BACKGROUND: Epidural opioids and local anesthetics provide excellent postoperative analgesia. In addition, soft tissue and intra-articular injection of bupivacaine and morphine may have a beneficial analgesic effects after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study was designed to assess the additional analgesic effect of combined soft tissue, and intra-articular injection of morphine and bupivacaine in patients undergoing TKA under spinal anesthesia with continuous epidural morphine and bupivacaine injection. METHODS: Forty patients aged 55 to 75 years for a TKA under spinal anesthesia were randomly divided into 2 groups. The both group of patients received a continuous epidural infusion using a two-day infusor containing morphine 5 mg in 100 ml of 0.125% bupivacaine. The experimental group of patients (n = 20) received soft tissue, and intra-articular injection containing 10 mg morphine in 100 ml bupivacaine 0.125%. The control group of patients (n = 20) received soft tissue, and intra-articular injection of 100 ml normal saline. Postoperative pain was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h postoperatively and side effects, such as hypotension, nausea, vomiting, pruritus, and respiratory distress were recorded. Whenever patients demanded supplemental analgesia, diclofenac sodium 75 mg was injected intramuscularly and the need for additional analgesic requirement was recorded. RESULTS: The experimental group of patients had significantly lower pain score and analgesic requirements than the control group for 2 days. There was no difference in the incidence of side effects between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Combined soft tissue, and intra-articular injection of morphine and bupivacaine with continuous epidural morphine and bupivacaine infusion reduces postoperative pain and supplementary analgesic requirements than continuous epidural morphine and bupivacaine infusion only in patients undergoing TKA.
Analgesia ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Anesthetics, Local ; Arthroplasty* ; Bupivacaine* ; Diclofenac ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Infusion Pumps ; Injections, Intra-Articular* ; Knee* ; Morphine* ; Nausea ; Pain, Postoperative ; Pruritus ; Visual Analog Scale ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: Recent studies show that chorioamnionitis has an important role in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD) and it induces thymic involution. The purpose of this study is to test the usefulness of thymic size at birth as a predictor of BPD. METHODS: This study was conducted on 91 very low birth weight infants of <1, 500 g with mean gestational age of 29.3 weeks and mean birth weight of 1, 161 g who were admitted at NICU of Dong Kang General Hospital for past 4 years of whom 21 infants had BPD. Thymic size was measured on routine chest radiographs taken in the first 3 hours after birth and measured as the ratio between the width of the cardiothymic shadow at the level of the carina and that of the thorax at the costophrenic angles (CT/ T). RESULTS: Correlation of thymic size with gestational age was statistically significant (P=0.003). CT/T of BPD group was smaller than that of non-BPD group (0.27+/-0.06, 0.33+/-0.07, respectively, P<0.01). A significant positive correlation between small thymus at birth and BPD was detected (P=0.003, odds ratio, 21.7), but not in other disease groups. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that a small thymus at birth on the chest radiograph could be used as an early predictive parameter of the BPD.
Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia* ; Chorioamnionitis ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Odds Ratio ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Thorax ; Thymus Gland

BACKGROUND: Compared to inhalation and local anesthetics, little is known about the mechanisms of vascular effects of intravenous anesthetics. So we studied the effects of thiopental sodium, midazolam, propofol and ketamine on the endothelial nitric oxide-cGMP pathway and also on the membrane cyclooxygenase pathway. METHODS: After isolating ring strips of rat thoracic aorta, we measured the relaxation ED50 values of the four intravenous anesthetics from the maximally contracted using phenylephrine 10(-5)M. Then using L-NAME and methylene blue, we studied the effects of the drugs upon the NO-cGMP system. In addition, another pathway of vasodilation through membrane prostaglandin metabolism was examined using the membrane cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacine. RESULTS: The following results were obtained. 1. Thiopental sodium (10(-5)M) did not have any effect on the PE induced contractions of aortic rings but midazolam (10(-6)M), propofol (10(-4)M) and ketamine (10(-3)M) significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the PE induced contractions of aortic rings. 2. Midazolam 10(-6)M and propofol 10(-4)M induced relaxation of aortic rings were recovered with L-NAME pretreatment but ketamine induced relaxation was not recovered with L-NAME. 3. Midazolam 10(-6)M induced relaxation was not recovered with methylene blue pretreatment, but propofol 10(-4)M induced relaxation was recovered with methylene blue. 4. Indomethacine pretreatment induced further relaxation of midazolam or propofol induced relaxation of aortic rings. CONCLUSIONS: Midazolam, propofol and ketamine, but not thiopental sodium, relax rat thoracic aortic rings, and these relaxation effects of midazolam and propofol are endothelium dependent. Cyclooxygenase inhibition is related at least in part to midazolam or propofol induced relaxation, and guanylate cyclase to propofol induced relaxation.
Anesthetics, Intravenous ; Anesthetics, Local ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Endothelium ; Guanylate Cyclase ; Indomethacin ; Inhalation ; Ketamine* ; Membranes ; Metabolism ; Methylene Blue ; Midazolam* ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide* ; Phenylephrine ; Propofol* ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Rats* ; Relaxation ; Thiopental* ; Vasodilation

