No abstract available.
Dinoprostone* ; Suppositories*

BACKGROUD: Ephedrine has been most commonly used for the prevention and treatment of hypotension occurring frequently during spinal anesthesia for cesarean section. But recent studies reported that phenylephrine was more effective for treatment of maternal hypotension and for prevention of fetal acidosis than ephedrine. We compared effect of phenylephrine, ephedrine, and ephedrine combined with phenylephrine to maternal hypotension and fetal acidosis. METHODS: This study compared ephedrine 2 mg/min infusion with 6 mg bolus (n = 30), phenylephrine 33.3microgram/min infusion with 50microgram bolus (n = 30), and ephedrine combined phenylephrine with half the dose infusion rate & bolus (n = 30). Hypotension, defined as systolic blood pressure less than 100 mmHg and less than 80% of baseline, was treated with additional bolus injection. RESULTS: In ephedrine group, the number of bolus given for hypotension was larger than other groups (P < 0.001), the incidence of hypotension was also higher than other groups (P = 0.02). The heart rate was lower in phenylephrine group than other groups, but bradycardia which needs to be treated didn't occur. Umbilical blood gas analysis and Apgar score were similar for three groups, but only one patient in ephedrine group had fetal acidosis (pH = 7.130). Nausea and vomiting were more frequent in ephedrine group than other groups. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, giving phenylephrine alone was more effective in the prevention and treatment of maternal hypotension and nausea & vomiting than giving ephedrine alone or combined phenylephrine.
Acidosis ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Apgar Score ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Bradycardia ; Cesarean Section* ; Ephedrine* ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Nausea ; Phenylephrine* ; Pregnancy ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Local steroid injections for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome have become common, but median nerve injuries after the injections have rarely been reported. In our study, we checked the occurrence of a severe pain during local steroid injections through the flexor carpi radialis, and we evaluated the efficacy of injections for several short-term period. METHODS: A total of 24 patients with 32 affected hands were studied. The patients who presented with known medical causes or thenar muscle atrophy or a previous trauma history at the affected wrist were excluded from the study. The diagnosis was made both clinically and electrophysiologically, and then the injections were performed through the flexor carpi radialis with the hand in the supine position. Triamcinolone Acetonide (TA) 40 mg was injected first, and TA 20 mg was reinjected when the recovery rate on a 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS) score was below 50% 1 week after the injection. The patients were reevaluated with the VAS score before and 1, 3 and 6 months after the injections. RESULTS: In our study, no patients reported severe pain indicating there was median nerve injury during the injections. The mean VAS scores were 64.9, 9.5, 31.1 and 47.3 before and 1, 3 and 6 months after the injections respectively. As a result, the injections were deemed for the short-term period (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we concluded that local steroid injection through the flexor carpi radialis for treating carpal tunnel syndrome is a safe and effective method.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Diagnosis ; Hand ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Muscular Atrophy ; Supine Position ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; Visual Analog Scale ; Wrist

BACKGROUND: To investigate the change of corpus callosal area in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), the mid-sagittal areas of corpus callosum and its seven sub-regions were measured in JME patients and normal subjects. METHODS: Nineteen JME patients (22.6+/-5.0 year-old, 6 males, 13 females) and 19 normal controls (22.9+/-7.3 year-old, 6 males, 13 females) underwent 1.6 mm thickness whole brain SPGR MRI. Exact mid-sagittal image was obtained with image reconstruction and geometric correction. According to Witelson's work, the area of corpus callosum was divided into 7 sub-regions (a1 to a7 from anterior to posterior) with a semi-automated method. In each sub-region, the pixel number was counted according to ROI definition. The whole cerebral volume was measured. The mid-sagittal cerebral area was measured by tracing inner surface of skull and basal cortical surface of the cerebrum except for corpus callosum and cerebellum. The difference of corpus callosum areas between JME patients and normal controls were tested by t-test and ANCOVA. RESULTS: There was no difference in sex [chi-square(1)=1.00, chi square] and age (p=0.941, Mann-Whitney U test). The areas of rostrum (p<0.001) and rostral body (p < or = 0.05) were significantly smaller in JME group by t-test and ANCOVA (adjusted by age and cerebral volume). Cerebral volume and mid-sagittal cerebral area were not different between JME and normal groups (p>0.25, t-test). CONCLUSION: Rostrum and rostral body are significantly smaller in JME patients, which suggests frontal lobe abnormality in JME. This finding is consistent with previous studies reported structural and functional abnormalities of frontal lobe in JME.
Brain ; Cerebellum ; Cerebrum ; Corpus Callosum ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile* ; Skull

