Author: Medical University of Vienna One of the largest global studies in the field of anesthesia, in which the MedUni Vienna has participated, showed that, following curative breast cancer surgery under regional anesthesia, the risk of recurrence was not reduced in comparison to general anesthesia with opioids. These data disprove the assumption that anesthesia might […]
Best Neuraxial Technique for Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Is Spinal Anesthesia
Author: Bob Kronemyer Anesthesiology News Among choices of neuraxial anesthesia for patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty, spinal anesthesia provides the best postoperative outcomes, according to a large retrospective cohort study. Compared with combined spinal and epidural (CSE) anesthesia, spinal anesthesia significantly reduced the likelihood of cardiac, pulmonary, gastrointestinal and thromboembolic complications by between […]
Perioperative Anaphylaxis: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Management
Author: Alma Juels, MD Anesthesiology News The Frost Series #351 Case Presentation A 34-year-old man without significant past medical history presented for shoulder arthroscopy. He reported an allergy to sulfa-containing drugs. The patient received midazolam en route to the OR. In the OR, cefazolin 2 g was administered. General anesthesia was induced with fentanyl, lidocaine, […]
Common Antidepressants Interact With Tramadol to Lessen Pain Relief
Common antidepressants interact with tramadol to make it less effective for pain relief, according to a study published in Pharmacotherapy. The findings have important implications for the opioid epidemic, suggesting that some patients suspected of drug-seeking may in fact be under-medicated and just are seeking more effective pain relief. The results of the study could also […]
Subanesthetic ketamine infusions for the management of pediatric pain in non‐critical care settings:
Authors: Melissa M. Masaracchia et al Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Background Guidelines issued by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine suggest that ketamine infusions for acute pain management are advantageous as a primary treatment or as an opioid adjunct. Despite significant data regarding its use in adult patients, there remains a paucity of […]
Opioid prescribing and use drop significantly after state imposes regulations
Study results find drastic reduction in the quantity of opioids prescribed and used but no signs of inadequate pain management AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS A state-mandated policy restricting opioid prescriptions along with increased public awareness and education about the opioid epidemic preceded drastic reductions in opioid prescribing and use for surgical patients at the University […]
Profound Lip and Tongue Swelling After Anesthesia Induction
Authors: Stephen Richardson, MD et al Anesthesiology News Abstract We report profound lip and tongue swelling and hypotension in a 71-year-old woman after anesthesia induction. There was no bronchospasm, urticaria, or rash, so anaphylaxis was not initially suspected. She was treated with phenylephrine, ephedrine and boluses of fluid. When hypotension was refractory to these interventions, […]
Surgery Before Pregnancy Linked to Higher Risk of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Babies whose mothers underwent surgery before pregnancy have an increased risk of opioid withdrawal symptoms at birth, according to a study published in CMAJ. “Use of opioids for pain control after surgery may increase the risk of opioid dependence in women and withdrawal in their newborns,” said Nathalie Auger, MD, University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, […]
Deadly Staph Infections Remain Threat in Hospitals and Communities
Author: Thomas Rosenthal Anesthesiology News Staph infections were associated with almost 20,000 deaths in health care and community settings in 2017, according to the CDC. An estimated 119,247 people suffered from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MssA), with a total of 19,832 associated deaths from both infections, according to a new CDC Vital Signs report released by […]
How Interventional Effort Reduced Opioid Prescriptions at One Hospital
Author: Christina Frangou Anesthesiology News Initiative Achieves a Culture Change in Prescribing Habits In the spring of 2016, patients discharged after undergoing a general surgery procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital left with a prescription for a median of 150 mg of oral morphine equivalent. Two years later, patients undergoing the same procedures received a prescription […]