• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.135-139
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• 1996

Intercostal nerve blockade with local anesthetics has been used extensively in the past to provide pain relief following thoracotomy. Its popularity fell, for a period, probably due to increasing use of epidural analgesia. More recently, interest has focused on intercostal nerve block with the introduction of variously sited catheters. Two epidural catheters were placed under direct vision, in the intercostal spaces just above and below the wound by feeding the catheters posteriorly from the wound edges, superficial to the parietal pleura. Bupivacaine 0.25%. Was infused continuously at a rate of 5 ml/hour through each of the two intercostal catheters. Each catheter was primed with 10 ml/hour through each of the two intercostal catheters. Each catheter was primed with 10 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine. Postoperative vital signs resembled preoperation data. Arterial carbon dioxide pressure ($PaCO_2$) was unchanged and arterial oxygen pressure ($PaO_2$) was increased during two days after surgery because oxygen was administered at 21/min. Forced vital capacities (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) were decreased the day of operation but restored to preoperative value from second operation day. VAS were increased on operation day but decreased from second operation day. Motion range of arms were not impaired. We concluded that continuous intercostal nerve block through catheters placed during thoracotomy in the adjacent intercostal spaces is a simple and effective method for management of the post-thoracotomy pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.242-248
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• 1994

Postherpetic neuralgia is frequently painful, incapacitating, mood depressing, and sometimes lifelong. We investigated the influence of duration from eruption to nerve blocks in conjunction with patients age on analgesic and preventive effect for postherpetic neuralgia. We retrospectively evaluated 50 outpatient medical records for the above T4 dermatome. Patients had been referred to pain clinic and were treated over 2weeks from Jan. 1988 to Dec. 1993. Fifty patients were divided into 4 groups as follows: Group I (a): less than 4weeks from eruption to nerve block and younger than 65 years old. Group I (b): less than 4weeks from eruption to nerve block and older than 65 years old. Group II (a): more than 4weeks from eruption to nerve block and younger than 65 years old. Group II(b): more than 4weeks from eruption to nerve block and older than 65 years old. Mean number of stellate ganglion blocks were 29.7. Tramadol, amitriptyline, nicardipine were most commonly prescribed. Group I (a): had the most improvement rate(77.8%) as compared with other group(46.6, 52.7, 56.0%). Number of patients who complained of severe pain (VAS > 5) were 0, 3(39%), 2(15.4%), 5(30%) in I (a), I (b), II (a), II (b) group respectively. In conclusion, analgesic effect was best in cases of patients younger than 65 years old whose treatment were started within 4 weeks of eruption. Patients older than 65 yrs, analgesic effect did not vary on the timing of treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.202-208
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• 2022

Background: Neurolytic celiac plexus block (NCPB) is a typical treatment for severe epigastric cancer pain, but the therapeutic effect is often affected by the variation of local anatomical structures induced by the tumor. Greater and lesser splanchnic nerve neurolysis (SNN) had similar effects to the NCPB, and was recently performed with a paravertebral approach under the image guidance, or with the transdiscal approach under the guidance of computed tomography. This study observed the feasibility and safety of SNN via a transdiscal approach under fluoroscopic guidance. Methods: The follow-up records of 34 patients with epigastric cancer pain who underwent the splanchnic nerve block via the T11-12 transdiscal approach under fluoroscopic guidance were investigated retrospectively. The numerical rating scale (NRS), the patient satisfaction scale (PSS) and quality of life (QOL) of the patient, the dose of morphine consumed, and the occurrence and severity of adverse events were recorded preoperatively and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months after surgery. Results: Compared with the preoperative scores, the NRS scores and daily morphine consumption decreased and the QOL and PSS scores increased at each postoperative time point (P < 0.001). No patients experienced serious complications. Conclusions: SNN via the transdiscal approach under flouroscopic guidance was an effective, safe, and easy operation for epigastric cancer pain, with fewer complications.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.361-365
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• 2021

Background Pain in the postoperative body contouring patient has traditionally been managed with narcotic medication. In an effort to minimize side effects and prevent addiction, plastic surgeons are searching for novel ways to provide adequate analgesia, one of which is nerve blocks. This study was conducted with a meta-analysis that evaluates the efficacy of these blocks for patients who undergo breast surgery. Methods A search of the PubMed/MEDLINE database for articles including the terms "post-operative analgesia" OR "postoperative pain management" AND "in plastic surgery" OR "in cosmetic surgery" OR "in elective surgery" in February 2019 generated five studies on elective breast augmentation and reduction mammoplasty that reported pain scores and quantities of opioids consumed. Independent samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and a random effects model were implemented for evaluation. Results A total of 317 patients were identified as having undergone body contouring of the breast, about half of which received a nerve block. Pain scores on a 1-10 scale and opioid dose-equivalents were calculated. Those who were blocked had an average score of 2.40 compared to 3.64 for those who did not (P<0.001), and required an average of 5.20 less narcotic doses (P<0.001). Pain relief following subpectoral augmentation was best achieved with type-II blocks as opposed to type-I and type-II with serratus plane (P<0.001). Conclusions The opioid epidemic has extended to all surgical specialties. Implementation of a nerve block seems to be an efficacious and cost-effective mechanism to not only help with post-operative pain, but also lower the need for narcotics, especially in subpectoral augmentation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.191-194
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• 1999

