Month: December 2016

Uncategorized Published - 7 December, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Predisposing Characteristics of Adjacent Segment Disease After Lumbar Fusion

Authors: Vincent J. Alentado, BS et al Spine. 2016;41(14):1167-1172. Study Design. Retrospective Review. Objective. The aim of this study was to determine medical, radiographic, and surgical risk factors for the development of adjacent segment disease (ASD) after lumbar fusion. Summary of Background Data. ASD is a recognized outcome of spinal fusion that leads to increased costs and debilitating symptoms […]

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Uncategorized Published - 7 December, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
US National Anesthesia Workload on Saturday and Sunday Mornings

Anesthesia & Analgesia: November 2016 – Volume 123 – Issue 5 – p 1297–1301 AUTHORS: Dexter, Franklin MD, PhD et al BACKGROUND: In order to provide guidance to organizations considering elective weekend surgical case scheduling, we analyzed data from the American Society of Anesthesiologist’s Anesthesia Quality Institute. We determined the US anesthesia workload on Saturdays […]

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Uncategorized Published - 7 December, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Vitamin D for the Treatment of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy

Authors: Abdul Basit et al BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2016;4(1) Objective: To assess the effect of high-dose vitamin D in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy. Methods: A single intramuscular dose of 600 000 IU vitamin D was administered, and the effects on metabolic parameters and neuropathic pain assessed over 20 weeks. Results: 143 participants with predominantly type 2 diabetes, […]

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Uncategorized Published - 7 December, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Simple X-Ray Best for Diagnosing Knee Pain in Patients Aged Older Than 40

Plain x-rays are the best first-line screening tools for knee pain among middle-aged patients, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS). Whether a patient will need surgery for knee problems depends on how much arthritis he or she has. “If an x-ray shows […]

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Uncategorized Published - 7 December, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Higher Rate of AAA Repair in the U.S. Than in the U.K. Is Associated with Lower AAA-Related Mortality

Authors: Karthikesalingam A et al., N Engl J Med 2016 Nov 24; 375:2051 Mean abdominal aortic aneurysm diameter at the time of repair was significantly smaller in the U.S. International guidelines recommend that abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair be considered for AAAs with diameters ≥5.5 cm in men or ≥5.0 cm in women (Eur J Vasc Endovasc […]

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Uncategorized Published - 6 December, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Flexible optical intubation via the Ambu Aura-i vs blind intubation via the single-use LMA Fastrach: a prospective randomized clinical trial

Authors: Artime C et al Journal of Clinical Anesthesia (JCA) 33 41-6 (Sep 2016) STUDY OBJECTIVE This study was designed to compare the Ambu Aura-i to the single-use LMA Fastrach regarding time to intubation, success rate, and airway morbidity in patients undergoing elective surgery requiring general anesthesia. DESIGN Prospective, randomized controlled trial. SETTING Academic medical […]

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Uncategorized Published - 6 December, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Impact of spinal versus general anesthesia on postoperative pain and long term recurrence after surgery for pilonidal disease

Authors: Luedi M et al Journal of Clinical Anesthesia (JCA) 33 236-42 (Sep 2016) STUDY OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of the kind of anesthesia on postoperative pain and long term recurrence rate in pilonidal sinus disease. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING Surgical departments of German Armed Forces Hospitals in Hamburg, Bad Zwischenahn and Hamm. PATIENTS […]

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Uncategorized Published - 6 December, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Addition of buprenorphine to local anesthetic in adductor canal blocks after total knee arthroplasty improves postoperative pain relief: a randomized controlled trial

Authors: Krishnan S et al Journal of Clinical Anesthesia (JCA) 33 432-7 (Sep 2016) BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES For the hundreds of thousands of patients who undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the United States each year, early mobilization has been demonstrated to improve functional outcomes and reduce complications. Management of postoperative pain is a critical […]

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Uncategorized Published - 6 December, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Increasing body mass index and the incidence of intraoperative hypoxemia

Author: Kendale S, Blitz J Journal of Clinical Anesthesia (JCA) 33 97-104 (Sep 2016) STUDY OBJECTIVE Obese patients regularly present for surgery and have greater hypoxemia risk. This study aimed to identify the risk and incidence of intraoperative hypoxemia with increasing body mass index (BMI). DESIGN This was a retrospective cohort study. SETTING Operating room. […]

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Uncategorized Published - 6 December, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
No Benefit from Open Cardiac Massage Following Traumatic Arrest

Authors: Bradley MJ et al., J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2016 Nov 81:849 In this prospective observational study, survival was similar for patients undergoing open chest cardiac massage and those receiving only closed chest compressions. Open chest cardiac massage (OCCM) is an option following emergency department thoracotomy. Previous research has suggested OCCM may improve survival […]

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