• 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.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.47-67
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• 2004

Objectives : In the present study, the effect of Scolopendrid Water-Alcohol Extract (SWAE) applied to acupuncture point BL23 (Shinsu) on the neuropathic pain was examined. A common source of persistent pain in humans is the neuropathic pain. Anti-convulsant drugs are used to treat the neuropathic pain. In the oriental medicine, Scolopendrid was used for long time to treat convulsant syndrome and back pain, etc. Methods : On the bases of the Scolopendrid clinical application, the effect of SWAE applied to the acupuncture point was tested in the rat model of neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain was induced by tight ligation of L5 spinal nerve. When rats developed pain behaviors, One hundred microliter of SWAE was applied into the ipsilateral BL23 point at a dose of 10 mg/ml under enflurane anesthesia. The foot withdraw latency of the hind limb was measured for an indicator of pain level after each manipulation. Results : SWAE injection increased the mechanical threshold of the foot in the rat model of neuropathic pain significantly for the duration of 4h, suggesting a partial alleviation of pain. SWAE applied to BL23 point produced a significant improvement of mechanical sensitivity of the foot lasting for at least 4h. However, neither contralateral BL23 point, ST25 (Chonchu) point, nor LR3 (Taechung) point produce as much increase of mechanical sensitivity as ipsilateral BL23 point. And, this increase of mechanical sensitivity was dose-dependent. The improvement of mechanical threshold was interpreted as an analgesic effect. In addition, the analgesic effect of Scolopendrid 4 mg/kg injection is equivalent to that of gabapentin 50 mg/kg injection. The relations between SWAE-induced analgesia and endogenous nitric oxide(NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS)/neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) were also examined. Results were turned out that both NO production and nNOS/iNOS protein expression which are increased by nerve injury were suppressed by SWAE injection applied to BL23 point. Conclusions : The data suggest 1) that SWAE produces a potent analgesic effect on the neuropathic pain model in the rat and 2) that SWAE-induced analgesia modulate endogenous NO through the suppression of nNOS/iNOS protein expression.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.315-322
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of three kinds of modes using bolus button of PCA on level of pain and side effects of analgesic and amount of drug consumption in post-operative patients according to whether the medication is controlled by the patient, the caregiver or the nurse. Method: The participants were 684 patients using PCA after an operation. The data collection period was from March 19 to April 6, 2007. Results: It was found that there were statistical differences in gender, age, type of surgery, pain on first post-operative day, amount of drug consumption, nausea, and vomiting. The ratio for patient controlled medication was 55.7% for women, and 70.5% for men, and for care-giver controlled medication, 35.1% for women, and 20.0% for men. Average pain scores for the first post-operative day were $3.9{\pm}2.2$ for patient controlled medication and $4.5{\pm}2.3$ for care-giver controlled medication. There were statistical differences according to mode used for PCA for amount of drug consumptions, nausea and vomiting but not for pain, operation day or pruritus. Conclusion: This study was carried out to examine risks according to who controls the PCA for post-operative patients. The results can help to develop education program for everyone who is involved in PCA, patients, caregivers, nurses and doctors.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 1990

One hundred patients requiring appedectomy were studied to determine the minimal effective dose of intrathecal morphine for postoperative analgesia. In double-blind fashion, groups of 20 patients received either 0.02 mg (group I), 0.04 mg (group II), 0.06 mg (group III), 0.08 mg (group IV), or 0.10 mg (group V) intrathecally with 10% dextrose in water 2 ml. Group II to group V patients reported significantly less postoperative pain than group I patients as assessed by the Prince Henry pain scale and required significantly fewer analgesic interventions for 24 hours. The incidences of vomiting and pruritus were considerably high in all groups, but none of them required any treatment. The incidence of urinary catheterization due to urinary retention in group II to V was twice that of group I. No clinically evident respiratory depression occurred in any of the subjects. In conclusion, intrathecal morphine administration of 0.04 mg proved effective in reducing postoperative analgesic requirements and in eliminating postoperative pain following appendectomy and was not associated with significant side effects. It is very likely that such low dose intrathecal morphine would also work in other operations.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.108-115
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of preoperative pain management education on postoperative pain control in patients with uterine tumor using patient controlled analgesia. Methods: This study used non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design. Data were collected from September, 2008 to March, 2009 at one university hospital in Daegu, Korea. There were 60 participants, 30 in both the experimental and control group. The experimental group was given preoperative pain education using videos, leaflets, and a PCA model. Postoperative pain intensity, frequency of the PCA button being pressed, and doses of additional analgesics were observed through 24 hours postoperative and knowledge of pain and attitude about the use of the pain medicine were measured at 3 days postoperative. Collected data were analyzed using t-test, ${\chi}^2$ test, repeat measured ANOVA, and Bonferroni methods. Results: There were no significant differences in the postoperative pain level between the experimental and control group. Postoperative frequency of the PCA button pressed, doses of additional analgesics, pain knowledge and attitude about the use of the pain medicine of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Conclusion: Pain management education is an effective nursing intervention for pain control after surgery.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.50-53
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• 2007

