BackgroundThis randomized controlled study evaluated the efficacy of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) with fentanyl and ketorolac for neurosurgical patients, and compared the effectiveness of IV-PCA with intermittent analgesics injection.MethodsThe patients undergoing craniotomy were randomly assigned to two groups. Patients of group P (n = 53) received fentanyl (0.2 µg/kg/hr) and ketorolac (0.3 mg/kg/hr) via IV-PCA, and those of group N (n = 53) received intermittent fentanyl or ketorolac injection as needed. Pain was evaluated using a 0-10 visual analogue scale (VAS) at postoperative 1, 4, and 24 hr. The amount of infused analgesic drugs, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, systolic arterial pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and the incidence of nausea and miosis were measured at the same time points.ResultsAlthough VAS of pain (VASp) was comparable at postoperative 1 hr (P = 0.168) between the two groups, the group P had significantly lower VASp at postoperative 4 hr (P = 0.007) and 24 hr (P = 0.017). In group P, less analgesic drugs were administered at postoperative 1 hr, and more analgesic drugs were administered at postoperative 24 hr. There were no differences between two groups with respect to nausea, GCS, systolic arterial pressure, and heart rate. IV-PCA did not further incur respiratory depression or miosis.ConclusionsIV-PCA with fentanyl and ketorolac after craniotomy is more effective analgesic technique, without adverse events, than the intermittent administration of analgesics.

BackgroundThree kinds of conditions should be considered to reduce free hemoglobin production using an autologous cell salvage device. They are the negative suction pressure, the size of suction tip, and the air contact during suction. We want to examine which condition is the most important factor to produce free hemoglobin.MethodsOne pack of red blood cell and one pack of fresh frozen plasma with the same blood type were mixed. They were aspirated based on the two suction pressure (-150 mmHg or -300 mmHg), three sizes of suction tips, and the two conditions of air contact, in which the suction tip was located in the surface of blood or in the middle of the blood. Seven ml sized EDTA tube was used to collect 5 ml blood. All the procedure repeated ten times. Free hemoglobin, total hemoglobin, and hematocrit were measured. Hemolysis ratio was calculated with following formula. Hemolysis ratio = (new free hemoglobin production) × (100-hematocrit) / (total hemoglobin).ResultsFree hemoglobin production and hemolysis ratio were increased when the suction tip was positioned in the surface than when it was in the middle of the blood. The pressure of negative suction and three kinds of the suction tips did not influence the production of free hemoglobin nor the hemolysis ratio.ConclusionsThe air contact is the most important factor to reduce hemolysis using autologous cell salvage device. Suction pressure or suction tip diameter have little influence to produce hemolysis.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is often misdiagnosed it shares clinical features with other diseases of the lower extremity such as lumbar radiculopathy and arthritis. Failure to diagnose and treat neuropathies effectively can cause permanent neuropathic pain. We report a case of a ganglion cyst detected early using ultrasonography and MRI in a 51-year-old man who complained of rapidly aggravating pain, numbness and paresthesia on the great toe and the first metatarsal area in the sole, symptoms that resembled tarsal tunnel syndrome. Surgical treatment could be performed early with no permanent sequelae. We could also avoid repeated steroid injections or prescription medications. ( In most cases, TTS develops from unknown causes and can be treated conservatively. However, early surgical intervention is mandatory when neuropathy arises from a progressing occult pathology to avoid, repeated steroid injections, prescription of several medication for neuropathic pain, and to prevent permanent neuropathic pain.MRI and electromyography, together with clinical history and physical examination, can help to make the differential diagnosis. Ultrasonography (USG) can also be a useful technique for differential diagnosis of TTS, especially for detecting occult masses because of its non-invasiveness and real time views.Here, we introduce a case of a ganglion cyst around the tarsal tunnel that was diagnosed using USG at the first visit and treated surgically before lasting neurologic changes occured.