• 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.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.21-31
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• 2008

Objective This study was performed to investigate whether Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture(BVP) could be a more effective modality than Warm Needling(WN) in relieving pain and symptoms of knee osteoarthritis(OA). Design Prospective, randomized and controlled clinical trial. Setting Single center trial in Korea Patients 49 volunteers with knee OA participated in the study. All the participants were screened through an inclusion and exclusion criteria. 33 participants were completed the clinical trial. Intervention The subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group received BVP(n=18), while the other group received WN(n=15). Sixteen sessions of BVP or WN were given at the pain region of the problematic knee for 8 weeks. Primary outcome measure is the Korean translation of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores(Korean WOMAC, KWOMAC). Secondary outcome measure is the physical health scores based on the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey(SF-36) and Patient Global Assessment(PGA). KWOMAC and SF-36 were measured third (baseline, 4 and 8 weeks). PGA was measured twice(4 and 8 weeks). Results BVP group showed significant decrease compared to WN group in pain, function and total scores of KWOMAC according to the Mann-Whitney U-test. In the PGA, BVP group, compared to WN group, showed a significant increase. Conclusions BVP was more effective in relieving pain of knee OA than WN. These findings suggest that BVP is a promising alternative for treating knee OA.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2017

Background: The purpose is to determine the efficacy of additional intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) by comparing the analgesic effects between interscalene block (ISB) combined with IV-PCA and single ISB after arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Methods: A total of 213 patients who underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery were divided into two groups based on the type of perioperative anesthesia. The single ISB group included 100 patients, while the IV-PCA group included 113 patients. The visual analogue scale for pain (VAS pain) scores were assessed at 12, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively in accordance with shoulder pathology. Postoperative narcotics-related complications and consumption of additional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs between the two groups were compared. Results: VAS pain showed no significant difference between the two groups at most points of the postoperative timeline, regardless of shoulder pathology, except in patients with rotator cuff repair at postoperative 24 hours. Although the IV-PCA group showed a statistically lower VAS pain score than the ISB group at postoperative 24 hours (p=0.04), the difference in the VAS pain score was only 9.0 mm in patients with rotator cuff repair. Narcotics-related complications were observed more frequently in the IV-PCA group than in the ISB group for patients with rotator cuff repair. Conclusions: Additional IV-PCA demonstrated no booster effect for immediate pain control in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery with preoperative single ISB. Furthermore, patients with IV-PCA experienced greater narcotics-related complications.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.147-154
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• 2019

PURPOSE. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two different implant-abutment connection structures with identical implant design on peri-implant bone level. MATERIALS AND METHODS. This clinical study was a patient-blind randomized controlled trial following the CONSORT 2010 checklists. This trial was conducted in 24 patients recruited between March 2013 and July 2015. Implants with internal friction connection were compared to those with external hex connection. One implant for each patient was installed, replacing the second molar. Implant-supported crowns were delivered at four months after implant insertion. Standardized periapical radiographs were taken at prosthesis delivery (baseline), and one year after delivery. On the radiographs, distance from implant shoulder to first bone-to-implant contact (DIB) and peri-implant area were measured, which were the primary and secondary outcome, respectively. RESULTS. Eleven external and eleven internal implants were analyzed. Mean changes of DIB from baseline to 1-year postloading were 0.59 (0.95) mm for the external and 0.01 (0.68) mm for the internal connection. Although no significant differences were found between the two groups, medium effect size was found in DIB between the connections (Cohen's d = 0.67). CONCLUSION. Considering the effect size in DIB, this study suggested the possibility of the internal friction connection structure for more effective preservation of marginal bone.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2019

Background: The adductor canal block (ACB) is an effective intervention for postoperative analgesia following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, the ideal ACB regimen has not yet been established. We compared the analgesic effects between a continuous ACB group and fentanyl-based intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) with a single-shot ACB group. Methods: Patients who underwent TKA were randomly allocated to either a continuous ACB group (Group CACB) or IV-PCA with a single-shot ACB group (Group IVACB). Before the surgery, ultrasound guided ACB with 0.5% ropivacaine 20 cc was provided to all patients. Before skin incision, the infusion system (0.2% ropivacaine through an adductor canal catheter in group CACB vs. intravenous fentanyl in group IVACB) was connected. The postoperative pain severity; the side effects of local anesthetics and opioids; administration of rescue analgesics and anti-emetics; and sensorimotor deficits were measured. Results: Postoperative pain severity was significantly higher in the IVACB group at 30 min, 4 h, 24 h, and 48 h after surgery. The averages and standard deviations (SD) of the NRS score of postoperative pain were $0.14{\pm}0.37$, $4.57{\pm}2.37$, $6.00{\pm}1.63$, and $4.28{\pm}1.49$, respectively in the IVACB group. Rescue analgesic requirements and quadriceps muscle strength were not statistically different between the groups throughout the postoperative period. Moreover, rescue antiemetic requirements were higher in group IVACB than group CACB. Conclusions: In this study, the continuous ACB provided superior analgesia and fewer side effects without any significant motor deficit than the IV-PCA with a single-shot ACB.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2019

