Backgroud: In one-lung ventilation using the left-sided double-lumen tube (LDLT), it is important to place the LDLT in correct position to maintain adequate ventilation. We investigated the frequency of and the factors affecting the LDLT malposition in endotracheal intubation. Methods: Ninety one (55 male and 36 female) patients were observed. After endotracheal intubation, using 35 and 37 Fr. sized Robertshaw type LDLT, auscultation and fiberoptic bronchoscope were performed to make sure the correct position of LDLT. The heights, weights, age, and sex were noted. The lengths and diameters of trachea, and the angles and diameters of both bronchi on chest x-ray were measured for comparison. Results: Normal in auscultation and gross malposition were 87.9% and 12.1%. Among those normal in auscultation, normal in bronchoscope, advancing and removing fine malposition were 66.2%, 18.8% and 15.0%, respectively. The angle of left bronchus is 37.71+/-4.60degrees in normal in ausculation and 37.71+/-4.60degrees in gross malposition. The length of trachea is 13.41+/-0.90 cm in normal in bronchoscope, 14.49+/-0.78 cm in advancing fine malposition and 11.86+/-0.35 cm in removing fine malposition. The patient's height is 167.27+/-7.12 cm in normal in brochoscope, 172.45+/-6.67 cm in advancing fine malposition and 163.12+/-6.54 cm in removing fine malposition. Conclusions: The angle of left bronchus is a factor affecting gross malposition. And the length of trachea and the patient's height are factors affecting fine malposition. Thus it is necessary to obtain in advance information on patient's height, length of trachea and angle of left bronchus on chest x-ray, to reduce the occurrence of the LDLT malposition.
Auscultation ; Bronchi ; Bronchoscopes ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Male ; One-Lung Ventilation ; Thorax ; Trachea ; Ventilation ; Weights and Measures

Central venous pressure(CVP) catheter has become regarded as necessary in the care of the critically ill patients, long time operation and the anesthesia that massive bleeding is anticipated. Exact placement of CVP catheter tip is essential for prevention of complications due to malposition. The correct location of CVP catheter should always be ensured after catheterization as soon as possible. Acute cardiac tamponade is the most serious complication associated with CVP catheter tip malposition that may follow perforation of heart or pericardium. In 54-year old female patient, a catheter that was introduced through the left internal jugular vein entered left pericardiacophrenic vein. We experienced a case of cardiac tamponade caused by malposition of CVP catheter tip after 12hours of left internal jugular catheterization.
Anesthesia ; Cardiac Tamponade* ; Catheterization* ; Catheters ; Critical Illness ; Female ; Heart ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; Middle Aged ; Pericardium ; Veins

Involvement of the peripheral nerveous system by diabetes is referred to as diabetic neuropathy. The frequency of diabetic neuropathy ranges from 5% to 60% and the pain management is one of the greatest problem. The patient was a 57-year-old man who has been treated with diabetes(DM type IIa) for about 12 years. The symmetrical pain, swelling and sensory loss on feet were started 3 months before admission and the burning pain was intensified at night with resultant insomnia. The systoms were aggravated 1 month ago and they were not relieved by any medication and physical therapy. We attempted lumbar epidural block to the patient and the result was good. So we performed a permanent lumbar sympathetic ganglion block with neurolytics(99.9% alcohol) for the long term relief of pain. The patient was satisfied with the result of the block and discharged.
Burns ; Diabetic Neuropathies* ; Foot ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Pain Management* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Sympathetic Nervous System

TGF-p receptor mutation is now considered as one of the carcinogenic process of many tumors. To evaluate whether there is an abnormality in TGF-p type II receptor in osteosarcoma cell lines, we performed Northern analysis, cross-linking assay, luciferase activity and TGF-p growth inhibition assay in four osteosarcoma cell lines: G292, U202, HOS and SaOS. We also transfected the tumor cells with normal TGF-p type II receptor sequence to find if there is a possibility of gene therapy in osteosarcoma. In Northern analysis, Type II receptor expressions were decreased at SaOS, U202 and HOS cell lines. In cross-linking assay, all four cell lines didnt show type II receptor at their cell surface. The growth of these tumor cells were not suppressed by TGF-p. From these findings, we concluded that the normal production of TGF-p type II receptor was impaired in osteosarcoma. The transfection of these tumor cells with normal type II receptor sequence restored growth inhibition by TGF-p. This means even though TGF-p type II receptor is abnormal in osteosarcoma, we can restore its function by transfection of normal sequence. We think that the TGF-p type Il receptor gene therapy can be one of the treatment method for osteosarcoma in the future.
Cell Line* ; Genetic Therapy ; Luciferases ; Osteosarcoma* ; Transfection

