• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2019

Background: Lumbosacral transforaminal epidural injection (TFEI) is an effective treatment for spinal disease. However, TFEI may have several types of complications, some of which can be attributed to intravascular injection. We reviewed studies to compare the intravascular injection rate among different needle types. Methods: We searched the literature for articles on the intravascular injection rate among different needle types used in TFEI. The search was performed using PubMed, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Results: A total of six studies comprising 2359 patients were identified. Compared with the Quincke needle, the Whitacre needle reduced the intravascular injection rate (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = [0.44-0.73], P < 0.001). However, compared with the Quincke needle, the Chiba needle did not reduce the intravascular injection rate (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = [0.44-1.45], P = 0.46). In one study, the intravascular injection rate using a blunt-tip needle was lower than that using a sharp needle. In another study, the Whitacre and the blunt-tip needle have similar intravascular injection rates, while, the catheter-extension needle showed a reduced intravascular injection rate. Conclusions: This meta-analysis showed that the Whitacre needle reduced the intravascular injection rate as compared with the Quincke needle, but failed to establish that the Chiba needle can decrease the intravascular injection rate in TFEI. Moreover, the blunt-tip needle can reduce the intravascular injection rate compared with the Quincke needle, and the catheter-extension needle can reduce the intravascular injection rate compared with the Whitacre and the blunt-tip needle.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.193-198
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• 1994

The analgesic efficacy and side-effects of combined continuous epidural infusion of bupivacaine and morphine, in comparison with intramuscular (IM) administration of narcotics, for postoperative pain relief after cesarean section and hysterectomy were evaluated. We divided 60 patients into 4 groups randomly. IM (meperidine) group after cesarean section (Group 1, n = 20); Continuous epidural group after cesarean section (Group 2, n=20); IM (meperidine) group after hysterectomy (Group 3, n=10); Continuous epidural group after hysterectomy (Group 4, n=10). Following each operation, the epidural groups had an epidural catheter placed ($L_{2{\sim}3}$ or $L_{3{\sim}4}$), and a bolus of 1.5mg of morphine was injected, and followed by continuous infusion of 0.3% bupivacaine 2ml/hour and morphine 2.5mg/day for 48 hours. The IM groups had received meperidine 50mg IM injection every 4 hours as needed. We evaluated analgesic efficacy with VAS (visual analogue scale) at 1, 2, 24, 48, and 72 hours after operation. The side-effects (nausea &, vomiting, respiratory depression, pruritus and urinary retention) were evaluated with 4 points scale at day 1, 2, and 3 after operation. The results were as follows 1) The continuous epidural (bupivacaine+morphine) groups were superior to the IM (meperidine) groups with respect to postoperative analgesia at 1, 2, and 24 hours after cesarean section, and at 1, 2, 24, and 48 hours after hysterectomy. 2) Vomiting were more frequent in the epidural groups 2 days after cesarean section. 3) Pruritus was more frequent in the epidural groups 1 and 2 days after cesarean section.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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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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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 1993

The clinical effects of epidural nalbuphine were compared to those of epidural morphine in sixty Cesarean delivery. They were physical status 1 or 2 by ASA classification and randomly divided into three groups. They were administered nalbuphine 5 mg(Group N5), nalbuphine 10 mg(Group N10) or morphine 3 mg(Group M3) through an indwelling epidural catheter at the time of peritoneal closure. During the first postoperative 24 hours, their analgesic effects were evaluated by visual analogue scale(0-10), respiration rates and Trieger dot test. The severity of side effects(0-2) was also evaluated. The results were as follows ; 1) The number of patients who needed additional epidural analgesics was least in group M3 (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between group N5 and group N10. 2) The duration between the first and second epidural administration was ; 19.2 hours in group M3, 8.6 hours in group N10 and 5.4 hours in group N5. There was a significant difference each group (p<0.05). 3) From the fourth post operative hour, both groups receiving nalbuphine showed a higher VAS score compared to group M3(p<0.05). 4) The incidence of pruritus, nausea, vomiting and voiding difficulty were more severe in group M3 compared with the other groups. However the severity did not increase with increasing nalbuphine dosage. 5) There were no patients showing objective sedation or low respiration rate(10 times/minute). We concluded that epidural administration of nalbuphine 5 mg or 10 mg is one way of post operative pain control. Its side effects were less than epidural morphine, but it is a less convenient in the method of analgesia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2014

Background: To manage intractable cancer pain, an alternative to systemic analgesics is neuraxial analgesia. In long-term treatment, intrathecal administration could provide a more satisfactory pain relief with lower doses of analgesics and fewer side-effects than that of epidural administration. However, implantable drug delivery systems using intrathecal pumps in Korea are very expensive. Considering cost-effectiveness, we performed epidural analgesia as an alternative to intrathecal analgesia. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the efficacy, side effects, and complications of epidural morphine and local anesthetic administration through epidural catheters connected to a subcutaneous injection port in 29 Korean terminal cancer patients. Patient demographic data, the duration of epidural administration, preoperative numerical pain rating scales (NRS), side effects and complications related to the epidural catheterization and the drugs, and the numerical pain rating scales on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 30th postoperative days were determined from the medical records. Results: The average score for the numerical pain rating scales for the 29 patients decreased from $7{\pm}1.0$ at baseline to $3.6{\pm}1.4$ on postoperative day 1 (P < 0.001). A similar decrease in pain intensity was maintained for 30 days (P < 0.001). Nausea and vomiting were the most frequently reported side effects of the epidural analgesia and two patients (6.9%) experienced paresthesia. Conclusions: Epidural morphine and local anesthetic infusion with a subcutaneous pump seems to have an acceptable risk-benefit ratio and allows a high degree of autonomy to patients with cancer pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.9-18
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• 2010

