• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.229-238
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• 2016

Background: The goal of this in vitro study was to investigate the effect of lipid emulsion on vasodilation caused by toxic doses of bupivacaine and mepivacaine during contraction induced by a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), in an isolated endothelium-denuded rat aorta. Methods: The effects of lipid emulsion on the dose-response curves induced by bupivacaine or mepivacaine in an isolated aorta precontracted with PDBu were assessed. In addition, the effects of bupivacaine on the increased intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) and contraction induced by PDBu were investigated using fura-2 loaded aortic strips. Further, the effects of bupivacaine, the PKC inhibitor GF109203X and lipid emulsion, alone or in combination, on PDBu-induced PKC and phosphorylation-dependent inhibitory protein of myosin phosphatase (CPI-17) phosphorylation in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was examined by western blotting. Results: Lipid emulsion attenuated the vasodilation induced by bupivacaine, whereas it had no effect on that induced by mepivacaine. Lipid emulsion had no effect on PDBu-induced contraction. The magnitude of bupivacaine-induced vasodilation was higher than that of the bupivacaine-induced decrease in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. PDBu promoted PKC and CPI-17 phosphorylation in aortic VSMCs. Bupivacaine and GF109203X attenuated PDBu-induced PKC and CPI-17 phosphorylation, whereas lipid emulsion attenuated bupivacaine-mediated inhibition of PDBu-induced PKC and CPI-17 phosphorylation. Conclusions: These results suggest that lipid emulsion attenuates the vasodilation induced by a toxic dose of bupivacaine via inhibition of bupivacaine-induced PKC and CPI-17 dephosphorylation. This lipid emulsion-mediated inhibition of vasodilation may be partly associated with the lipid solubility of local anesthetics.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 1990

Plain 0.5% bupivacaine and hyperbaric 0.5% tetracaine were compared for spinal anesthesia in 40 patients undergoing operation of lower extremities. Lumbar puncture was performed with a 22 gauge spinal needle with the patient in the lateral recumbent position. The third lumbar interspace was chosen for the puncture, when a free flow of clear CSF was obtained, the local anesthetic solution (2.5ml of 0.5% bupivacaine or 2.0ml of hyperbaric 0.5% tetracaine) was injected at a rate of 0.1ml/sec without barbotage. After injection of anesthetics, clinical features were observed and compared between the two groups. The results were as follows : 1. The two groups were well matched for age, sex, height and weight. 2. In both groups, sensory block to $T_{12}$ dermatome was obtained within 4 minutes, mean maximal level of analgesia was $T_{6-7}$, and the mean time for maximal level was around 20 minutes. 3. The onset times of motor block were similar in both groups and complete motor block was obtained in all cases within 20 minutes. 4. The duration of analgesia above the $T_{12}$ dermatome was 3 hours, postoperative analgesia was 7 hours. These values were significantly prolonged than those of the tetracaine group(p<0.05). 5. The changes in systolic pressure in the bupivacaine group were significantly less than those of the tetracaine group(p<0.05). 6. The complications after spinal anesthesia were headache, numbness, urinary retention and backpain, and were no significant difference in both groups. From the obtained results, we concluded that plain 0.5% bupivacaine was a relatively satisfactory agent for spinal anesthesia for operation of lower extremities. The time of onset, height of block and the complications of postoperative period were similar in both groups. The advantages of plain 0.5% bupivacaine were less hypotension and long duration of analgesia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2000

Background: This study intends to evaluate the benefits of the administation of continuous infusion and demand doses of 0.125% ropivacaine compared with 0.125% bupivacaine after addition of fentanyl using patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) for pain control during labor. Methods: Thirty-nine American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 or 2 parturients were randomized by double blind design to receive either 0.125% bupivacaine with fentanyl 1 ug/ml or equivalent concentration of ropivacaine/fentanyl using PCEA; with 6~8 ml/hr basal rate, 3 ml bolus, 5 min lockout, 30 ml/hr dose limit. We assessed analgesia, the amount of study solution used in PCEA, sensory levels, motor block (0~3 scales), side effects and patient satisfaction. A postpartum questionnaire was carried out afterward. Results: There were no differences in visual analogue scores (VAS) for pain, hourly study solution use, sensory levels, side effects and patient satisfaction between groups. However, patients administered ropivacaine/fentanyl had significantly less demand, less administered in PCEA, less numbness and restriction of movement compared with patients in the bupivacaine/fentanyl group. Conclusions: Ropivacaine 0.125% with fentanyl, when administerd epidurally by PCEA for labor analgesia, was equally efficious as bupivaciane 0.125% with fentanyl, having with minimal numbness and restriction of motion.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2008

Background: Chronic pain after thoracotomy has been recently reproduced in a rat model that allows investigating the effect of potentially beneficial drugs that might reduce the incidence of allodynia or alleviate pain. Local anesthetics produce antinociception in normal animals and alleviate mechanical allodynia in animals with nerve injury although their mechanisms of action may differ in these situations. Our purpose of this study was to test whether the preoperative intercostal nerve block of bupivacaine could prevent the development of allodynia in a rat model of chronic postthoracotomy pain. Methods: All male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and the right 4th and 5th ribs were exposed surgically. The pleura were opened between the ribs to which a retractor was placed and was opened 10 mm in width. Retraction was maintained for one hour. Total 1 mg of 0.5% bupivacaine was injected at the intercostal nerves before (n = 17) or after (n = 16) surgery. A control group (n = 25) that underwent rib retraction did not receive any drug. Rats were tested for mechanical allodynia using calibrated von Frey filaments applied around the incision site during the three weeks following surgery. Results: The incidence of development of mechanical allodynia in the group that received intercostal injection with bupivacaine before surgery was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Preoperative intercostal nerves block around the surgical incision before thoracotomy may decrease the incidence of postthoracotomy pain syndrome.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.261-270
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• 2019

