Month: March 2019

Uncategorized Published - 12 March, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
Applying Existing Guidelines for Pre-op Testing Leads to Significant Savings

Author: Ajai Raj Anesthesiology News Analyzing the impact of implementing patient-centered protocols for preoperative anesthesia testing at their institution, a team at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School discovered an unexpected dividend: an annual cost reduction of more than 50%, which was nearly $200,000. Presenting the study at the 2018 annual meeting of the Society for […]

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Uncategorized Published - 12 March, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
Reporting Medication Errors Increased Over Last 20 Years

Author: Michael Vlessides Anesthesiology News When it comes to medication errors in general anesthesia, more clinicians than ever are reporting their experiences in studies and case reports, according to a systematic review by a Canadian research team. Yet these errors continue, and sometimes with fatal effects. “We all know that medication errors occur everywhere in […]

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Uncategorized Published - 11 March, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
Effect of Use of a Bougie vs Endotracheal Tube and Stylet on First-Attempt Intubation Success Among Patients With Difficult Airways Undergoing Emergency Intubation

Jama June 2018 Abstract Importance  The tracheal tube introducer, known as the bougie, is typically used to aid tracheal intubation in poor laryngoscopic views or after intubation attempts fail. The effect of routine bougie use on first-attempt intubation success is unclear. Objective  To compare first attempt intubation success facilitated by the bougie vs the endotracheal tube + stylet. Design, […]

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Uncategorized Published - 11 March, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
Continuous Peripheral Nerve Blocks an Effective Alternative Analgesic Modality in Certain Cancer Patients

Author: Michael Vlessides Anesthesiology News Opioids may be the preferred therapy for treating cancer-related pain, but as a French study has demonstrated, continuous peripheral nerve blocks also may have a place. The study found that in carefully selected cancer patients, continuous peripheral nerve blocks represent a safe and surprisingly effective alternative analgesic modality, sometimes lasting […]

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Uncategorized Published - 11 March, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
U.K. Study Finds Remifentanil Leads to Fewer Epidurals Than Meperidine

Author: Andrew Goldstein Anesthesiology News Women given remifentanil for labor pain were less likely to need a subsequent epidural compared with women given meperidine, the current standard for labor pain relief in the United Kingdom, according to a study published in the Lancet (2018;392(10148):662-672.). “What I think the study has shown rigorously for the first time, in […]

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Uncategorized Published - 11 March, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
Keeping Patients Safe From Residual Neuromuscular Blockade: The Case for Lower-Dose Sugammadex

Author: Joseph F. Answine, MD, FASA Anesthesiology News Sugammadex (Bridion, Merck) has proven to be superior to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for the reversal of neuromuscular blockade with a steroidal nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent (NMBA); and, after high-dose rocuronium (1.2 mg/kg), it has been found superior to succinylcholine for return of neuromuscular function after rapid sequence induction. […]

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Uncategorized Published - 11 March, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
Postpartum Pain Control May Decrease Risk of Postpartum Depression

A large retrospective study presented here at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has found that adequate postpartum pain control is associated with a decreased risk of postpartum depression. Recent studies have suggested that epidural analgesia is linked to a reduced risk of postpartum depression. One study of 214 women […]

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Uncategorized Published - 8 March, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Improves Pain, Fatigue in Women With Fibromyalgia

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) improves pain and fatigue, compared with no treatment, in women with fibromyalgia, according to a study presented here at the 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ACR/ARHP). “Most women who received active TENS reported global improvement in their condition,” reported Leslie Crofford, […]

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Uncategorized Published - 8 March, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
Novel Sedation Therapy Decreases Anxiety, Need for IV Medication During Cataract Surgery

A therapy that combines midazolam, ketamine, and ondansetron is more effective for sedation in cataract surgery than standard therapy, according to a study presented here at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). In addition, the combination therapy decreased patient anxiety and reduced the need intravenous medications, reported Maggie Jeffries, MD, […]

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Uncategorized Published - 8 March, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
Prolonged perioperative thoracic epidural analgesia may improve survival after cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for colorectal peritoneal metastases: A comparative study

Authors: Lorimier G et al European Journal of Surgical Oncology (EJSO) 44 (11), 1824-1831 (2018) OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of prolonged perioperative thoracic epidural analgesia (PEA) on long term survival of patients who underwent a complete cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for colorectal peritoneal metastases (CPM). BACKGROUND Grade III-IV morbidity affects […]

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