BACKGROUND: Propofol is useful agents for anesthesia induction and maintenance, but pain on injection and possible hypotension are a commonly encountered problems during induction. Meanwhile, ketamine has potent analgesic and sympathomimetic effect. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of ketamine pretreatment on injection pain and hemodynamic changes during induction with propofol. METHODS: Premedicated one hundred and twenty ASA physical status I or II patients scheduled for elective surgery were randomly allocated into one of four groups (group 1; propofol only, group 2, 3, 4; pretreatment with 25%, 50%, 75% dose of hypnotic ED50 of ketamine, respectively) groups. Intensity and frequency of injection pain, mean arterial pressure and pulse rate were checked for evaluation of ketamine pretreatment on injection pain and hemodynamic changes during induction with propofol. RESULTS: Incidence of pain on injection was significantly reduced in group 2,3 and 4 compared with group 1. Group 2 and 3 showed more stable hemodynamic changes than Group 1 and 4. CONCLUSIONS: 25-50% of hypnotic ED50 of ketamine (0.17-0.33 mg/kg) pretreatment reduced pain on injection and hemodynamic changes during propofol induction significantly.
Anesthesia* ; Arterial Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Ketamine* ; Propofol* ; Sympathomimetics

BACKGROUND: Both propofol and ketamine are useful hypnotics for induction of anesthesia, and the combination of propofol and ketamine has been used for total intravenous anesthesia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dose response of propofol, ketamine and combination of these drug, and determine possible interaction between two drugs in patients. METHODS: The effect of ketamine on the dose response curve for propofol was studied in unpremedicated 165 ASA physical status I or II patients who were scheduled for elective operation. As an endpoint of hypnosis, ability to open eyes on verbal command was checked. Dose response curves for propofol and ketamine were determined with a probit procedure and their type of pharmacologic interaction was determined by fractional and isobolographic analysis. RESULTS: At the hypnotic endpoint, the ED50s were 1.13 mg/kg propofol, 0.66 mg/kg ketamine, and the ED95s were 1.67 mg/kg propofol, 1.09 mg/kg ketamine. The type of interaction between two drugs for hypnosis was found to be additive and ketamine was 1.7 times potent than propofol as an equieffective dose of hypnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The type of interaction between propofol and ketamine for hypnosis was additive.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Humans ; Hypnosis ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Ketamine* ; Propofol*

PURPOSE: To obtain basic data for development of a glioblastoma-specific immunotoxin, the expression of variable cell surface receptors on a human glioblastoma xenograft model was evaluated, using NOD/SCID mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We developed a xenograft model in NOD/SCID mice implanted with a human glioblastoma cell line (U-87MG). Immunohistochemical studies were performed on implanted tumor nodules (n=8) using antibodies against CD71, EGFR, IGF-IRalpha, CXCR4 and IL-4Ralpha. RESULTS: Expression of IL-4Ralpha, in implanted tumornodules, was the highest of the cell surface receptors evaluated in this study. However, the endothelial cells in, and around, the tumor nodules also revealed immunopositivity against IL-4Ralpha. The immunoreactivity of IL-4Ralpha, and other surface receptors such as CD71, IGF-IRalpha and EGFR, was prominent in tumor nodules associated with tumor necrosis. CONCLUSION: IL-4Ralpha would be a possible target for the development of glioblastoma-specific immunotoxin, although there are limitations due to its endothelial expression.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Cell Line ; Endothelial Cells ; Glioblastoma* ; Heterografts* ; Humans* ; Immunotoxins ; Mice* ; Mice, SCID ; Necrosis ; Receptors, Cell Surface*

