• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.241-246
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• 1998

Background: Opioids and local anesthetics have been administered epidurally for the purpose of the postoperative analgesia. However opioids have a serious risk of respiratory depression and local anesthetics have the risks of hypotension, sensory block, or motor one. In recent years, reports of spinal administration of midazolam for acute postoperative pain control have appeared in the literature. This study was performed to observe the effect of epidural midazolam in patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device. Methods: Forty-five patients scheduled for the elective total hysterectomy were randomly selected; epidurally take morphine only (group I, n=15), morphine plus 0.1% bupivacaine (group II, n=15), or morphine plus midazolam (group III, n=15). The visual analogue scale (VAS) at rest and with movement, the sedation score, the degree of the satisfaction, the total amounts of a morphine usage, and the incidence of the side effects were observed. Rusults: The VAS at rest of group II and III were decreased significantly than that of group I. The VAS with movement of group III was significantly decreased than that of group I and II. The sadation score and the cumulative dose of a morphine were statistically insignificant within groups. Conclusion: Epidural morphine plus midazolam was proven to be clinically effective in the post-operative pain control especially for the pain with movement, compared with epidural morphine only and morphine plus 0.1% bupivacaine.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.336-344
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• 2022

Background: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has prohibited epidural steroid injection (ESI) with particulate steroids. Thus, this study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of ESI with two nonparticulate steroids, dexamethasone and betamethasone. Methods: The eligible patients (n = 600) who received ESI (0 week) with dexamethasone (ESI-dexa) or betamethasone (ESI-beta) had follow-up visits at 2, 4, and 8 weeks with a phone interview at 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of effective responders without pain or who were much improved at 2 weeks. The secondary endpoints were the proportion of crossover injections at 2 weeks; changes in the visual analog scale (VAS) and disability index scores at 2, 4, and 8 weeks; the number of additional ESIs in 12 weeks; the number of participants having spinal surgery, as well as the incidence of adverse events over the 12 weeks. Results: The proportion of effective responders at 2 weeks was not different between ESI-beta (72/216, 33.3%) and ESI-dexa (63/200, 31.5%; P = 0.670). Adverse events were more common with ESI-dexa (40/200, 20.0%) than with ESI-beta (24/216, 11.1%; P = 0.012). VAS scores decreased more with ESI-beta than with ESI-dexa at 2 weeks (difference, 0.35; P = 0.023) and 4 weeks (difference, 0.42; P = 0.011). The disability score improved significantly more with ESI-beta compared with ESI-dexa at 2 weeks (difference, 3.37; P = 0.009), 4 weeks (difference, 4.01; P = 0.002), and 8 weeks (difference, 3.54; P = 0.007). Conclusions: Betamethasone would be more appropriate for ESI.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 1990

Fifty-one cases of acute herpes zoster infection were analyzed to search for the most effective management strategy of the disease, including pain relief and decreasing the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia. Anti-viral treatment was not included. Analgesics and nerve blocks, such as stellate ganglion block or epidural block, were helpful. Corticosteroid was administered in most of the cases either systemically or epidurally or both. Epidural administration of local anesthetic in combination with corticosteroid seemed to have certain advantages of excellent pain relief as a result of sympathetic blockade and regional plus systemic anti-inflammatory effects of the steroid, although this was not proved by definite statistical evidence.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.36-40
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• 1998

Background: Recently, it has been demonstrated that endothelin(ET) and endothelin related peptides are present in the blood and plasma ET levels are increased after operation. But the causes of increasing plasma ET levels are not clearly understood. This current study was to investigate the relationship between postoperative pain and endothelin. Methods: Thirty adult patients, scheduled for upper abdominal operation under general anesthesia, were included. After operation, epidural catheterization was done for postoperative analgesia. Before induction, on complained of pain and 1 hour after analgesics administration, blood samples were obtained to measure plasma ET levels. Plasma ET concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay. Pain score was measured by visual analogue score(VAS). Mean arterial pressure(MAP) and heart rate(HR) were also recorded every sampling time. Results: There were no significant changes in plasma ET levels at the time before induction versus at the time of the pain complaints and at 1 hour after analgesic administration. Pain score was significantly reduced after epidural analgesia. There was no significant correlations between pain score and plasma ET levels. There were no significant correlation between plasma ET levels and either MAP or HR. Conclusions: These results indicate that there is lack of relationship between postoperative pain and endothelin.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.374-379
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• 1996