AIMThe structure of the human penile venous system has been well studied, but disappointing outcomes of penile venous surgery in certain patients have called into question on the anatomy. We planned to extend the anatomic knowledge with the ultimate goal of improving operative success.

METHODSThirty-five patients, who had undergone penile venous surgery, complained of poor erection developed gradually 6 months to 7 years postoperatively. Cavernosography was performed again during their return visit. Seven new patients underwent spongiosography followed by immediate cavernosography. Eleven male cadavers were carefully dissected. The anatomical findings were applied to venous surgery in 155 patients, who were then followed with the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire-5 (IIEF-5).

RESULTSImaging observation demonstrated that the deep dorsal vein served as a common vessel of the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum. A prominent cavernosal vein was found coursing along each corpus cavernosum distally to the glans, in contrast to its reported description as a short segment at the penile hilum. All cadavers had two sets of para-arterial veins sandwiching the dorsal artery. In 148 men available for follow-up, their mean IIEF-5 score was 9.3 preoperative and increased to 22.7 after the operation. The 88.5% (131/148) of the patients believed that venous stripping was a worthy treatment modality. Five cases required sildenafil to maintain their potentia, which was not working preoperatively.

CONCLUSIONSThe failure of penile venous surgery has traditionally been ascribed to penile vein regeneration. However, our finding of a long and independent cavernosal vein and an independent set of para-arterial veins may be the principal cause in patients experiencing poor postoperative results.

Aged ; Dissection ; Erectile Dysfunction ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Phlebography ; Veins ; anatomy & histology ; surgery

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain after a spinal laminectomy has very harmful effects on human physiology, and many people are trying to control it more easily and safely. There are controversies in methods used for controlling postoperative pain after a spinal laminectomy. The purpose of this study was to examine an effective way to control postoperative pain after a spinal laminectomy. METHODS: Ninety patients (ASA I-II, aged 40 to 70) scheduled for a spinal laminectomy were divided into three groups. In group A, we administered fentanyl 1,000 microgram and morphine 5 mg (mixed in 0.9% normal saline) using the continuous epidural infuser; in group B, we administered fentanyl 500 microgram and morphine 5 mg and 0.25% bupivacaine (mixed in 0.9% normal saline) using the continuous epidural infuser; in group C, we administered fentanyl 1,500 microgram and morphine 10 mg (mixed in 0.9% normal saline) using the continuous IV infuser. We compared effects between the continuous epidural infusion and the continuous intravenous infusion by using the visual analogue scale and side effects. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between continuous epidural infusion groups. When the continuous epidural infusion groups and the continuous IV infusion group were compared, there were significant differences in 3 hr, 6 hr, and 12 hr VAS scores (P < 0.01). The incidence of side effects was very low, and there was no significant difference in side effects between the continuous epidural infusion and the continuous IV infusion groups. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that continuous epidural infusion methods were more effective than the continuous IV infusion method, but none of them showed satisfactory postoperative pain control in the early periods.
Bupivacaine ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Laminectomy* ; Morphine ; Pain, Postoperative ; Physiology

As leiomyosarcomas of smooth muscle origin are rare tumors found in adults, they are even more uncommon among children. Therefore, most of the existing literatures concerning pediatric leiomyosarcomas has been limited to case reports. More recently, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies revealed that some tumors may have properties more suggestive of nerve cells or vascular endothelial cells, rendering the gastrointestinal stromal tumor a more popular term. We experienced a 13 year old boy who was diagnosed and treated as iron deficiency anemia. Even after iron therapy, he had persistent anemia and endoscopic examination revealed a huge mass in the gastric cardia. Proximal gastrectomy was performed with margins free of tumor. The tumor cells showed high mitotic activity suggesting malignant nature. The immunohistochemical staining was positive for smooth muscle actin while negative for S-100 protein. Brief review of the literatures are presented.
Actins ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Cardia ; Child ; Endothelial Cells ; Gastrectomy ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Humans ; Iron ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neurons ; S100 Proteins

