BACKGROUND: Caudal injection of local anesthetics with morphine is the most common anesthetic technique for perianal operation and postoperative analgesia. This study was purposed to compare the onset time of caudal analgesia, postoperative analgesic effect and side effects. METHOD: Sixty healthy patients scheduled for perianal operation were divided into 2 groups randomly. Group I was given 2 mg of morphine in 20 ml of 2% mepivacaine via sacral hiatus. Group II was also given 2 mg of morphine in 20 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine caudally. We measured the onset time of caudal block, time to the first request of analgesics, the number of analgesics within 24 hours and the incidence of postoperative side effects. Analgesic effect was evaluated by visual analogue scales (VAS) at 1, 2, 6, 12 and 24 hours postoperatively. RESULT : The onset time of caudal block for operation and the first request time of analgesic for postoperative pain was significantly shorter in group I than group II. The analgesic use in the first 24 hours was significantly more in group I than group II. The side effects were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the combined use of morphine and bupivacaine provided better postoperative analgesia than the combined use of morphine and mepivacaine.
Analgesia ; Analgesics ; Anesthetics, Local ; Bupivacaine* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mepivacaine* ; Morphine* ; Pain, Postoperative ; Weights and Measures

We have experienced an anesthetic management of a 34 year old female patient with pheochromocytoma of left adrenal gland. The anesthetic management of patients presents many difficult problems, such as hypertension, arrhythmia and hypotension. The patient had been treated with phenoxybenzamine for 2 weeks preoperatively. Following induction of anesthesia with intravenous fentanyl, thiopental sodium and vecuronium, endotracheal intubation was performed. Anesthesia was maintained with nitrous oxide, oxygen and isoflurane administration. Blood pressure and pulse were controlled well with nitroprusside and isoflurane. After removal of tumor, blood pressure was controlled by Hartman's solution, packed red cell and dopamine administration. The patient tolerated well despite the episodic hemodynamic changes. Importance of preoperative preparation, sufficient sedation, smooth induction, complete analgesia, good muscle relaxation and stable cardiovascular control has been discussed.
Adrenal Glands ; Adult ; Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Inhalation* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Blood Pressure ; Dopamine ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypotension ; Inhalation* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Isoflurane* ; Muscle Relaxation ; Nitroprusside ; Nitrous Oxide ; Oxygen ; Phenoxybenzamine ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Thiopental ; Vecuronium Bromide

Local or general anesthesia is essential for safe operation. Patients in good preoperative condition are relatively to tolerable to the operation, but the patients in poor preoperative condition have the high mortality and morbidity during and after the operation. Therefore, we should choose the anesthetic agents and methods, which cause little effect to the patient's life. Among the intraventricular blocks, bundle branch is the most common type, and left bundle branch block may progress to a more serious condition of complete heart block. Optimal anesthetic management of patients with cardiovascular disease requires a thorough knowledge of normal cardiac physiology, the circulatory effects of the various anesthetic agents, and the pathophysiology and treatment of these diseases. The authors successfully performed balanced anesthesia in operation of a 63 year old female patient who showed complete left bundle branch block pattern in a preoperative electrocardiographic tracing without any subjective symptoms.
Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics ; Balanced Anesthesia* ; Bundle-Branch Block* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Block ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Physiology

Local or general anesthesia is essential for safe operation. Patients in good preoperative condition are relatively to tolerable to the operation, but the patients in poor preoperative condition have the high mortality and morbidity during and after the operation. Therefore, we should choose the anesthetic agents and methods, which cause little effect to the patient's life. Among the intraventricular blocks, bundle branch is the most common type, and left bundle branch block may progress to a more serious condition of complete heart block. Optimal anesthetic management of patients with cardiovascular disease requires a thorough knowledge of normal cardiac physiology, the circulatory effects of the various anesthetic agents, and the pathophysiology and treatment of these diseases. The authors successfully performed balanced anesthesia in operation of a 63 year old female patient who showed complete left bundle branch block pattern in a preoperative electrocardiographic tracing without any subjective symptoms.
Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics ; Balanced Anesthesia* ; Bundle-Branch Block* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Block ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Physiology