A stellate ganglion block is frequently used in the pain clinic. It has been known that a stellate ganglion block maintains the homeostasis of hormones by improvement of blood supply to the brain. Therefore it has a systemic effect as well as a regional effect. Androgen, the sebaceous gland, hair follicle and bacteria are involved in pathogenesis of acne. The background for the treatment of acne with a stellate ganglion block can be related to the increase of blood supply to the face and the effect on the pineal gland. We administered a stellate ganglion block for the treatment of acne and had good results. From our experience, we consider a stellate ganglion block as the one of the effective treatment of acne.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Bacteria ; Brain ; Hair Follicle ; Homeostasis ; Pain Clinics ; Pineal Gland ; Sebaceous Glands ; Stellate Ganglion*

Selective cervical nerve root block is executed for patients who have symptoms of cervical radiculopathy for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. However several catastrophic complications caused by this procedure have been reported including neurological complications. A 43-year-old male received a C5 selective cervical nerve root block procedure due to continuous radiating pain even after cervical discectomy and interbody fusion was performed. At the time of the procedure, the contrast outline revealed reflux of the nerve root and epidural space. But after the procedure was performed, the patient experienced decreased sensation in the upper and low extremities as well as motor paralysis of both extremities. Our sspecting diagnosis was anterior spinal artery syndrome but both sensory and motor functions were subsequently recovered within a few hours after the procedure was completed. Due to the difficult nature of this case, we reported these complications and reviewed current literature related to this study.
Adult ; Anterior Spinal Artery Syndrome ; Diskectomy ; Epidural Space ; Extremities ; Humans ; Injections, Spinal ; Male ; Paralysis ; Quadriplegia ; Radiculopathy ; Sensation ; Spinal Nerve Roots

Transforaminal lumbar epidural block is a common procedure for the patients with back pain and radiating pain. But during the procedure, complications such as subdural or intrathecal block can occur. Because the procedure is conducted with contrast media and fluoroscopy, anesthesiologists must have deep understanding of the normal radiologic findings of epidural, subdural and intrathecal contrast images. During attempted transforaminal lumbar epidural block with fluoroscopy, we observed an unusual shaped pulsatile contrast image accidentally. Based on our experience, we report the subdural contrast image during transforaminal lumbar epidural block in radiologic aspects.
Back Pain ; Contrast Media ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans

During the early stage of postherpetic neuralgia, an epidural block on the affected segment is helpful in controlling pain and preventing progression to a chronic state. The main neurologic complication following an epidural block is cord compression symptom due to an epidural hematoma. When neurologic complications arise from an epidural block for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia, it is important to determine whether the complications are due to the procedure or due to the herpes zoster itself. We report a case of a patient who was diagnosed with herpes zoster myelitis during treatment for postherpetic neuralgia. The patient complained of motor weakness in the lower extremities after receiving a thoracic epidural block six times. Although initially, we believed that the complications were due to the epidural block, it was ultimately determined to be from the herpes zoster myelitis.
Hematoma ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Myelitis ; Neuralgia ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Urinary Retention

Pain control is very important in managing terminal cancer patients and there are several modalities to alleviate their pain. A high dosage of epidural morphine is effective to control terminal cancer pain. Furthermore, to decrease the amount of morphine, adding an alternative adjuvant like ketamine to the morphine regimen is considered helpful for controlling the pain of a terminal cancer patient. A 45 year old male patient with terminal lung cancer had neck pain that was caused by multiple bone metastases. Continuous epidural block was started with 2 mg/day of morphine and the dosage was gradually increased to 90 mg/day in 86 days. 30 mg/day of ketamine was then added to it. Overall, the morphine and ketamine dosages were increased to 564 mg/day and 140 mg/day, respectively, in 11 months until the patient expired. In this case, the high dosage of epidural morphine, 580 mg/day, was administered to control cancer pain without any severe adverse effects.
Analgesia, Epidural* ; Humans ; Ketamine ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Morphine* ; Neck Pain ; Neoplasm Metastasis

Rotor syndrome is a rare benign familial disorder characterized by chronic, fluctuating, nonhemolytic and predominantly direct bilirubinemia with normal liver tissue. We have recently experienced two cases of Rotor syndrome in a brother and sister. They revealed icteric sclerae with mild hepatomegaly in physical examination. Laboratory findings showed increased serum bilirubin with direct bilirubin predominance. The urinary excretion of total coproporphyrin was slightly elevated. The 99mTc-DISIDA scan showed a markedly decreased hepatic uptake and poor visualization of gallbladder and biliary tree which could be compatible to the Rotor syndrome. We report two cases with a review of the literature.
Biliary Tract ; Bilirubin ; Gallbladder ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Hereditary* ; Liver ; Physical Examination ; Sclera ; Siblings* ; Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin