Author: Denise Baez DG Alerts Patients with multiple myeloma who were hospitalised with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had a high mortality rate, with significant geographic variability, ranging from 27% to 57%, according to the first results from the International Multiple Myeloma COVID-19 dataset, published in the journal Blood. The International Multiple Myeloma COVID-19 dataset, created by […]
Spinal cord stimulation may ease diabetic nerve pain
Medical X press Low-frequency spinal cord stimulation (SCS) may be effective for treating painful diabetic neuropathy (DN), according to a study scheduled for presentation at the 19th Annual Pain Medicine Meeting, a meeting of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, held virtually from Nov. 20 to 22. Erika Petersen, M.D., from the […]
Effect of Cognitive Prehabilitation on the Incidence of Postoperative Delirium Among Older Adults Undergoing Major Noncardiac Surgery
The Neurobics Randomized Clinical Trial Authors: Michelle L. Humeidan, MD, PhD et al JAMA Surg. November 2020. Key PointsQuestion Does preoperative cognitive exercise reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium in older adults undergoing major noncardiac surgery? Findings Results of this randomized clinical trial show patients who met at least minimum compliance with a preoperative cognitive exercise intervention […]
REPLACEMENT OF LIDOCAINE GEL WITH TOPICAL PROPARACAINE ANESTHESIA FOR ROUTINE INTRAVITREAL INJECTIONS
AUTHORS: Varsha Alex, Sumit R Singh et al. Retina. 2020 Oct 28 PURPOSE Lidocaine gel was suggested to be highly effective in providing anesthesia for intravitreal injections but adverse effects include possibility of making sterilization of the conjunctiva difficult. Hence, we wished to determine the effect of using 0.5% proparacaine drops alone over the use […]
Admission ECG abnormalities, elevated cardiac troponins predict higher 30-day mortality in COVID-19
DG Alerts The combination of myocardial injury with high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) levels ≥ 20 ng/L, plus cardiac conduction perturbations, especially atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (AF/AFL), upon hospital admission for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with “markedly increased” risk for mortality than either diagnostic abnormality alone, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart […]
Myocarditis may be less common among COVID-19 patients than previously believed
Authors: Michael Walter Cardiovascular Business News Myocarditis could be much more rare among COVID-19 patients than researchers previously predicted, according to new findings published in Cardiovascular Pathology. The authors reviewed data from 22 different studies, tracking findings related to the autopsied hearts of a total of 277 COVID-19 patients. The average patient age was 75 years […]
Levels of CRP during the first 48 hours of hospital admission predict respiratory decline in patients with COVID-19
Author: Denise Baez DG Alert Among hospitalised patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), increasing levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) during the first 48 hours of hospitalisation is a better predictor of respiratory decline than initial CRP levels or ROX indices, according to a study published in Cell Reports Medicine. A review of data from the […]
Anesthetic management of women with heart failure during pregnancy
AUTHORS: G Jayasooriya, C Silversides et al. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2020 11; 44 40-50 BACKGROUND The incidence of heart failure among pregnant women with pre-existing cardiac disease is quoted as 13%, with 10% requiring hospitalization. There is limited literature on heart failure in the pregnant population. The study objective was to describe the etiology […]
Panel Offers Guidelines on Perioperative Use of Opioids in Youths
By Christine Judge Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MS NEJM Journal Watch A multidisciplinary expert panel convened by the American Pediatric Surgical Association has issued comprehensive evidence-based guidelines on perioperative administration of opioids in children and adolescents. Recommendations, published in JAMA Surgery, include the following: Opioid-free postsurgical analgesia is recommended for certain […]
Proposed Medicare Cuts Threaten Anesthesiology Practices
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed cuts to the Medicare fee schedules for anesthesia services that could return payment rates for anesthesiologists to levels last seen nearly 30 years ago. Each year, CMS proposes updates to its Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The proposed 2021 physician payment schedule includes several increases, including […]