INTRODUCTION: Several methods, including loss of eye lash (eyelash) reflex and loss of verbal contact, have heen used as criteria for estimating the optimal hypnosis for anesthesia induction. However, these methods are too objective. We examined the hypnotic dose response of etomidate, using a bispectral index as a more subjective criterion for anesthesia induction. METHODS: Fourty-Five ASA I or II adult patients scheduled for elective orthopedic surgery were randomly allocated to three groups according to induction dose of etomidate. They were Group 1: 0.1 mg/kg ; Group 2: 0.15 mg/kg; Group 3: 0.2 mg/kg (n = 15 for each group), respectively. Etomidate diluted as 10 ml in a syringe injected through an 18G forearm intravenous catheter, using a syringe pump at the rate of 20 ml/min. Observer's Assessment of Alertness/sedation (OAA/S) scale of 1 was considered optimal for hypnosis. Bispectral index, OAA/S scale, and vital signs were checked every minute until spontaneous eye opening after end of drug infusion. Also, the correlation coefficient between BIS and OAA/S scale was checked for evaluating the bispectral index; this was a useful tool for estimating the degree of hypnosis. RESULTS: BIS and OAA/S showed their lowest scores around 60 sec. after the etomidate injection, which was very different from time to peak effect known to be the 2 min. The correlation coefficient (r) between BIS and OAA/S was 0.84 on average, suggesting the BIS as an good subjective indicator of optimal hypnosis for anesthesia induction. Vital signs were stable in all groups. Hypnotic ED50 and ED95 were 0.12 and 0.19 mg/kg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Bispectral index can be a useful tool for estimating the optimal hypnosis for anesthesia induction. Hypnotic ED50 of etomidate was 0.12 mg/kg.
Adult ; Anesthesia* ; Catheters ; Etomidate* ; Forearm ; Humans ; Hypnosis ; Orthopedics ; Reflex ; Syringes ; Vital Signs

INTRODUCTION: Several methods, including loss of eye lash (eyelash) reflex and loss of verbal contact, have heen used as criteria for estimating the optimal hypnosis for anesthesia induction. However, these methods are too objective. We examined the hypnotic dose response of etomidate, using a bispectral index as a more subjective criterion for anesthesia induction. METHODS: Fourty-Five ASA I or II adult patients scheduled for elective orthopedic surgery were randomly allocated to three groups according to induction dose of etomidate. They were Group 1: 0.1 mg/kg ; Group 2: 0.15 mg/kg; Group 3: 0.2 mg/kg (n = 15 for each group), respectively. Etomidate diluted as 10 ml in a syringe injected through an 18G forearm intravenous catheter, using a syringe pump at the rate of 20 ml/min. Observer's Assessment of Alertness/sedation (OAA/S) scale of 1 was considered optimal for hypnosis. Bispectral index, OAA/S scale, and vital signs were checked every minute until spontaneous eye opening after end of drug infusion. Also, the correlation coefficient between BIS and OAA/S scale was checked for evaluating the bispectral index; this was a useful tool for estimating the degree of hypnosis. RESULTS: BIS and OAA/S showed their lowest scores around 60 sec. after the etomidate injection, which was very different from time to peak effect known to be the 2 min. The correlation coefficient (r) between BIS and OAA/S was 0.84 on average, suggesting the BIS as an good subjective indicator of optimal hypnosis for anesthesia induction. Vital signs were stable in all groups. Hypnotic ED50 and ED95 were 0.12 and 0.19 mg/kg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Bispectral index can be a useful tool for estimating the optimal hypnosis for anesthesia induction. Hypnotic ED50 of etomidate was 0.12 mg/kg.
Adult ; Anesthesia* ; Catheters ; Etomidate* ; Forearm ; Humans ; Hypnosis ; Orthopedics ; Reflex ; Syringes ; Vital Signs

BACKGROUND: Anesthesia induction time is related to speed of injection, injected volume, and Keo. In the case of target controlled infusion, induction time can be controlled by adjusting the induction time mode. The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of induction time mode on variable parameters and vital signs during anesthesia induction with propofol using a target controlled infusion (TCI). METHODS: Sixty unpremedicated adult patients (ASA class I or II, 18 55 yrs) scheduled for elective surgery were randomly allocated to four groups according to induction mode. Group 1 was assigned a flash induction mode, and groups 2, 3 and 4 were assigned 2, 3 and 4min respectively. The end point of anesthesia induction was loss of eyelash reflex. Various parameters including induction time, infused volume, current/effect concentration at induction, and vital signs were compared. RESULTS: As the induction time mode was prolonged, induction time was delayed, but there was no difference in infused volume. Also, the current concentration decreased gradually, but the effect concentration did not show any difference. The vital signs were more stable in groups 3 and 4 compared with groups 1 and 2. CONCLUSIONS: For anesthesia induction, a rapid induction mode showed more rapid induction and low current concentration, but vital signs were relatively unstable and the effect concentration at induction showed no difference. For critically ill patients or patients with unstable hemodynamics, a more gradual induction mode for anesthesia induction in propofol TCI is recommended.
Adult ; Anesthesia* ; Critical Illness ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Propofol* ; Reflex ; Vital Signs*

