Month: March 2024

Uncategorized Published - 14 March, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
Chest Wall Hematoma after Continuous Serratus Anterior Plane Block

Authors: Anthony Tucker-Bartley, M.D. et al  Anesthesiology February 2024. We demonstrate a large chest wall hematoma involving the serratus anterior muscle with an extension between the pectoralis major and minor muscles. The images (fig. 1, A–D) are noncontrast chest computed tomography scans in the axial and coronal planes, showing the hematoma, noted 1 day after […]

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Uncategorized Published - 14 March, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
A Quality Improvement Initiative to Reduce Adverse Effects of Transitions of Anesthesia Care on Postoperative Outcomes

Authors: Amit K. Saha, Ph.D.; Scott Segal, M.D., M.H.C.M. Anesthesiology March 2024, Vol. 140, 387–398. Background An intraoperative transfer of care from one anesthesia provider to another, or handover, may result in information loss and contribute to adverse patient outcomes. In 2019 the authors undertook a quality improvement effort to increase the use of a structured […]

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Uncategorized Published - 14 March, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
Critical Foundations of Care – Global Assumptions Harm Critically Ill Patients

Authors: Ana Maria Crawford, MD, MSc, FASA; Ninza Sheyo, MBCHB, MPH, FCA (ECSA) ASA Monitor March 2024, Vol. 88, 15–16. Clinical vignette: A 32-year-old female presents to a secondary level hospital with difficult breathing. A nurse assesses vital signs, finding a heart rate of 139 bpm, SpO2 = 71%, respiratory rate at 56 bpm, and temperature of 38.1°C. […]

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Uncategorized Published - 14 March, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
Astrocyte PERK and IRE1 Signaling Contributes to Morphine Tolerance and Hyperalgesia through Upregulation of Lipocalin-2 and NLRP3 Inflammasome in the Rodent Spinal Cord

Authors: Bing Wang, Ph.D. et al  Anesthesiology March 2024, Vol. 140, 558–577. Background Endoplasmic reticulum stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neuroinflammation and chronic pain. This study hypothesized that PRKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) and inositol-requiring enzyme type 1 (IRE1) regulate lipocalin-2 (LCN2) and Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) expression […]

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Uncategorized Published - 13 March, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
Biden’s $7.3 trillion budget: 16 healthcare takeaways

Authors: Madeline Ashley, Kelly Gooch and Alexis Kayser Becker’s Hosptial CFO Report President Joe Biden proposed a $7.3 trillion budget March 11, including various initiatives to lower healthcare costs and an $800 million investment in hospital cybersecurity protection. 16 healthcare takeaways: 1. Medicare. The proposed budget would extend the solvency of the Medicare hospital insurance trust fund indefinitely. […]

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Uncategorized Published - 13 March, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
Too Good to Be True?

Author: Keith H. Baker, M.D., Ph.D. Anesthesiology March 2024, Vol. 140, 634. To the Editor: It was a pleasure to see a letter to the editor in Anesthesiology that mentioned the learning advantage of pictures compared to words.  This advantage is known as the picture superiority effect. I was skeptical of the stated learning advantage of the […]

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Uncategorized Published - 13 March, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
Impaired Lactate Release in Dorsal CA1 Astrocytes Contributed to Nociceptive Sensitization and Comorbid Memory Deficits in Rodents

Authors: Shuang Han, B.S. et al  Anesthesiology March 2024, Vol. 140, 538–557. Background Memory deficits are a common comorbid disorder in patients suffering from neuropathic pain. The mechanisms underlying the comorbidities remain elusive. The hypothesis of this study was that impaired lactate release from dysfunctional astrocytes in dorsal hippocampal CA1 contributed to memory deficits. Methods A […]

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Uncategorized Published - 13 March, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
Isoflurane Inhibits the Na+/K+-ATPase: Comment

Author: Mats Enlund, M.D., Ph.D. Anesthesiology March 2024, Vol. 140, 634–635. To the Editor: I was deeply impressed by the recently published work “Deep Isoflurane Anesthesia Is Associated with Alterations in Ion Homeostasis and Specific Na+/K+-ATPase Impairment in the Rat Brain” by Reiffurth et al.  A long time ago, I was introduced by chance to Professor Gunnar […]

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Uncategorized Published - 13 March, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
False Claims Act settlements, judgements surpass $2.68B in 2023

Author: Riz Hatton Becker’s ASC Review False Claims Act settlements and judgments surpassed $2.68 billion during the 2023 fiscal year, according to a Feb. 22 news release from the Justice Department. Last year the government and whistleblowers saw 543 settlements and judgments, the highest in a single year. Of the settlements and judgments reported by the Justice […]

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Uncategorized Published - 12 March, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
The danger of anesthesiologist shortages

Author: Patsy Newitt  Becker’s ASC Review Anesthesia is plagued by a growing provider shortage — nearly 30% of anesthesiologists are predicted to leave the practice by 2033, according to a whitepaper from Medicus Healthcare Solutions. Two anesthesiology leaders joined Becker’s to discuss their biggest concerns regarding these shortages. Editor’s note: These responses were edited lightly for clarity and length. […]

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