytic tumors was no significance in log rank test(p>0.05). There were prognostic values between Ki-67 LI and histologic grade and between Ki-67 LI and survival time, respectively(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Bcl-2 and bax are not significant, whereas Ki-67 LI is suggested as a significant prognostic factor, associated with histologic grade and survival time of astrocytic tumors.
Coloring Agents ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammatory response after open heart surgery has an adverse effect on the postoperative course of patient, and results from the release of cytokines by leukocytes activated by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). TNF-alpha has an important role in inflammatory response-it has clinical effects such as fever, tachycardia, and hypotension, and also induces other cytokines. However studies about the change of blood concentration of TNF-alpha after CPB show differing results, and so have been up to now inconclusive, we have therefore endeavored to investigate the change of TNF-alpha level after CPB and its relationship with the postoperative course of patients. METHODS: We studied 20 children undergoing open heart surgery. Serum TNF-alpha was detected after induction (control), 5 minutes after onset of CPB (T1), 5 minutes after release of aortic cross clamp (T2), and 30 minutes after CPB (T3) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We compared the concentration of TNF-alpha and the duration that patients stayed in intensive care unit (ICU) and were supported by mechanical ventilator in group I (CPB time 60 minutes, n = 10). RESULTS: TNF-alpha levels of S2 and S3 were significantly lower than those of S1 and S4 (P = 0.001), but no difference was detected between group I and II. No statistical relationship was found linking TNF-alpha levels with the duration in ICU, or time supported by mechanical ventilator. Three children with postoperative complications showed higher level of TNF-alpha than others (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that TNF-alpha levels decreased during CPB, did not increased after CPB, and had no relationship to such postoperative courses as postoperative ICU time and intubation time, but there was a correlation with postoperative complications.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Child ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Intensive Care Units ; Intubation ; Leukocytes ; Postoperative Complications ; Tachycardia ; Thoracic Surgery ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha* ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: A decreased lumbosacral subarachnoidal space volume is a major factor in the cephalad intrathecal spread of local anesthetics in term parturients and their subarachnoidal space is decreased due to the compressive effect of huge uteri. Therefore, they show a higher level of sensory block and hypotensive episodes. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the symphysis-fundal height (SFH) correlates with the highest sensory level and the amount of ephedrine administered under spinal anesthesia. METHODS: Fifty-two uncomplicated parturients who consented to spinal anesthesia for elective cesarean section were studied. The SFH of all parturients had been measured just before the spinal anesthesia administered by one person. Hyperbaric bupivacaine with fentanyl 20 microgram, was administered for spinal anesthesia. The amount of 0.5% bupivacaine was adjusted according to the patient's height and weight. The level of sensory block and the amounts of ephedrine to treat hypotension, nausea and vomiting were assessed. Linear regression and correlation analysis were applied to analyze the data. RESULTS: According to the results of correlation analysis, there was no significant correlation between the level of sensory block and SFH. There were statistically significant positive correlations between the amount of ephedrine administered due to hypotension and SFH. CONCLUSIONS: In term parturients choosing elective cesarean section, the SFH is not correlated with the sensory level of spinal anesthesia, but is correlated with the amount of ephedrine administered during spinal anesthesia.
Anesthesia, Spinal ; Anesthetics, Local ; Bupivacaine ; Cesarean Section ; Ephedrine ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Linear Models ; Nausea ; Pregnancy ; Uterus ; Vomiting

Meralgia paresthetica is commonly caused by a focal entrapment of lateral femoral cuteneous nerve while it passes the inguinal ligament. Common symptoms are paresthesias and numbness of the upper lateral thigh area. Pregnancy, tight cloths, obesity, position of surgery and the tumor in the retroperitoneal space could be causes of meralgia paresthetica. A 29-year-old female patient underwent an emergency cesarean section under spinal anesthesia without any problems. But two days after surgery, the patient complained numbness and paresthesia in anterolateral thigh area. Various neurological examinations and L-spine MRI images were all normal, but the symptoms persisted for a few days. Then, electromyogram and nerve conduction velocity test of the trunk and both legs were performed. Test results showed left lateral cutaneous nerve injury and meralgia paresthetica was diagnosed. Conservative treatment was implemented and the patient was free of symptoms after 1 month follow-up.
Adult ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Cesarean Section ; Emergencies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Leg ; Ligaments ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Neural Conduction ; Neurologic Examination ; Obesity ; Paresthesia ; Pregnancy ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Thigh

Eisenmenger's syndrome describes the elevation of pulmonary arterial (PA) pressure to the systemic level caused by an increased pulmonary vascular resistance with reversed or bi-directional shunt through an intracardiac or aortopulmonary communication. We report a case of an emergent craniotomy for cerebellar abscess in a 21-year-old male patient with Eisenmenger syndrome secondary to Large VSD. A PA catheter was inserted via right femoral vein, but could not be advanced pass the pulmonic valve. After futile attempts to place the catheter tip in the right ventricle. Anesthesia was induced with etomidate, rocuronium, midazolam and fentanyl and maintained with only high dose fentanyl. Milinone and norepinephrine were infused continuously to decrease right to left shunt. He was transferred to the intensive care unit under intubated state and treated with antibiotics for a few days due to intermittent high fever. The operation ended without major complications and the patient was discharged 42 days later.
Abscess ; Androstanols ; Anesthesia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheters ; Craniotomy ; Eisenmenger Complex ; Etomidate ; Femoral Vein ; Fentanyl ; Fever ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Midazolam ; Milrinone ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Norepinephrine ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Vascular Resistance ; Young Adult

Intraarticular administration of morphine has good analgesic effect and satisfactory duration. It also shows less adverse effect of morphine than subarachnoid or epidural administration. However, high dose of morphine can cause long lasting respiratory depression. Although naloxone is effective in treatment of adverse effects of morphine, it has short duration of action. So repeating intravenous injections or continuous administration following bolus injection are recommended. We experienced a case of low dose continuous naloxone infusion for treatment of respiratory depression caused by iatraarticular morphine administration in total knee replacement surgery patient without affecting analgesic effect.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee* ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Morphine* ; Naloxone ; Respiratory Insufficiency*