• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.81-85
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• 1998

Background: Continuous caudal epidural block is a useful method in postoperative pain control after perianal surgery. But caudal epidural block has the potential of developing adverse effects such as urinary retention. The goal of this study is to evaluate the analgesic and adverse effect of bupivacaine with fentanyl through continuous caudal epidural block in relation to the concentration of bupivacaine. Methods: We divided the patients randomly into two groups. For group I(n=25) postoperative pain was controlled by continuous caudal epidural infusion at the rate of 4 ml/hr of 0.0625% bupivacaine with 3 ${\mu}g$/ml fentanyl: group II(n=14), 0.125% bupivacaine with 3 ${\mu}g$/ml fentanyl, respectively, for duration of 48 hours via epidural catheter. We evaluated pain scores with visual analogue scales at 30 mins, 6 hrs, 12 hrs, 24 hrs and 48 hrs after the operation and the incidence of adverse effect, especially urinary retention, for each group. Results: There were no significant differences in the pain score between group I and II. Urinary retention developed in 9 patients(36%) of group I, and 11 patients (78.6%) of group II. Other adverse effects such as pruritus, nausea, vomiting and respiratory depression developed in few patients. Conclusions: While performing continuous caudal epidural block with mixture of bupivacaine and fentanyl after the perianal surgery, we conclude 0.0625% bupivacaine solution is preferable to 0.125% bupivacaine solution because 0.0625% solution resulted in satisfactory analgesia with minimal incidence of adverse effect.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.219-228
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to report the effect of oriental medical treatment in the paraplegia and pain after epidural nerve block. Methods : A 39-year-old woman who underwent epidural nerve block at a local clinic was admitted with motor weakness of lower limbs, severe lower radiating pain and decreased sensation when voiding and defecating. We treated her by acupuncture, a herbal medicine, a bee venom injection, moxibustion and cupping treatment and physical theraphy from 11th July 2008 to 14th October 2008. Results : After treatment, most symptoms decreased, VAS(Visual Analog Scale) score changed from 9 to 2. and examinated muscle power changed from 2-3 to 4-5. Conclusions : Our study suggested that oriental medical treatments are significantly effective in the paralplegia and pain after epidural nerve block. And further studies will be aid to identify underlying mechanism of treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.39-42
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• 2005

Background: Besides its general anesthetic effect, ketamine interacts with sodium channels in a local anesthetic-like fashion, including the sharing of binding sites with those commonly used by clinical local anesthetics. This study evaluated the dose related effects of ketamine during epidural anesthesia with 0.5% ropivacaine. Methods: Sixty ASA physical status I II patients, scheduled for minor elective surgery under epidural anesthesia using 0.5% ropivacaine, were randomly divided into three groups (n = 20 each). The patients initially received either 0.5% ropivacaine (group 1), ketamine (0.1 mg/kg) in addition to the epidural 0.5% ropivacaine (group 2) or ketamine (0.2 mg/kg) in addition to the epidural 0.5% ropivacaine (group 3). The regression of sensory block was assessed by transcutaneous electric stimulation (TES), equivalent to a surgical incision. Motor block was assessed using the Modified Bromage's scale. Episodes of bradycardia, hypotension and sedation were also recorded. Results: There were no significant differences among the three groups in the maximal levels of sensory block or the times taken for these levels to be reached. The mean times for the block to regress to two and four segments below the maximal level were significantly prolonged by epidural ketamine. Conclusions: Epidural ketamine prolongs the duration of ropivacaine epidural anesthesia. These results suggest that ketamine has local anesthetic-like actions.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2017

The sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) is a parasympathetic ganglion, located in the pterygopalatine fossa. The SPG block has been used for a long time for treating headaches of varying etiologies. For anesthesiologists, treating postdural puncture headaches (PDPH) has always been challenging. The epidural block patch (EBP) was the only option until researchers explored the role of the SPG block as a relatively simple and effective way to treat PDPH. Also, since the existing evidence proving the efficacy of the SPG block in PDPH is scarce, the block cannot be offered to all patients. EBP can be still considered if an SPG block is not able to alleviate pain due to PDPH.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.140-143
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• 1999