Emergency surgical patients are more frequently critical to anesthesia and surgery more than elective cases. They are not ready to anesthesia and surgery, because they have not enough time for physical and laboratory examinations. In addition, they are usually exposed to operative situations to anesthetists and/or surgeons who made little assessments of patient's pathological and physical conditions. The goal of preoperative preparation is to assess the degree and process of disease with physiological changes and to improve them before surgery as possible and to get the better outcome of anesthesia and surgery. The outcome of emergency operation influenced by good or poor physiological states and many factors, that is , preanesthetic assessment, laboratory examination, operation time(day time or night), operative personnel(professor or trainee)and coorperating system in operating theater. We analized 1406(male 704, female 702) emergency surgical patients from March 1990 to February 1991 in order to find out andy problems in procedures of emergency anesthesia and/or surgical patients. The results were as follows. 1) The rate of emergency operation was over-all 19.1 percent. The was no sexual difference in number of patients and third and fourth decade of age group were highest candidates for emergency operation(52.9%). 2)Emergency patients were prevalent in obstetic(28.6%) and general surgery department(25.2%) and acute appendicitis was most common emergency disease in both sex, if excluding Cesarean section. 3)Over-all rate of cesarean section was 33.9%, of which 54.4% were managed in emergency situation. 4)Physical status by ASA classification was mainly in 1E and 2E status(72.7%). 5)Almost of cases(87.7%) were operated under endotracheal inhalational anesthesia and enflurane was mainly administered for them as inhalation anesthetics(84.4%). 6)Anesthesis was started in day-time(47.2%) and in extr-day time(52.8%). With above results, we recognized that these emergency cases resulted in good outcomes because they were in mostly good physical status(1E and 2E), relatively healthy adults, and noncomplicated disease process. However we hope that anestheslologists as well surgeons should always be careful to check and manage emergency operating patients in the perioperative period.
Adult ; Anesthesia* ; Appendicitis ; Cesarean Section ; Classification ; Emergencies* ; Enflurane ; Female ; Hope ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Perioperative Period ; Pregnancy

After failed removal of common bile duct or intrahepatic bile duct (IHD) stones by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), percutaneous lithotripsy is well-known as an effective procedure. However, it is time-consuming because multiple sessions of transhepatic tract dilatation are required. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) has been recently used to approach IHD to remove difficult bile duct stones. We recently experienced EUS-guided CDS performed with metal stent. Common bile duct or IHD stones were removed by retrieval accessories after initial failed or inadequate ERCP in three patients. Serious complications including bleeding, infection, and perforation were not noted. The duration of hospital stay from EUS-guided procedure to discharge ranged from 10 to 14 days. Although this result is interim and ongoing, it suggests that EUS-guided CDS might be an effective and safe procedure after failed ERCP to remove difficult bile duct stones through the tract.

Ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, often exhibits extra-intestinal manifestations including various dermatological problems. Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a painful ulcerative cutaneous disorder characterized by the development of rapidly enlarging nodules. The lesion may become aggravated when ulcerative colitis is active, and it commonly affects the extensor surfaces of the lower extremities but rarely the upper extremities, face, periauricular area, anterior chest, back, or buttocks. We encountered a rare case of PG of the chest wall near the left breast, on the face and pretibial area of a male patient with ulcerative colitis. He had not undergone breast surgery and had no history of trauma. The lesion and symptoms were successfully treated by steroid and mesalazine; there was no need for surgery or more potent drugs.

Small bowel obstructions (SBOs) that develop for various reasons often require prompt medical treatment. Migration of a gastric bezoar (indigestible foreign material that has accumulated in the stomach) is a rare cause of SBO. Treatment of a symptomatic SBO caused by a bezoar requires a multidisciplinary approach that considers the patient’s physical status and comorbidities and the bezoar volume, location, and pathology. Although surgery is the treatment of choice, endoscopic treatments such as fragmentation and retrieval may serve as alternatives. We present the first case of resolution of a large phytobezoar via mechanical compression after covered metal stent insertion, followed by stent retrieval, in a patient with a symptomatic SBO that persisted even after two sessions of push-endoscopic fragmentation.