BACKGROUND: Combined spinal epidural anesthesia (CSE) often produces a more extensive spinal block than expected. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of CSE on subarachnoid block in patients undergoing lower extremity surgery. METHODS: Thirty-three patients who undergone lower extremity surgeries were randomly allocated to three groups of 11 patients each. Using needle through needle technique, all patients received a subarachnoid injection of hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine 1.6~2.0 ml through a 25G Whitacre spinal needle. Group 1 received no extradural injection for 25min, but group 2 and 3 received extradural saline 10 ml and bupivacaine 10 ml 5min after the subarachnoid injection, respectively. Levels of sensory and motor block were assessed at 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, and 25 min after subarachnoid injection. RESULTS: The median values of maximum sensory block level were T7 in all groups. Levels of sensory blockade and the time to onset of maximum sensory blockade were similar among the three groups. There was no significant difference in the degree of motor block among three groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that extradural saline 10 ml or 0.5% bupivacaine 10 ml which injected 5min after subarachnoid injection does not significantly influence the level of subarachnoid block in lower extremity surgical patients. However, further study is required to declare the safety or optimal dose of extradural injection during CSE.
Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Bupivacaine ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Lower Extremity* ; Needles

No abstract available.
Lymphocytes* ; Macrophages* ; Nitric Oxide*

To find out the differences between periodontal ligament cells (PDL cells) and gingival fibroblast cells (GFB cells), alkaline phosphatase, a marker enzyme for osteoblast, was used to measure the activities and 45CaCl2 isotope was used to find out cellular and release of 45Ca, a requisite for bone formation,. PDL cells and GFB cells from 1 to 5 passages were also measured in alkaline phosphatase activity assay. By the use of above methods, followings were concluded that the PDL cells and the GFB cells have characteristics that are different from each other. In that PDL cells showed large amount of calcium uptake and large amount of calcium release in initial stage, they seem to possess characteristics which are similar to osteoblast-like cells. 1. The PDL cells, in contrast to the gingival fibroblast, showed exceedingly high alkaline phosphatase activity which was highest at the second passage, decreasing thereon. But gingival fibroblasts cells showed no distinct differences in alkaline phosphatase activity as the passage were elapsed. 2. For both PDL cells and GF cells, the 45Ca uptake was greatest at 2 hours period. The PDL cells showed higher measuring than GFB cells through out the whole time period. 3. Whereas the GFB cells showed slow increase of 45Ca release as time relapsed, the PDL cells showed rapid increase of 45Ca release.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Calcium ; Fibroblasts ; Humans* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Periodontal Ligament*

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a rare but devasting obstetric emergency. We experienced a case of AFE during dilatation and curettage (D & C) in a 15 2/7 weeks pregnant woman, age 30, who was diagnosed as having a missed abortion. Sudden rapid hypoxemia, low SpO2, hypotension, low PETCO2, high CVP, and tachycardia, right axis deviation and right bundle branch block in 12 leads ECG were developed during D &C under general anesthesia, and signs of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) followed after the operation, which are consistent with the findings of AFE. Even though there was no definite pathologic and radiologic confirmation of AFE, laboratory findings showed 100 times higher level of alpha-fetoprotein in her central venous blood than same weeks of missed abortion woman's blood. Though it is rare, the anesthesiologist should always suspect the possibility of AFE, when the patient shows an unexplained collapse, cyanosis, low PETCO2, high CVP, low SpO2, ECG change and DIC during any kind of obstetric procedure.
Abortion, Missed ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Amniotic Fluid* ; Anesthesia, General ; Anoxia ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Cyanosis ; Dacarbazine ; Dilatation and Curettage* ; Dilatation* ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Electrocardiography ; Embolism, Amniotic Fluid* ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnant Women ; Tachycardia

Subcutaneous emphysema is one of the rare complication of tracheal intubation and it's mechanism has been known as airleakage to subcutaneous tissue from the perforated site of larynx, trachea and esophagus by the trauma of laryngoscopic blade, stylet and endotracheal tube. We experienced a case of subcutaneous emphysema during unexpected difficult endotracheal intubation. At the initial laparoscopic examination, the patient's laryngeal view was grade IV of Cormack and Lehane's calssification. After several trial of the intubation, cervical subcutaneous emphysema developed by the trauma of laryngoscopic blade, stylet and endotracheal tube, even though failed to confirm the perforated site at postanesthesia one day.
Esophagus ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Larynx ; Subcutaneous Emphysema* ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Trachea

Crohn's disease can cause intestinal strictures, perforations, fistulas, or abscesses. Although fistulas and abscesses are common complications of Crohn's disease, a presacral abscess with neuromuscular complications is very unusual. A delayed diagnosis and treatment may increase morbidity. The diagnosis is frequently delayed, because the clinical features of presacral abscess are variable and nonspecific. We experienced a case of a presacral abscess with bilateral sciatica in a 25-year-old male patient. He was diagnosed with Crohn's disease of the terminal ileum 2 months previously and has been managed with mesalazine. He visited our hospital due to pain in the buttocks and severe neuralgia in both thighs. We confirmed enteric fistulas, resulting in a presacral abscess, which extended symmetrically through both sciatic notches and the gluteus medius muscles. He was managed with antibiotics after a small bowel segmentectomy, right hemicolectomy, fistulectomy, and surgical drainage. The bilateral radicular pain resolved completely within 2 weeks of surgery. The patient has remained in remission and asymptomatic 1 year after surgery.
Abscess ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Buttocks ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Crohn Disease ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Fistula ; Humans ; Ileum ; Male ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Mesalamine ; Muscles ; Neuralgia ; Sciatica ; Thigh

