• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 1999

Background: Despite the popularity of epidural bupivacaine-morphine infusions for postoperative pain management, the optimum concentrations and dosages of bupivacaine have not been determined. At present, due to the disadvantages conferred by intense motor block and the increased risk of toxicity, many trials focus on reducing bupivacaine concentration and thus the evaluation of concentrations less than 0.1% may be warranted. Methods: Forty patients having epiduro-general anesthesia for hysterectomy were randomly assigned to one of two study groups. As a mean of postoperative pain control, all received 2 mg of epidural morphine bolusly 1 hr before the end of surgery and continuous epidural infusion was started using a two-day Infusor containing 4 mg of morphine in 100 ml of 0.125% bupivacaine (Group 0.125B, n=20) or 100 ml of 0.0625% bupivacaine (Group 0.0625B, n=20). Study endpoints included visual analog scales (VAS) for pain during rest and movement, sensory change and motor blockade. They were assessed at 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 hrs postoperatively. Results: For VAS during rest, no significance could be found between two groups over the course of study. But for VAS during movement, the 0.125B group showed more satisfactory results especially during early postoperative periods. For the incidence of complications, the 0.125B group revealed greater frequency of sensory change (25.0%) and motor blockade (10.0%) compared with the 0.0625B group. Conclusion: This study suggests that 0.0625% bupivacaine with morphine via epidural route was sufficient for pain control during rest but it was not satisfactory during movement especially in early postoperative periods. We also recommend that careful attention to motor blockade should be paid when using 0.125% bupivacaine.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.1
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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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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.134-137
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• 1997

We report a case of cauda equine syndrome following caudal anesthesia possibly caused by metastatic spine tumor. Male, 80-year-old, who had prostatic carcinoma with $L_3$ and $L_4$ spine metastasis was scheduled for bilateral orchiectomy. Twenty two-gauge needle was introduced at sacral hiatus and 15 ml of 2% lidocaine administered. The next morning, patient complained of perineal numbness and urination difficulty. During the next several day patient had episodes of fecal incontinence and motor weakness on both lower extremities. This case reminded us that neuroaxial blocks such as spinal, epidural and caudal anesthesia, should be used with extreme care in patients having neoplasm with high incidence of spine metastasis.