BACKGROUND: In many cases, spinal anesthesia is performed in cesarean section. Many women want postoperative pain control. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) and epidural patient-controlled analgesia (Epi-PCA) in patients undergoing cesarean section with spinal anesthesia. METHODS: Forty healthy women were randomly assigned to receive IV-PCA or Epi-PCA after cesarean section with spinal anesthesia. The IV-PCA group received ketorolac 30 mg and butorphanol 0.5 mg intravenously when the peritoneum was sutured, followed by IV-PCA with 0.15% ketorolac and 0.005% butorphanol 100 ml (basal infusion rate 2 ml/hr, bolus 2 ml, lock-out time 15 mins). The Epi-PCA group received 0.01% morphine 10 ml via an epidural catheter when the peritoneum was sutured, followed by Epi-PCA with 0.004% morphine and 0.1% bupivacaine 100 ml (basal infusion rate 2 ml/hr, bolus 2 ml, lock-out time 15 mins). The degree of pain was subjectively evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Patients were evaluated at 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after operation. Statistical analyses were performed using T-test, Mann White U test and the Chi-square test. RESULTS: VAS was not significantly different at any time, and the incidences of pruritus and sensory and motor changes of the lower extremities were significantly higher in Epi-PCA than IV-PCA. CONCLUSIONS: Although VAS in the two groups was not significantly different, we conclude that IV-PCA is more beneficial than Epi-PCA in patients undergoing cesarean section with spinal anesthesia, because of the side effects of Epi-PCA.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Bupivacaine ; Butorphanol ; Catheters ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ketorolac ; Lower Extremity ; Morphine ; Pain, Postoperative ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Peritoneum ; Pregnancy ; Pruritus

We experienced two cases of congenital localized skin defect and neonatal onset of relapsing subepidermal blisters associated with minor trauma in a female newborn infant and her mother. The mother of index case showed toe nail dystrophy at delivery of her daughter, but the index case did not reveal nail dystrophy until 14 months of age. The congenital skin defects healed with hypopigment, and mild atrophic scars and relapsing blisters healed without scars in both mother and daughter. These cases were considered as hereditary Bart's syndrome with respects to family history, clinical manifestations and histopathological findings.
Blister ; Cicatrix ; Epidermolysis Bullosa ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mothers* ; Nuclear Family* ; Skin ; Toes

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine the efficacy of a combined use of esmolol and nicardipine for blunting hypertension and tachycardia after tracheal intubation in hypertensive patients. METHODS: Forty-five hypertensive patients were randomly divided into three group: group E (esmolol 0.5 mg/kg, n = 15), group N (nicardipine 30microgram/kg, n = 15), group EN (esmolol 0.25 mg/kg, nicardipine 15microgram/kg, n = 15). All patients received midazolam 0.5 mg/kg, and glycopyrrolate 0.2 mg IM for premedication. Fentanyl 1microgram/kg was injected before induction of anesthesia, and then esmolol, nicardipine, or the mixed drugs were administrated as an IV bolus and immediately followed by the induction drugs: thiopental 5 mg/kg, and succinylcholine 1 mg/kg. Endotracheal intubation was performed 90 seconds after injection of the experimental drugs. Thereafter 50% Nitrous Oxide in oxygen and 2 vol % enflurane were inhaled. BP and HR were recorded at the resting state, before fentanyl injection (base {T0}), after injection test drug (T1), after induction (T2), immediately after intubation (T3), 2 min (T4), 3 min (T5), 4 min (T6), and 5 min (T7) after intubation. RESULTS: There was a significant attenuation in SBP, MBP, DBP after tracheal intubation on the nicardipine and mixed groups compared to the esmolol group. HR was significantly lower in the esmolol and mixed groups than in the nicardipine group after tracheal intubation. CONCLUSIONS: Combined administration of esmolol (0.25 mg/kg) and nicardipine (15microgram/kg) was effective in attenuating an increase of BP and HR during tracheal intubation in hypertensive patients.
Anesthesia ; Blood Pressure* ; Enflurane ; Fentanyl ; Glycopyrrolate ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Midazolam ; Nicardipine* ; Nitrous Oxide ; Oxygen ; Premedication ; Succinylcholine ; Tachycardia ; Thiopental

