• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.340-343
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• 1996

Background: In our hospital, stellate ganglion block(SGB) has been performed for the prevention and treatment of vasospasm after microscopic reimplantation of finger(s). If brachial plexus block(BPB) has the same effect of sympathetic block on the upper extremity as SGB, it may be preferable to the SGB because it povides postoperative analgesia and is administered continuously. So we measured and compared the change of skin temperature on the forearm as the parameter of sympathetic blockade after SGB and BPB. Methods: The forty-two patients, belonged to ASA class 1~2, were received BPB for hand surgery. The skin temperature was measured before and after BPB on the forearm with patient monitor(LN 6199, YSI 400 Series Temperature Probe, Hellige, Germany). After 24 hours, ipsilateral SGB was performed and skin temperature was recorded before and after SGB. Results: The increase of skin temperature after procedures was $1.1{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$(from $34.5{\pm}0.7^{\circ}C$ to $35.6{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$) in BPB and $0.6{\pm}0.3^{\circ}C$(from $34.9{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$ to $35.5{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$) in SGB. The changes of skin temperature in both blocks were statistically significant(p<0.01), and the skin temperatures after each procedure were revealed no significant difference(p$\simeq$0.62). Conclusion: We thought that BPB produced sympathetic blockade on the upper extremity as much as SGB. Moreover, it provides postoperative pain relief and may be employed as continuous BPB could be used for hand surgery with many advantages.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.199-204
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• 2018

Background: The authors have performed ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block (SGB) in our clinic using a lateral paracarotid approach at the level of the 6th cervical vertebra (C6). Although SGB at C6 is a convenient and safe method, there are ongoing concerns about the weak effect of sympathetic blockade in the ipsilateral upper extremity. Therefore, ultrasound-guided SGB was attempted using a lateral paracarotid approach at the level of the 7th cervical vertebra (C7). This prospective study aimed to compare changes in skin temperature after SGB was performed at C6 and C7, and to introduce a lateral paracarotid approach for SGB. Methods: Thirty patients underwent SGB twice: once at C6 and once at C7. For every SGB, the skin temperature of the patient's hypothenar area was measured for 15 min at 1-min intervals. Skin temperatures before and after SGB and side effects were compared between C6 and C7 groups. Results: The temperature of the upper extremity increased after SGB was performed at C6 and C7. There were significant differences between mean pre-SGB and the largest increases in post-SGB temperatures ($0.50{\pm}0.38^{\circ}C$ and $1.41{\pm}0.68^{\circ}C$ at C6 and C7, respectively; p<0.05). Significantly increased post-SGB temperatures (difference > $1^{\circ}C$) were found in 5/30 (16.7%) and 24/30 (80%) cases for C6 and C7, respectively (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in side effects between SGB performed at C6 or C7 (p>0.05). Conclusion: The lateral paracarotid approach using out-of-plane needle insertion for ultrasound-guided SGB performed at C7 was feasible and more effective at elevating skin temperature in the upper extremity than SGB at C6.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.259-262
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• 2005

Facial blushing is a personally disabling condition, which can result in emotional disturbance and be an impediment to social life. Although numerous treatment options exist, including beta blocker, cognitive behavioral therapy and sympathetic neurolysis, no generally accepted form of treatment has been established. Herein, we report two cases of successful reduction of facial blushing following the administration of beta blocker and a minor tranquillizing antianxiety drug.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.151-157
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• 2009

