BACKGROUND: Hypothermia below 36℃ is a common problem during arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Geriatric patients are more vulnerable to perioperative hypothermia. The present study compared postoperative hypothermia between geriatric and young adult patients receiving arthroscopic shoulder surgery. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from a geriatric group (aged 65 or more, n = 29), and a control group (aged 19–64, n = 33) using the anesthesia records of patients who had undergone arthroscopic shoulder surgery. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of hypothermia upon arrival in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). The secondary outcome measure was the decrease in body temperature from admission into the operating room to admission into the PACU. RESULTS: The incidence of hypothermia was 93.1% and 54.5% in the geriatric and control groups, respectively, demonstrating a significant difference between the groups (P < 0.001). Comparison between body temperature revealed a decrease of 1.5 ± 0.6℃ and 1.0 ± 0.4℃ in the geriatric and control groups, respectively, showing a significant difference between the groups (P < 0.001). The degree of hypothermia was significantly different between the groups (P = 0.027). No shivering was observed in either of the two groups, but the incidence of thermal discomfort was higher in the geriatric group than in the control group (P = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: In geriatric patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery, both the incidence of postoperative hypothermia and the associated temperature drop are more prominent than those in young adult patients. Additional warming methods will be needed to prevent postoperative hypothermia in geriatric patients.
Anesthesia ; Arthroscopy ; Body Temperature ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Incidence ; Operating Rooms ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Retrospective Studies ; Shivering ; Shoulder* ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Hypothermia (< 36°C) is common during arthroscopic shoulder surgery. It is known that 30 to 60 minutes of prewarming can prevent perioperative hypothermia by decreasing body heat redistribution. However, the effect of short-term prewarming (less than 30 minutes) on body temperature in such surgery has not been reported yet. Therefore, the aim of this prospective study was to investigate the effect of short-term prewarming for less than 30 minutes using forced-air warming device on body temperature during interscalene brachial plexus block (ISBPB) procedure in arthroscopic shoulder surgery before general anesthesia. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients scheduled for arthroscopic shoulder surgery to receive either cotton blanket (not pre-warmed, group C, n = 26) or forced-air warming device (pre-warmed, group F, n = 26). Temperature was recorded every 15 minutes from entering the operating room until leaving post-anesthetic care unit (PACU). Shivering and thermal comfort scale were evaluated during their stay in the PACU. RESULTS: There were significant differences in body temperature between group C and group F from 30 minutes after induction of general anesthesia to 30 minutes after arrival in the PACU (P < 0.05). The median duration of prewarming in group F was 14 min (range: 9-23 min). There was no significant difference in thermal comfort scale or shivering between the two groups in PACU. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that short-term prewarming using a forced-air warming device during ISBPB in arthroscopic shoulder surgery had beneficial effect on perioperative hypothermia.
Anesthesia, General ; Body Temperature* ; Brachial Plexus Block ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Operating Rooms ; Prospective Studies ; Shivering ; Shoulder*

BACKGROUND: Hypothermia (< 36°C) is common during arthroscopic shoulder surgery. It is known that 30 to 60 minutes of prewarming can prevent perioperative hypothermia by decreasing body heat redistribution. However, the effect of short-term prewarming (less than 30 minutes) on body temperature in such surgery has not been reported yet. Therefore, the aim of this prospective study was to investigate the effect of short-term prewarming for less than 30 minutes using forced-air warming device on body temperature during interscalene brachial plexus block (ISBPB) procedure in arthroscopic shoulder surgery before general anesthesia. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients scheduled for arthroscopic shoulder surgery to receive either cotton blanket (not pre-warmed, group C, n = 26) or forced-air warming device (pre-warmed, group F, n = 26). Temperature was recorded every 15 minutes from entering the operating room until leaving post-anesthetic care unit (PACU). Shivering and thermal comfort scale were evaluated during their stay in the PACU. RESULTS: There were significant differences in body temperature between group C and group F from 30 minutes after induction of general anesthesia to 30 minutes after arrival in the PACU (P < 0.05). The median duration of prewarming in group F was 14 min (range: 9-23 min). There was no significant difference in thermal comfort scale or shivering between the two groups in PACU. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that short-term prewarming using a forced-air warming device during ISBPB in arthroscopic shoulder surgery had beneficial effect on perioperative hypothermia.
Anesthesia, General ; Body Temperature* ; Brachial Plexus Block ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Operating Rooms ; Prospective Studies ; Shivering ; Shoulder*

