• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.44-48
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• 2000

Background: The continuous epidural analgesia is a popular method in the management of postoperative pain. However, the exact regimen for the optimal analgesia is still in dispute. In this study, we evaluated the effect of an initial loading dose prior to the continuous epidural infusion after a brief surgery, which may have some residual effects of local anesthetics that is used for the intraoperative epidural anesthesia. Methods: Seventy five patients required epidural anesthesia with 15 ml of 2% mepivacaine for the perianal surgery were randomly divided into three groups: Group 1, being the control group (n=25) did not received postoperative epidural pain control. But, group 2 (n=25) and 3 (n=25) received continuous epidural analgesia with local anesthetics and morphine immediately after surgery. In Group 2, the patients received continuous epidural infusion without initial loading dose. In Group 3, the patients received initial loading dose (1% mepivacaine 6 ml and morphine 1 mg) and followed by continuous epidural infusion. We evaluated the number of patients who needed adjuvant analgesics, the pain score, and incidence of side effects for the postoperative 48 hours. Results: At postoperative 12 hours, in group 3, the two variables, the number of patients who needed analgesics and the pain score showed a statistical significance with low scores compared with group 1 and 2. At postoperative 24 and 48 hours, the two variables indicated above did not show any differences in group 2 and 3. The incidence of side effects is not different among the three groups. Conclusions: The loading dose prior to continuous epidural infusion is necessary after a brief surgery which may have some residual effects of local anesthetics that is used for the intraoperative epidural anesthesia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.66-71
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• 1989

It has been standard practice in many institutions to use a combination of a light general anesthesia and an epidural block for lower abdominal and pelvic surgery. This combination of a balanced anesthesia can provide various benefits to the patient such as less bleeding in the surgical field, the use of a lower concentration of general anesthetics, less muscle relaxant, and post operative pain management. However, there are several problems associated with hemodynamics such as bradycardia and hypotension etc. In order to block the pain of the high surgical area with a lumbar epidural puncture postoperatively, a large volume of local anesthetic is required and consequently an extensive blockade of sympathetic, sensory and motor functions can occur causing motor weakness, numbness and postural hypotension. Therefore, the patient is unable to have early ambulation postoperatively. In this study, thoracic epidural catheterization was undertaken to locate the tip of the catheter exactly at the surgical level for upper abdominal surgery, and was followed by general anesthesia. Twenty-one patients scheduled for upper abdominal surgery were selected. Fifteen of them had hepatobiliary operations and the remaining 6 had gastrectomies. Thoracic epidural punctures were performed mostly at T9-T10 (57.1%) and T8-T9. Neuromuscular blocking agents were not used in half of the cases and the, mean doses of relaxant were $3.5{\pm}1.0mg$ in gastrectomies, and $2.7{\pm}0.9mg$ in cases of hepatobiliary operation. Epidural morphine was injected 1 hour before the end of the operation for postoperative pain control. Eight patients did not require additional analgesics and the mean dose of epidural morphine was $2.2{\pm}0.9mg$, and 13 cases were given 0.125% epidural bupivacaine when patients complained of pain. Their initial doses of epidural morphine were $1.9{\pm}0.4mg$ and the mean duration of bupivacaine was 6 hours 20 minutes${\pm}40$ minutes. In conclusion. thoracic epidural analgesia is valuable to reduce postoperative pain in patients with upper abdominal surgery, However, it is not easy to maintain this balanced anesthesia with high epidural analgesia-and light general anesthesia for upper abdominal surgery because of marked hemodynamic changes. Therefore, further practice will be required.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.21-25
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• 1989

For the simple operations of the perineal region, caudal, epidural and saddle blocks of analgesia are preferable anesthesia techniques in men. But, if the operations shoud be delayed or the physicians are willing to observe and manipulate the patients for a couple of days, as in the ureteral stone manipulation, continuous epidural analgesia will be a reliable method. The authors have observed 36 male patients of ureteral calculi with continuous lumbar epidural analgesia for the purpose of elimination of an undesirable pain sensation which was associated with the transurethral cystoscopic manipulation. The results were as follows: 1) In most cases, the anesthetics used were 1% lidocaine 20 ml through the $L_{3-4}$ and $L_{4-5}$ interspace with 4~6cm of catheter tip advancement mainly to cephalad. 2) There was no motor weakness or paralysis in the lower extremities except some numbness and paresthesia on the perineal area. 3) Besides the various minor complications, there were no problems in respiration with small doses of morphine extradurally. 4) Among them, four cases of ureteral calculi dropped into the bladder spontaneously due to the epidural technique during transportation of the patients from the pain clinic to the urology out-clinic. One case of calculi was dropped by the aid of instrumentation at the ward, and twelve cases of calculi were removed directly by Dormia stone basket in the scopic room. For the remaining patients, we deduced that their calculi was be evacuated out because there were no complaints were notified after discharge.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제8권2호
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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.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권12호
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• pp.1394-1398
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• 2001