Background: People with the Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS), a group of heritable disorders of connective tissue, often report experiencing dental procedure pain despite local anesthetic (LA) use. Clinicians have been uncertain how to interpret this apparent LA resistance, as comparison of EDS and non-EDS patient experience is limited to anecdotal evidence and small case series. The primary goal of this hypothesis-generating study was to investigate the recalled adequacy of pain prevention with LA administered during dental procedures in a large cohort of people with and without EDS. A secondary exploratory aim asked people with EDS to recall comparative LA experiences. Methods: We administered an online survey through various social media platforms to people with EDS and their friends without EDS, asking about past dental procedures, LA exposures, and the adequacy of procedure pain prevention. Among EDS respondents who both received LA and recalled the specific LA used, we compared agent-specific pain prevention for lidocaine, procaine, bupivacaine, mepivacaine, and articaine. Results: Among the 980 EDS respondents who had undergone a dental procedure LA, 88% (n = 860) recalled inadequate pain prevention. Among 249 non EDS respondents only 33% (n = 83) recalled inadequate pain prevention (P < 0.001 compared to EDS respondents). The agent with the highest EDS-respondent reported success rate was articaine (30%), followed by bupivacaine (25%), and mepivacaine (22%). Conclusions: EDS survey respondents reported nearly three times the rate of LA non-response compared to non-EDS respondents, suggesting that LAs were less effective in preventing their pain associated with routine office dental procedures.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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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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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.121-125
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• 1992

A 37-year-old male was admitted for left chest pain during a 6 months period and was given an epidural block for pain control. Vancomycin 500 mg/4 ml instead of 0.25% bupivacaine was accidentaly injected into the epidural space. The patient suddenly complained of an unexpected chest tightness and dyspnea after epidural injection. The patient was treated with steroids and local anesthetics via epidural space and recovered without any neurologic sequelae. The patient completely recovered on the 46th postadmission day and went home without any complaints. We report this case and review the accidental injection of substances into the epidural space.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.264-267
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• 1996

Cervical epidural block can be useful in the management of acute and chronic pain of the head, neck, shoulder, and arm, for selected patients. In spite of the widespread use of cervical epidural blocks for pain, there is limited published data on the specific technique and complications regarding the procedure. High levels of epidural block do not appear to be associated with clinically significant circulatory or ventilatory changes unless the concentrations of local anesthetics used are great enough to produce paralysis of intercostal and phrenic nerves. However, high level of epidural block is associated with sympathetic block which may affect responses of circulatory and ventilatory systems. Accordingly, the possibility of major complications of cervical epidural block must be borne in mind. We experienced two cases of respiratory arrest during cervical epidural block with bupivacaine. This is a report regarding complications of cervical epidural block.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.157-161
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• 1991

Low back pain and/or lumbosacral radiculopathy have become one of the most common pain problems in our pain clinic center. There are several kinds of conservative management for low back pain and/or lumbosacral radiculopathy. We as pain clinicans, focused on epidural administration of local anesthetics and steroids. The rationale for epidural steroid administration is to reduce inflammation and to inhibit the action of nociceptive agents. Eighty mg of methylprednisolone acetate in 10 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine was infected, into epidural space 3 times at one week intervals for 1 year, to 921 patients(male: 422, female: 499) seen in the period between March 1986 and December 1989. The effectiveness was evaluated a month after the final injection. The results were as follows: Excellent pain relieved group 122 patients(13.25%) Good pain relieved group: 485 patients(52.66%) Fair pain relieved group: 184 patients(19.98%) No effect group: 130 patients(14.11%) We recommend the epidural steroid inject to the patients following failure of conservative management of discogenic pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.261-267
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• 2018

Background: To compare the effects of adding two different doses of dexamethasone on the duration and quality of the fascia iliaca block in patients undergoing proximal femoral fracture surgery. Methods: A total of 60 patients (age 18-70 years) undergoing proximal femoral nailing surgery under spinal anesthesia were given fascia iliaca block after random assignment to one of the two groups: Group H received an injection of levobupivacaine (0.5%) 28 ml with 2 ml (8 mg) dexamethasone, and Group L received an injection of levobupivacaine (0.5%) 28 ml with dexamethasone 1 ml (4 mg) with 1 ml normal saline. Assessment of the duration of analgesia and the total tramadol requirement over 48 hours were noted after a successful block. Results: The duration of analgesia was found to be significantly longer in Group H ($17.02{\pm}0.45h$) than in the Group L patients ($14.29{\pm}0.45h$) with a p-value of 0.000. Postoperative analgesic requirement (amount of tramadol in mg) was significantly higher in Group L (Q2: 200.0; IQR: 100.0, 200.0) as compared to Group H (Q2: 100.0; IQR: 100.0, 200.0) with a p-value of 0.034. No patient showed any sign of neurotoxicity. Conclusions: Dexamethasone, in a dose of 8 mg, is superior to 4 mg when used as an adjuvant with levobupivacaine in the FIB. Though both prolonged analgesia and were effective in reducing oral/intravenous analgesics, 8 mg dexamethasone can be recommended as a more efficacious adjuvant to local anesthetics in the FIB.