BACKGROUND: Spinal anesthesia for cesarean section is regaining popularity. The effects of patient variables on the spread of sensory blockade have been reported to vary widely. We evaluated the effects of abdominal circumference, fundus height and cerebrospinal fluid pressure on the spread of sensory blockade following subarachnoid hyperbaric bupivacaine with fentanyl in term parturients. We also evaluated the effects of age, height, weight, body mass index on the spread of sensory blockade. METHODS: Sixty healthy term parturients scheduled for elective cesarean section, were measured for, abdominal circumference, fundus height, cerebrospinal fluid pressure, and received 8 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with fentanyl 20microgram intrathecally. Maximal sensory block height and blood pressure were assessed. Intraoperative visceral pain was checked as discribed using four grades. RESULTS: Age, weight, abdominal circumference, fundus height and cerebrospinal fluid pressure were not found to be correlated with the spread of sensory blockade. However, height and body mass index correlated with the spread of sensory blockade (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to vary the dose of injected hyperbaric bupivacaine according to changes in height and body mass index.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Bupivacaine* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Visceral Pain

BACKGROUND: The study was designed to compare neonatal outcome biochemically and clinically. We examined the administration of sevoflurane below 1.0% with 50% oxygen and 50% nitrous oxide and spinal anesthesia during elective cesarean section. METHODS: The study examined 60 parturients, who were planned after 36 weeks gestation, ASA I-II, at term undergoing elective cesarean section, and who were allocated to receive 1.0% sevoflurane with 50% oxygen and 50% nitrous oxide (n = 30), and spinal anesthesia (n = 30). General anesthesia was induced with thiopental 5 mg/kg followed by succinylcholine 1.0 mg/kg to facilitate tracheal intubation. Parturients received sevoflurane given in a 50 : 50 oxygen and nitrous oxide mixture, using 0.5-1.0% progressive incremental dosing up to 1.5-2.0 MAC. Spinal anesthesia involving a spinal injection of 8 mg hyperbaric (plain) bupivacaine 0.5% with 20microgram fentanyl was added. A systolic blood pressure of less than 90 mmHg or a reduction in the systolic pressure of greater than 20% from baseline was considered as hypotension and treated with a bolus of 5 mg of intravenous ephedrine. We studied neonatal data including umbilical artery gas analysis results and Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min. RESULTS: Comparing the general and the spinal anesthetic groups, no significant differences could be detected in neonatal outcome biochemically or clinically. CONCLUSIONS: Anesthesia type does not seem to influence the biochemical or clinical results of the neonates delivered by elective cesarean section. We believe that both general anesthesia with sevoflurane and spinal anesthesia could be performed in elective term cesarean sections without risk to neonates.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Blood Pressure ; Bupivacaine ; Cesarean Section* ; Ephedrine ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Infant, Newborn ; Injections, Spinal ; Intubation ; Nitrous Oxide ; Oxygen ; Pregnancy ; Succinylcholine ; Thiopental ; Umbilical Arteries

BACKGROUND: It has been recommended that lightwand tracheal intubation be used for cases in which there is difficult airway management. Transillumination of the soft tissue of the neck by the lightwand can lead to successful intubation; however, this depends on skin color, obesity, head position, angle and the bent length of the lightwand. The goal of this study was to compare the success rates of intubation on the first attempt and complications of lightwand orotracheal intubation that occurred when using the lightwand at angles of 60 degrees and 90 degrees. METHODS: One hundred forty eight patients of ASA physical status 1 or 2 were enrolled in this study. Patients in whom intubation had previously been difficult as well as patients who had the potential for difficult intubation were excluded from this study. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: The lightwand bent in 60 degrees (LW60) group and the lightwand bent in 90degrees (LW90) group. Anesthesia was performed using propofol (2 mg/kg), fentanyl (1microg/kg) and rocuronium (0.9 mg/kg), and lightwand orotracheal intubation was attempted 2 minutes after the induction of anesthesia. The success rates of intubation, the number of attempts and their duration, as well as hemodynamic changes, resistance to the tube and complications that occurred during the procedure were recorded. RESULTS: In the LW90 group, resistance to the tube during lightwand intubation occurred in a significant number of patients (P < 0.05), however, there were no significant differences observed between the two groups with regard to the intubation success rates on the first attempt, the duration of intubation, hemodynamic changes and complications. CONCLUSIONS: Their were no significant differences observed between intubation success rates on first attempt and complications when using a lightwand bent to 60 degrees or 90 degrees in patients without any previously known airway abnormalities.
Airway Management ; Anesthesia ; Fentanyl ; Head ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Neck ; Obesity ; Propofol ; Skin ; Transillumination