OBJECTIVE: To determine an optimal clinical dose of ketamine after comparing the efficacy and security of 3 low dose ketamines mixed with butorphanol in the postoperative continuous intravenous analgesia. METHODS: Eighty ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) I-II patients scheduled for elective gynecological surgery under general anesthesia were divided randomly into 4 groups (n=20): Group B received butorphanol 3 microg/(kg x h);Group BK1 received butorphanol 2 microg/(kg x h) mixed with ketamine 60 microg/(kg x h); Group BK2 received butorphanol 2 microg/(kg x h) mixed with ketamine 90 microg/(kg.h); and Group BK3 received butorphanol 2 microg/(kg x h) mixed with ketamine 120 microg/(kg x h). Continuous intravenous infusion pump was used when the patients had obvious pain (visual analgesia scale of five), and the bolus infusion (4 mL) was given before the operation, and continuous infusion at 2 mL/h. In the postoperative period, pain was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) at 2,6,12,24, and 48 h.At the same time, Ramsay scores and adverse effects were recorded. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the adverse effects and the postoperative mean arterial pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate values, and pulse oxygen among the 4 groups. Postoperative VAS values in Group BK3 was the lowest, followed by Group BK2. There was no significant difference between Group BK1 and Group B. The incidence of somnolence in Group B was higher than that in Group BK1, BK2 and BK3(P<0.05). CONCLUSION Ketamine in subanaesthetic dose added to butorphanol for postoperative continuous intravenous infusion has a better postoperative analgesic effect and sedation. It can effectively spare butorphanol consumption without increasing adverse effects. The optimal combined dose is 90-120 microg/(kg x h).
Adult ; Analgesia ; methods ; Analgesics ; administration & dosage ; Butorphanol ; administration & dosage ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Ketamine ; administration & dosage ; Pain, Postoperative ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVESTo study the diagnosis and treatment for the injury of cervical disc and longitudinal ligament.

METHODSFrom 2001 to 2005, the clinical data of sixty-three patients with cervical disc and longitudinal ligament injury were studied. Early treatment was done based on spinal cord injuries and spinal stabilities by X rays and MRI. Early operation was done in fifty-four cases and early non-operation in nine cases.

RESULTSThe follow-up time was six to forty-one months in all patients. The neurological recovery was found in two of eight complete SCI post-operation, thirty-one in thirty-nine incomplete SCI. Cervical collar or plaster orthotic were used in nine cases with four to six weeks. Evidence of instability was noted in four patients, who were operated with anterior decompression fusion. Neck chronic pain was found in two patients, anterior decompression and fusion was done in one with cervical spinal cord compression.

CONCLUSIONSMRI examination is the most value measure for the diagnosis of cervical disc and longitudinal ligament injury. Early anterior decompression and fusion was an important approach for cervical disc and longitudinal ligament injury.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; injuries ; surgery ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; injuries ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spinal Injuries ; diagnosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics, surgical treatment and prognosis analysis of localized retroperitoneal Castleman disease (CD), and to improve the level of diagnosis and treatment of retroperitoneal Castleman disease with paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP).

METHODSThe clinical data of retroperitoneal CD with PNP from January 1993 to May 2009 were compared with CD without PNP retrospectively, including clinical features, tumor site, lab examination, surgical treatment, pathologic subtype and results of surgery.

RESULTS(1) Retroperitoneal Castleman disease more likely originated in para-kidney and iliac fossa with middle age of 36 years old, especially in left retroperitoneum. Of the 20 cases, 18 tumors (90%) were hyaline vascular variants and 2 were mixed variants. There was no statistical difference in gender, age, tumor site and pathological subtype between two groups. (2) Retroperitoneal CD with PNP more likely complicated with bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) and high level of serum CEA/CA242. (3) Retroperitoneal Castleman tumors had clear margin, intact envelop and were easily resectable, however the biological behavior of CD with PNP might tend malignant changing, invade adjacent blood vessel or seed locally, and eventually relapse after operation. (4) The 5-year survival rate of retroperitoneal CD with PNP was 42.8%, significantly lower than those without PNP. The average survival time was 30 months. Bronchiolitis obliterans and radical resection were the key effect in prognosis of retroperitoneal CD.

CONCLUSIONSRetroperitoneal CD with PNP has distinctive clinical features. Early diagnosis, prompt removal of tumor and termination secretion of causative antibody are critical to the management of this disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Castleman Disease ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; complications ; Pemphigus ; complications ; Prognosis ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the short-term clinical results of the adjacent segment degeneration after the implantation of Coflex system at the interspinous space of adjacent segment to lumbar fusion.

METHODSFifty patients with grade III disc (Thompson MRI classification) of adjacent segment to lumbar fusion were included and divided alternately into two groups according to the order of hospitalization from January to November 2009. Coflex system was implanted at the interspinous space of adjacent segment to lumbar fusion in 25 patients as Coflex group, the other 25 patients did not have any surgical treatment were as control group. The followed up time was 2 years. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score of low back pain, changes of disc height and motion range of adjacent segment to lumbar fusion on X-ray imaging were evaluated by independent sample t-test or paired samples t-test.

