• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.298-303
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• 1995

We have inserted epidural catheter for single or continuous injection of a drug for epidural analgesia. It is important to localize the tip of epidural catheter in appropriate site to acquire the most effective analgesia. In epidural block, we observed course and location of the tip of epidural catheter. Subject: 70 patients were divided into group I(non-injection of saline group during catheter insertion) and group II(injection group during catheter insertion). Group I included cervical(n=20), thoracic(n=10), and lumbar(n=20) epidural group. Group II, cervical(n=10), and lumbar(n=10) epidural group. Method: 19G FlexTip $Plus^{TM}$ Epidural Catheter ($Arrow^{(R)}$) was inserted 10cm cephaladly in epidural space with(group II) or without(group I) saline flushing. We observed course and location of the tip of epidural catheter by C-arm image intensifier during injection of contrast media ($Omnipaque^{(R)}$). Result: In group I, the number of tips of epidural catheters located within 2 cm from inserted site were: cervical 14/20(70%), thoracic 2/10(20%). lumbar 16/20(80%). In thoracic epidural blocks, tips of epidural catheters were more cephaladly located than with cervical and lumbar epidural blocks. With cervical epidural blocks, the number of tips of epidural catheters located within 2 cm from insertion site were less in group II than group I (20% vs. 70%). But no significant differences were noted between group I and group II with lumbar epidural block(90% vs. 80%). The number of tips of epidural catheters located around a predicted site were: cervical 2/20(10%), thoracic 4/10(40%), lumbar 0/20(0%) in group I, and cervical 2/10(20%), lumbar 1/10(10%) in group II. Conclusion: It was impossible to predict the exact location of tips of epidural catheters by measuring the inserted length without epidurogram. With many cases, tips of epidural catheters were located around the insertion site in lumbar epidural blocks, and in some cases around the predicted site in thoracic epidural blocks. The results suggests that epidural block should be done at a point near the required band of analgesia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.113-115
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• 1994

통증치료를 목적으로 통증치료실에서 경막외 카테타 거치술의 빈도가 증가하고 있으며 현재 지속적 경막외 차단은 통증치료실에서 가장 필수적인 치료수단으로 알려져 있다. 암성통증, 대상포진, 혈관폐쇄성질환, 요하지통 등 여러가지 질환에 따라 수일에서 수개월간 경막외 카테터를 거치하여 치료하고 있다. 합병증으로 장기간의 경막외 카테터 유치로 인한 경막외 감염의 가능성이 항상 존재하고 있고 경막외 농양 동의 경막외 감염중이 드물게 발생하며 세균성 뇌막염의 발생은 매우 희귀하다고 한다. 본원에서는 당뇨병환자로서 우하지의 당뇨병성 말초 신경염으로 인한 통증의 치료를 위해 시술한 지속적 경막외 차단 도중 발생한 세균성 뇌막염을 1예 경험하였으며 이와 같은 합병증을 예방하기 위하여 경막외 천자시, 경막외 카테터 거치후에 지속적인 카테터 관리와 약물주입시 무균조작의 중요성을 절감하여 문헌적 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.63-68
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• 1996

Background; Epidural analgesia for controlling labor pain has recently gained world-wide popularity. However, many patients scheduled for continuous epidural analgesia voice concern over harmful effects to their fetus and other possible complications such as hemodynamic changes, back pain and neurologic sequelae etc. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic changes with and without epidural block as a measure to determine the safety of epidural analgesia during labor and delivery. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects were divided equally into two groups(Group 1 without epidural block, and Group 2 with epidural block) and serial hemodynamic measurements were taken in all subjects with transcutaneous impedence cardiography. The epidural catheter was inserted at the level of $L_{3,4}$ in Group 2 and analgesia was maintained using 0.25% bupivacaine mixed with fentanyl. Results: Cardiac output increased slightly with cervical dilatation in both groups, but no significant differences were found between the two groups. Similarly, no significant differences were found in blood pressures between the two groups. Stroke volume and end-diastolic volume indices were slightly decreased in group 1 and slightly increased in group 2. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups. The ejection fraction was nearly constant and ranging 56~59%. Conclusion: We concluded epidural analgesia for labor and delivery is a safe technique for the parturients since results indicated no significant differences in hemodynamic changes, as compared to the control group.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.98-101
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• 1996

Background: Lumbar epidural steroid injection for relief of low back pain and sciatica has become a popular procedure. further, cervical epidural steroid injection with nerve block (CESNB) is known to be effective for the management of acute and chronic pain of neck, shoulder and arm. However, many anesthesiologists are not familiar with CESNB. Methods: Charts of 34 patients who had undergone 60 cervical epidural steroid injections over a three year period, 1993 to 1995, were reviewed. We studied the followings: initial visit and department, injected interspaces, personal characteristics, indications for injection and complications. Results: Patients' first visits were mainly to orthopaedics (11 patients) and neurosurgery (10 patients). Epidural injection sites were: C7-T1 interspace (29 patients) and C6-C7 interspace (6 patients). Mean age of patients were 50.1 years. range 21~73 years. There were twenty male and fourteen female patients. Complications varied from dizziness after CESNB (1 patient). loss of consciousness with transient apnea (2 patients), and local infection with suspicious meningitis (1 patient). Conclusion: We conclude from the above data that CESNB is a good, safe and conservative form of therapeutic procedure in the management of patients suffering from cervical radiculopathy, and neck and shoulder pain.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.325-331
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• 2016

