• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.181-186
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• 2005

Background: Hydromorphone has an intermediate lipid solubility range that falls between morphine and fentanyl. Lipophilic activity during opioid epidural administration is important in relation to both the side effects and analgesic efficacy. The purpose of this study was to compare epidural hydromorphone and fentanyl when concomitantly infused with bupivacaine in patients undergoing a thoracotomy. Methods: Seventy-seven thoracotomy patients, with patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA), were blindly allocated into two groups [group F (n = 34); 0.1% bupivacaine and fentanyl $5{\mu}g/ml$, group H (n = 34); 0.1% bupivacaine and hydromorphone $16{\mu}g/ml$)]. The basal PCEA rate and demand dose were 4 ml/hr and 3 ml, respectively. The visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, and pruritus, sedation and nausea were measured at 6, 12 and 24 hours after the operation. Results: There were no significant differences in the VAS pain scores and the incidences of pruritus, nausea and sedation between the two groups. The total infused volume after 24 hours was lower in H compared to that of F group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: We conclude that epidural hydromorphone or fentanyl administration has a similar analgesic efficacy and shows similar incidences of side effects, when concomitantly infused with bupivacaine, in the management of acute pain following a thoracotomy.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.210-216
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• 2021

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of acute herpes zoster. The treatment of PHN remains a challenge for clinical pain management. Despite the effectiveness of anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and lidocaine patches in reducing PHN, many patients still face intractable pain disorders. In this randomized controlled study, we evaluated whether hydromorphone through intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) was effective in relieving PHN. Methods: Patients with PHN were randomly divided into two groups, one group received oral pregabalin with IV normal saline, another group received oral pregabalin with additional IV PCA hydromorphone for two weeks. Efficacy was evaluated at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after the end of the treatments. Results: Two hundred and one patients were followed up for 12 weeks. After treatment, numerical rating scale (NRS) score of patients in the hydromorphone group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the difference of NRS scores between the two groups was statistically significant at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment. The frequency of breakthrough pain in the hydromorphone group was significantly lower than that in the control group 1 and 4 weeks after treatment. After treatment, the quality of sleep in the hydromorphone group was significantly improved compared with the control group. The most common adverse reactions in the hydromorphone group were dizziness and nausea, with no significant respiratory depression. Conclusions: IV PCA hydromorphone combined with oral pregabalin provides superior pain relief in patients with PHN, which is worthy of clinical application and promotion.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.91-95
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• 2006

Background: Opioid delivered by epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is effective in relieving pain after surgery, but it is associated with side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, pruritus, respiratory depression, and urinary retention. The purpose of this study was to compare hydromorphone related side effects and the quality of analgesia when naloxone was added to epidural PCA regimen. Methods: Fifty-two thoracotomy patients with PCA were allocated blindly into two groups. Patients in group H (n = 26) received continuous epidural hydromorphone ($16{\mu}g/ml$) in 0.1% bupivacaine; patients in group N (n = 26) received an epidural infusion containing naloxone ($2{\mu}g/ml$) and hydromorphone ($16{\mu}g/ml$) in 0.1% bupivacaine. The basal rate of PCA was 4 ml/hr and the demand dose was 1.5 ml with a lockout time of 15 min. Pain intensity, sedation, pruritus, nausea and vomiting, respiratory depression were checked at 6, 12, 24 hours postoperatively. Results: The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores were significantly lower in group H than in group N. There were no significant differences in the overall incidence of pruritus, nausea and sedation between the two groups. Conclusions: Continuous epidural infusion of naloxone combined with hydromorpho-ne is not effective in reducing the incidence and severity of pruritus induced by epidural hydromorphone.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.135-139
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• 2017

This study was performed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of alfaxalone for induction of inhalation anesthesia in small animal practice. Patient data were collected according to anesthetic records (136 dogs and 14 cats) presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Seoul National University for surgeries and diagnostic imaging from July 2013 to March 2014. Anesthetic results included signalment, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, premedicated drugs, procedures, induction quality, and recovery after anesthesia. One hundred fifty anesthetic events were classified according to the ASA grade. Three patients were ASA grade I, 52 patients grade II, 86 patients grade III, and 9 patients grade IV, respectively. The most common premedication was midazolam and hydromorphone combination (n = 59, 39.3%) follow by acepromazine and hydromorphone combination (n = 22, 14.7%). The majority of anesthesia procedures were diagnostic imaging (n = 33, 22.0%) and ophthalmic surgeries (n = 31, 20.7%), followed by soft tissue surgeries (n = 27, 18.0%), and orthopedic surgeries (n = 20, 13.3%). Intravenous alfaxalone provided smooth induction for inhalation anesthesia in almost cases, but transient apnea and twitching/paddling were observed after induction and during recovery, respectively. In addition, alfaxalone did not show pain response during intravenous administration. Alfaxalone showed smooth induction of inhalation anesthesia in dogs and cats with mild to severe systemic disease (ASA 2-4). Alfaxalone was considered as an acceptable induction agent for patients with higher risk in small animal practice.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.200-209
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• 2014