RESULTSThere were 22 patients in Coflex group and 21 patients in control group were followed up 2 years post-operation. The difference of VAS score between two groups was no significance (P > 0.05). In Coflex group, the change of postoperative disc height was no significance (P > 0.05), but the motion range was significantly reduced to 47% of the preoperative value (t = 7.99, P < 0.05). In control group, the postoperative disc height decreased slightly, without significant difference to the preoperative value (P > 0.05). Between the two groups, no differences of the disc height and motion range were found before operation, but the differences of the disc height changes (t = 6.7, P < 0.05) and motion rang (t = -14.5, P < 0.05) were significant in 2 years post-operation. No complications such as Coflex system loosen, immigration and spinal process fracture were occurred.

CONCLUSIONSCoflex system can obviously limit the motion range and maintain the disc space height of adjacent segment to lumbar fusion, and prevent its degeneration in some degree.

Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Prospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To investigate the long-term outcome of anterior decompression and bone graft fusion for cervical spondylotic myelopathy(CSM) and factors affecting the outcome. Methods: Two hundred and forty-five patients with CSM were treated with anterior cervical decompression and auto iliac bone graft fusion, of whom 31 had a second operation between 4 months and 2 years after operation. Follow-up studies were carried out within 5 to 15 years after operation, averaging 6.8 years. Results: Function evaluation: excellent in 118 cases (48.16%), good in 71 (28.98%), passable in 35 (14.29%) and poor in 21 (8.57%). According to the 40 points score method, there was an average of 8 point increase in all cases, of which 101 were between 36 to 40 points, 54 between 31 to 35 points. Conclusion: The long-term outcome of surgical treatment for CSM is definite. Significant factors affecting the outcome include timing of operation, degree of pathology and technique of surgery.

At present, the modernization of Chinese medicine preparations (CMPs) is still a challenging task. The 3 typical Chinese medicine materials (CMMs) used for preparing CMPs are the powders, extracts, and components of Chinese medicine and their properties of CMMs are important for designing CMPs. Basing on our long term research, we have established a property system for CMMs according to the state of CMMs under an exactly condition and according to the interaction characteristics between substances. The property system could be divided into 5 categories: material composition, spatial structure, body property, surface property, physicochemical properties, and they could also be divided into 18 subcategories. Furthermore, we also established the corresponding index and characterization system, where the 61 indexes and characterization techniques were systematically summarized. At last, we hope that the article will promote the modernization of CMPs.

OBJECTIVETo study the pathology characteristics and management of Hangman's fracture combined with intervertebral disc injury.

METHODSTwenty-one patients suffered from this special injury were converged in this study. All patients underwent anterior C(2 - 3) discectomy and fusion, 18 cases were fixed by anterior cervical plate. The type of fractures, radiology characteristics, and clinical outcomes were investigated.

RESULTSNo graft displacement or absorption, infection and neurologic deterioration occurred. All fresh dislocation of axis and C(2 - 3) angulation were corrected. Fusion of C(2 - 3) intervertebral space and pedicle fracture were acquired in all of the patients. After a mean follow-up of 31 months, ranging from 8 to 48 months, nearly all of the complains disappeared after operation.

CONCLUSIONSHangman's fracture is not restricted at pedicle of the axis. Fracture combined with intervertebral disc injury is a special type of Hangman's fracture. Anterior discectomy and fusion of C(2 - 3) intervertebral disc is an effective operation method in accord with the pathophysiology of this special injury.

Adult ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Diskectomy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Traction ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the results and its related factors of surgical treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

METHODSTotally 365 CSM patients were reviewed. All patients were treated with anterior cervical decompression and fusion with autogenous iliac bone or titanium mesh cages with local bone graft. Anterior locking plates were used for fixation. Five patients received revision surgery 3 to 6 months after the initial operation.

RESULTSClinical function was excellent in 175 patients (47.94%), good in 129 patients (35.34%), fair in 44 patients (12.05%), and poor in 17 patients (4.66%).

CONCLUSIONAnterior cervical decompresion of CSM has good clinical efficacy. The timing of operation, disease severity, and surgical technique are the important factors affecting the outcome of treatment.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ilium ; transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recovery of Function ; Spinal Fusion ; Spinal Osteophytosis ; complications ; surgery ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical problems about posterior atlanto-axial internal-fixation and fusion for atlanto-axial instability or dislocation.

METHODSSurgical treatments of 138 cases with atlanto-axial instability or dislocation were reviewed. There were 62 cases of odentoid malformation, 54 cases of odentoid fracture or rupture of transverse ligament, 22 cases of subluxation and rotation. All cases were treated using Gallie's technique. Six cases were also fixed with transarticular screws, and protected with Philadelphia collar. Other patients were fixed with plaster paris brackets. The followed-up period was 1 to 12 years with an average of 3 year and 5 months.

RESULTSAccording to Sumi's criteria, excellent 70 cases (50.7%), good 40 cases (29.0%), fair 15 cases (10.9%), poor 13 cases (9.4%). 9 cases with bone graft postponed fusion were cured by enhance external-fixation. 2 cases with nonunion were treated with revision surgery. Complication of cord injury happened in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONGallie's fusion technique is an effective method to manage the atlanto-axial instability or dislocation. Skull distraction before operation and reliable external-fixation post operative are important assistant measures. Key points for successful operation are careful wiring or cable traversing, decortication of posterior arc of C1, and maintaining the physiological height between C1 and C2 posterior arc. Indications and objectives should be conformed before revision surgery for failure cases.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Atlanto-Axial Joint ; surgery ; Bone Transplantation ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; surgery ; Joint Instability ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; adverse effects ; methods ; Transplantation, Autologous