Background: Residual neuromuscular blockade (RNMB) is a frequent event after general anesthesia, which can lead to serious complications, such as upper airway obstruction. Sugammadex is useful in reversing RNMB. However, its use in infants has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Therefore, anesthesiologists can be hesitant use it, even in situations where no other choice is available.Case: A two-month-old baby presented to the hospital for umbilical polypectomy. At the end of the surgery, neostigmine was administered. Even after waiting for 30 min and injecting an additional dose of neostigmine, neuromuscular blockade was not adequately reversed. Eventually, sugammadex was administered, and spontaneous breathing returned. Conclusions If there were no particular causes of delayed return to spontaneous breathing in infants, RNMB should be considered and reversal with sugammadex would be useful.

Background: Perioperative patients are potentially at risk for pressure injuries due to anesthetic agents and surgical positioning. Pressure injury increases discomfort and pain in patients and causes complications, which lead to an increase in mortality and hospitalization duration. Most previous studies did not focus on specific types of surgery or surgical positioning. We tried to identify the incidence of perioperative pressure injury during spinal surgery and perioperative risk factors that contribute to pressure injury. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed electronic medical records of 663 patients who underwent spinal surgery between March 2016 and May 2018. The primary outcome was occurrence of pressure injury. Potential risk factors of pressure injury were selected based on previous studies and expert opinion, and divided into two sub-categories: preoperative and intraoperative risk factors. We compared the clinical characteristics of patients in the pressure injury and non-injury groups. Perioperative risk factors for pressure injury were analyzed by logistic regression. Results: Among 663 patients, the incidence of all stages of pressure injury was 5.9%. The face and inguinal regions were the most injured sites (both 28.6%). The pressure injury group showed a 13% longer hospitalization period. Preoperative plasma concentration of protein was associated with 0.5-fold lower pressure injury (OR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.27 to 0.95; P = 0.034). Conclusions The incidence of pressure injury was similar to that previously reported and occurred in the direct weight-bearing areas, which led to longer hospitalization. We found that a lower preoperative serum protein level is significantly associated with intraoperative pressure injury occurrence during spinal surgery.

Background: Prolotherapy, which stimulates the healing of loosened ligaments and tendons, is a cost-effective and safe treatment modality for chronic musculoskeletal pain. Its benefits may be affected by injection protocols, comparative regimens, and evaluation scales. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of dextrose prolotherapy as a long-term treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain. Methods: Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central, KoreaMed, and KMbase databases were searched for studies published up to March 2019. We included randomized controlled trials which compared the effect of dextrose prolotherapy with that of other therapies such as exercise, saline, platelet-rich plasma, and steroid injection. The primary outcome was pain score change during daily life. Results: Ten studies involving 750 participants were included in the final analysis. Pain scores from 6 months to 1 year after dextrose prolotherapy were significantly reduced compared to saline injection (standardized mean difference [SMD] –0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] –0.76 to –0.11, P = 0.008) and exercise (SMD –0.42; 95% CI –0.77 to –0.07, P = 0.02). Prolotherapy yielded results similar to platelet-rich plasma or steroid injection, that it showed no significant difference in pain score. Conclusions Dextrose prolotherapy is more effective in the treatment of chronic pain compared to saline injection or exercise. Its effect was comparable to that of platelet-rich plasma or steroid injection. Adequately powered, homogeneous, and longer-term trials are needed to better elucidate the efficacy of prolotherapy.

Congenital defects of the pericardium, which are generally asymptomatic, are rare disorders characterized by complete or partial absence of the pericardium. Here, we report a rare case of a 19-year-old male who was incidentally diagnosed with congenital absence of the left pericardium during examination for symptoms of pneumothorax. Chest radiography and CT revealed a collapsed left lung without any evidence of trauma, no unusual findings of free air spaces along the right side of the ascending aorta, heart shifted toward the left side of the thorax, and a shallow chest. Subsequent thoracoscopy confirmed the absence of the left pericardium and displacement of the heart toward the left thoracic cavity. We further discuss the correlation between radiologic images and surgical findings of a congenital pericardial defect associated with spontaneous pneumothorax.

