• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.279-285
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• 1995

Extradural block is a form of treatment described as early as the beginning of the present centuries. It has since had positive criticism from a number of authors in different countries. Epidural injections of steroids with or without local anesthetic have become an occasional method of conservative treatment in sciatica & lumbago, especially in acute case. We assess the results of continuous epidural block with steroids and local anesthetics in sciatica & lumbago. From July 1994 to June 1995, we treated 46 case of lumbago and sciatica using continuous epidural block with steroids and local anesthetics. After placement of 17-Gauge Tuohy needle in the epidural space by the technique of loss of resistance, 0.25% bupivacaine 5 cc and triamcinolone 40 mg was administered and then epidural catheter was placed and connected to multiday infusor(Paragon) using 1% lidocaine with continuous infusion rate of 1 ml/hour. Usually, the catheter was removed after 1~2 weeks and then treated with the physical therapy. At the time of patient's discharge, 69.5% of all cases showed excellent or good results. Of particular note, 26 of the 46 cases were followed up by telephone. At present, in using Of particular note, 26 of the 46 cases were followed up by telephone. At present, in using continuous epidural block procedure, a relief in symptoms showed in 65.5% of these 26 cases. Continuous epidural block provides shortening of the recovery time from pain, avoidance of long period bed rest and early physical therapy and exercise. Therefore, continuous epidural block is simple and safe in the treatment of lumbago and sciatica, especially in acute phase.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.301-303
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• 1997

A 35-year-old female patient was referred to our hospital with neurologic symptoms after continuous epidural block performed 2 days earlier. She die not have any prior no previous lumbar surgery or experience trauma, intraspinal hemorrhage, infections or other known causative factors to associate with neurologic symptoms. Continuous epidural block is widely used for postoperative pain control. Complications can occur with this block including postduralpuncture headache, epidural abscess and rare cases of arachnoiditis etc. We experienced such a case of spinal arachnoiditis after continuous epidural block. Neurologic examination revealed painful bilateral hypoesthesia below $S_2$ level dermatomes, urinary and fecal incontinence and various degrees of leg weakness. The following day, the patient was noted to have bilateral sacral radiculopathies and lesion on proximal portion of both tibial nerve. CSF study reported: protein 264 mg/dl, sugar 64 mg/dl, WBC $7/mm^3$. L-spine MyeloCTscan results were unremarkable. She was discharged after a month of hospitalization and has regular checkups but her neurologic symptoms show no signs of improvement.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.230-234
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• 1998

Background: Continuous epidural block is widely used for surgical operation and postoperative pain management. The potential infection due to the epidural catheter is a definite harzard of continous epidural block. We investigated the effectiveness of bacterial filter in prevention of infection due to the epidural catheter. Methods: Patients scheduled for transabdominal hysterectomy were assigned to two groups by simple randomization (50 patients per group). All catheters were placed in the 2nd and 3rd lumbar epidural space, using careful sterile technique. Group 1 received injections by the epidural catheter with a bacterial filter and group 2 received injections by the epidural catheter without a bacterial filter. The infection rate in the tips of epidural catheter left for 3 days were compared between the two groups. Results: There was no significant difference in the infection rate between two groups. Conclusions: A bacterial filter of the epidural catheter for surgical anesthesia and postoperative analgesia dose not prevent all kinds of infection in continuous epidural block.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.265-269
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• 1993

Subdural block is a rare but well recognized complication of epidural anesthesia. The placement of local anesthetics into the subdural space can lead to potentially life-threatening conditions. A healthy 46-year-old women underwent total abdominal hysterectomy under continuous lumber epidural anesthesia. The technical procedure for continuous epidural catheterization went smoothly without a single problem. However, signs of high epidural block such as apnea, cranial nerve paralysis and pupil dilatation developed gradually, about 20 minutes after the epidural injection of 2% lidocaine 20 ml through the epidural catheter. Such extensive segmental block can only be explained as the result of injection into subdural space even if it was not confirmed radiologically.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.97-99
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• 1989

Epidural block is used extensively in each of the fields of surgical anesthesia, obstetric anesthesia, and diagnosis and management of acute and chronic pain. New developments in the understanding of pain conduction have extended the use of continuous epidural blockade to the administration of drugs that selectively block pain conduction while leaving sensation and motor power essentially unchanged. The safety and the reliability of spinal epidural catheter techniques have permitted relief of acute and chronic pain. However, one of the important aspects of the management of the epidural catheter is the possibility of epidural infection. We have experienced a case of epidural infection during control of post-herpetic neuralgia and discuss management of the epidural catheter in this article.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.383-385
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• 1995

