• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2017

Background: No study has compared lidocaine with articaine, each at a concentration of 4% and combined with epinephrine. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of 4% lidocaine with that of 4% articaine, with a concentration of 1:100,000 epinephrine added to each, in an inferior alveolar nerve block for surgery on impacted lower third molars. Method: This study was conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand. The randomized, single-blind, comparative split-mouth study was carried out in patients with symmetrically impacted lower third molars, as identified on panoramic radiographs. Each patient underwent surgery for the removal of the lower third molars by the same surgeon under local anesthesia at two separate visits, 3 weeks apart. The onset and duration of local anesthesia, intra-operative pain, surgical duration, and number of additional anesthetics administered were recorded. Results: The subjective and objective onset of action for the local anesthetics showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). However, the intra-operative pain, surgical duration, duration of local anesthesia, and number of additional anesthetics administered did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusion: The use of 4% articaine for the inferior alveolar nerve block was clinically more effective in the onset of subjective and objective anesthesia as compared with the use of 4% lidocaine. Based on the pain scores from the visual analogue scale, 4% lidocaine provided more analgesia during the procedure, and patients noted less intra-operative pain than with 4% articaine; however, the difference was not clinically significant.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.201-205
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• 2015

Background: This prospective, randomized, double-blind, clinical study was conducted to compare the effects of 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine (A100) and 4% articaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine (A200) on the vital signs and onset and duration of anesthesia in an inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB). Methods: In the first appointment, an IANB was performed by injecting A100 or A200 in 1 side of the mouth (right or left) randomly in patients referred for extraction of both their first mandibular molars. In the second appointment, the protocol was repeated and the other anesthetic solution was injected in the side that had not received the block in the previous session. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP) and pulse rate were measured during and 5 min after the injection. The onset and duration of anesthesia were also evaluated. Data were analyzed using t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test, and p-value was set at 0.05. Results: SBP and pulse rate changes were slightly more with A100; however, DBP changes were more with A200, although the differences were not significant (P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the parameters evaluated in this study. The onset and duration of anesthesia, and the changes in SBP, DBP, and pulse rate during and 5 min after the injection were the same in both the groups. Conclusions: For an IANB, A200 and A100 were equally efficient and successful in producing the block. Epinephrine concentration did not influence the effects of 4% articaine.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2011

Background: Since introduced by Gow-Gates GA in 1973, Gow-Gates mandibular nerve block (GMNB) has played an important role in the area of dental local anesthesia. However, compared to the conventional inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB), this technique seems to fail to attract the attentions of general practitioners in South Korea. The aim of this study was to prove the clinical real value, mainly the anesthetic efficacy, of GMNB in minor oral surgery. Methods: The study group comprised 40 patients (15 males and 25 females) who were randomly allocated to receive GMNB or IANB for extraction of third molars. Both techniques utilized two 1.8 ml dental cartridges of 2% lidocaine including 1:100,000 epinephrine for each patient. Pulpal and gingival tissue anesthesia of mandibular premolars and molars were recorded at 0, 15 and 40 minutes after administration of local anesthetics using both an electric pulp tester and a sharp dental explorer. Results: The success rates of pulpal and gingival tissue anesthesia in the IANB group were not significantly different from the GMNB group in overall efficacy. Patient's and operator's satisfaction ratings were also not significantly different between two groups. Interestingly, the injection pain of GMNB group was significantly lower than that of IANB group. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the anesthetic efficacy of pulpal and gingival tissue of GMNB was not inferior to that of IANB. The GMNB could be a good alternative of the IANB in most of minor oral surgical procedures.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the usefulness of ultrasound-guided femorosciatic nerve block by orthopaedist to operate the fracture around ankle. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients, who had an operation for fracture around the ankle under a ultrasound-guided femorosciatic nerve block from January to April 2010, were the targets of this study. We measured the time spent for the ultrasound-guided femorosciatic nerve block, the time taken to start the operation after the nerve block, the time taken to deflate the tourniquet because of a tourniquet pain, the time passed until feeling a postoperative pain after the operation, etc. We also studied the complications and satisfaction of the anesthesia. Results: It took 6.2 (3 to 12) minutes for the nerve block, 46.1 (28 to 75) minutes to start the operation, 52.5 (22 to 78) minutes until feeling a tourniquet pain and 11.5 (7.5 to 19) hours until starting to feeing a postoperative pain. There was no complication by anesthesia and 21 people (95.5%) were satisfied with anesthesia by ultrasound-guided femorosciatic nerve block. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided femorosciatic nerve block by orthopaedist in the fracture around ankle reduces anesthetic and nerve injury complication, and leads to high anesthetic success rate. Also it is considered as an effective method to alleviate postoperative pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.378-385
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• 2020

