Attentional Bias for Opioids in Taiwanese Heavy Smokers with Chronic Noncancer Pain.

Attentional bias (AB) for addictive substances is a feature of attention found in individuals with substance misuse or diagnosed with substance use disorders. When AB exists, the attention of the addicted individual may be quickly oriented to cues related to the addictive substance or be maintained on these cues for a longer time. AB toward opioids was found in Western samples of smokers with chronic noncancer pain.

Assessing Continuous Epidural Infusion and Programmed Intermittent Epidural Bolus for Their Effectiveness in Providing Labor Analgesia: A Mono-Centric Retrospective Comparative Study.

: Local anesthetics administered via epidural catheters have evolved from intermittent top-ups to simultaneous administration of continuous epidural infusion (CEI) and patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) using the same device. The latest programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) model is believed to create a wider and more even distribution of analgesia inside the epidural space. The switch from CEI + PCEA to PIEB + PCEA in our department began in 2018; however, we received conflicting feedback regarding workload from the quality assurance team.

Association of General Anesthesia and Neuraxial Anesthesia in Caesarean Section with Maternal Postpartum Depression: A Retrospective Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Although cesarean section (CS) has become a common method of child delivery in recent decades, the choice between general anesthesia (GA) and neuraxial anesthesia (NA) for CS must be carefully considered. Depending on the type of anesthesia used in CS, a major outcome observed is the occurrence of postpartum depression (PPD). This study investigated the association between PPD risk and the anesthesia method used in CS by using data from three linked nationwide databases in Taiwan, namely, the National Health Insurance Research Database, the National Birth Reporting Database, and the National Death Index Database.

Association Between Aortic Aneurysm and Aortic Dissection With Fluoroquinolones Use in Patients With Urinary Tract Infections: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background Fluoroquinolones are first-line antibiotics recommended for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), with frequent reports of adverse effects of aortic aneurysm (AA) and aortic dissection (AD). We examined whether fluoroquinolones can increase the risk of AA and AD in patients with UTIs in the Taiwanese population. Methods and Results We used the National Health Insurance Research Database to identify patients diagnosed with UTIs under single antibiotic treatment of fluoroquinolones and first-, second-, or third-generation cephalosporins.

Impact of Computed Tomography Scans on the Risk of Thyroid Disease in Minor Head Injury Patients: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.

We investigated the association between head computed tomography (CT) scans and the risk of noncancer thyroid diseases in patients with minor head injury in a Taiwanese healthcare setting. For this retrospective population-based cohort study, the 2009-2013 Longitudinal Health Insurance Database was used to include patients with a minor head injury at admission or emergency visit between 2009 and 2013. Multivariate analysis with a multiple Cox regression model was applied to analyze the data.

Pain management experience at a central Taiwan medical center.

Pain management is typically more developed in western countries compared to Asia. From the accreditation standard of the Joint Commission International (JCI), there is a broad scope for pain management. In 2008, our medical center established the pain management policy, and the goal is to be a pain-free medical facility.

A comparison of spinal and epidural anesthesia for cesarean section following epidural labor analgesia: A retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate different types of regional anesthesia for cesarean section (CS) following epidural labor analgesia that could lead to various perioperative and postoperative outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively included those parturients who received epidural labor analgesia but needed subsequent CS under regional anesthesia in our institution from January 2008 to June 2012.

Results: In all, 2341 of 6609 parturients underwent painless labor, and 334 of them converted to CS.

Use of a video fiberoptic bronchoscope to assist double-lumen endobronchial tube intubation in a patient with a difficult airway.

In clinical scenarios, the insertion of double-lumen endobronchial tubes (DLTs) is usually employed as a technique of separation of lungs for treatment purposes inclusive of one-lung ventilation for the ease of thoracic surgery. However, in patients with difficult airways, the DLT intubation can be challenging, even with the aid of a fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB). Insertion of the FOB itself into the trachea may be relatively simple, but the advancement of the DLT with the FOB enclosed in the lumen may be hindered by the abnormal or diseased laryngeal aperture.

Treating frozen shoulder with ultrasound-guided pulsed mode radiofrequency lesioning of the suprascapular nerve: two cases.

Objective: Many approaches to treatment of frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, including use of steroid injections, provide only short-term relief. We present a method for pulsed mode radiofrequency (PRF) lesioning of the suprascapular nerve using ultrasound guidance in patients with severe pain from frozen shoulder.

Design: Patients with frozen shoulder were treated by using real-time, high-resolution ultrasound guidance to facilitate PRF lesioning of the suprascapular nerve.

A modified technique for ultrasound-guided cannulation of radial and brachial arteries in patients with circulation collapse.

We present a modified method for arterial cannulation using ultrasound guidance in patients with collapsed circulation. The method makes use of ultrasonographic landmarks that enable cannulation of both the radial and brachial arteries, even when the pulse is extremely faint.

Penetrating injury of the palatoglossal arch associated with use of the GlideScope videolaryngoscope in a flame burn patient.

The GlideScope is used to facilitate exposure of the larynx in both routine and difficult airways. A 38-year-old woman with a flame burn (second/third-degree, 40% total body surface area) and inhalation injury accompanied by acute respiratory failure under mechanical ventilation support presented for wound debridement and split thickness skin grafting. After the surgery, the endotracheal tube was reinserted successfully with a GlideScope because we anticipated a problematic airway.

Double-lumen endobronchial tube intubation in patients with difficult airways using Trachlight and a modified technique.

We present a modified method for the insertion of double-lumen endobronchial tubes with Trachlight in patients with difficult airways. We also discuss whether our method is applicable to smaller double-lumen endobronchial tubes.

Methemoglobinemia induced by exposure to topical benzocaine for an awake nasal intubation--a case report.

Topical benzocaine and lidocaine are widely used in general anesthesia to minimize the stimulation by awake intubation and in very rare occasion they may induce methemoglobinemia. Although this complication is uncommon, it may be potentially lethal. Here we report a 29-year-old female who was scheduled to receive correction of malocclusion and developed acute methemoglobinemia soon after induction of general anesthesia.