Background: Recently, improvements in drug administration technology have intensified interest in the treatment of postoperative pain. this has resulted in increased use of continuous intravenous infusion of opioid and epidural opioid as alternative to traditional intramuscular administration of opioid. The goal of this study, therefore, was to document the effects of pain control and side effects following continuous intravenous infusion of morphine or meperidine and intramuscular meperidine following cesarean section. Methods: The vital signs, pain score, oxygen saturation and side effects were compared in 150 patients receiving continuous intravenous infusion of morphine, 30 ${\mu}g/kg/hr$ (n=50, group 1); continuous intravenous infusion of meperidine, 150 ${\mu}g/kg/hr$ (n=50, group 2); or intramuscular meperidine, 50mg/every 6hrs (n=50, group 3). Results: VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) was significantly decreased after 30 minutes of administration in all three groups and was significantly lower at 1 hour, but higher at 6 hours in group 3 than two other groups. Severe desaturation episode, defined as $SpO_2$<90%, occurred in the group 3(0.2%). Moderate desaturation episodes, defined as $SpO_2$ 91~95%, occurred more in group 3 than in group 1 and 2 (17.4% vs. 10.4%, 8.2%). The incidence of side effects were similar among three groups. Conclusion: The continuous infusion of opioid was more effective and safe method of postoperative pain control than traditional intramuscular injection.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.196-205
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• 2019

Background: Hypertonic saline (HS) injections for decompressive neuroplasty (DN) can cause pain. We assessed whether a continuous infusion of HS through an infusion pump would reduce injection-related pain compared with repeated bolus administrations. Methods: Fifty patients scheduled for DN were randomized to either the bolus injection or the continuous infusion group. After appropriately placing the epidural catheter, 4 mL of 5% NaCl was injected as four boluses of 1 mL each at 15-minute intervals or infused over 1 hour using an infusion pump. The severity of pain induced by HS injection, as measured by the 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS), was the primary outcome. The severity of low back or lower extremity pain, as measured by the 11-point NRS and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), 3 months following the procedure, was the secondary outcome. Results: Data from 21 patients in the bolus group and 23 in the continuous infusion group were analyzed. No statistically significant difference in injection-related pain was identified between the two groups during the initial HS administration (P = 0.846). However, there was a statistically significant reduction in injection-related pain in the continuous infusion group compared to the bolus injection group from the second assessment onwards (P = 0.001, < 0.001, and < 0.001, respectively). No significant between-group differences in the NRS and ODI scores 3 months post-procedure were noted (P = 0.614 and 0.949, respectively). Conclusions: Our study suggests that administering HS through a continuous infusion is a useful modality for reducing HS injection-related pain during DN.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.250-252
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• 1999

A 77-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital with acute appendicitis and underwent emergency appendectomy under inhalation anesthesia without any complications. After the operation, the patient was placed on epidural analgesia with the mixture of fentanyl-bupivacaine and scopolamine patch for nausea and vomiting. The patient experienced central anticholinergic syndrome (CAS) with hallucination, confusion, somnolence, dysarthria and delirium at 20 hours after patch placement and recovered from all symptoms of CAS in 24 hours after the removal of the patch. The CAS occurs when central cholinergic sites are occupied by specific drugs and also as a result of an insufficient release of acetylcholine. The diagnosis of CAS is often determined by a process of exclusion and not actually made until a positive therapeutic response to physostigmine, a centrally active anticholiesterase agent, has taken place. Treatment of CAS includes prompt removal of the patch, cleansing of the area, and physostigmine administration. The scopolamine patch should be used with extreme caution in elderly patient.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 1992

The use of epidural narcotics to treat cancer pain was first described by Behar et al in 1979. More recently, a variety of implantable INDSs have been described for long-term intraspinal narcotic administration. Especially, among these systems INDS typeIII which is designed by Poletti et al is relatively low cost and less risk of infection, therefore this system has been widely accepted but the clinical experience is insufficient yet. 1, Problems, 1) thorough education of patients and care-givers about this system the method of drug delivery and the situations could be happen in using this system. 2) high cost of continuous drug delivery system 3) legal problems about morphine carry-out in the case of bolus infusion by syringe 1. Complications; 1) by morphine; Significant respiratory depression was not found in all 21cases. other morphine-related complications were occurred occasionally but improved within a few days by appropriate treatment. 2) by system, Blockage or leakage of catheter was occurred in 2cases and wound infection was occurred in 2cases and so reimplantation was done.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.3-8
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• 1988

Authors have experienced the treatment for the uppermost frequent cases, herpes zoster, frozen shoulder and low back pain among those who visited our pain clinic. 1. Herpes zoster The Patients who received the treatment within 4 weeks of the onset of the disease, not only healed herpes without leaving post herpetic neuralgia but also crust formation was fast. 2. Frozen shoulder Over 90% of the patients who received suprascapular nerve block accompanied with trigger points electric stimulation was very efficient procedure, futhermore, authors felt keenly the necessity each patients co-operation and individual endurance for this treatment. 3. Low back pain An epidural steroid administration to the patients who did not have any organic disturbances was effective treatment. If this non-effective, search other cause of the disease or operation was advisable one.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.140-142
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• 2010

Acupuncture appears to be a clinically effective treatment for acute and chronic pain. A considerable amount of research has been conducted to evaluate the role that acupuncture plays in pain suppression; however, few studies have been conducted to evaluate the side effects of the acupuncture procedure. This case report describes a suspected postdural puncture headache following acupuncture for lower back pain. Considering the high opening pressure, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and the patient's history of acupuncture in the lower back area, our diagnosis was iatrogenic postdural puncture headache. Full relief of the headache was achieved after administration of an epidural blood patch.