Background: Millions of patients with chronic sciatica are still treated with epidural corticosteroids. The efficacy of epidural corticosteroids remains questionable, especially in the failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). We studied to evaluate outcome for 10 patients with failed back surgery syndrome treated with spinal nerve root block using corticosteroids, hyaluronidase, and local anesthetics. Methods: The affected nerve roots are localized with the help of fluoroscopy and contrast dye. Local anesthetic diluted in 1,500 U hyaluronidase and 40 mg methylprednisolone is injected. A small retrospective pilot group of 10 patients with FBSS was treated. The success rate is evaluated using a visual analogue scale at 1 week and 3 month interval after the last injection. Results: Initially, 7 patients experienced good pain relief; 5 patients suspained pain relief for 3 months. No complications were observed. Conclusions: This technique is worthwhile for patients with FBSS and where epidural fibrosis is suspected to be the pain origin.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.80-86
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• 2018

The Epidural blood patch is considered the gold standard for managing postdural puncture headache when supportive measures fail. However, it is a procedure which can lead to another inadvertent dural puncture. Other potential adverse events that could occur during a blood patch are meningitis, neurological deficits, and unconsciousness. The bilateral greater occipital nerve block has been used for treating chronic headaches in patients with PDPH with a single injection. This minimally invasive, simple procedure can be considered for patients early, along with other supportive treatment, and an epidural blood patch can be avoided.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2011

Bell's palsy is an isolated facial paralysis of sudden onset caused by a neuritis of the seventh nerve within the facial canal. It occurs often in the adult man with a history of recent exposure to local cold, such as sleeping next to an open window, or in some cases it occurs after infections of the nasopharynx or masticator spaces. Especially, this neuropathy have linked with the major collagen disorders (diabetes mellitus). A segmental demyelination develops rapidly, with vascultitis in microinfarcts and ischemia to the nerve segment. The authors experienced about the bizarre neurological symptom of Bell's palsy after inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia and TMJ dislocation in diabetic mellitus. The early and correct consultation with the multiple medical and dental departments was important to prevent the inadequate care & medicolegal problems.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.158-166
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• 2019

Objectives: Inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) is the most frequently used treatment for mandibular molars. Successful IANB requires insertion of the dental needle near the mandibular foramen. In this study, we aimed to analyze the anatomic location of the mandibular lingula and evaluate the effects of internal oblique ridge (IOR)-guided IANB. Materials and Methods: The location of the mandibular lingula was measured using cone-beam computed tomography images of the mandibles obtained from 125 patients. We measured the distances from the occlusal plane to the lingula and from the IOR to the lingula in 250 mandibular rami. Based on the mean of these distances, alternative anesthesia was carried out on 300 patients, and the success rate of the technique was evaluated. Results: The mean vertical distance was $8.85{\pm}2.59mm$, and the mean horizontal distance was $14.68{\pm}1.44mm$. The vertical (P<0.001) and the horizontal (P<0.05) distances showed significant differences between the sex groups. The success rate of the IOR-guided technique was 97.3%. Conclusion: IANB-based location of mandibular lingula showed a high success rate. From this study, we concluded that analysis of the anatomic locations for mandibular lingula and IOR-guided IANB are useful for restorative and surgical dental procedures of the mandibular molars.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.116-118
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• 1998

Stellate ganglion block(SGB) is frequently performed in pain clinics. Facial palsy produces asymmetry of the face, lagophthalmos and incomplete eyelid closure. Exposure keratitis and eyeball pain can be induced by prolonged lagophthalmos. SGB was performed on a 51-year-old female patient who had exposure of keratitis and eyeball pain due to facial nerve palsy after an operation for chronic otitis media. After 31 stellate ganglion blocks, eyeball pain and keratitis nearly subsided. SGB is an effective method to treat lagophthalmos caused by facial nerve palsy.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2011

Background: Circumcision is a painful intervention frequently performed in pediatric surgery. We aim to compare the efficacy of caudal block versus dorsal penile block (DPNB) under general anesthesia for children undergoing circumcision. Methods: This study was performed between July 1, 2009 and October 16, 2009. Fifty male children American Society of Anesthesiolgists physical status classification I, aged between 3 and 12 were included in this randomized, prospective, comparative study. Anesthetic techniques were standardized for all children. Patients were randomized into 2 groups. Using 0.25% 0.5 ml/kg levobupivacain, we performed DPNB for Group 1 and caudal block for Group 2. Postoperative analgesia was evaluated for six hours with the Flacc Pain Scale for five categories; (F) Face, (L) Legs, (A) Activity, (C) Cry, and (C) Consolability. For every child, supplemental analgesic amounts, times, and probable local or systemic complications were recorded. Results: No significant difference between the groups (P > 0.05) was found in mean age, body weight, anesthesia duration, FLACC pain, and sedation scores (P > 0.05). However, on subsequent measurements, a significant decrease of pain and sedation scores was noted in both the DPNB group and the caudal block group (P < 0.001). No major complication was found when using either technique. Conclusions: DPNB and caudal block provided similar postoperative analgesic effects without major complications for children under general anesthesia.