Postpuncture headache is the most common complication of epidural block, others include abscission of the tip of catheter, epidural abscess and subarachnoid infection, etc. A 69-year-old female patient visited the Neuro-Pain Clinic of Seran General Hospital for treatment of lower back pain and both sciatica. She received continuous epidural block, psoas compartment block, lumbar facet joint block and lumbar facet thermocoagulation. During the epidural block procedure the dura was accidently punctured and auto-logous blood patch was performed. Three days later, she manifested fever, nausea, vomiting, mild neck stiffness and mental deterioration. Meningitis was suspected as the cause of these signs. The CSF study reported: protein 400 mg/dl, sugar 14 mg/dl, WBC $468/mm^3$. She was recovered from the meningitis after adequate antibiotic therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.279-282
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• 1996

A 45-year-old male received cervical continuous epidural block for posterior neck pain radiating to right upper extremity secondary to cervical herniated nucleus pulposus. Three days after epidural catheterization, fever, radicular pain and weakness of both upper extremities were developed. On admission, his temperature was $38.3^{\circ}C$ and showed progressive weakness and numbness in both upper and lower extremities. Cervical epidural abscess was suspected; MRI showed an epidural abscess from C4 to C7 level. Within 24 hours of admission, surgical decompression and drainage was effected. Culture of pus obtained at the lesion yielded Staphylococcus aureus. He was treated with intravenous antibiotics for 7 weeks resulting marked improvement of neurologic signs and symptoms.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제26권10호
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• pp.781-786
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• 1993

Effrctive analgesia after elective thoracotomy can be provided by continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block.This study was designed to prove the effectiveness of continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block. Twenty patients undergoing elective thoracotomy were randomized into two groups. Group I received lumbar epidural block[N=10] and group II received continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block[N=10]. Postoperative pain relief was assessed on Numeric Rating Scale[NRS] and recovery of pulmonary function was assessed by coparison of preoperatrive and postoperative FVC[Forced Vital Capacity], FEV1[Forced expiratory Volume in 1 second], VC[Vital Capacity]. Arterial blood gas analysis[ABGA], vital signs and amount of additive analgesics were compared also. No significant difference was observed between the groups concerning these parameters mentioned above. Systemic complications, such as urinary retention[2/10] and weakness of lower extremity[2/10], occurred in group I but no complication occurred in group II. We conclude that continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block is as effective as epidural block in pain relief and restoration of pulmonary mechanics with fewer comlications. Also because of it`s ease and safetiness, this must be considered as a substitute of epidural block in routine use for thoracotomy pain relief.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.81-85
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• 1998

Background: Continuous caudal epidural block is a useful method in postoperative pain control after perianal surgery. But caudal epidural block has the potential of developing adverse effects such as urinary retention. The goal of this study is to evaluate the analgesic and adverse effect of bupivacaine with fentanyl through continuous caudal epidural block in relation to the concentration of bupivacaine. Methods: We divided the patients randomly into two groups. For group I(n=25) postoperative pain was controlled by continuous caudal epidural infusion at the rate of 4 ml/hr of 0.0625% bupivacaine with 3 ${\mu}g$/ml fentanyl: group II(n=14), 0.125% bupivacaine with 3 ${\mu}g$/ml fentanyl, respectively, for duration of 48 hours via epidural catheter. We evaluated pain scores with visual analogue scales at 30 mins, 6 hrs, 12 hrs, 24 hrs and 48 hrs after the operation and the incidence of adverse effect, especially urinary retention, for each group. Results: There were no significant differences in the pain score between group I and II. Urinary retention developed in 9 patients(36%) of group I, and 11 patients (78.6%) of group II. Other adverse effects such as pruritus, nausea, vomiting and respiratory depression developed in few patients. Conclusions: While performing continuous caudal epidural block with mixture of bupivacaine and fentanyl after the perianal surgery, we conclude 0.0625% bupivacaine solution is preferable to 0.125% bupivacaine solution because 0.0625% solution resulted in satisfactory analgesia with minimal incidence of adverse effect.

• 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.