• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.139-143
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• 1995

Hyperhidrosis is the state of abnormal sweating on the palm, sole and axillary region. The main treatment of hyperhidrosis are surgical sympathectomy and a thoracic sympathetic ganglion block with neurolytics. Among them, a thoracic sympathetic ganglion block is used in pain clinic for the treatment of hyperhidrosis. I have successfully performed a thoracic sympathetic ganglion block on a 21 year old female patients with pure alcohol. I concluded that the thoracic sympathetic ganglion block was one of the most effective treatment of hyperhidrosis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.103-107
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• 1992

Thoracic sympathetic ganglion block was not applied routinely because of high incidence of complication such as pneumothorax. We successfully managed a patient with sternal pain and a patient with scapular pain by thoracic sympathetic ganglion block. We concluded that thoracic sympathetic ganglion block was an effective treatment for intractable cancer pain. However precise anatomical knowledgement is essential.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.217-221
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• 1994

Percutaneous neurolysis of upper thoracic sympathetic ganglion was performed in 40 patients by simultaneously injecting 3 ml of pure alcohol into the T2 and T3 levels after 3 ml of injection of local anesthetic agent on the same sites. Using a skin temperature probe, finger tip temperatures were measured on the index finger ipsilateral to the nerve block before block, 15 and 30 minutes after test block, and 30 minutes after alcohol block. Alcohol block was performed immediately after 30 minutes test block. Finger tip temperatures obtained at 30 minutes post alcohol block and test block and the differences in the temperatures measured before and 30 minutes after alcohol block were shown to be statistically important as potential indicators for prediciting long term outcome of therapy for palmar hyperhidrosis using this technique. These results demonstrate that the palmar temperature monitoring method is sufficiently sensitive to predict the outcome of nerve block during and after thoracic sympathetic ganglion block.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.374-377
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• 1995

Percutaneous neurolysis of upper thoracic sympathetic ganglion was performed by simultaneously injecting 3 ml of pure alcohol into the $T_2$ and $T_3$ levels after testng with same amount of local anesthetics on the same sites. We experienced poor sympatholytic effect or intercostal neuritis and Horner's Syndrome as the result of complication of thoracic sympathetic ganglion block. In Case 1, in spite of the good testing result, neurolytic block effect was poor. In Case 2, intercostal neuritis occurred, but neuralgia subsided within 3 weeks. In Case 3, Horner's Syndrome occurred for 1 day. To increase the success rate of block and decrease the incidence of complications, good radio-opaque dye appearance and good test block effect should be obtained.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.268-270
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• 1996

We treated a patient who experienced motor weakness and sensory change on left lower extremity after thoracic sympathetic ganglion block with pure alcohol. The following factors were suspected of contributing to neurologic complication: (1) ischemia of spinal cord, (2) infection, (3) re-expression and aggravation of pre-existing neurologic disease, (4) improper position. Patient spontaneously recovered from neurologic complication with conservative therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.210-214
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• 1996

Thoracic sympathetic ganglion block(TSGB) with alcohol is a traditional method for treating a variety of disease at pain clinics. But it is a difficult block to perform requiring both skill and experience. Therefore, we performed a thoracic endoscopic cauterization to evaluate the efficacy of this method. A patient suffering sever forearm and hand pain due to radius fracture of the right arm, one and half years earlier, was referred to several different orthopaedic department of various hospitals with continued aggravated symptoms. He was then admitted to our hospital's orthopaedic department. Our diagnosis, confirmed by thermography, revealed reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Patients was therefore referred to the pain clinic where treatment consisted of endoscopic thoracic sympathetic cauterization under general anesthesia. Patient was intubated with Robertashow 37 Fr. double lumen tube left sided. Left lateral and slight head up position was applied to make lesion side up. Incisions were made to penetrate trocas 5 mm diamether on 4 th intercostal space along mid axillary line and midclavicular line. Negative pressure suction on ipsilateral lung and CO2 insufflation under 10 mmHg was applied to reduce lung size. Cauterization on thoracic sympathetic chain at T3 level was done under endoscoic guide. 24 Fr. chest tube was inserted. Patient's symptoms cleared and he was satisfied with the results of this treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.94-97
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• 1996

Two hundred and eighty eight patients suffering from excessive sweating of palms, soles and axillae etc., visited our Neuro-Pain clinic from November 1991 to March 1996. The sex ratio was 1:1.2. the third decade of age was the major age group. the onset time of hyperhidrosis was prepubertal period (in 95.1% of them). the provocative factors fo excessive sweating were tension and stress from interpersonal relationship. they had the family history (30.9%) and the past history treated with herb medication (56.9%), medicine (30.6%), operation (1.4%), and no treatment (39.6%). We treated 113 patients by sympathetic ganglion block with pure alcohol. the average times of thoracic sympathetic ganglion block were 2.1 (left), 2.4 (right) and those of lumbar sympathetic ganglion block were 1.2 (left), 1.6 (right). Average admission period was 14.7 days. Recurrence rare was 7.1%. Most longstanding effective period was 45 months. We conclude from our results that sympathetic ganglion block is one of the most effective treatments for hyperhidrosis owing to its simple technique and low recurrence rate.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.206-209
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• 1996

Thoracic sympathetic nerve block has a wide range of therapeutic applications which clinicians utilize neurolytics or perform operative sympathectomy. All methods have advantages and disadvantages. We performed "thoracic sympathetic ganglion cauterization" using resectoscope as it is less invasive and more effective than traditional operative methods. Successful procedures were performed involving 2 cases of idiopathic hyperhidrosis and 1 case of sympathetically maintained pain on chest and upper extremity. We experienced failure with one case of idiopathic hyperhidrosis due to severe pleural adhesion. There was also a case of complication of periganglional hemorrhage and parenchymal lung perforation which we successfully treated.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.171-175
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• 2005

Background: Hyperhidrosis is the troublesome disorder of excessive perspiration, which affects as much as 0.15-1% of the population. There are many methods for treating hyperhidrosis. In this report, we present our experience of dorsal percutaneous thoracic sympathetic ganglion block (TSGB) using 99.9% ethyl alcohol for treating palmar hyperhidrosis. Methods: Between March 1992 and July 2003, a total of 856 patients underwent TSGB for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis of which 625 were followed up for 2 years. There were 297 and 328 male and female patients, respectively, with a mean age of $23.9{\pm}7.7years$. TSGB was performed under fluoroscopic guidance using 99.9% ethyl alcohol at the T2 and T3 sympathetic ganglia. Results: In the 625 patients, the recurrence rates within the 1st and 2nd years were 29 and 8%, respectively. Compensatory sweating occurred in 42.1% of patients, which was severe in 7.5%. Of the 625 patients 21.0 and 36.9% were either very satisfied or relatively satisfied with the outcome, respectively. Conclusions: Our report confirms that TSGB may be a good alternative to endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy in the treatment of palmar 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.