[Lower thoracic epidural analgesia improves postoperative analgesia following vaginal total hysterectomy].

Background: In our hospital, lumbar epidural analgesia had been used for postoperative analgesia following vaginal total hysterectomy (VTH). But some patients experienced severe abdominal pain or numbness of the legs. Therefore we planned a randomized prospective study to compare lower thoracic epidural analgesia and lumbar epidural analgesia following VTH.

[Two cases of anaphylactoid reaction after administration of sugammadex].

Anaphylaxis during anesthesia is a rare but life-threatening event. Sugammadex is a recently introduced drug that was specifically designed for the reversal of rocuroium and vecuronium-induced neuromuscular block. We describe the cases of a 74-year-old man and a 29-year-old man who developed an anaphylactoid reaction to sugammadex, presenting with cardiovascular collapse.

[Anesthetic management of a patient with Becker muscular dystrophy].

We experienced anesthetic management of a patient with Becker muscular dystrophy. He had advanced dilated cardiomyopathy and high serum CK in the preoperative examinations. Anesthesia was planned to avoid triggering malignant hyperthermia or rhabdomyolysis and hemodynamic changes.

[Anesthetic management of a child with Angelman's syndrome].

Angelman syndrome is a hereditary disease described by Angelman. The clinical features of Angelman syndrome are characterized by mental retardation, puppet-like ataxia, easily excitable personality, seizures, paroxysmal laughter, strabismus and macroglossia. A 4-year-old girl with Angelman syndrome underwent strabismus repair under general anesthesia.

[Effects of landiolol on cardiovascular responses, bispectral index and body movement during endotracheal intubation].

Background: We investigated the effects of a novel highly cardioselective short-acting beta-blocker, landiolol, on cardiovascular response, bispectral index and body movement during endotracheal

Methods: Forty ASA class 1 patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups, in a double-blind fashion; 1) 20 patients received landiolol 125 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) for one minute followed by 40 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) (landiolol group), and 2) 20 patients received saline (control group). Landiolol or saline was started 6 min after a target controlled infusion of propofol (effect-site concentration 4 microg x ml(-1)). The trachea was intubated 11 min after propofol infusion.