Background: We hypothesized that if a fluoroscopic image of the lumbar sympathetic ganglion block (LSGB) showed the spread patterns of contrast at both the L2/3 and L4/5 disc areas, then this would demonstrate a more profound blockade effect because the spread patterns are close to sympathetic ganglia. In addition, we compared the effects of LSGB and transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) for the patients suffering with spinal stenosis. Methods: Eighty patients were divided into two groups (Group S: the patients treated with TFESI, Group L: the patients treated with LSGB). The patients of group L were classified into three groups (groups A, B and, C) according to their contrast spread pattern. The preblock and postblock temperature difference between the ipsilateral and contralateral great toe ($DT^{pre}$, $DT^{post}$, $^{\circ}C$), and the DTnet were calculated as follows. $DT^{net}$ = $DT^{post}$ - $DT^{pre}$. Results: Both group showed a significant reduction of the visual analogue score (VAS) and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) score. Only the patients of group L showed a significant increase of their walking distance (WD). Group A showed the most significant changes in the $DT^{post}$ ($6.1{\pm}1.2^{\circ}C$, P = 0.021), and the DTnet ($6.0{\pm}1.0^{\circ}C$, p = 0.023), as compared to group C. Conclusions: LSGB showed a similar effect on the VAS, and ODI, and a significant effect, on WD, compared with TFESI. Group A showed a significant sympatholytic effect, as compared to group C.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.188-192
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• 1994

Recently, epidural morphine has been administrated to decrease patients' systemic stress responses such as: suffers, endocrine responses and impairment of pulmonary function, etc. Epidural morphine provided excellent analgesic effect, but incomplete sensory blockade as compared to epidural local anesthetics, which has sympathetic blockade effect and tachyphylaxis. Therefore, the authors surmised that low dose bupivacaine on low dose epidural morphine improved postoperative pain with greater sensory analgesia than epidural morphine alone. The effect of low dose bupivacaine on epidural morphine analgesia for postoperative pain was evaluated in seventy patients. They were physical status I-III by ASA classification. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups and they were administrated morphine 2.5 mg only (group I), morphine 2.5 mg plus 0.125% bupivacaine (group II) through epidural catheter 1 hour before the end of the operation. During postoperative second days, their analgesic effects were evaluated by visual analogue scale (0-10). Side effects were also evaluated. The results were as follows, 1) On the day of the operation, VAS score showed significant differences between two groups (morphine group $3.20{\pm}0.16$, morphine plus bupivacaine group $2.77{\pm}0.08$; p < 0.05). 2) On the postoperative and second day, there were no statistical differences between the groups according to VAS score. 3) The incidence of pruritus, nausea, and vomiting were no differences in both groups. 4) None of the patients showed objective sedation or a low respiratory rate (< 10 bpm). We concluded that epidural administration of low dose bupivacaine on the epidural morphine analgesia was an effective method to decrease postoperative pain with little change in frequencies of side effects compared to epidural morphine alone.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.415-418
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• 1996

The first reported the neural blockade of ganglion impar for pain control of perineal pain in 1990 by Plancarte and his fellows. they used 6ml of 10 percent phenol. but the point of issues, same as other neurolytics, are that it is impossible to check and control its spreading, so it might be possible to destruct the coccygeal plexus and sacral nerve, and also it has only short action time. Because of these problems, it could be very dangerous to attempt this procedure especially not for relieving the pain on cancer terminal patient, but for the sympathectomy of ganglion impar on the other purpose. We used the RF generator which had the control ability to point out the destructive lesion accurately. inserted We made the small burr hole on the sacrum near the sacrococcygeal junction directly, through the hole, and performed thermocoagulation to the ganglion impar.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.227-230
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• 1999

The sphenopalatine ganglion lies behind the middle nasal concha in the sphenopalatine foramen which connects the fossa to the nasal cavity. It has sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers as well as sensory fibers which innervate the nasal cavity, palate and nasopharynx. Current indications for blockade of the sphenopalatine ganglion include the management of migraine, cluster headache and a variety of facial neuralgias. Blockage of this ganglion can be attempted when more conservative treatments have failed. If the pain relief gained through the procedure is of short duration and the blockage needs to be repeated frequently, then radiofrequency thermocoagulation should be considered. Since the sphenopalatine ganglion lies close to the maxillary nerve, neurolytics can cause facial dysesthesia, radiofrequency thermocoagulation is the preferred method for ganglionotomy. Radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion was done for 3 patients who suffered from postherpetic neuralgia, cluster headache, atypical facial pain respectively. Good results were obtained with the exception of the patient suffering from atypical facial pain. Although we were concerned about complications such as epistaxis, none were encountered. However it should be noted that caution must be exercised when repeatedly redirecting the cannula in the sphenopalatine fossa as serious bleeding and pronounced facial swelling may result.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.231-233
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• 2001

