• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.158-163
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• 2000

Over the past several years, countless patients have benefitted from the use of leeches in microsurgery. As we know, leeches are used to overcome the problem of venous congestion by creating prolonged localized bleeding uniquely characteristics of leech bite. Venous congestion, a common complication of digital replantation, often has been treated through surgical repair like arteriovenous anastomosis. The leech produces a number of important substances which contribute to the special property of the bite, including an anticoagulant, a local vasodilator and local anesthetics. The bite usually bleeds for 1 to 2 hours and under special circumstances may bleed for up to 24 hours. So venous congestion is relieved. However, leeches increase the possibility of infection through their gut content. Infection associated medical leech application is significant risk. Other risk include allergic reaction, adverse psychologic reaction and blood loss requiring transfusion. The 65 cases of medical leech application were performed between August, 1997 and May, 2000 according to an established protocol. The complication were 18 cases ; infection (13 cases), hemorrhage (2 cases), allergic reaction (1 case), psychologic problem (1 case) and hypochromic anemia (1 case). Then our study was performed on the base of indication. As a result, Aeromonas hydrophilia was cultured from gut of medical leech and Klebsiella, Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas were cultured from media. We present the clinical risk-benefit of the medical leech therapy through several cases following digital replantation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 1990

Reiestad and Stromskag recently introduced the interpleural installation of local anesthetic solutions as a technique for the management of postoperative pain in patients undergoing cholecystectomy, renal surgery, and breast surgery. This study was done to manage postoperative pain in the patients undergoing unilateral upper-abdominal surgery and thoracotomy. Twenty patients received 0.5% bupivacaine 20 ml with epinephrine (Children, received 10 ml). Results were as follows: 1) Analgesic effects appeared in 15.56 minutes; mean analgesic duration from the initial intrapleural injection was 10.5 hours. 2) Blood pressure increased more after the operation than before the operation. Blood pressure before injection of bupivacaine was highest (p<0.01). Heart rate was increased before injection and 10 minutes after injection of 0.5% bupivacaine (p<0.05). 3) The values of $PaCO_2$, were improved from $41.7{\pm}2.02\;mmHg$ ($PaCO_2$), $85.2{\pm}2.41\;mmHg$ ($PaO_2$) to $37.8{\pm}2.41\;mmHg$ ($PaCO_2$), $107.0{\pm}7.86\;mmHg$ ($PaO_2$) respectively (p<0.01). 4) Complication such as pneumothorax, atelectasis and CNS toxicity did not appear. 5) Intrapleural administration of local anesthetics after unilateral upper-abdominal and thoracic surgery provided a satisfactory pain control.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.317-320
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• 1998

Since Reiestad and Str$\ddot{o}$mskag reported interpleural installation of local anesthetic solutions as a technique for the management of postoperative pain in the patients undergoing cholecystectomy, renal surgery and breast surgery, many physician applied this technique for upper abdominal pain from various reasons such as technically simple, effective pain relief, less respiratory depression. So we tried interpleural analgesia in two patients who suffered from severe upper abdominal pain. One had upper abdominal pain due to chronic pancreatitis and the other had right upper abdominal pain after PTBD (percutaneous transhepatic bile drainage) for biliary cirrhosis and systemic jaundice. Both were injected 10 ml of 1% lidocaine and infused continuously with 1% lidocaine (2 ml/hr) using 2-Day Baxter$^{(R)}$ infusor. After bolus injection of lidocaine, pain scores (VAS 0~100) were recorded below 25mm and had not exceed that level during continuous infusion. After removing the catheters, two patients were all satisfied with this therapy. Our experiences with this technique showed that continuous infusion of local anesthetics through an interpleural catheter is effective in the control of refractory upper abdominal pain without any complication.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.232-235
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• 2012

Hypoesthesia after an inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) block does not commonly occur, but some cases are reported. The causes of hypoesthesia include a needle injury or toxicity of local anesthetic agents, and the incidence itself can cause stress to both dentists and patients. This case presents a hypoesthesia on mental nerve area followed by IAN block anesthesia with 2% lidocaine. Prescription of steroids for a week was performed and periodic follow up was done. After 1 wk, the symptoms got much better and after 4 mon, hypoesthesia completely disappeared. During this healing period, only early steroid medication was prescribed. In most cases, hypoesthesia is resolved within 6 mon, but being aware of etiology and the treatment options of hypoesthesia is important. Because the hypoesthesia caused by IAN block anesthesia is a mild to moderate nerve injury, early detection of symptom and prescription of steroids could be helpful for improvement of the hypoesthesia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.200-205
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• 1996