Background: Spinal opioid administration is an excellent option to separate the desirable analgesic effects of opioids from their expected dose-limiting side effects to improve postoperative analgesia. Therefore, physicians must better identify either specific opioids or adequate doses and routes of administration that result in a mainly spinal site of action rather than a cerebral analgesic one. Methods: The purpose of this topical review is to describe current available clinical evidence to determine what opioids reach high enough concentrations to produce spinally selective analgesia when given by epidural or intrathecal routes and also to make recommendations regarding their rational and safety use for the best management of postoperative pain. To this end, a search of Medline/Embase was conducted to identify all articles published up to December 2013 on this topic. Results: Recent advances in spinal opioid bioavailability, based on both animals and humans trials support the theory that spinal opioid bioavailability is inversely proportional to the drug lipid solubility, which is higher in hydrophilic opioids like morphine, diamorphine and hydromorphone than lipophilic ones like alfentanil, fentanyl and sufentanil. Conclusions: Results obtained from meta-analyses of RTCs is considered to be the 'highest' level and support their use. However, it's a fact that meta-analyses based on studies about treatment of postoperative pain should explore clinical surgery heterogeneity to improve patient's outcome. This observation forces physicians to use of a specific procedure surgical-based practical guideline. A vigilance protocol is also needed to achieve a good postoperative analgesia in terms of efficacy and security.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to find out drug use pattern of narcotic analgesics in university hospitals in Korea. A university hospital located in Kyungbuk province was chosen for this study. The drug use pattern was analyzed in terms of ingredient, administration route, patient type, and attending department. Amount of drug usage was counted by unit dose defined by the number of ampule or vial for injectable, tablet or capsule for oral, and each for patch preparations. Result showed that 11 narcotic analgesic ingredients were used during 2007-2009, and the drug usage was increased by about 20% annually during the period. Proportion of oral preparations used for pain management was about two third of all narcotic analgesics usage and kept increasing during the period. Proportion of the drug usage for outpatients was also steadily increased. Notably, the usage of oral preparations of oxycodone, morphine, and hydromorphone was rapidly increased for the management of cancer pain while the usage of codeine and codeine-containing composite preparations for cancer pain were minimal (<10%). About 90% of all narcotic analgesics were used by physicians in Internal Department, especially in Oncology Division of the Department. These findings suggest that pain management is becoming more aggressive and in agreement with WHO's guidelines regarding selection of administration route. However, in terms of 3-step ladder for cancer pain management, the drug use pattern was not congruent to WHO's guidelines. Therefore, in conclusion, it appears that physicians need to try to be congruent to the guidelines when using narcotic analgesics for cancer pain.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2015

Breakthrough cancer pain is a transient exacerbation of pain that occurs despite relatively well controlled background pain with around-the-clock analgesia. It is highly prevalent in patients with cancer pain, with an overall prevalence of 70~90%. Breakthrough cancer pain has several negative effects on quality of life, including a decrease in functional status and social relationship, and higher incidence of anxiety/depression. It also places a detrimental burden on their families, society, and the healthcare system. According to the pathogenic mechanism, breakthrough cancer pain is classified into two categories: idiopathic (or spontaneous) pain and incident pain. Episodes of breakthrough cancer pain have typical characteristics, including rapid onset (5~10 min), severe intensity, and short duration (30~60 min). However, there are some variations in timing and severity of pain among patients and episodes. Therefore, a thorough assessment of pain episodes is needed and management plan must be individualized to provide optimal treatment. Several immediate-release formulations such as oxycodone, morphine, and hydromorphone are widely used despite relatively slow onset of action. Recent studies have shown that transmucosal fentanyl preparations were effective for faster control of breakthrough pain. We hope to improve management of breakthrough cancer pain with more efficient analgesics in line with currently available evidence.