Atrophic rhinitis is characterized by mucosal atrophy, bony absorption, persistent fetid odor and resistance to medical and surgical treatment. Stellate ganglion block (SGB) can be used as a therapeutic modality by improving the regional blood flow through sympathetic blockade. We present a case of a 57 year-old male patient who had been treated unsuccessully for atrophic rhinitis for several years by surgical and conservative measures. The patient presented at our pain clinic with shoulder pain and received stellate ganglion block once or twice a week. He received more than 75 SGBs in addition to the routine conservative treatment for atrophic rhinitis. As the number of blocks performed increased, the patient demonstrated subjective symptom relief. We measured regional mucosal blood flow using a laser doppler flowmeter after the 28th, 63rd and 75th blocks. Nasal mucosal blood flow was improved by 4.9%, 28.8% and 36.3% respectively. We also were able to observe the recovery of mucosal atrophy to an almost normal level by nasal endoscopy. The patient is currently free of symptoms and is being followed up on an outpatient bases.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.346-349
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• 1998

The technique of the stellate ganglion block is widely used as it is relatively simple and safe. But it can cause severe complications because there are major blood vessels and nerves around the stellate ganglion. We practiced CPR because of the respiratory failure caused by severe hematoma in the neck following the stellate ganglion block. A 46-year-old male patient admitted to ENT department because of the both sudden sensorineural hearing loss that happened after URI. He was referred to Pain Clinic for further evaluation and treatment. We decided to block the stellate ganglion. We injected 6ml of 0.5% mepivacaine on both sides of the stellate ganglion. There were no blood aspiration and abnormal vital signs during the 30 minute observation, either. Three hours after he went to the private room, he had pain and edema in his neck, but no respiratory defficulty. But later, respiratory failure was suddenly followed. So we practiced CPR. We confirmed severe hematomas in the neck through CT scanning. Hematomas is removed and the ruptured blood vessels which is supposed to be muscular branch of vertebral artery is ligated under general anesthesia. The patient was discharged from hospital after the treatment of pneumonia and duodenal ulcer as complications. We recommand you to compress the block site more than five minutes and not to prick with the needle several times at one point to prevent the formation of hematomas.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.34-39
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• 1990

급성 대상 포진환자 51예를 분석하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1) 발생 빈도는 50대 이상 고령층의 여자에서 높았다. 2) 이환 부위는 흉추부가 가장 많았다. 3) 통증 성격은 매우 다양하였으나 쏜다, 찌른다, 쑤신다가 가장 많았다. 4) 진통제는 aspirin과 phenobarbital을 가장 많이 사용하였다. 5) 스테로이드는 전신적으로 사용한 예가 가장 많았고 전신적 및 경막외로 병용했던 예가 많았다. 6) 신경차단으로 두경부 질환에는 성상 신경절 차단, 그 이하는 경막외 차단이 가장 많았다. 7) 대상 포진후 신경통으로 이행하는 율은 11.8%였다. 이상의 결과는 급성 대상 포진의 치료에 탁월한 효과를 갖는 단독적인 방법이 없다는 것을 의미하며 통계적으로 명확히 증명되지는 않았으나 국소 마취제에 스테로이드를 혼합하여 경막외에 주입하는 것이 확실한 교감신경 차단과 병소 및 전신적인 약물 효과를 얻을수 있다는 점에서 유리할 것으로 사료된다.