N.H. Sperna Weiland et al,Authors: N. H,Background The baroreflex regulates arterial blood pressure (BP). During periods when blood pressure changes, cerebral blood flow (CBF) is kept constant by cerebral autoregulation (CA). In patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), low baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) is associated with impaired CA. As sevoflurane-based anaesthesia obliterates BRS, we hypothesised that this […]

The FDA has approved fremanezumab (marketed as Ajovy) to prevent migraine in adults. The injectable drug, given monthly or quarterly, is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets calcitonin gene-related peptide. In phase III trials among adults with disabling migraine, fremanezumab reduced the number of monthly migraine days over 12 weeks relative to placebo. It was […]

Authors: S. Boet et al  British Journal of Anesthesia Sept 2018 Background Non-technical skills, such as communication or leadership, are integral to clinical competence in anaesthesia. There is a need for valid and reliable tools to measure anaesthetists’ non-technical performance for both initial and continuing professional development. This systematic review aims to summarise the measurement […]

A commonly used painkiller might be too risky for people to keep taking, suggests a new study published this week in the BMJ. It found that people who use diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), are more likely to come down with cardiovascular disease than people who take other NSAIDs or acetaminophen. Diclofenac is sold under […]

Authors: Zannad F et al.  N Engl J Med 2018 Aug 27 A randomized trial found no improvement in outcomes with low-dose rivaroxaban. Chronic anticoagulation in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), but without atrial fibrillation (Afib, AF), has long been controversial; clinical trials have not demonstrated any benefit of warfarin use. This […]

Written by Julie Spitzer |  Becker’s Hospital Review August 30, 2018 | Fifty-seven percent of Americans say they’ve received a surprise medical bill they thought would be covered by insurance, according to a recent survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago. NORC polled 1,002 individuals from a nationally representative sample of Americans using the AmeriSpeak Panel, a […]

Authors: Takahiro Muramatsu, M.D. et al  Anesthesiology published on September 6, 2018. What We Already Know about This Topic: Sugammadex may be the best available drug to reverse residual neuromuscular blockade produced by rocuronium and vecuronium A 5% incidence of residual neuromuscular blockade has been reported after administering sugammadex without neuromuscular monitoring Elderly patients have been […]

Authors: Rachael L. Bosma, Ph.D. et al    Anesthesiology published on September 6, 2018. What We Already Know about This Topic: Ketamine is an N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist with growing use in the management of chronic pain Descending pain modulatory circuits are key modulators of chronic pain What This Article Tells Us That Is New: The infusion of ketamine […]

Authors: Clivio S et al Anesthesia & Analgesia (Aug 2018) BACKGROUND It remains unclear to what extent intravenous lidocaine prevents cough and whether there is dose-responsiveness and risk of harm. METHODS We searched electronic databases to January 1, 2017 for randomized trials comparing intravenous lidocaine with placebo for the prevention of cough in surgical patients. […]

Authors: Catherine Chiu et al  BMC AnesthesiologyBMC series  April 2018 Background Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways have been shown in multiple surgical disciplines to improve outcomes, including reduced opioid consumption, length of stay, and post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV). However, very few studies describe the application of ERAS to breast surgery and even fewer describe […]