Objectives : This study will broaden understanding of acupotomy therapy through comparison of side effects and complication which can be caused by the mechanism of treatment, surgical methods, and procedure by acupotomy therapy and epidural neuroplasty. Moreover, through an in-depth analysis of headache affected by two procedures, this research is supposed to find prospective cures for headache after acupotomy therapy. Methods : To compare acupotomy therapy with epidural neuroplasty this research was done using a comparative analysis eight theses about acupotomy therapy since 1995, as well as eleven theses about epidural neuroplasty since 2000. Other theses and data were used as references in the process of comparative analysis. Results : Acupotomy therapy and epidural neuroplasty, new treatments of damaged discs in the spine and stenosis made in 1990s, have the mechanism of treatment in common in that adhesion, a node or scar caused by the soft tissue damage is removed by putting catheter or acupuncture into the lesions. Epidural neuroplasty has additional injection into the lesions, which is different from acupotomy therapy in the process of surgical procedure. There are various reports of positive effects about curative effect in these two treatments. The two procedures may cause various complications. Headache may be a complication after surgery. The headache after acupotomy therapy is characterized as being an ache in the body, which is similar to that of post-dural puncture headache in the outbreaks and symptom. Headache after percutaneous epidural neuroplasty appears in general, which is similar to a headache as a result of the increased pressure of the brain spinal cord regardless of posture. Conclusions : Although they are alike in the mechanism of treatment, surgical methods and side effects, and complication after they are carried out as a result of analyzing theses related to acupotomy therapy and percutaneous epidural neuroplasty, there is a difference in aspects and mechanism of headaches experienced after the procedure.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.165-168
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• 1998

Although the incidence of epidural abscess is low, patient requiring continuous epidural analgesia for control of acute and chronic pain is increasing rapidly. Therefore we anticipate more frequent encounters with epidural abscess patients in future. Once epidural abscess formation begins, early diagnosis and treatment is very important to prevent permanent neurologic damage. The authors encountered a case of epidural abscess after continuous epidural analgesia for control of perineal pain due to rectal cancer. Forty-eight hours after the block, patient began to suffer severe low back pain, local tenderness, and fever. So the catheter was removed and culture sensitivity test was done with blood and local drainage. The test results identified methicillin susceptible staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotics were administered. Ten days after the block, left ankle jerk disappeared, and force of dorsiflexion of great toe decreased, but numbness or anesthesia appeared at $L_5$ dermatome. Laminectomy was performed, and abscess and necrotic fat material was removed from left $L_5$ nerve root. The patient was discharged 12 days after operation without any neurologic sequalae.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.266-271
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• 1995

Recently, continuous epidural infusion of narcotics and local anesthetics have been used for postoperative pain relief. This study was designed to compare the analgesic efficacy and side effects of continuous epidural infusion of narcotics and local anesthetics with those of intramuscular administration of meperidine, for postoperative pain relief after cesarean section. Forty patients were divided into 2 groups of 20 patients each ; Continuous epidural group and control (IM meperidine) group. Before each operation, the epidural group had an epidural catheter placed (L1-2) and following each operation, a bolus of 1%~8ml of lidocaine was injected, followed by continuous infusion of morphine 3 mg/day, fentanyl 300g, 2% mepivacaine 20 ml, 0.5% bupivacaine 20 ml and normal saline 40 ml. The control group received meperidine 50mg IM injection as needed. We evaluated analgesic efficacy with VAS (Visual analogue scale) and side effect at 1, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hour intervals after the operation. The results were as follows: 1) Continuous epidural group was superior to the control group with respect to postoperative analgesia. 2) Side effects (pruritus, nausea & vomiting) were more frequent in the epidural group.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.274-277
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• 1997

The complex regional pain syndrome(CRPS) exhibit symptoms such as: abnormal skin color, temperature change, abnormal pseudomotor activity, edema. If CRPS is not treated appropriately at acute stage, then the affected extremity may become a useless, painful appendage. Treatment of CRPS by sympathetic blockade may be achieved by repeated intravenous regional guanethidine blocks, repeated anesthetic sympathetic blocks, surgical sympathectomy or oral sympatholytic therapy. We treated 29-year-old male patient with CRPS of left upper extremity by continuous cervical epidural blockade. Due to wound infection and dislocation of the epidural catheter, we inserted an implantable port system to inject the mixture of local anesthetics and small amount of morphine. After 10 months of treatment, patient was cured of symptoms and signs of CRPS and was able to resume a normal life.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.113-115
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• 1994

Bacterial meningitis is a rare complication of epidural block. As epidural abscess, subarachnoid infection associated with epidural catheters are related to the treatment of pain in diabetic patient whose immune responses have been impaired. A 51-year-old male with non-insulin dependent diabetes came to the pain clinic with neuropathic gain on right thigh and amputated stump of right leg. Treatment consisted of continuous epidural block and subcutaneous tunnelling and epidural morphine with bupivacaine was given on an outpatient basis. Two months later, the patient noted a diffuse frontal headache, projectile vomiting and stiffness neck. These symptoms became more aggrevated over the following 24 h and temperature went up to $38.4^{\circ}C$. A diagnostic lumbar puncture revealed CSF total protein of 747 mg/dl, glucose of 43 mg/dl, and $4320\;WBC/mm^3$. Cultures of epidural catheter tip grew hemolytic staphylococcus epidermidis. A chest x-ray and brain CT scan were negative. Antibiotic therapy with penicillin G and chloramphenicol was given for 15 days. Recovery was uneventful.