Objective : The purpose of this non-randomized prospective study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of continuous intravenous nalbuphine-ketorolac-droperidol(CIA) versus continuous infusion of epidural morphine-bupivacaine(CEA) for pain control after lumbar spinal surgery. Methods : Twenty-one patients who underwent spine surgery including laminectomy, fusion with fixation were assigned to receive an intravenous bolus of nalbuphine 5mg and ketorolac 15mg, followed by a continuous infusion of nalbuphine 25mg, ketorolac 105mg, and droperidol 5mg mixed with normal saline 98cc(2cc/hr). Twenty patients received a bolus infusion of morphine 2mg and 0.125% bupivacaine 8cc followed by a continuous intravenous infusion of 100cc 0.125% bupivacaine and morphine sulfate 8.0mg(2cc/hr). Pain score was measured on a visual analogue scale(VAS). It's safety and efficacies were compared with the results of continuous infusion of epidural morphine-bupivacaine, which was reported previously by same authors. A continuous infuser was used to give epidural morphine-bupivacaine and intravenous nalbuphine-ketorolac-droperidol. Results : In general, mild pain, pain less than 3 VAS scores, was observed postoperatively from 30minutes to 72hours in CEA group, and from 6 hours to 72 hours in CIA group. The early postoperative pain was controlled easily in 6 hours in CEA group, compared to CIA group(p<0.05). However, there was no statistical significance in 72 hours on pain scores between CEA and CIA groups after 6-12hours of pain managements. Pruritus, nausea and vomiting, and urinary retention were more frequent in CEA group. Conclusion : CIA and CEA are considered effective methods in postoperative pain managements. However, adequate doses in early intravenous infusion and continuous intravenous analgesia with nalbuphine-ketorolac-droperidol will be needed for better control in early postoperative pain with less side effects.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.151-158
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• 1996

Background: Buprenorphine, a new synthetic thebaine derivative, is a partial agonist of the opioid $\mu$-receptor with high receptor affinity, great lipid solubility, and slow rate of opiate receptor association and dissociation. Continuous epidural infusion of opioid can possibly produced undesirable effects, such as respiratory depression, pruritus, etc, in spite of effective postoperative analgesia. Methods: The present study was undertaken to compare the analgesic properties and side effects of continuous epidural infusion of buprenorphine combined with bupivacaine, and morphine combined with bupivacaine in 90 patients following elective gynecologic lower abdominal surgery. At the end of surgery, the initial bolus doses were 3 mg morphine (M group), 0.15 mg buprenorphine (0.15B group), 0.3 mg buprenorphine (0.3B group) combined with 0.25% bupivacaine 10ml, and subsequent continuous infusion doses were 6 mg morphine plus 0.125% bupivacine 100 ml (M group) and 0.6mg buprenorphine plus 0.125% bupivacaine 100 ml (0.15B, 0.3B, group) during 48 hours. The assessment of analgesic efficacy and side effects were made at arrival of recovery room, 1 hr, 4 hr, 8 hr, 24 hr, 36 hr, and 48 hr after the epidural injection. Results: The pain score during 48 hours was significantly higher in the 0.15B group than in the M group and 0.3B group (P<0.05), and the number of patients requiring additional analgesics was significantly higher in the 0.15B group than in the M group and 0.3B group (P<0.05). Signs of respiratory depression were not noted, and the incidence of pruritus, nausea, and vomiting was slightly lower in the 0.15B group and 0.3B group than in the M group, and the incidence of sedation and urinary retention was similar in three group. The subjective rating of satisfaction was better in the 0.3B group than in the M group and 0.15B group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The above results suggest that continuous epidural infusion of buprenorphine combined with low-dose bupivacaine is an advisable method of postoperative analgesia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.162-167
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• 1991