This study investigated the antinociceptive effect of epidural tramadol with bupivacaine in 36 healthy Beagle dogs. The dogs were divided into 6 groups; 1) C (control), 2) B (0.5% bupivacaine 0.1 mL/kg), 3) BT0.5 (0.5% bupivacaine 0.1 mL/kg + tramadol 0.5 mg/kg), 4) BT1 (0.5% bupivacaine 0.1 mL/kg + tramadol 1 mg/kg), 5) BT2 (0.5% bupivacaine 0.1 mL/kg + tramadol 2 mg/kg), 6) BT3 (0.5% bupivacaine 0.1 mL/kg + tramadol 3 mg/kg). The epidural injection was performed under isoflurane inhalation, after then, nociceptive block and motor block scores were assessed with physiologic parameters (HR, RR, RT, MAP). BT groups showed significantly longer antinociceptive time than C and B, while motor block time of BT groups were not different from B except BT3. Durations of total nociceptive block of BT2 ($60.83{\pm}19.08min$) and BT3 ($74.17{\pm}8.61min$) were significantly longer than those of BT0.5 ($33.33{\pm}8.76min$) and BT1 ($37.50{\pm}19.43min$), but there was no significant difference between BT2 and BT3. Durations of total motor block in all groups were less than 20 minutes although that of BT3 was significantly longer than B. There were no significant differences in HR, RR, RT, MAP among groups. Consequently, epidural administration of tramadol (2 mg/kg) with 0.5% bupivacaine (0.1 mL/kg) can be used safely and effectively in dogs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제26권10호
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• pp.781-786
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• 1993

Effrctive analgesia after elective thoracotomy can be provided by continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block.This study was designed to prove the effectiveness of continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block. Twenty patients undergoing elective thoracotomy were randomized into two groups. Group I received lumbar epidural block[N=10] and group II received continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block[N=10]. Postoperative pain relief was assessed on Numeric Rating Scale[NRS] and recovery of pulmonary function was assessed by coparison of preoperatrive and postoperative FVC[Forced Vital Capacity], FEV1[Forced expiratory Volume in 1 second], VC[Vital Capacity]. Arterial blood gas analysis[ABGA], vital signs and amount of additive analgesics were compared also. No significant difference was observed between the groups concerning these parameters mentioned above. Systemic complications, such as urinary retention[2/10] and weakness of lower extremity[2/10], occurred in group I but no complication occurred in group II. We conclude that continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block is as effective as epidural block in pain relief and restoration of pulmonary mechanics with fewer comlications. Also because of it`s ease and safetiness, this must be considered as a substitute of epidural block in routine use for thoracotomy pain relief.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.131-133
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• 1997

Number of elderly patients requiring nerve blocks have been increasing in recent years. We had two elderly patients who suffered stroke one day and three days after lumbar facet joint block and lumbar single epidural block respectively. Both patients due to their advanced age had potential risk factor to suffer one or more of the following; stroke, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Due to our experience with these patients, we suggested the following: (1) Nerve blocks should be reconsidered for elderly patient who posesses a potential risk factor to suffer a stroke. (2) Prior to invasive block administration of mild sedatives or analgesics may provide beneficial effects for patients with hypertension. (3) Adequately informed consent must be fully discussed time of consultation with patient scheduled for nerve block especially for elderly and risky patient.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.169-171
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• 2011

Postherpetic neuralgia is the most frequent complication of herpes zoster. Treatment of this neuropathic pain syndrome is difficult and often disappointing. Although postherpetic neuralgia is generally a self-limited condition, it can last indefinitely. Continuous epidural blockade for patients with acute zoster can shorten the duration of treatment. However, continuous epidural block has some complications such as infection, dural puncture, and total spinal and nerve damages. We report a case of myoclonus during continuous epidural block with ropivacaine, morphine, and ketamine in an acute zoster patient.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.26-30
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• 1991

Continuous epidural analgesia is widely used in pain management. We investigates the incidence of contamination of epidural catheters used in epidural catheters for pain control. The tips of epidural catheters were examined for bacterial growth after use. In culture from 250 patients undergoing continuous epidural catheterization, 33(13.2%) catheters were found to be contaminated: staphylococcus epidermis 66.9%; staphylococcus aureus 12.1%; alpha streptococcus 12.1%; and others 9.1%. One significant epidural infection occured. One of the most common causes of the epidural infection during long time epidural block is the transmission of the microorganism from the contaminated skin to the epidural space along the epidural catheter. To prevent epidural infection, sterilization of the skin around the epidural catheter is essential.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.83-87
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• 2009

Case reports after accidental subdural injection during attempted epidural block have usually described extensive neuraxial blocks with a characteristic radiographic appearance on contrast injection. We experienced a case of cervical subdural injection with unusual clinical findings and radiographic appearance. A 51-year-old female patient with central herniated nucleus pulposus at cervical (C5/6) and lumbar level (L4/5, L5/S1) was referred to the pain clinic. During attempted cervical epidural block at the C6/7 interspace with fluoroscopy, injection of the 4 ml contrast showed posterior spread at cervical level. After cervical epidural steroid injection, the contrast was also confined to the posterior aspect of the spinal canal at lumbar level with fluoroscopy. In order to discriminate subdural space from epidural space, we performed transforaminal epidural injection of the 2 ml contrast at the L5/S1 interspace and we could confirm cervical epidural injection was made into the subdural space. We discuss the clinical characteristics of a subdural injection and the appearance of the cervical and lumbar subdurogram.