AUTHORS: Song, Yujie MD et al Anesthesia & Analgesia: April 2020 BACKGROUND: The dural puncture epidural (DPE) technique is associated with faster onset than the conventional epidural (EP) technique for labor analgesia. The programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) mode for maintaining labor analgesia allows for lower anesthetic drug consumption than the continuous epidural infusion (CEI) […]
Virtual Visits: Anesthesia Meets Telemedicine
Author: Tony Mira F1rst News Prevention of the spread of COVID is essential during this time. Treatment from a distance is one of the strategies being employed in the pursuit of that goal. Yes, there are ways in which anesthesia providers can bill for patient services without actually being in the same room as the […]
Tα1 tied to significantly lower mortality in severe COVID-19 patients
DG Alerts A study in Clinical Infectious Diseases has shown that thymosin alpha 1 (Tα1) supplement was associated with significantly reduced mortality in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Specifically, researchers said Tα1 was able to improve and restore T-cell counts in COVID-19 patients with severe lymphocytopenia, as well as reverse T-cell exhaustion and induce immune […]
Findings show abnormal blood flow between COVID-19-positive mothers, babies in utero
DG Alerts A study examining placental pathology in COVID-19-positive pregnant women has found that relative to controls, COVID-19 placentas had a higher prevalence of decidual arteriopathy and other features of maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM), a pattern of injury the authors say reflects abnormalities in oxygenation within the intervillous space associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. The research […]
Pulmonary Vascular Endothelialitis, Thrombosis, and Angiogenesis in Covid-19
AUTHORS: Maximilian Ackermann, M.D. et al NEJM May 21, 2020 BACKGROUND Progressive respiratory failure is the primary cause of death in the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Despite widespread interest in the pathophysiology of the disease, relatively little is known about the associated morphologic and molecular changes in the peripheral lung of patients who die […]
Clinical Trials of Neuraxial, Intravenous, and Inhalational Anesthesia for External Cephalic Version
AUTHORS: Hao, Qingzhong MD, PhD et al Anesthesia & Analgesia: April 2020 BACKGROUND: External cephalic version (ECV) is a frequently performed obstetric procedure for fetal breech presentation to avoid cesarean delivery. Neuraxial, intravenous, and inhalational anesthetic techniques have been studied to reduce maternal discomfort caused by the forceful manipulation. This study compares the effects of […]
Thromboelastographic Assessment of Fibrinolytic Activity in Postpartum Hemorrhage
AUTHORS: Arnolds, David E. MD, PhD et al *; Scavone, Barbara M. MD*,† Anesthesia & Analgesia: April 2020 BACKGROUND: Postpartum hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal mortality. Antifibrinolytic therapy has the potential to influence outcomes in postpartum hemorrhage, but the incidence of elevated fibrinolytic activity in postpartum hemorrhage is unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed […]
How the COVID-19 pandemic is traumatizing health care professionals
Author: Rebecca Elia MD KevinMD.com Many of us (especially psychiatrists and physician coaches) have been warning the medical profession at large for weeks now that we are headed for unprecedented numbers of physicians, nurses, other health care workers, and first responders suffering from PTSD. A free support group of psychiatrists for physicians formed rapidly. Several […]
Adding to the Tool Chest: Virtual Visits for Chronic Pain
Author: Tony Mira F1rst News Summary Pain practitioners are in a unique position to utilize the new waivers and changes […]
U.S. awards new $628 million contract to boost output of potential COVID-19 vaccine
Author: Vishwadha Chander Reuters The U.S. government on Monday entered into a $628 million contract with drugmaker Emergent BioSolutions (EBS.N) to boost manufacturing capacity for a potential COVID-19 vaccine. As drugmakers race to develop vaccines, tests and therapies for the disease, the United States is looking to secure manufacturing capacity under its “Operation Warp Speed” […]