Pseudoaneurysm occurs rarely after percutaneous cannulation of a peripheral artery. A 90 years old male patient with cholangiocarcinoma of distal common bile duct was underwent palliative surgery. Arterial cannulation of a dorsalis pedis artery was done for continuous arterial blood pressure monitoring and blood sampling, and it was removed 7 days after cannulation. Pseudoaneurysm was developed 25 days after cannulation. We report the pseudoaneurysm of dorsalis pedis artery and describe the related mechanisms and predisposing factors.
Aged, 80 and over ; Aneurysm, False* ; Arterial Pressure ; Arteries* ; Catheterization* ; Causality ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Common Bile Duct ; Humans ; Male ; Palliative Care

BACKGROUND: Most surgical patients experience preoperative anxiety. This anxiety can effect the amount of preanesthetic medication and anesthetic agents needed, and contribute to postoperative pain. Music has been recognized as a way to reduce anxiety and fear. The effect of hymn and sutra-chanting on the preanesthetic patient's anxiety in the operating room were studied. METHODS: 98 patients were divided into two groups according to the religionist or atheism. Group I(n=50, religionist) and Group II(n=48, atheism) listened to hymn or sutra-chanting according to the patient's religion and choice. At ward, hemodynamic variables including systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate were measured as control values. Hemodynamic variables and measurements of anxiety score with Hamilton anxiety rating scale were made at pre-music and post-music in the operating room. Also, patient's response to the music was measured on the postoperative 5-6th day. RESULTS: There were no difference between ward, pre-music, and post-music in terms of systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and pulse rate except the systolic pressure at pre-music that is grater than that of controls in both groups. Both group, anxiety score at post-music was significantly lower than that of pre-music (10.2+/-3.4 vs 4.4+/-2.9, 11.0+/-3.2 vs 5.7+/-3.1). At post-music, anxiety score in Group I showed significant reduced compaired with Group II (p<0.05). Patients showed relatively good satisfaction with music in both groups. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that music with hymn and Sutra-chanting were effective to reduce preanesthetic anxiety in both religionist group and atheism group.
Anesthesia ; Anesthetics ; Anxiety* ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Music ; Operating Rooms* ; Pain, Postoperative ; Preanesthetic Medication ; Premedication

Intrathecal clonidine injection induces analgesia without significant respiratory depression, but decreases blood pressure and causes sedation. Injection of spinal cholinesterase inhibitor alone increases blood pressure in animals, and enhances clonidine induced analgesia. To evaluate the effect of pretreated pyridostigmine on the change of blood pressure and heart rate, clonidine was injected intrathecally in cats. We divided fifteen cats into three groups and administered saline(0.5 cc) to group 1, pyridostigmine(0.5 cc, 2.5 mg) to group 2, pyridostigmine(0.5 cc, 2.5 mg) and glycopyrrolate(0.5 cc, 0.1 mg) to group 3 before 20 minute of clonidine injection and measured mean arterial pressure, heart rate, P CO2 and central venous pressure. The results were as follows: 1)After clonidine injection, all mean arterial pressure values were significantly reduced in group 1, but in group 3, 20, 30 and 40 minutes values were significantly reduced, and 10, 40 minutes values after clonidine injection were not reduced significantly in group 2 compared to group 1. 2)After clonidine injection, heart rates were significantly reduced in all groups, but there was no significant difference between group 1, group 2 and group 3. 3)There was no significant difference of central venous pressure in any groups. 4)There was no significant difference for reversal of pyridostigmines effect by glycopyrrolate. Based on these results, these data suggest that pyridostigmine pretreatment counteracts clonidine induced hypotension, but further study of spinal az adrenergic-cholinergic combination for pain therapy is needed before clinical application.
Analgesia ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure* ; Cats* ; Central Venous Pressure ; Cholinesterases ; Clonidine* ; Glycopyrrolate ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Hypotension ; Pyridostigmine Bromide* ; Respiratory Insufficiency

The continuous epidural anesthesia is an effective method for postoperative pain control and improvement of pulmonary function. A 39-year-old man was scheduled for postoperative intestinal obstruction. After adhesiolysis under the general anesthesia, epidural anesthesia was done for postoperative pain control. Because an accidental dural puncture was noticed, the adjacent interspace of epidural anesthesia was tried and catheter was inserted. Respiratory depression, hypotension, loss of consciousness and cardiac arrest were developed about 20 minutes after the first injection of 1% lidocain 10ml. Endotracheal intubation was performed and the respiration was controlled using 100% oxygen. Self respiration and alert mentality returned after 180 minutes. No CSF leakage, delayed onset time, severe hypotension, complete recovery may be the result of subdural anesthesia and postoperative hypoxia. But radiological examination was not performed.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General ; Anoxia ; Catheters ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Oxygen ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Punctures ; Respiration ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Unconsciousness