Unidirectional valve (UDV) malfunction causes rebreathing of expired gas during anesthesia. However, the resultant hypercarbia without hypoxemia by UDV malfunction is not easily detected. We experienced a case of severe hypercarbia which caused by sticking expiratory valve at 45 minutes after the induction of anesthesia, in spite of checking UDV function preoperatively. In this case, expiratory UDV malfunction was diagnosed with the change of capnographic waveform. And so, we recommend monitoring of capnographic waveform during every anesthesia, in addition to preoperative UDV checking.
Anesthesia ; Anoxia

The incidence of phrenic nerve block following brachial plexus block, performed above clavicle, have varied widely. However, respiratory difficulty due to unilateral phrenic nerve block is rare complication of brachial plexus blocks, We experienced a case of symptomatic unilateral phrenic nerve block after supraclavicular approsch in thirty-four-year old woman. For brachial plexus block, 30 ml of 1.5% lidocaine and 0.2 mg of epinephrine were injected. Twenty five minutes after injection, she complained of respiratory difficulty. At recovery room, she complained sharp chest pain at apex of heart and epigastrium. We diagnosed her case as right phrenic nerve block because her right diaphragm was normal contour but was markedly displaced upward in portable chest X-ray. Respiratory difficulty was recovered 5 hours after injection and her chest pain was recovered 9 hours after injection.
Brachial Plexus* ; Chest Pain ; Clavicle ; Diaphragm ; Epinephrine ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lidocaine ; Phrenic Nerve* ; Recovery Room ; Thorax

Several studies have indicated that the addition of sodium bicarbonate and opioid to soiutions of locl anesthetics shortens the onset time,increases the intensity and prolongs the duration of neural blockade. This study was performed to compare onset times and duration of neural blockade in each groups. Eighty-two parturients scheduled for cesarean section at term under epidural anesthesia were assigned to three groups. Group 1 (n=19) received 1.5% lidocaine hydrochloride (pH 6.32+/-0.01), group 2 (n=26) received 1.5% lidocaine hydrochloride plus fentanyl 50 mcg (pH 6.27+/-0.02) and group 3 (n=37) received l.5% lidocaine hydrochloride plus fentanyl 50 mcg plus 8.4% sodium bicarbonate (sodium bicarbonate l mEq/lidocaine 10 ml)(pH 7.32+/-0.03). All groups were given 22-28 ml of local anesthetic solutions according to their height. Onsei times and duration of sensory blockade were evaluated using pin prick test at two minutes interval after epidural injection at L2, 76, T4 dermatomes. Onset timcs (time between the completion of anesthetic injection and loss of pin prick sensation at each dermatome) of sensory blockade at L2 dermatome were 3.1+/-0.2 minutes in Group 3, which were shorter than 5.0+/-0.3 minutes in Group l and 4.7+/-0.4 minutes in Group 2 (p<0.05). At T6 dermatome, onset times of sensory blockade were 6.9+/-0.6 minutes in Group 3, which were shorter than 15.4+/-1.2 minutes in Group l and 12.9+/-1.0 in Group 2 (p<0.05). At T4 dermatome, onset times of sensory blockade were 10.l+/-0.2 minutes in Group 3, which were shorter than 22.3+/-1.2 minutes in Group 1 and 18.8+/-1.1 in Group 2 (p<0.05). The duration (time between loss of pin prick sensation and complete recovery of pain at each dermatome) of sensory blockade at T4 dermatome in Group 3 were 74.0+/-3.8 min, which were longer than 52.9+/-2.4 minutes in Group 1 and 52.7+/-1.4 minutes in Group 2 (p<0.05). The duration of sensory blockade at L2 dermatome in Group 3 were 119.6+/-4.4 minutes,which were longer than 78.6+/-4.8 minutes in Group 1 and 81.6+/-2.5 minutes in Group 2 (p<0.05). The above results suggested that alkalinization of lidocaine solution is an effective way to shorten the latency and to prolong the duration of epidural block for cesarean section.
Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Anesthetics ; Anesthetics, Local* ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Injections, Epidural ; Lidocaine ; Pregnancy ; Sensation ; Sodium Bicarbonate

Venous air embolism(VAE) can occur by the entry of air into open veins, being facilitated if the operative field is above the level of the heart. Among the many diagnostic methods, precordial ultrasonic Doppler is currently the more sensitive. Thus we have attempted to define the incidence of VAE using this device. 103 ASA physical status 1 or 2 parturients undergoing Cesarean section with general anesthesia in 73 parturients and epidural anesthesia in 30 parturients were studied with the ultrasonic Doppler transducer placed parasternally over the 4th right intercostal space. Total incidence of venous emboli was 31%(32/103) during surgery. In some parturients, embolism occurred more than once during operation and leaded to total 45 episodes of venous emboli. The incidence of venous emboli was 26%(19/73 ) during general anesthesia and 43.3%(13/30 ) during epidural anesthesia. No statistical difference existed in the incidence of venous emboli detected related to the type of anesthesia. Among the 45 episodes of venous emboli, 19 episodes(42.2%) were detected during repair of the hysterotomy. As even small air bubbles in the circulation are potentially harmful especially in patent foramen ovale and emboli events may occur at risk cases involving profound hypovolemia, abruptio placenta, or placenta previa, clinically insignificant venous air emboli, although low, is still worrisome. Thus above the cases, the use of additional precordial Doppler monitoring may be considered during cesarean section to detect VAE promptly, efficiently.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General ; Cesarean Section* ; Embolism ; Embolism, Air* ; Female ; Foramen Ovale, Patent ; Heart ; Hypovolemia ; Hysterotomy ; Incidence* ; Placenta ; Placenta Previa ; Pregnancy ; Transducers ; Ultrasonics* ; Veins