Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is one of the most difficult pain syndromes to treat. Invasive treatments may be considered when patients fail to obtain adequate pain relief from noninvasive treatment approaches. Here, we present three cases of PHN in the mandibular branch treated with ultrasound-assisted mental nerve block and pulsed radiofrequency treatment. None of the patients had adequate pain relief from the medical therapy, so we performed the mental nerve block on the affected side under ultrasound assistance. Two patients showed satisfactory pain relief continuously over 12 months without any further interventions, whereas one patient only had short-term pain relief. For the patient had short-term pain relief we performed pulsed radiofrequency treatment (PRFT) on the left mental nerve under ultrasound assistance. After PRFT, the patient had adequate pain relief for 6 months and there was no need for further management.
Humans ; Nerve Block* ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic* ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment* ; Ultrasonography

The mortality rate of patients with acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) after liver transplantation is very high. Autoimmune hepatitis and diabetes mellitus (DM) is the risk factors of GVHD. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-homozygote donor with one way donor-recipient HLA matching is on the risk of fatal GVHD following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). If recipient has more than one risk factors of GVHD and is going to LDLT, HLA typing is needed to identify donor-dominant one-way HLA matching and helpful to diagnose and treat early and survival of patient will be improved. We report a case of GVHD after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma and DM who received an allograft from his HLA-homozygous son.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune ; Histocompatibility Testing ; HLA Antigens ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Risk Factors ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: This study analysed patterns of requests for repeated blood cultures and the microorganisms isolated in follow-up cultures. METHODS: The frequencies and intervals of repeated blood cultures performed during January and February of 2010 at seven university-affiliated hospitals in Korea were evaluated. Results of microbiological cultures at follow-up were analysed with respect to pathogen replication, immune clearance, appearance of new pathogens, and skin contaminants. RESULTS: Among 3,072 patients who received repeated blood cultures, the average number of requests was 3.2. Of the 5,241 follow-up blood culture events recorded, durations of 1, 2, and 3 days between cultures were identified for 23.1%, 21.4%, and 15.0% of events, respectively. Relative to each initial culture, persistent pathogen growth in subsequent culture(s) accounted for 2.3% of events, whereas immune clearance was confirmed in 8.5% of events. Previously undetected pathogens were isolated in 5.2% of the follow-up cultures, the majority of which grew after an interval of six days. Skin contaminants were detected in 7.6% of the repeated cultures, and 76.1% of the follow-ups displayed no growth of microorganisms. CONCLUSION: The most common numbers of repeat culture requests were two and three, and these were typically performed within three days of the initial culture. Among the follow-up cultures, new pathogens were identified in 5.2%, and the majority of this group likely presented for follow-up during a new disease episode.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Sepsis ; Skin

BACKGROUND: We studied the differences in airway assessment factors among old, middle, and young age groups, and evaluated the frequency and causes of difficult intubation among these groups. METHODS: Patients were divided into young (< 40 yr, n = 75 ), middle (40-59 yr, n = 83), and old (> or = 60 yr, n = 89) group. Airway assessment factors such as head and neck movement, thyromental distance, interincisor gap, dentition, Mallampati score, and Arne score were assessed. After muscle relaxation, cervical joint rigidity and Cormack-Lehane (C-L) grade were assessed. The differences in airway assessment factors between difficult (C-L grade 3, 4) and easy (C-L grade 1, 2) intubation were then examined. Logistic regression analysis was also carried out to identify the extent to which airway assessment factors reflected difficult intubation. RESULTS: As aging, head and neck movement, thyromental distance, and interincisor gap decreased, the grade of dentition, Mallampati score, cervical joint rigidity and the ratio of Arne score > 11 increased. In the old and middle group, the incidence of difficult intubation was increased compared with the young group. Dentition in the young group, Mallampati score and interinsisor gap in the middle group and Mallampati score, cervical joint rigidity in the old group respectively predicted difficult intubation. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to young individuals, middle-aged or elderly adults are likely to experience more difficulty in endotracheal intubation and its predictive factors could vary by age group.
Adult ; Aged ; Aging ; Dentition ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Joints ; Laryngoscopy ; Logistic Models ; Muscle Relaxation ; Neck

Hemifacial spasm is defined as unilateral, involuntary, irregular twitching of all or parts of the muscles innervated by facial nerves. Here, we present a case of recurrent hemifacial spasm after microvascular decompression (MVD) treated with pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment with good results. A 35-year-old woman suffered from recurrent hemifacial spasm after MVD that was refractory to medical treatment and botulinum toxin injections. We attempted a left facial nerve block twice. Then, we applied PRF at a maximum temperature of 42degrees C for 120 sec. Some response was observed, so we applied PRF two additional times. The frequency of twitch decreased from 3-4 Hz to < 0.5 Hz, and subjective severity on a visual analogue scale also decreased from 10/10 to 2-3/10. PRF treatment might be an effective medical treatment for refractory hemifacial spasm and has fewer complications and is less invasive compared with those of surgery.
Botulinum Toxins ; Facial Nerve ; Female ; Hemifacial Spasm ; Humans ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery ; Muscles ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment

