• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.248-250
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• 1996

Stellate ganglion block(SGB), cervicothoracic sympathetic block, is the most widely practiced procedure in pain clinics. We experienced a case of 47 year old male patient who had received SGB & developed prolonged complication of Horner's syndrome. The patient was an anesthesiologist at our clinic who's medical history was unremarkable except mild hypertension. He wanted to experience the general effect of SGB and to evaluate the influence of SGB on blood pressure. After 15 days, he recovered spontaneously from Horner's syndrome. As with this case, it is necessary to assure patients they will recover from complications within several months, at the longest, without any sequelae.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 1997

Background : The Current Perception Threshold (CPT) provides an objective, quantitative gauge of sensory nerve integrity which is obtainable from any cutaneous site. CPT measurement can confirm and quantify or rule out dysfunction of nerve through comparison with established normative values ($Neuval^{TM}$ CPT database). The aim of this study is to compare collected data from Korean adults with $Neuval^{TM}$ CPT database. Method : Normative data from 5 standard test site in face, hand, toe were obtained from 50 healthy adults. Three frequencies(5, 250, 2000 Hz) were stimulated with $Neuromoter^{(R)}$ CPT device. Results : The results of our data were statistically significantly different than Neuval data except in face, but within normal range. Sensory Threshold increased as the frequency of the stimulus changed from 5 Hz to 250 Hz to 2000 Hz., and from face to hand to toe. Conclusion : CPT testing is a valuable neurologic testing modality that is noninvasive and highly reliable for diagnosis and evaluation of sensory nerves where neuropathy is suspected.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 1998

Background: Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss(ISSHL) has been generally defined as an abrupt loss of auditory acuity without precipitating factors. Since ISSHL was first described as a disease entity, numerous reports assessing a variety of treatment regimens have been published. But its etiology, pathogenesis, treatment, and prognosis are controversial at the present time. Stellate ganglion block(SGB) has been used for the treatment of ISSHL by vasodilatation and increased blood flow to the inner ear. Methods: We reviewed the records of 152 patients to investigate the efficacy of SGB for ISSHL. The control group was managed with medications such as hypaque, heparin, steroid, nicotinic acid, and vitamins. The SGB group was managed with SGB and the same medications. SGB was performed with 8 ml of 1.0% mepivacaine. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated by pure-tone average following therapy. The recovery of hearing was defined as Siegel's criteria I, II, or III. Results: The recovery rate of the SGB group was higher than that of the control group(61.5 vs. 42.9%, p<0.05). The recovery rate was higher in patients who were treated early, within 7 days from the onset of symptoms, especially in the SGB group(79.7%). And in the case that initial hearing loss was severe (>70dB), the SGB group had a higher recovery rate(64.2%) than the control group(42.5%). Conclusions: SGB is thought to be a useful therapy for ISSHL, especially in the patients who were treated soon after onset or whose initial hearing loss was severe.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 1999

Background: Essential hyperhidrosis is a condition with excessive sweating, which may be localized in any parts of the body. Thoracic sympathectomy has been a surgical procedure for the management of hyperhidrosis. Methods: We studied 30 ASA I and II patients suffering from severe hyperhidrosis. Bilateral upper thoracoscopic sympathectomy of $T_{2-4}$ was performed in 30 patients under general anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with 2.5% thiopental sodium 5 mg/kg and succinylcholine chloride 1 mg/kg and was maintained with enflurane 1~2 Vol% and $N_2O-O_2$ mixture adjusted to maintain $SpO_2$ greater than 96%. During anesthesia, invasive arterial pressure, heart rate, EKG, $SpO_2$ and capnography were monitored. Skin temperature was measured with thermister probes attached to the index finger of each hand. An increase in temperature after cautery confirmed success of the sympathectomy. Results: There were 14 men and 16 women whose ages ranged from 16 to 46 years old (mean age 22.2). Of these patients, 13 patients had complained of palm-sole hyperhidrosis, 9 of palm-sole-axilla hyperhidrosis, 4 of palm-sole-face hyperhidrosis and 4 of palm-sole-axilla-face hyperhidrosis. The provocative factors of excessive sweating were tension and stress from interpersonal relationships. There was positive familial history in 37%. The most common complication was compensatory hyperhidrosis in 23 patients comprising 76%. Other complication included peumothorax (4 patients), hemothorax (1 patient), ipsilateral Horner's syndrome (1 patient) and paresthesia of right arm (1 patient). The degree of satisfaction was graded as good, fair and poor with 15, 12 and 3 patients, respectively. Conclusions: Thoracoscopic sympathectomy with VATS is an efficient, safe and minimally invasive surgical procedure for essential hyperhidrosis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.426-429
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• 1996