Background: The thoracic paravertebral block is an effective analgesic technique for postoperative pain management after breast surgery. The ultrasound-guided retrolaminar block (RLB) is a safer alternative to conventional paravertebral block. Thus, we assessed the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided RLB for postoperative pain management after breast surgery. Methods: Patients requiring breast surgery were randomly allocated to group C (retrolaminar injection with saline) and group R (RLB with local anesthetic mixture). The RLB was performed at the level of T3 with local anesthetic mixture (0.75% ropivacaine 20 mL + 2% lidocaine 10 mL) under general anesthesia before the skin incision. The primary outcome was cumulative morphine consumption using intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) at 24 hour postoperatively. The secondary outcomes were the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at 1, 6, 24, and 48 hour postoperatively and the occurrence of adverse events and patient satisfaction after the surgery. Results: Forty-six patients were included, 24 in group C and 22 in group R. The cumulative morphine consumption using IV-PCA did not differ between the two groups (P = 0.631). The intraoperative use of remifentanil was higher in group C than in group R (P = 0.025). The resting and coughing VAS scores at 1 hour postoperatively were higher in group R than in group C (P = 0.011, P = 0.004). The incidence of adverse events and patient satisfaction was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: A single injection of ultrasound-guided RLB did not reduce postoperative analgesic requirements following breast surgery.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2018

Background: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been performed under regional and general anesthesia (GA). The general anesthesia versus local anesthesia for carotid surgery study compared the two techniques and concluded that there was no difference in perioperative outcomes. However, since this trial, new sedative agents have been introduced and devices that improve the delivery of regional anesthesia (RA) have been developed. The primary purpose of this pilot study was to compare intraoperative hemodynamic stability and postoperative outcomes between GA and ultrasound-guided superficial cervical plexus block (UGSCPB) under dexmedetomidine sedation for CEA. Methods: Medical records from 43 adult patients who underwent CEA were retrospectively reviewed, including 16 in the GA group and 27 in the RA group. GA was induced with propofol and maintained with sevoflurane. The UGSCPB was performed with ropivacaine under dexmedetomidine sedation. We compared the intraoperative requirement for vasoactive drugs, postoperative complications, pain scores using the numerical rating scale, and the duration of hospital stay. Results: There was no difference between groups in the use of intraoperative antihypertensive drugs. However, intraoperative inotropic and vasopressor agents were more frequently required in the GA group (p<0.0001). In the GA group, pain scores were significantly higher during the first 24 h after surgery (p<0.0001 between 0-6 h, p<0.004 between 6-12 h, and p<0.001 between 12-24 h). The duration of hospital stay was significantly more in the GA group ($13.3{\pm}4.6days$ in the GA group vs. $8.5{\pm}2.4days$ in the RA group, p<0.001). Conclusion: In this pilot study, intraoperative hemodynamic stability and postoperative outcomes were better in the RA compared to the GA group.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.60 no.12
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• pp.385-389
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to assess whether different anesthetic techniques and oxytocin use applied during delivery affect transcutaneous bilirubin levels during the first 24 hours in neonates. Methods: A total of 1,044 neonates delivered by either caesarian section (C/S) or normal vaginal delivery (NVD) were included in the study. They were classified into 5 groups as follows: group 1: born by C/S using general anesthesia, group 2: C/S using spinal anaesthesia, group 3: C/S using general anesthesia after failed spinal block, group 4: by NVD without anesthesia, and group 5: oxytocin-induced vaginal delivery without anesthesia. Transcutaneous total bilirubin levels (TBLs) were measured during the first 24 hours and on the fifth and eighth days of life and the levels in different groups were compared. Results: The TBLs were significantly higher in neonates delivered by C/S using general anesthesia rather than spinal anesthesia (P<0.001), and both groups had higher levels than those born by NVD without anesthesia ($P{\leq}0.001$). However, the group receiving general anesthesia after failed spinal block was found to have the highest bilirubin level. Moreover, TBLs were significantly higher with the use of oxytocin ($P{\leq}0.001$). Conclusions: C/S and general anesthesia adversely affect the bilirubin levels in neonates, and the use of oxytocin during vaginal delivery also increases TBLs in neonates.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.129-137
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• 2021