A 60-year-old man presented with pain on the left cheek and lateral nose. The patient had been diagnosed with facial herpes zoster in the left V2 area 6 months previously. Medical treatment was prescribed for 6 months but it had little effect. We blocked the left infraorbital nerve under ultrasound guidance, but pain relief was short term. Therefore, we performed pulsed radiofrequency treatment on the left infraorbital nerve under ultrasound guidance. Six months after the procedure, the reduction of pain was still maintained, and there was no need for further management.
Cheek ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Nose ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to assess the effects of pneumoperitoneal pressure (PP) and positional changes on the respiratory mechanics during laparoscopy assisted colectomy. METHODS: Peak inspiratory pressure, plateau pressure, lung compliance, and airway resistance were recorded in PP of 10 mmHg and 15 mmHg, with the position change in 5 steps: head-down at 20degrees, head-down at 10degrees, neutral position, head-up at 10degrees and head-up at 20degrees. RESULTS: When the patient was placed head-down, the position change accentuated the effects of pneumoperitoneum on respiratory mechanics. However, when the patient was placed in a head-up position during pneumoperitoneum the results showed no pattern. In the 20degrees head-up position with the PP being 10 mmHg, the compliance increased from 30.6 to 32.6 ml/cmH2O compared with neutral position (P = 0.002). However with the PP being 15 mmHg, the compliance had not changed compared with neutral position (P = 0.989). In 20degrees head-down position with the PP of 10 mmHg, the compliance was measured as 24.2 ml/cmH2O. This was higher than that for patients in the 10degrees head-down position with a PP of 15 mmHg, which was recorded as 21.2 ml/cmH2O. Also in the airway resistance, the patient in the 20degrees head-down position with the PP of 10 mmHg showed 15.8 cmH2O/L/sec, while the patient in the 10degrees head-down position with the PP of 15 mmHg showed 16.2 cmH2O/L/sec of airway resistance. These results were not statistically significant but still suggested that the head-down position accentuated the effects of pneumoperitoneum on respiratory mechanics. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that respiratory mechanics are affected by the patient position and the level of PP - the latter having greater effect.
Airway Resistance ; Colectomy ; Compliance ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Lung Compliance ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Respiratory Mechanics

BACKGROUND: We made a comparative study on the antiemetic effect of midazolam and ondansetron added to intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) using fentanyl with gynecologic patients undergoing pelviscopic surgery. METHODS: The PCA using 20 microg/kg of fentanyl was started in all groups postoperatively. A dose of 16 mg of ondansetron was added to the PCA of group O (n = 30). A dose of 5 mg of midazolam was added to the PCA of group M (n = 30). While 16 mg of ondansetron and 5 mg of midazolam were added to the PCA of group MO (n = 30). Total volume of the PCA was 60 ml, and the PCA system was programmed to deliver 0.5 ml/h of continuous doses and a 0.5 ml bolus on demand, with a 15 minutes lockout interval. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), sedation score, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and rescue drug dose for PONV were investigated at the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), 6 hours, and 24 hours after recovery. RESULTS: The incidence of PONV in group MO was significantly lower than in group O at PACU, 24 hours after recovery (P < 0.05). The sedation score and VAS pain score showed no differences among all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Midazolam added to PCA using fentanyl proved more effective than ondansetron in preventing PONV without adverse effects.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Antiemetics ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Incidence ; Midazolam ; Ondansetron ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

Seizure associated with antiemetics is rare. We report seizure associated with a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist in a 38 years old female. The patient underwent ureterorenoscopic lithotripsy due to left upper ureter stone. After operation, the patient complained of nausea in the postanesthetic recovery unit. In order to subside symptom, the patient was administrated 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, palonosetron, 0.075 mg intravenously. Shortly after administration of that, the patient developed generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The symptom was subsided after midazolam and thiopental sodium were injected. But 40 minutes later, seizure recurred and subsided with midazolam again. The patient recovered completely without any specific sequelae.
Antiemetics ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Isoquinolines ; Lithotripsy ; Midazolam ; Nausea ; Quinuclidines ; Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3 ; Seizures ; Thiopental ; Ureter

BACKGROUND: Optiscope(TM) is a newly developed video stylet device. This study evaluated and compared the hemodynamic changes observed after endotracheal intubation with video stylet and after conventional laryngoscopic endotracheal intubation. METHODS: Fifty-eight adult patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status class 1 or 2, undergoing general anesthesia, were randomized into two groups: one group of patients were intubated using video stylet (n = 29) and the other group were intubated using direct laryngoscope (n = 29). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), POGO (percentage of glottic opening) score, time for intubation and degree of sore throat were recorded. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the SBP, MAP, DBP, HR, and the sore throat incidence between the two groups. Optiscope(TM) produced better POGO scores, but time for intubation was longer than with conventional laryngoscope. CONCLUSIONS: Optiscope(TM), when compared with conventional laryngoscope for intubation, does not modify the hemodynamic response, but it provides a better view of the vocal cords.
Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Bronchoscopes ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laryngoscopes ; Pharyngitis ; Video Recording ; Vocal Cords