Author: Nathan Eddy Healthcare IT News Data from the accelerometers allowed researchers to correctly rank the mortality risk using 30-40 percent more accuracy than when using data about smoking status or a patient’s stroke or cancer history. Wearable health devices can provide an accurate picture of the overall health and mortality risk in older adults, […]
3-D printers create perfect models of life-sized human hearts, spines and other body parts
Author: Kurt Kleiner, University of Toronto In a small, windowless room at Toronto General Hospital, a bank of seven 3-D printers runs day and night, patiently laying down layer after layer of coloured plastic. When the printing is done, the pieces are trimmed and fitted together into perfect models of human hearts, life-sized and correct […]
Surgeons Share Practical Tips to Reduce Opioid Prescriptions
Author: Karen Blum Anesthesiology News With surgical recovery presenting the possibility that patients will become dependent on opioids, speakers at the 2019 annual meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons discussed tips to reduce opioid prescribing and ways to manage pain without opioids in enhanced recovery pathways. While 90% of patients taken […]
Comparison of Macintosh Laryngoscopy in Bed-up-Head–Elevated Position With GlideScope Laryngoscopy
AUTHORS: Tsan, Samuel E. H. MD, BMedSc et al Anesthesia & Analgesia: July 23, 2019 BACKGROUND: Approximately half of all difficult tracheal intubations (DTIs) are unanticipated; hence, proper positioning during intubation is critical to increase the likelihood of success. The bed-up-head–elevated (BUHE) intubation position has been shown to improve laryngeal view, reduce airway complications, and prolong safe […]
Gastric content assessed with gastric ultrasound in paediatric patients prescribed a light breakfast prior to general anaesthesia
Authors: Hanna Andersson et al Pediatric Anesthesia Background A light breakfast has been found to empty from the stomach within 4 hours in healthy volunteers. Aim The aim of this study was to investigate whether a light breakfast of yoghurt or gruel empties from the stomach within 4 hours, in children scheduled for general anaesthesia. Method In […]
Two-Week Multimodal Prehabilitation Program Improves Perioperative Functional Capability in Patients Undergoing Thoracoscopic Lobectomy for Lung Cancer
AUTHORS: Liu, Zijia MD et al Anesthesia & Analgesia: July 23, 2019 – BACKGROUND: Patients with lung cancer often experience reduced functional capacity and quality of life after surgery. The current study investigated the impact of a short-term, home-based, multimodal prehabilitation program on perioperative functional capacity in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for nonsmall cell […]
Efficacy of local infiltration of ropivacaine combined with multimodal analgesia with parecoxib for perioperative analgesia in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy
AUTHORS: Feng J et al Journal of Southern Medical University 39 (7), 830-835 (Jul 2019) OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of local infiltration of ropivacaine combined with multimodal analgesia with parecoxib for perioperative pain management in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. METHODS This randomized controlled trial was conducted among 98 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy in the Department of […]
Preoperative Opioid Score Does Not Predict Patient Outcomes After Spinal Surgery
DG News An opioid use score based on state prescription databases does not predict complications or other adverse outcomes in patients undergoing spinal surgery, according to a study published in the journal Spine. The increasingly used NarxCare narcotics score does not predict adverse outcomes or patient dissatisfaction after elective spine surgery, according to Anoop Raj […]
Randomised controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of thoracic epidural and paravertebral blockade in reducing chronic post-thoracotomy pain (TOPIC)
AUTHORS: Yeung J et al BMJ Open 9 (7), e023679 (Jul 2019) OBJECTIVES Thoracotomy is considered one of the most painful surgical procedures. The incidence of chronic post-thoracotomy pain (CPTP) is up to 50%. Paravertebral blockade (PVB) may be superior to thoracic epidural blockade (TEB) in preventing CPTP. The specific objective of this pilot study […]
Unhappy Hour: The Emerging Burden of Alcoholic Liver Disease
Authors: Brian C. Davis, MD and Jasmohan S. Bajaj, MD Anesthesiology News Alcohol use is deeply ingrained in American culture. More adults in this country report drinking regularly than say they voted in the last election, own a pet, or attend religious services—in some cases, by significant margins. And the problem is worsening. In the […]