Ramsay-Hunt syndrome is a related but more serious disorder caused by herpes zoster viral infection of the geniculate ganglion. It is characterized by unilateral painful vesicular rash of the uvula, palate, auricle, ear canal, and postauricular area, but it can extend into the facial tissues as well. Paralysis of the facial nerve is often seen, and there can be disequilibrium and hearing problems also. We experienced continuous cervical epidural block (CCEB) with intermittent stellate ganglion block is effective in Ramsay-Hunt syndrome. CCEB should be considered to the treatment of choice in Ramsay-Hunt syndrome.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.344-348
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• 1996

Continuous epidural block can be useful in the management of acute and chronic pain. For the most effective analgesia, it is important to localize the tip of epidural catheter and the spread of radiopaque dye. Epidural catheterization was performed in 12 patients on the sitting position. Catheters were advanced by 10 cm cephalad in the cervical epidural space by median approach and radiopaque dye 3 ml was injected through the catheters. The position of cervical epidural catheters and the spread of dye was confirmed by radiography. The course of epidural catheter were: coiled 3/12 (25%), loop 2/12 (16.7%), straight 2/12 (16.7%). In 8 cases, the tip of epidural catheters were located within one vertebral segment from the level of insertion site. Radiopaque dye spreaded average 3.68 vertebral segment to cranially and 1.67 vertebral segment to caudally from the insertion site.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.114-119
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• 1996

Buerger's disease is a nonatherosclerogic occlusive inflammatory disease of medium and small arteries, and veins, of unknown cause. It occurs predominantly in young males who are habitual tabacco users. These patients often complain of painful ulcerations of their digits. The care of this disease is very difficult when the treatment is delayed. Consequently, early treatments are most important to patients with Buerger's disease. This disease can be treated with sympathetic block such as stellate ganglion block for upper extremities and lumbar epidural block, and lumbar sympathetic block for lower extremities. Intravascular regional sympathetic block can be another method of treatment. However, discontinuation of smoking is the most basic and essential treatment for Buerger's disease. We treated 43 Buerger's disease patients with stellate ganglion block and laser therapy. The treatment was not effective for three patients who definitely required amputation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.62-65
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• 2017

Reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus in the sensory ganglion causes herpes zoster (HZ). Its characteristic symptom is a painful rash in the involved dermatome. HZ-induced motor weakness is rare and is usually resolved within one year of the onset, but some patients permanently experience motor dysfunction. Epidural steroid administration, with antiviral therapy, can be effective in treating pain from HZ and preventing postherpetic neuralgia. But an epidural block is contraindicated in patients receiving thromboprophylaxis. A psoas compartment block (PCB) provides equivalent analgesic efficacy with significantly low incidence of complication, compared to an epidural block. A 68 year old male patient recieving thromboprophylaxis presented with motor weakness following painful rash in his left L4 dermatome. Ten days before presentation, herpetic rash occurred on his left leg. We performed PCB with a steroid and local anesthetic, which successfully and safely alleviated the pain and motor weakness from HZ.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.64-68
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• 2005

Migraine is a disabling headache that can occur with or without aura. We present here a case of migraine that was effectively managed by a series of cervical epidural blocks. A 41-year-old woman who had suffered from severe headache on her left temporal area for 12 years visited our pain clinic. Her 11-point numeric pain rating scale was 10 out of 10 at the first visit and the symptoms were associated with homonymous visual disturbances, paresthesia on the left face, shoulder and arm, and general weakness. For the first 5 years after the headaches began, her headache was relatively well controlled by acetaminophen; after then, the acetaminophen wasn't effective. After wandering from this hospital to the next one in search of relief, she managed to visit our pain clinic. We tried several blocks including cervical epidural block, and she was continuously medicated with sumatriptan. Her headache was gradually relieved. Now, her 11-point numeric rating scale is 1-2 out of 10 at the most during her headache attacks.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.59-62
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• 1990

Epidural block is used for surgical analgesia, postoperative pain management, obstetric relief and management of chronic pain. Long-term pain control for chronic pain is achieved by development of epidural catheter placement technic. But long term placement of epidural catheteter has several problems, epidural hematoma, epidural absess and neural damage. We had successfully managed long-term placement of epidural catheter in patient with diabetic neuropathy who was susceptable to infection. The duration of epidural catheter placement was 416 days and specific complication was not occurred.