Comparison of programmed intermittent epidural bolus injection and continuous epidural injection in controlling nighttime pain and improving sleep quality after thoracotomy.

Background: Postoperative pain after open thoracotomy is known to be very severe and affects sleep quality. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a programmed intermittent epidural bolus injection versus continuous epidural injection for controlling nighttime pain and improving sleep quality after thoracotomy.

Methods: Seventy-six patients scheduled for open thoracotomy for lung cancer or other lung diseases were enrolled.

The influence of circulating fibrinogen level on postoperative blood loss and blood transfusion in pediatric cardiac surgery: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Pediatric patients are at high risk of massive bleeding after cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Fibrinogen is essential for coagulation; however, pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) present abnormal fibrinogen function. The pre- and post-operative fibrinogen level may affect the bleeding and transfusion amount in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Expanded Efficacy of Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support for Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation.

Background: Perioperative respiratory failure occurs frequently in liver transplantation (LT) recipients. Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) has been applied in patients with acute and potentially reversible life-threatening respiratory failure that is unresponsive to conventional therapies. VV-ECMO is used as a bridging device for lung transplantation.

Comparison of the Oblique Interlaminar and Transforaminal Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections for Treatment of Low Back and Lumbosacral Radicular Pain.

Background: Transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TF-ESIs) effectively deliver small amounts of drugs to inflamed sites via the ventral epidural space. However, there is a high risk of nerve damage as the needle narrowly approaches the spinal nerve. Therefore, we devised an oblique interlaminar (OIL) approach as an alternative method.

Anesthetic considerations for an adult with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome - A case report.

Background: Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) includes features such as growth restriction, mental retardation, congenital heart disease, convulsions as well as microcephaly and micrognathia. Thus, the anesthesiologists may have difficulties in airway management, neuromuscular relaxation, and in maintaining hemodynamic stability.

Case: A 24-year-old man with WHS underwent surgery for closed reduction and internal fixation of the right neck of femur.

Endoscopic vacuum therapy for cervical leakage following esophagectomy under monitored anesthesia care: a case report.

Although esophagectomy is a standard treatment for esophageal cancer, anastomotic leak after esophagectomy is a relatively common complication and its incidence is 10-25% for cervical anastomosis. Endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) is a feasible primary treatment of esophageal perforations and leaks. Currently, there are no anesthesia guidelines for EVT, however, it is usually performed under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation, especially for cervical EVT.

Anti-inflammatory effect of remifentanil in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated amniotic epithelial cells.

Background: Sometimes general anesthesia is required for dental surgery in pregnant women. Facial bone fractures or neck abscess should be treated immediately. Dental surgery, however, creates a stressful situation that can cause inflammation.

Experience of operating an anesthesia preoperative evaluation clinic in South Korea: An observational study of surgeons' satisfaction.

The benefits of an anesthesia pre-operative evaluation clinic (APEC) based on outpatients are well described in previous literatures. In the majority of hospitals in South Korea, preoperative anesthetic evaluation for surgical patients is limited to hospitalized patients on the day before surgery. Thus, we would like to share our institutional experience of implementing an APEC based on outpatients and report on the attitudes and satisfaction of the medical staff (surgeons).

Effect of anesthetic method on incidence of delirium after total hip replacement arthroplasty in South Korea: a population-based study using National Health Insurance claims data.

Background: There are various reports on the effects of the anesthetic method on neurologic complications. A population-based study was conducted to estimate the effect of anesthetic method on the incidence of postoperative delirium in patients that underwent total hip replacement arthroplasty in South Korea.

Methods: The Korean National Health Insurance claims database was used to retrospectively identify and analyze 24,379 cases of total hip replacement arthroplasty, defined as patients having a claim record with the operation code 'N0711,' from January 2008 to December 2017.

Postoperative analgesic efficacy of single-shot and continuous transversus abdominis plane block after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Study Objective: To compare the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided single-shot and continuous transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block to that of IV-PCA in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Design: Prospective randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Post-anesthesia care unit and General ward.

Comparison of the single-lumen endotracheal tube and double-lumen endobronchial tube used in minimally invasive cardiac surgery for the fast track protocol.

Background: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) has been more commonly performed due to the reduced amount of bleeding and transfusion and length of hospital stay. We investigated the feasibility of performing MICS using single-lumen endotracheal tube (SLT).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of clinical data of 112 patients who underwent MICS between July 2012 and March 2015.