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to compare clinical pregnancy rates in intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment cycles with transabdominal ultrasound guidance during intrauterine catheter insemination (US-IUI) versus the "blind method" IUI without ultrasound guidance (BM-IUI). The secondary objective was to compare whether US-IUI had better patient tolerability and whether US-IUI made the insemination procedure easier for the clinician to perform compared to BM-IUI. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial done at the Reproductive Medicine Unit of General Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We included women aged between 25 and 40 years who underwent an IUI treatment cycle with follicle-stimulating hormone injections for controlled ovarian stimulation. Results: A total of 130 patients were recruited for our study. The US-IUI group had 70 patients and the BM-IUI group had 60 patients. The clinical pregnancy rate was 10% in both groups (p> 0.995) and there were no significant difference between the groups for patient tolerability assessed by scores on a pain visual analog scale (p= 0.175) or level of difficulty for the clinician (p> 0.995). The multivariate analysis further showed no significant increase in the clinical pregnancy rate (adjusted odds ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 0.85-1.34; p= 0.558) in the US-IUI group compared to the BM-IUI group even after adjusting for potential covariates. Conclusion: The conventional blind method for intrauterine catheter insemination is recommended for patients undergoing IUI treatment. The use of ultrasound during the insemination procedure increased the need for trained personnel to perform ultrasonography and increased the cost, but added no extra benefits for patients or clinicians.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.585-591
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• 2022

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) extract has been shown to have beneficial effects in patients with atherosclerosis, suggesting that KRG extract may be effective in preventing subsequent ischemic stroke in patients with severe atherosclerosis. Methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled trial randomized patients with severe atherosclerosis in major intracranial arteries or extracranial carotid artery, to ginseng group and placebo group. They were given two 500-mg KRG tablets or identical placebo tablets twice daily for 12 months according to randomization. The primary endpoint was the composite of cerebral ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack during 12 months after randomization. The secondary endpoints were change in volumetric blood flow of the intracranial vessels and the incidence of newly developed asymptomatic ischemic lesions. Any adverse events were monitored. Results: Fifty-eight patients were randomized from June 2016 to June 2017, 29 to ginseng and 29 to placebo, and 52 (28 and 24, respectively) completed the study. One patient in the placebo group, but none in the ginseng group, experienced ischemic symptoms (p = 0.46). Changes in volumetric blood flow and the presence of ischemic brain lesions did not differ significantly in the two groups, and none of these patients experienced adverse drug reactions. Conclusion: Ginseng was well tolerated by patients with severe atherosclerosis, with these patients showing good compliance with ginseng dosing. Ginseng did not show significant effects compared with placebo, although none of the ginseng-treated patients experienced ischemic events. Long-term studies in larger patient populations are required to test the effect of ginseng.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.303-310
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• 2022

Background: Open gastrectomy causes severe postoperative pain. Therefore, we investigated the opioid-sparing effect of the ultrasound-guided bilateral erector spinae plane block (ESPB) after open gastrectomy. Methods: Adult patients undergoing open gastrectomy were randomly assigned to either the ESPB group (ESPB + fentanyl based intravenous patient-controlled analgesia [IV-PCA]) or a control group (fentanyl based IV-PCA only). The primary outcome was total fentanyl equivalent consumption during the first 24 hour postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were pain intensities using a numeric rating scale at the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 hour postoperatively, and the amount of fentanyl equivalent consumption during the PACU stay and at 3, 6, and 12 hour postoperatively, and the time to the first request for rescue analgesia. Results: Fifty-eight patients were included in the analysis. There was no significant difference in total fentanyl equivalent consumption during the first 24 hour postoperatively between the two groups (P = 0.471). Pain intensities were not significantly different between the groups except during the PACU stay and 3 hour postoperatively (P < 0.001, for both). Time to the first rescue analgesia in the ward was longer in the ESPB group than the control group (P = 0.045). Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided ESPB did not decrease total fentanyl equivalent consumption during the first 24 hour after open gastrectomy. It only reduced postoperative pain intensity until 3 hour postoperatively compared with the control group. Ultrasound-guided single-shot ESPB cannot provide an efficient opioid-sparing effect after open gastrectomy.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2000

Background: Preemptive analgesia may decrease postoperative pain by preventing nociceptive inputs generated during surgery. The preemptive effect of intravenous nalbuphine was examined in gynecological surgery. Methods: Forty female patients scheduled for gynecological surgery were randomly allocated into two groups. Each patient received 10 mg of intravenous nalbuphine as a bolus dose at the closure of peritoneum in group I (n=20) and before the skin incision in group II (n=20). After the bolus dose, the intravenous patient controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) which contained 50 mg of nalbuphine, 120 mg of ketorolac, 0.25 mg of droperidol and 90 ml of 5% dextrose water was given continuously at the rate of 2 ml/min. The postoperative visual analogue scale pain score (VAS), the total amount of the analgesics used, the degree of satisfaction of the patients and the developement of side effects were examined for 2 days. Results: VAS were significantly lower in group II than in group I after 9 and 12 hours. The cumulative consumption of analgesics in group II was significantly less than in group I. Most patients were satisfied with this regimen. There were no remarkable side effects. Conclusions: Preemptive analgesia with intravenous nalbuphine decreased postoperative pain and analgesic requirement. The analgesic effect of IV-PCA with nalbuphine-ketorolac was effective in control of postoperative pain in gynecologic surgery.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.423-432
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was done to examine effects of Nei-Guan acupressure on nausea, vomiting and level of satisfaction for gynecological surgery patients who were using a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Methods: For this study, 51 patients were assigned to one of three groups, a control group (17 patients), experimental group 1 (finger acupressure group) (17 patients), and experimental group 2 (relief band group) (17 patients). The data were collected for 24 hr in the recovery room of a university hospital located in Seoul. The 6 hr-intervals including the time of leaving the recovery room were taken into consideration. Results: The occurrence of nausea between the experimental group with Nei-Guan acupressure treatment and the control group was different. However, there was no difference in nausea and vomiting control or level of patient satisfaction between the finger acupressure group and the relief band group. Conclusion: Nei-Guan acupressure is recommended for nursing practice as a way for alleviating the opioid-induced nausea and accelerating the recovery of patients who are using PCA after surgery.