Epidural steroid therapy has been well-established for the treatment of sciatica and low back pain. Disappointing results following surgical decompression or discectomy pain owing for to nerve root compression have led to trials of corticosteroids injected either systemically or into the intrathecal or epidural space to treat intervertebral disc. Epidural steroid is less effective in the patients with low back pain who have a history of surgical operation, so that the use of epidural morphine and methylprednisolone has been advocated for the amelioration of chronic low back pain in the post-laminectomy pain("failed back") syndrome over the past several years. We treated 47 patients with low back pain who had a history of one or two surgical procedures. We concluded that epidural steroid therapy is less effective in the patients with "failed back" syndrome than in the virgin back furthermore, there is a greater risk of complication such as inadvertent dural puncture and corresponding motor paralysis and headache.

• 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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• 제24권3호
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• pp.146-153
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• 2011

Background: Morphine has been commonly used for postoperative pain control. We measured plasma concentrations of morphine and compared the efficacy and safety of continuous epidural analgesia (CEA) using morphinebupivacaine with intravenous patient controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) with morphine for 48 hrs after the end of the operation. Methods: Nineteen patients undergoing Mile's operation were assigned to receive a morphine loading dose of 5 mg followed by IV-PCA with 0.1% morphine (IV-PCA group, n = 9) or a morphine loading dose of 2 mg and 0.125% bupivacaine 10 ml, followed by CEA with 0.004% morphine and 0.075% bupivacaine at a rate of 5 ml/hr (CEA group, n = 10). The plasma concentrations of morphine were measured and visual analog scales (VAS) for pain were recorded at 1, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hr postoperatively and the effects on respiration and any other side effects were noted. Results: The mean maximal and minimal levels of plasma morphine were $40.2{\pm}21.2\;ng/ml$ and $23.4{\pm}9.7\;ng/ml$ for the IV-PCA group and $11.8{\pm}3.5\;ng/ml$ and $8.2{\pm}1.9\;ng/ml$ for the CEA group, respectively. Resting and dynamic pain scores were significantly lower in the CEA group than in the IV-PCA group. There were no significant differences for the effects on respiration and for any side effects between the two groups. Conclusions: We evaluated plasma concentrations of morphine with CEA using morphine-bupivacaine and IV-PCA using morphine for the postoperative pain control. The CEA group had better postoperative analgesia than that of the IV-PCA group and the incidence of side effects were not significantly different between the two groups.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.391-397
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• 1992

Postoperative hypoxemia in the absence of hypoventilation occurs more often after thoracic or upper abdominal surgery than lower abdominal operations or surgery on extremities. Although the factors which produce postoperative alveolar collapse have not been fully evaluated, the dominant factor of postoperative hypoxia is shunt of blood passing collapsed alveoli and the postoperative pain is associated with restriction of depth of breathing, sighing and movement. In 1979, the first successful clinical usage of epidurally administered morphine was done by Behar and associates for control of postoperative pain. This study was carried out for twenty patients who received posterolateral thoracostomy with Bled resection between May 1990 and May 1991 and who were primary spontaneous recurrent pneumothoraxes. We selected ten of twenty patients, one after the other and treated with epidural analgesia as study group and the remainder ten were grouped as control. Epidural catheters were inserted for study group before operation through T12-L1, 2 interspinous process at the pain clinic or operation room by anesthesiogist and then the drugs[0.25% Bupivacaine 15ml mixing with morphine 3mg] were instillated through the catheter before extubarion and once a day until 4th day, and the patients of control group were treated intermittently by Demerol 50mg intramuscularly for postoperative pain control. The epidural catheters were removed at postoperative 4th day. Observations were done about vital aigns, a-BGA, tidal volume, FVC and occurence of adverse effects during postoperative 2hr, 8hr, 1st day, 2nd day, 7th day in both groups. The results were as follows; [1] Tidal volume[85.1$\pm$29.8%R VS 60.8$\pm$20.5%R, p<0.05] and FVC[53.7$\pm$14.2%R, VS 35.5$\pm$9.l%R, p<0.01] were significantly improved in study group compared with control group during the first day of operation. [2] But the improvement of FVC was delayed after stopping of epidural analgesia[postoperative 7th day, 97.5$\pm$12.3%R VS 83.9$\pm$15.6%R, P <0.05]. [3] Others were statistically not significant. [4] The side effects of epidural analgesia were identified such as urinary retention[2 cases], itching sensation[1 case] and headache[1 case], but there was no need for active treatments.