Background: Continuous epidural catheterization is a popular and effective procedure for postoperative analgesia. However, continuous epidural catheterization has associated complications such as venous puncture, dural puncture, subarachnoid cannulation, suboptimal catheter placement, and paresthesia because the tip of the epidural catheter touches thenerves of the dura in the epidural space. In this study, we compared the incidence of paresthesia in two different lengths of epidural catheter insertion. Methods: One hundred women undergoing gynecologic or orthopedic surgery were enrolled in this prospective, double-blinded, randomized study. All patients were randomly divided into two groups based on the insertion length of the epidural catheter 2 cm (group A) or 4 cm (group B). A Tuohy needle was inserted in the lumbarspinal region with a bevel directed cephalad by use of the median approach, and then the epidural space was confirmed by the loss of resistance technique with air. While the practitioner inserted an epidural catheter into the epidural space, a blind observer checked for paresthesia or withdrawal movement. Results: In 97 included patients, 30.6% of the patients in group A (n = 49) had paresthesia, versus 31.3% in group B (n = 48). Withdrawal movements were represented in 2% and 6% of the patients in group A and group B, respectively. There was no difference in the incidence of paresthesia and withdrawal movement between the two groups. Conclusions: There is no clear relationship for the incidence of catheter-related paresthesia according to the catheter length inserted into the epidural space for epidural analgesia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.166-175
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• 2020

Background: The effect of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant in the adductor canal block (ACB) and sciatic popliteal block (SPB) on the postoperative tramadol-sparing effect following spinal anesthesia has not been evaluated. Methods: In this randomized, placebo-controlled study, ninety patients undergoing below knee trauma surgery were randomized to either the control group, using ropivacaine in the ACB + SPB; the block Dex group, using dexmedetomidine + ropivacaine in the ACB + SPB; or the systemic Dex group, using ropivacaine in the ACB + SPB + intravenous dexmedetomidine. The primary outcome was a comparison of postoperative cumulative tramadol patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) consumption at 48 hours. Secondary outcomes included time to first PCA bolus, pain score, neurological assessment, sedation score, and adverse effects at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 60 minutes, as well as 4, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, and 48 hours after the block. Results: The mean ± standard deviation of cumulative tramadol consumption at 48 hours was 64.83 ± 51.17 mg in the control group and 41.33 ± 38.57 mg in the block Dex group (P = 0.008), using Mann-Whitney U-test. Time to first tramadol PCA bolus was earlier in the control group versus the block Dex group (P = 0.04). Other secondary outcomes were comparable. Conclusions: Postoperative tramadol consumption was reduced at 48 hours in patients receiving perineural or systemic dexmedetomidine with ACB and SPB in below knee trauma surgery.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.138-143
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• 2020

Background: Severe pain associated with proximal femur fractures makes the positioning for regional anesthesia a challenge. Systemic administration of analgesics can have adverse effects. Individually, both the fascia iliaca block (FIB) and femoral nerve blocks (FNB) have been studied. However, there is little evidence comparing the two. The aim of this study was to compare the overall efficacy of the two blocks in patients with proximal femur fracture before positioning for spinal anesthesia. Methods: ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) class I, II, and III patients scheduled for elective and emergency surgery with the diagnosis of proximal femur fracture between October 2018 and June 2019 were included in the study. The patients were assigned to two groups by convenience nonprobability sampling of 35 each. Results: Our study showed a reduction in visual analogue scale scores at 3, 4, and 5 minutes after administration of the FIB being 5.1 ± 1.1, 4.1 ± 1.3, and 2.8 ± 0.8, and those after the FNB as 4.4 ± 1.1, 3.3 ± 1.1, and 2.1 ± 1.4 with P < 0.05, which was statistically significant. The mean first rescue analgesia time for the FIB was 7.1 ± 2.1 hours, while for the FNB it was 5.2 ± 0.7 hours. The P value was less than 0.001, which was significant. Conclusions: Both ultrasound guided FNB and FIB techniques provide sufficient analgesia for patient's positioning before spinal anesthesia. However, the duration of postoperative analgesia provided by FIB was greater than that of the FNB.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.172-177
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• 1996

We performed a study of epidural patient controlled analgesia of meperidine with or without 0.08% bupivacaine for 48 hours after Cesarean section. 51 parturients were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups : 1) epidural 0.2% meperidine group(n:24) and 2) epidural combined group with 0.2% meperidine and 0.08% bupivacaine(n:27). All parturients used patient controlled analgesia with loading dose, 2 ml/hour continuous infusion, 1 ml bolus infusion and lockout time, 8 minutes. visual analog scales after loading doses were not significantly different in either groups. The total quantity of meperidine consumption and hourly consumption were significantly lower in the combined group than meperidine group(P<0.05). The cumulative amount of meperidine consumption were also significantly lower in the combined group than meperidine group at 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours. In combined group the hourly consumption of meperidien from 3 hours to 12 hours after loading dose was significantly lower than those of meperidine group. Above 90% of parturients were satisfied in both groups. Side effects were: numbness (2), thigh weakness (1), nausea (1), headache (1) and back pain (2) in epidural meperidine group. There were no case needed specific treatment in both groups. We conclude that analgesic effects were similar in both groups, however the amount of meperidine consumption was less for meperiding group than combined group.