Background: Inappropriate use of intravenous and inhaled anesthetics may be dangerous in infants undergoing facial cleft surgeries. This study primarily aimed to compare the effect of infraorbital nerve block on sevoflurane requirement in infants undergoing cheiloplasty. Intraoperative opioid consumption, hemodynamics, blood glucose levels, extubation time, and delirium were also compared. Methods: This prospective, randomized, double-blinded study was conducted in 34 infants undergoing cheiloplasty under general anesthesia. After induction, group A received bilateral infraorbital nerve block with 0.5 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine and group B 0.5 mL saline. An increase in heart rate or blood pressure > 20% was managed by increasing sevoflurane by 2-2.5%, followed by fentanyl 0.5 ㎍/kg bolus. The chi-square test and independent-sample t-test were used where applicable. Results: Demographics, duration of surgery, and intravenous fluids used were comparable between the groups. Compared to group A, patients in group B had significantly higher consumption of fentanyl (14.2 ± 4.4 ㎍ vs. 22.1 ± 6.2 ㎍) and sevoflurane (14.2 ± 4.8 mL vs. 26.8 ± 15.6 mL). Intraoperative hemodynamic parameters were significantly lower in group A, the number of times increases in hemodynamic parameters occurred, and fentanyl supplemental bolus was required remained significantly lower in group A than in group B. Intraoperative glycemic levels remained higher in group B, and the extubation time was significantly shorter in group A than in group B (4.40 ± 1.60 min vs. 9.2 ± 2.18 min). Group A had a lesser occurrence of postoperative delirium. Conclusion: Supplemental infraorbital block in infants undergoing cheiloplasty under general anesthesia resulted in significantly decreased anesthetic requirements and optimal hemodynamic and glycemic levels with faster extubation and lesser delirium.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 2016

A nerve block is an effective tool for diagnostic and therapeutic methods. If a diagnostic nerve block is successful for pain relief and the subsequent therapeutic nerve block is effective for only a limited duration, the next step that should be considered is a nerve ablation or modulation. The nerve ablation causes iatrogenic neural degeneration aiming only for sensory or sympathetic denervation without motor deficits. Nerve ablation produces the interruption of axonal continuity, degeneration of nerve fibers distal to the lesion (Wallerian degeneration), and the eventual death of axotomized neurons. The nerve ablation methods currently available for resection/removal of innervation are performed by either chemical or thermal ablation. Meanwhile, the nerve modulation method for interruption of innervation is performed using an electromagnetic field of pulsed radiofrequency. According to Sunderland's classification, it is first and foremost suggested that current neural ablations produce third degree peripheral nerve injury (PNI) to the myelin, axon, and endoneurium without any disruption of the fascicular arrangement, perineurium, and epineurium. The merit of Sunderland's third degree PNI is to produce a reversible injury. However, its shortcoming is the recurrence of pain and the necessity of repeated ablative procedures. The molecular mechanisms related to axonal regeneration after injury include cross-talk between axons and glial cells, neurotrophic factors, extracellular matrix molecules, and their receptors. It is essential to establish a safe, long-standing denervation method without any complications in future practices based on the mechanisms of nerve degeneration as well as following regeneration.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.226-234
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• 2022

To evaluate butorphanol and tramadol as adjuvants to lidocaine in dogs undergoing mandibular nerve block. Fifteen beagles were allocated to groups based on the following treatments: lidocaine alone (L group), lidocaine + butorphanol (LB group), or lidocaine + tramadol (LT group). After mandibular nerve block with opioids as an adjunct to local anesthetics, the onset time, duration of action, and depth of anesthesia were evaluated using a quantitative method through neuromuscular blockades (NMBs) monitoring. The onset time of nerve block was 4.60 ± 2.06 min, 2.00 ± 0.00 min, and 2.60 ± 1.62 min in the L, LB, and LT groups, respectively; however, there was no statistically significant difference. The duration of nerve block was 111.88 ± 34.78 min, 302.00 ± 76.72 min, and 260.40 ± 49.88 min in the L, LB, and LT groups, respectively, with a significant difference between L and LB groups. The LB group demonstrated a more profound depth of anesthesia compared to the L and LT groups. In this study, using a quantitative method through NMBs monitoring, it was demonstrated that lidocaine and butorphanol in combination can increase the duration of nerve block and more profound the depth of anesthesia rather than lidocaine alone. Additionally, the combined use of lidocaine and opioids presented an objective indicator that could provide a more clinically stable nerve block.