• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 1992

This study was objected to evaluate clinical progressions about both the degree of pain relief and the occurrence of morphine tolerance while the epidural analgesia with low dose of morphine, bupivacaine and antidepressant continued repeatedly at every 5 day intervals of the constant-rate infusion(0.5 ml/hr, 60 ml capacity). The subjects were divided to 56 cancer and 36 non-cancer patients who failed to respond to palliative treatments. Before the relief of pain, the pain severity was moderate(10%) and severe(90%). The dose escalation of morphine noted to 11(20%)patients in cancer pain and to one(5%) case only in non-cancer. During the epidural analgesia, the effect of pain relief was moderate(11%) and good(89%). It suggest that the morphine tolerance may be reduced to some degree such as an initial minimum dose of epidural morphine with local anesthetic and antidepressant should be adjusted on an individual basis using the constant-rate infusor, even though rapid dose escalation occurrs in some patients who the diseases progress over a short period of time.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.192-198
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• 1988

Sixty patients, of ASA physical status class I for elective operations in the lower abdomen, perineum, or lower extremities, were studied in a comparative prospective trial to evaluate the efficacy of epidural morphine and ketamine for postoperative analgesia. They were divided into two groups: an epidural morphine sulfate group (EMS group; 30 patients), and an epidural ketamine hydrochloride group (EKH group; 30 patients). Indwelling epidural catheters were placed in the patients' lumber areas (L3-4) and then all patients were anesthetized with thiopental, nitrous oxide, and halothane. After the patients had fully recovered from the anesthesia, the analgesic agents were administered epidurally via the catheter when the patients complained of pain in the postoperative period. The groups were given either 0.1 mg/kg of morphine sulfate or 0.5 mg/kg of ketamine hydrochloride administered in a volume of 10 ml of normal saline. Patients were observed for the onset and duration of postoperative analgesia and for other effects. Total doses were $5.7{\pm}0.6\;mg$ of morphine sulfate in the EMS group and $27.9{\pm}3.3\;mg$ of ketamine hydrochloride in the EKH group. The onset of analgesia was detectable within 35 min.($23.5{\pm}6.3$ min) in 86.7% (26 cases) of the EMS group and within 10 min. ($7.8{\pm}3.7$ min.) in 76.7% (23 cases) of the EKH group. Mean duration of postoperative analgesia was $22.3{\pm}2.1\;hr$. in the EMS group. In the EKH group, the duration of analgesia was shorter and variable, the range of duration was from 2 hr. to 24 hr., Cardiopulmonary changes were statistically insignificant ih both groups. Side effects such as nausea, vomiting, urinary retention, pruritus, dizziness, and headache were observed in EMS group. In the EKH group, there was no discomfort except dizziness (3 cases) and headache (1 case). Epidural ketamine was a safe technique for postoperative analgesia, but because of the variability and relative shortness in the duration of analgesia the use of this technique will require further clinical trials.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.208-213
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• 1997

Background: Pruritus is the most frequent undesirable symptom associated with epidural morphine. It is unpleasant and often difficult to treat. Naloxone is presently the drug of first choice for treating this symptom. Naloxone however decrease the pain threshold in some cases. Recently it was reported subhypnotic doses of propofol were efficient in relieving epidural-morphine-induced pruritus(EMIP). In a prospective. randomized, double-blinded clinical trial, we compared the efficacy of propofol and naloxone for treatment of EMIP. Methods: Forty patients with EMIP were allocated to receive either 20 mg propofol, or 1.5 ${\mu}g/kg$ naloxone intravenously. Pruritus and level of postoperative pain were assessed after 5 min, using pruritus rating scale and visual analogue scale. Results: The overall success rate in treating pruritus was similar in both groups (propofol 70% vs naloxone 65%). Twenty-five percent of the patients in the naloxone group had an increase in the level of postoperative pain versus none in the propofol group(P=0.018). Conclusions: These results suggest propofol and naloxone are equally effective in treating EMIP. However, the level of postoperative pain is significantly reduced when treated with propofol.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.268-272
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• 1998

Background: Postoperative bleeding is a common complication in transurethral resection of prostate (TURP). Some patients become restless and combative after operation, particularly when in pain, producing bleeding from the prostatic bed. So many patients may be necessary to pain control for reduce bleeding. The purpose of this study is to compare recently used two Methods for post-operative analgesia. Methods: We studied 40 patients, ASA physical staus 1, 2, undergone TURP under general anesthesia. The patients divided into two groups: continuous epidural pain control group (I, n=20) received an epidural bolus of morphine 2 mg and 1% lidocaine 10 ml followed by a epidural 0.08% bupivacaine 40 ml and morphine 4.5 mg (basal infusion rate 0.5 ml/hr), intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) group (II, n=20) received an intravenous bolus of fentanyl $50\sim100{\mu}g$ followed by a IV-PCA morphine 30 mg, ketorolac 180 mg and droperdol 2.5 mg (basal infusion rate 0.5 ml/hr, bolus 0.5 ml, lock-out interval 15 min). This study conducted the analgesic efficacy, side effect and patient's satisfaction for 1 day after TURP. Results: Continuous epidural pain control group had more significant analgesia than IV-PCA at postoperative 30, 60 min, but no significant difference was observed later in both group. Nausea and pruritus were scantly developed in both group but the incidence was no significant differeance. Patients responded good satisfaction over 70% in both group. Conclusions: Postoperative continuous epidural pain block and IV-PCA are both effective Methods of postoperative pain control with lower incidence of side effects.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.809-814
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• 1997