Systemic sclerosis or scleroderma is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by excessive fibrosis and, vasculopathy, with multiorgan involvement. Anesthetic considerations in patients with systemic sclerosis must take into account the degree of organ dysfunction as well as airway management. Regional anesthesia is a preferable alternative to general anesthesia despite the reports of prolonged sensory block. Spinal anesthesia in patients with systemic sclerosis has been reported for only one patients undergoing cesarean section. Concurrent systemic sclerosis and pregnancy raise many obstetric and anesthetic considerations. We describe the case of a pregnant patient with systemic sclerosis who had a history of dyspnea and interstitial lung disease. The cesarean section was performed uneventfully under spinal anesthesia.
Airway Management ; Anesthesia, Conduction ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Cesarean Section* ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial* ; Pregnancy ; Scleroderma, Systemic*

Bilateral vocal cord palsy (BVCP) is a rare complication of thyroid surgery, and it is confusing and frustrating for both patients and medical staff. We found postoperative vocal cord dysfunction using a McGrath videolaryngoscope from a patient with stridor and dyspnea after thyroidectomy performed with intraoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring. Soon after, the patient was diagnosed with BVCP by an ENT otolaryngologist using a laryngeal fiberscope. The patient underwent exploration and received a permanent tracheostoma. The possibility of false negative findings from intraoperative nerve monitoring should considered if there is suspicion of BVCP in a high risk patient after thyroidectomy. The McGrath video-laryngoscope can be useful for early discovery of postoperative vocal cord dysfunction.
Dyspnea ; Humans ; Medical Staff ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; Respiratory Sounds ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroidectomy* ; Vocal Cord Dysfunction ; Vocal Cord Paralysis* ; Vocal Cords*

BACKGROUND: The increased pain at the latent phase can be associated with dysfunctional labor as well as increases in cesarean delivery frequency. We aimed to research the effect of the degree of pain at the time of epidural analgesia on the entire labor process including the mode of delivery. METHODS: We performed epidural analgesia to 102 nulliparous women on patients' request. We divided the group into three based on NRS (numeric rating scale) at the moment of epidural analgesia; mild pain, NRS 1-4; moderate pain, NRS 5-7; severe pain, NRS 8-10. The primary outcome was the mode of delivery (normal labor or cesarean delivery). RESULTS: There were significant differences in the mode of delivery among groups. Patients with severe labor pain had a significantly higher cesarean delivery compared to patients with moderate labor pain (P = 0.006). The duration of the first and second stage of labor, fetal heart rate, use of oxytocin and premature rupture of membranes had no differences in the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our research showed that the degree of pain at the time of epidural analgesia request might influence the rate of cesarean delivery. Further research would be necessary for clarifying the mechanism that the augmentation of pain affects the mode of delivery.
Analgesia, Epidural* ; Delivery, Obstetric ; Female ; Heart Rate, Fetal ; Humans ; Labor Pain* ; Membranes ; Oxytocin ; Pregnancy ; Rupture

BACKGROUND: Opioid induced hyperalgesia (OIH) is related with high opioid dosage, a long duration of opioid administration, and abrupt discontinuation of infused opioids in anesthetic settings. Ketamine is known to attenuate OIH efficiently, but methods of administration and methods to quantify and assess a decrease in OIH vary. We demonstrated the existence of remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia and investigated the ability of ketamine to attenuate OIH. METHODS: Seventy-five patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecologic surgery under remifentanil-based anesthesia were assigned to one of the following groups: (1) group RL (remifentanil 0.05 microg/kg/min), (2) group RH (remifentanil 0.3 microg/kg/min), or (3) group KRH (remifentanil 0.3 microg/kg/min + ketamine 0.5 mg/kg bolus with 5 microg/kg/min infusion intraoperatively). Desflurane was administered for maintenance of anesthesia to target bispectral index scores (40-60) and hemodynamic parameters (heart rate and blood pressure < +/- 20% of baseline values). All parameters related to OIH and its attenuation induced by ketamine were investigated. RESULTS: There was no significant difference among the three groups related to demographic and anesthetic parameters except the end-tidal concentration of desflurane. Additional analgesic consumption, numerical rating scale scores at 6 and 24 h, and cumulative fentanyl dose were significantly higher in group RH than in the other two groups. The value difference of the Touch-Test sensory evaluation was significantly higher negative in group RH than in the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia is significantly attenuated by intraoperative bolus and infusion of ketamine. Ketamine also decreased tactile sensitization, as measured by Touch-Test sensory evaluation.
Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia ; Blood Pressure ; Central Nervous System Sensitization ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia* ; Ketamine*

