BACKGROUND: Combined spinal epidural anesthesia (CSE) is used for obtaining adventages of both spinal and epidural anesthesia. But it might be suspected that epidural volume load affect spinal sensory blockade level during CSE. METHODS: Eighty patients undergoing lower abdominal and lower extremity operation were involved in our study. Subarachnoid block with 12mg of tetracaine was established in all patients. Four groups were studied. Group 1 (n=20), the control, received only spinal anesthesia. Group 2 (n=20), group 3 (n=20) and group 4 (n=20) received 10, 15 and 20 ml of epidural saline immediately after spinal anesthetic administration. Sensory blockade level was checked by pinprick test at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 60 and 90 minutes. Blood pressure, heart rate and incidence of complications such as hypotension, bradycardia, nausea and high block were measured. RESULTS: The sensory blockade level of groups 3 and 4 was higher than group 1 (p<0.05). Blood pressure and heart rate were not different compared with each other. The incidence of complications, except that higher block above T4 in group 4 was more than in group 1 (p<0.05), were not different when compared with each other. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural saline above 15 ml may affect sensory blockade level of spinal anesthesia during CSE.
Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Blood Pressure ; Bradycardia ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Lower Extremity ; Nausea ; Tetracaine

BACKGROUND: We postulated that loss of epidural negative pressure might affect on the sensory blockade level of spinal anesthesia. METHODS: Thirty nine patients were involved in our study; group 1, spinal anesthsia with 23G spinal needle (n=20): group 2, spinal anesthesia with 27G spinal needle through the 18G Weiss epidural needle (n=19). Sensory blockade level was checked by pinprick test at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 60 and 90 minutes after spinal anesthesia. RESULTS: There was no difference of sensory blockade level between group 1 and 2. CONCLUSION: From above result, there was no evidence of loss of epidural negative pressure affecting on the spinal sensory blockade level.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Humans ; Needles

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

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

It is important to treat cancer-related pain in cancer patients to ensure the life quality of the patient, as well as to improve their life span. It has been estimated that at least 5% of cancer patients have pain refractory to medical treatment. Therefore, the need for epidural or intrathecal analgesia with opioids and local anesthetics is indicated if systemic treatment has failed. Intrathecal catheter placement and implantation of the injection port for administration of opioids and local anesthetics may improve pain relief in patients who are unresponsive to epidural routes. Although intrathecal implantation has several complications, similar infection rates have been reported between intrathecal and epidural administration. In addition, intrathecal administration showed better outcomes, including improved pain control, lowered daily doses, and an improvement in the level of drowsiness experienced when compared to epidural administration. We report here a case in which a terminal cancer patient was treated using an intrathecal catheter and subcutaneous port. The patient had cancer-related pain that could not be controlled by epidural opioid administration. Based on the results presented here, we suggest that intrathecal implantation is a feasible long term pain management method for intractable cancer pain patients.
Analgesia ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthetics, Local ; Catheters* ; Humans ; Pain Management* ; Quality of Life ; Sleep Stages

Pharmacological management is the first choice for treatment of the trigeminal neuralgia patients; however, if this mode of treatment fails a minimally invasive procedure should be performed. One of the most commonly used procedures is conventional radiofrequency lesioning of the Gasserian ganglion. Despite its popularity and success rate, this technique has disadvantages such as diminished corneal reflex, masseter weakness, numbness and anesthesia dolorosa. As a result, many studies have been conducted in an attempt to find a better method of treating trigeminal neuralgia. We report here a case of a trigeminal neuralgia patient that was treated with pulsed radiofrequency lesioning of the supraorbital and supratrochlear nerve due to pain in the frontal head that was refractory to the pharmacological treatments. Following the procedure, the Visual Analogue Scale score for pain decreased to 1-2/10 and the pain relief persisted for 7 months. These results indicate that pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the peripheral nerve may be useful for trigeminal neuralgia patients that do not respond to pharmacological treatments.
Anesthesia ; Head ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Peripheral Nerves ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment ; Reflex ; Trigeminal Ganglion ; Trigeminal Neuralgia

Placement of a pulmonary artery catheter for hemodynamic monitoring in the operating room or intensive care unit is very useful, but this is associated with various complications. They are rupture of the pulmonary artery, pneumothorax, hemothorax, thromboembolism, hemoptysis, arrythmia, valvular damage, sepsis, rupture of the balloon, entrapment or knotting of the catheter and so on. We experienced a case of perforation of the superior vena cava that was caused by a pulmonary artery catheter during liver transplantation. We diagnosed hemothorax during the operation, and we recognized the perforation by performing thoracoscopy. The perforation site was sutured successfully and there were no more problems.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Catheters ; Hemodynamics ; Hemoptysis ; Hemothorax ; Intensive Care Units ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Operating Rooms ; Pneumothorax ; Pulmonary Artery ; Rupture ; Sepsis ; Thoracoscopy ; Thromboembolism ; Vena Cava, Superior

We report a case of difficult intubation due to a low located thyroid cartilage and a left deviated glottis abnormality. A 35-year-old woman was scheduled to undergo a laminectomy and discectomy for a L4-5 disc herniation. After injecting intravenous induction agents and muscle relaxant, intubation was attempted with a direct laryngoscope. However, no vocal cords were seen and only the epiglottis was seen albeit only slightly. According to Cormack and Lehane's grading, the patient was grade III. Although intubation was re-attempted after changing the anesthesiologist and device such as a light wand, the endotracheal tube could not be advanced below the epiglottis because of resistance. When patient was rechecked, her thyroid cartilage was located abnormally low and the thyromental distance was 14.5 cm. In addition, the preoperative chest X-ray revealed her airway to be deviated to the left. Intubation could be successfully performed after additional 100% oxygen mask ventilation. An otolaryngologic examination revealed that the glottic opening was deviated to the left, and ventricle of the larynx, which is normally not seen with a laryngocope was located to the center. It is believed that the reason for resistance of the advancing endotracheal tube was a centrally located ventricle of the larynx.
Adult ; Diskectomy ; Epiglottis ; Female ; Glottis ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Laminectomy ; Laryngoscopes ; Larynx ; Masks ; Oxygen ; Thorax ; Thyroid Cartilage* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Ventilation ; Vocal Cords

the height of the patients and the length of the left and right mainstem bronchi. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide reference data to help determine the precise margin of safety using a double lumen endobronchial tube for thoracic surgery.
Adult* ; Bronchi* ; Humans ; Thoracic Surgery