Continuous epidural pain block with a local anesthetic agents is a commonly employed technique for pain relief after thoracotomy. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the continuous epidural pain block in 19 patients undergoing elective lateral or posterolatrral thoracotomy with control group(n=19) from November 1994 to July 1995, Epidural lidocaine and morphine mixtures were injected via an epidural catheter as a bolus after operation, and then bupivacaine and morphine mixtures were injected continuously following 5 or 6 days. The pain score, upper arm elevation(ROM score), and respiratory rate were significantly changed(P<0.05) from 30min after injection. The CO2 tension of arterial blood was decreased significantly(P<0.05) from 2hr after injection. The postoperative hospital days were decreased significantly(P<0.05). Side effects of the epidural pain block were urinary retention(n= 10), urticaria(n=2) and a case of headache. There was no postoperative lung atelectasis. We conclude that the continuous epidural pain block is good for prevention of the postoperative lung complication and early recovery after thoracotomy.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.122-126
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• 1991

Continuous epidural analgesia with intermittent morphine injection is a good technique for the management of intractabie cancer pain. Since epidural tunnelling was introduced for the first time to our institution in 1988, it has been widely used for the cancer pain management. Recently epidural tunnelling was introduced for the keeping an inserted catheter for a long period of time. Twenty-five patients with terminal cancer had been used an epidural tunnelling at the pain clinic of Dongsan Medical Center during the period of 3 months in 1991. Among the 25 patients, 14 were male and 11 were female, and most of them were at the ages of 6th decade. The causes of pain were from stomach cancer in 12, CBD cancer in 3, hepatoma in 2, pancreatic cancer in 2, uterine cervical cancer in 2, and miscellaneous cancer in 4 cases respectively. The outcome of treatment were excellent results in 14(56%), good in 9(36%), and moderate in 2.patients(8%). Accordingly satisfactory pain relief was achieved in 92% of the patients. It is suggested that this long-term management of intractable cancer pain by epidural bupivacaine and morphine with epidural tunnelling is satisfactory and reliable.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 1988

Recently, epidural tunnelling was introduced for the convenience of keeping a catheter inserted for a long period of time. We had 15 cases in which used epidural tunnelling for the treatment of intractable pain mainly in terminal cancer patients. Epidural puncture with cannulation was carried out in the same technique as used for epidural anesthesia. After the subcutaneous epidural tunnelling was done from the site of the epidural entry to the anterior chest, just under the slim using a tunnelling device, the catheter was threaded through the tunnelling needle at the site of the outlet, was fixed and the tip of the catheter was connected to a filter. Five ml (2 mg) of saline diluted morphine can be given at home as needed when intractable pawn occurs. This long-term treatment of intractable pain by morphine injections through the epidural cannula place by subcutaneous tunnelling, is very convenient for the patient's daily routine and a better alternative in such a situation. Our technique, its advantages and problems were described in this paper.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.363-367
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• 1996

Background: Recently postoperative pain control with continuous epidural analgesia has been increased. This study aimes to evaluate backpain following continuous epidural analgesia by pressure threshold meter (algometer). Methods: After informed consent, 50 ASA physical status I or II patients undergoing elective gynecologic surgery were selected. After placing epidural catheter, patients received morphine 0.05mg/kg with 0.25% bupivacaine 5 ml followed by continuous infusion of 0.125% bupivacaine 100 ml with morphine 4 mg for 48 hours. backpain was measured by pressure algometer over lumbar paraspinalis at the L4 level, 5 and 7 cm from the midline on preoperative, operation day, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th postoperative days. Results: Postoperative mean pressure thresholds of were higher than preoperative value (p<0.05). Conclusion: The continuous epidural analgesia dose not provide or aggravate postoperative backpain, but it must be evaluated for long term follow-up.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.604-608
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• 2000

Objective : The purpose of this non randomized prospective study was to verify the effect of pain control in small doses of epidural morphine and bupivacaine through continuous infusion for 48 hours. Patients and Methods : Thirty-five patients who underwent spine surgery including laminectomy, fusion with fixation were assigned into two groups ; pain control group(n＝20) and control group(n＝15). Pain score was measured on a visual analogue scale(VAS). A continuous infusor was used to give morphine and bupivacaine continuously via indwelling epidural catheter which was placed before closure of muscles in pain control group. Results : Mean scores(VAS) of pain control group were between 1.3 and 2.1 from the 30 min to the 72 hour, but the lowest mean score in the control group was about 2.6 at the 72 hour. Although a number of extra-analgesics were used in control group, differences of mean scores were statistically significant till 24 hour in pain control group. The patients in pain control group was less painful than the patients in control group from 24 hour till 72 hour, but it was statistically insignificant. There were some side effects such as nausea/vomiting, pruritus, urinary retention which existed transiently, but there was no respiratory depression. Conclusion : It was concluded that the early postoperative pain can be easily and safely controlled with continuous infusion of epidural morphine and bupivacaine in small doses.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.259-262
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• 2000

There are many difficulties in the management of terminal cancer pain. We often encounter difficulties when nerve blocks or epidural injection of drugs do not produce good results. Local anesthetics, opioids and adjunctives, were administered to two patients intrathecally. The results were very satisfactory. It has complications such as hypotension or infection due to intrathecal route. In the first case, the pancreatic cancer patient complicated with severe epigastic pain but unfortunately no management was effective in pain control. Intrathecal injection of bupivacaine and morphine mixture was successful even if syncope which was relieved by bed rest. In the second case, the patient complicated with lower abdominal pain due to ovarian cancer who very well controlled by epidural injection of morphine and clonidine mixture but morphine demand was greatly increased. Intrathecal injection of morphine and ketamine were tried. The patient had comportable analgesic effect. CSF leakage to subcutaneous occurred but resolved by change of the catheter position or retunnelling. There were no significant complications reported in two cases.