Complex regional pain syndrome Type II(CRPS) can be diagnosed by new IASP criteria in 1994. Sympathetically maintained pain may or may not be present in a patient with complex regional pain syndrome. We experienced a CRPS Type II patient who has sympathetically maintained pain as a major painful nature developed after right multiple iliac bone fracture, right femoral artery thrombosis and lumbosacral plexus injury. Combination treatment with L2, L3, L4 sympathetic ganglion block and continuous lower thoracic epidural block for 30 days were tried to get long term effect. The patient had signs of successful. sympathetic denervation of the right foot. After that pain relief was sustained until three month later.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.46-49
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• 2007

Background: Cervical epidural injection, performed via the interlaminar approach, represents a useful interventional pain management procedure indicated in patients with a cervical herniated disk. Due to thedecreased epidural space in the cervical region, cervical epidural injections may result in potentially serious complications, especially during a large volume injection. Methods: Thirty-four patients with neck pain due to a cervical herniated disk that were referred to the pain clinic for cervical epidural steroid injection were randomized into two groups. One group received a cervical epidural injection of 4 ml drug and the other group received 2 ml drug. The injected mixture included triamcinolon, ropivacaine and omnipaque. Spread levels of the drug after injection were estimated with the use of C-arm fluoroscopy. Results: Spread levels to the cephalad for patients in the two groups were $4.88{\pm}0.78segments$ and $4.53{\pm}0.49segments$, respectively. Spread levels to the caudad for patients in the two groups were $4.59{\pm}0.93segments$ and $4.47{\pm}0.51segments$, respectively. The results showed no significant difference in the spread level between the two groups. Conclusions: Use of a small volume of drug (2 ml) can provide a sufficient spread level of the injected drug that is desirable for patients with a cervical herniated disk.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.319-323
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• 1995

The implication of cervical pain associated with an elongated styloid process is credited to W.W.Eagle. Even though there were earlier reports of ossification of the stylohyoid ligament, findings in more than 200 cases in 1980s and 1940s resulted in the naming of a clinical syndrome that continues to bear his name, Eagle's syndrome. It is also sometimes called styloid process neuralgia or elongated styloid process syndrome is more common than generally recognized. The clinical symptoms range from a dull nagging pain with occasional radiation to ear, or to a foreign body sensation. Dysphagia and odynophagia may also occur. We successfully treated one case by removal of the elongated styloid process under the general anesthesia and C2 ganglion block. We then reported the clinical feature of one case of the Eagle's syndrome and further researched with the foreign literature.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.298-303
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• 1995

We have inserted epidural catheter for single or continuous injection of a drug for epidural analgesia. It is important to localize the tip of epidural catheter in appropriate site to acquire the most effective analgesia. In epidural block, we observed course and location of the tip of epidural catheter. Subject: 70 patients were divided into group I(non-injection of saline group during catheter insertion) and group II(injection group during catheter insertion). Group I included cervical(n=20), thoracic(n=10), and lumbar(n=20) epidural group. Group II, cervical(n=10), and lumbar(n=10) epidural group. Method: 19G FlexTip $Plus^{TM}$ Epidural Catheter ($Arrow^{(R)}$) was inserted 10cm cephaladly in epidural space with(group II) or without(group I) saline flushing. We observed course and location of the tip of epidural catheter by C-arm image intensifier during injection of contrast media ($Omnipaque^{(R)}$). Result: In group I, the number of tips of epidural catheters located within 2 cm from inserted site were: cervical 14/20(70%), thoracic 2/10(20%). lumbar 16/20(80%). In thoracic epidural blocks, tips of epidural catheters were more cephaladly located than with cervical and lumbar epidural blocks. With cervical epidural blocks, the number of tips of epidural catheters located within 2 cm from insertion site were less in group II than group I (20% vs. 70%). But no significant differences were noted between group I and group II with lumbar epidural block(90% vs. 80%). The number of tips of epidural catheters located around a predicted site were: cervical 2/20(10%), thoracic 4/10(40%), lumbar 0/20(0%) in group I, and cervical 2/10(20%), lumbar 1/10(10%) in group II. Conclusion: It was impossible to predict the exact location of tips of epidural catheters by measuring the inserted length without epidurogram. With many cases, tips of epidural catheters were located around the insertion site in lumbar epidural blocks, and in some cases around the predicted site in thoracic epidural blocks. The results suggests that epidural block should be done at a point near the required band of analgesia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.177-187
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• 1992

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.219-224
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• 1995