Radiofrequency thermocoagulation(RF) techniques are safe and effective methods as compared to neurodestructive procedure. Other advantages are: ability to perform RF lesions under local or sedative anesthesia, rapid recovery period, low incidence of morbidity and mortality, ability to repeat RF lesions, and leaves no significant scarring. We performed C2 ganglionotomy by RF lesion generator on a patient, suffering post-traumatic occipital neuralgia, as the patient did not respond to conservative therapies such as: trigger point injection, TENS, cryotherapy and stretch, occipital nerve block, C2 ganglion block. Prognostic nerve block was performed usng local anesthetics. Excellent effect was conformed before C2 ganglionotomy. This procedure was performed under fluoroscopy. Type RCK-2A Rosomoff Cordotomy kit was used to stabilize the head and neck. Postoperatively, the patient was free of occipital pain and head motions no longer triggered pain. To date, the patient remains symptom free except for some cervical discomfort.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 1997

Background : Analgesic effect of intra-articular morphine or ketoronac treatment alone, or a combination of both drugs, on postoperative pain were evaluated in 40 healthy male patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. Method : Upon completion of surgery under spinal anesthesia, each patients knee joint was injected with 30 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine. Then, via parenteral or intra-articular route, one study group received morphine and other group received ketorolac. Results : Groups who received either intra-articular ketorolac, or morphine, experienced decreased postoperative pain reducing need for additional analgesics. The combination treatment of intra-articular morphine and ketorolac did not improved results. Conclusions : Singular use of either intra-articular morphine, or ketorolac, improves postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing arthroscopic sugery: Combination of these drugs offered no further advantage over its single prescription.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1-5
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• 1975

It has been reported that kanamycin lowers osmotic fragility and mechanical fragility by ultrasonification of human red cells. In the present study, we therefore investigated effects of $Ca^{++}$, kanendomycin and kanamycin on stearic acid monolayer using a langmuir trough and found fellowing results 1) $Ca^{++}$ added to the subphase condensed stearic acid monolayer, confirming earlier reports. 2) Likewise, kanendomycin and kanamycin condensed the stearic acid monolayer, the effects being dose dependent. The possible modes of action of kanamycin and kanendomycin on biological membrane were discussed and compared with those of $Ca^{++}$ and local anesthetics

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.109-112
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• 1998

The sympathetic nervous system has been implicated as an important factor contributing to causalgia. Basis on reports of presence of opioid receptors in sympathetic autonomic ganglia, including human stellate ganglion, we administered morphine in stellate ganglion block for a patient with causalgia. The patient suffering from brachial plexus injury treated with stellate ganglion block in conjunction with physical therapy. Stellate ganglion block was performed in a paratracheal approach by injection of 1% lidocaine, or 0.25% bupivacaine 8 ml, with morpine 1 mg. Patient's symptoms were dramatically improved after 13 stellate ganglion blocks.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.134-137
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• 1998

The presence of an enlarged transverse process on one or both sides of the last lumbar vertebra is a common congenital anomaly of the lumbar vertebra. It is thought to be a genetic or developmental anatomical variant. The first reported assimilation of the fifth lumbar vertebra into the sacrum associated with low back pain was in 1917 by Bertolotti. However, clinical significance of lumbosacral transitional vertebra has not been fully considered due to lack of scientific investigations dealing with it. We experienced a case of symptomatic lumbosacral transitional vertebra during management of low back pain. Low back pain was relieved after infiltration of local anesthetics and steroid into the false joint of lumbosacral transitional vertebra. This result may possibly indicate a significant correlation between low back pain and lumbosacral transitional vertebra.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.92-95
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• 1992

Coccygodynia is severe burning pain around the coccyx and idiopathic coccygodynia refers to the forms of coccygeal pain that are not associated with well defined pathological conditions, such as recent fractures, dislocation, infectious diseases, or tumors of the coccyx. We experienced a case of coccygodynia in which patient had suffered from intermittent severe pain around the coccyx for nine years without a well defined cause. So coccygeal nerve block and low caudal blocks were performed with local anesthetics and steroid and the pain was controlled effectively.