Several factors can affect the perioperative immune function. We evaluated the effect of propofol and desflurane anesthesia on the surgery-induced immune perturbation in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery. The patients were randomly assigned to receive propofol (n = 20) or desflurane (n = 20) anesthesia. The total and differential white blood cell counts were determined with lymphocyte subpopulations before and 1 hr after anesthesia induction and at 24 hr postoperatively. Plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 were also measured. Both propofol and desflurane anesthesia preserved the IL-2/IL-4 and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio. Leukocytes were lower in the propofol group than in the desflurane group at 1 hr after induction (median [quartiles], 4.98 [3.87-6.31] vs. 5.84 [5.18-7.94] 10(3)/microL) and 24 hr postoperatively (6.92 [5.54-6.86] vs. 7.62 [6.22-9.21] 10(3)/microL). NK cells significantly decreased 1 hr after induction in the propofol group (0.41 [0.34-0.53] to 0.25 [0.21-0.33] 10(3)/microL), but not in the desflurane group (0.33 [0.29-0.48] to 0.38 [0.30-0.56] 10(3)/microL). Our findings indicate that both propofol and desflurane anesthesia for breast cancer surgery induce a favorable immune response in terms of preservation of IL-2/IL-4 and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio in the perioperative period. With respect to leukocytes and NK cells, desflurane anesthesia is associated with less adverse immune responses than propofol anesthesia during surgery for breast cancer. (Clinical trial registration at https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris number: KCT0000939)
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anesthesia/adverse effects ; Anesthetics, Inhalation/*therapeutic use ; Anesthetics, Intravenous/*therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms/immunology/*surgery ; *CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-2/blood ; Interleukin-4/blood ; Isoflurane/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Propofol/*therapeutic use ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: The ability to explore the anatomy has improved our appreciation of the brachial anatomy and the quality of regional anesthesia. Using real-time ultrasonography, we investigated the cross-sectional anatomy of the brachial plexus and of vessels at the axillary fossa in Koreans. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-one patients scheduled to undergo surgery in the region below the elbow were enrolled after giving their informed written consent. Using the 5-12 MHz linear probe of an ultrasound system, we examined cross-sectional images of the brachial plexus in the supine position with the arm abducted by 90degrees, the shoulder externally rotated, and the forearm flexed by 90degrees at the axillary fossa. The results of the nerve positions were expressed on a 12-section pie chart and the numbers of arteries and veins were reported. RESULTS: Applying gentle pressure to prevent vein collapse, the positions of the nerves changed easily and showed a clockwise order around the axillary artery (AA). The most frequent positions were observed in the 10-11 section (79.2%) for the median, 1-2 section (79.3%) for the ulnar, 3-5 section (78.4%) for the radial, and 8-9 section (86.9%) for the musculocutaneous nerve. We also noted anatomical variations consisting of double arteries (9.2%) and multiple axillary veins (87%). CONCLUSIONS: Using real-time ultrasonography, we found that the anatomical pattern of the major nerves in Koreans was about 80% of the frequent position of individual nerves, 90.8% of the single AA, and 87% of multiple veins around the AA.
Anatomy, Cross-Sectional ; Anesthesia, Conduction ; Arm ; Arteries ; Axilla ; Axillary Artery ; Axillary Vein ; Brachial Plexus* ; Elbow ; Forearm ; Humans ; Musculocutaneous Nerve ; Shoulder ; Supine Position ; Ultrasonography* ; Veins

Vasovagal syncope is one of the most common causes of transient syncope during anesthesia for elective surgery in patients with a history of syncope and requires special attention and management of anesthetics. The causes and pathophysiological mechanism of this condition are poorly understood, but it has a benign clinical course and recovers spontaneously. However, in some cases, this condition may cause cardiovascular collapse resulting in major ischemic organ injury and be life threatening. Herein we report a case and review literature, regarding completing anesthesia safely during an elective surgery of a 59-year-old female patient with history of loss of consciousness due to suspected vasovagal syncope followed by cardiovascular collapse and cardiac arrest, which required cardiopulmonary resuscitation and insertion of a temporary pacemaker and intra-aortic balloon pump immediately after a fine-needle aspiration biopsy of a lung nodule located in the right middle lobe.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Anesthesia ; Anesthetics ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Female ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Middle Aged ; Syncope ; Syncope, Vasovagal* ; Unconsciousness