Source: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Summary: Patients in the United States and Canada are seven times as likely as those in Sweden to receive a prescription for opioid medications after surgery, according to a new multi-institutional study. Though the United States and Canada had similar prescription rates, patients in the U.S. were prescribed […]
The chronic ICU patient: Is intensive care worthwhile for patients with very prolonged ICU-stay (≥ 90 days)?
Authors: Kevin Roedl et al European Journal of Internal Medicine Sept 2019 Highlights •Due to medical advances, an increasing number of patients are surviving the acute critical illness. •Only a small number of patients requires a very prolonged ICU stay ≥90 days. •About two-third of patients survives the ICU stay, one-third 1-Year. •A small number of […]
Heart attack risk higher in those who sleep too little or too much
Author: Catharine Paddock PhD The right amount of sleep is protective of heart health. This was the conclusion of new research that found sleep duration can influence a person’s risk of heart attack, regardless of other heart risk factors, including genetic ones. New research tracks sleep duration and a person’s risk of a heart attack. […]
Weeding Out the Problem: The Impact of Preoperative Cannabinoid Use on Pain in the Perioperative Period.
AUTHORS: Liu CW et al Anesth Analg. 2019 Sep;129(3):874-881. BACKGROUND: The recreational and medical use of cannabinoids has been increasing. While most studies and reviews have focused on the role of cannabinoids in the management of acute pain, no study has examined the postoperative outcomes of surgical candidates who are on cannabinoids preoperatively. This retrospective cohort […]
A randomized trial of desflurane or sevoflurane on postoperative quality of recovery after knee arthroscopy
Authors: Stuart Boggett et al Plos one Background Studies have described different recovery profiles of sevoflurane and desflurane typically early after surgery. Methods We conducted a randomized superiority trial to determine whether Overall Recovery 3 days after knee arthroscopy would be superior with desflurane. Adult participants undergoing knee arthroscopic surgery with general anesthesia were randomized […]
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction in premenopausal versus postmenopausal women
Authors: Y. C. Chen et al Journal of Climacteric Sept 2019 Purpose: The study examined postoperative cognitive dysfunction in premenopausal and postmenopausal women undergoing surgery with general anesthesia. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study enrolled 30 premenopausal and 28 postmenopausal patients (age 40–60 years) who did not receive hormone replacement therapy, hysterectomy, or oophorectomy. Patients with no menstrual periods […]
Failure of reversion of neuromuscular block with sugammadex in patient with myasthenia gravis: case report
Authors: Hermann dos Santos Fernandes et al BMC Anesthesiology volume 19, Article number: 160 (2019) | Background Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a challenge for anesthesia management. This report shows that the use of rocuronium-sugammadex is not free from flaws and highlights the importance of cholinesterase inhibitors management and neuromuscular block monitoring in the perioperative period of myasthenic patients. Case presentation […]
Deaths to heart related conditions rising in the US
Author: Catharine Paddock PhD Medical News Today In the United States, total deaths to cardiometabolic disease — which includes heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure — have been rising since 2011, according to new research. New research examines the rate of cardiovascular deaths in the United States, and the racial disparities in these […]
Regional Holds Advantages Over General Anesthesia for Hip Surgery in Frail Elderly
Author: Michael Vlessides Anesthesiology News When it comes to emergency hip fracture surgery in frail, elderly patients, regional anesthesia boasts distinct advantages over general anesthetic approaches, according to a database analysis by a team of Kaiser Permanente researchers. However, the investigators also pointed out that these results do not promote an overall superiority of regional […]
EEG-Guided Anesthesia Does Not Lessen Incidence of Post-op Delirium
Author: Bob Kronemyer Anesthesiology News Administration of EEG-guided anesthesia does not decrease the likelihood of postoperative delirium, according to ENGAGES (Electroencephalography Guidance of Anesthesia to Alleviate Geriatric Syndromes), a randomized clinical trial of older adults undergoing major surgery with general anesthesia. The study found that among 1,232 adults, all of whom were at least 60 […]