General medical journals such as the Korean Journal of Anesthesiology (KJA) receive numerous manuscripts every year. However, reviewers have noticed that the tables presented in various manuscripts have great diversity in their appearance, resulting in difficulties in the review and publication process. It might be due to the lack of clear written instructions regarding reporting of statistical results for authors. Therefore, the present article aims to briefly outline reporting methods for several table types, which are commonly used to present statistical results. We hope this article will serve as a guideline for reviewers as well as for authors, who wish to submit a manuscript to the KJA.

Background: Ibuprofen, a well-known analgesic, is commonly used as a component of a multimodal analgesic approach for postoperative pain. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate whether a single-dose preoperative intravenous ibuprofen can reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant studies published up to May 2020. Randomized controlled trials comparing preoperative single-dose intravenous ibuprofen effect with the control group on postoperative pain and opioid consumption after surgery under general anesthesia were included. Results: Six studies involving 366 participants were included. Single-dose administration of intravenous ibuprofen preoperatively significantly reduced postoperative pain score on a scale of 0-10 at 1 h (MD: -1.64, 95% CI [-2.56, -0.72], P < 0.001, I2 = 95%), at 4-6 h (MD: -1.17, 95% CI [-2.09, -0.26], P < 0.001, I2 = 94%), and 24 h (MD: -0.58, 95% CI [-0.99, -0.18], P < 0.001, I2 = 90%). Cumulative opioid consumption, presented as fentanyl equivalents, was also reduced significantly in the ibuprofen group compared to placebo group until postoperative 4-6 h (MD: -56.35 μg, 95% CI [-101.10, -11.60], P < 0.001, I2 = 91%) and 24 h (MD: -131.39 μg, 95% CI [-224.56, -38.21], P < 0.001, I2 = 95%). Conclusions Preoperative single-dose intravenous ibuprofen can reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption until 24 h postoperatively. Considering the high heterogeneity and small number of studies included, care should be taken when generalizing these findings.

General medical journals such as the Korean Journal of Anesthesiology (KJA) receive numerous manuscripts every year. However, reviewers have noticed that the tables presented in various manuscripts have great diversity in their appearance, resulting in difficulties in the review and publication process. It might be due to the lack of clear written instructions regarding reporting of statistical results for authors. Therefore, the present article aims to briefly outline reporting methods for several table types, which are commonly used to present statistical results. We hope this article will serve as a guideline for reviewers as well as for authors, who wish to submit a manuscript to the KJA.

Background: Ibuprofen, a well-known analgesic, is commonly used as a component of a multimodal analgesic approach for postoperative pain. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate whether a single-dose preoperative intravenous ibuprofen can reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant studies published up to May 2020. Randomized controlled trials comparing preoperative single-dose intravenous ibuprofen effect with the control group on postoperative pain and opioid consumption after surgery under general anesthesia were included. Results: Six studies involving 366 participants were included. Single-dose administration of intravenous ibuprofen preoperatively significantly reduced postoperative pain score on a scale of 0-10 at 1 h (MD: -1.64, 95% CI [-2.56, -0.72], P < 0.001, I2 = 95%), at 4-6 h (MD: -1.17, 95% CI [-2.09, -0.26], P < 0.001, I2 = 94%), and 24 h (MD: -0.58, 95% CI [-0.99, -0.18], P < 0.001, I2 = 90%). Cumulative opioid consumption, presented as fentanyl equivalents, was also reduced significantly in the ibuprofen group compared to placebo group until postoperative 4-6 h (MD: -56.35 μg, 95% CI [-101.10, -11.60], P < 0.001, I2 = 91%) and 24 h (MD: -131.39 μg, 95% CI [-224.56, -38.21], P < 0.001, I2 = 95%). Conclusions Preoperative single-dose intravenous ibuprofen can reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption until 24 h postoperatively. Considering the high heterogeneity and small number of studies included, care should be taken when generalizing these findings.