Authors: Susie Yoon, M.D., Ph.D et al Anesthesiology May 2024, Vol. 140, 920–934. Background Mechanical power (MP), the rate of mechanical energy (ME) delivery, is a recently introduced unifying ventilator parameter consisting of tidal volume, airway pressures, and respiratory rates, which predicts pulmonary complications in several clinical contexts. However, ME has not been previously studied in […]
Topographical Features of Pediatric Electroencephalography during High Initial Concentration Sevoflurane for Inhalational Induction of Anesthesia
Authors: Jessica C. Martin, Ph.D., B.Sc. (Hons.) et al Anesthesiology May 2024, Vol. 140, 890–905. Background High-density electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring remains underutilized in clinical anesthesia, despite its obvious utility in unraveling the profound physiologic impact of these agents on central nervous system functioning. In school-aged children, the routine practice of rapid induction with high concentrations of […]
Novel Resuscitation Strategies in Severe Trauma: Comment
Authors: John J. Kowalczyk, M.D.; Michaela K. Farber, M.D., M.S. Anesthesiology April 2024. To the Editor We read with great interest the review of “Early Fibrinogen Replacement to Treat the Endotheliopathy of Trauma: Novel Resuscitation Strategies in Severe Trauma” by Douin et al. This article explores endothelial dysfunction that can occur with the coagulopathy of trauma, its […]
It’s Time for Hospital Workers to Identify and Eliminate Roadblocks to Reprocessing!
Author: Daniel Vukelich, JD ASA Monitor June 2023, Vol. 87, 20. The February 2023 report issued by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated that if human-caused global warming isn’t slowed to a couple tenths of a degree, deadly heat, drought, fires, and floods could impact the planet in “potentially irreversible” ways. Putting off cuts […]
Novel Resuscitation Strategies in Severe Trauma: Reply
Authors: David J. Douin, M.D. et al Anesthesiology April 2024. In Reply We are grateful to Drs. Kowalczyk and Farber for their thorough review and insightful response to our recent clinical focused review of the administration of fibrinogen to mitigate endothelial dysfunction after acute traumatic injury. We appreciate their constructive critique regarding the fibrinogen concentration in […]
Health Care Wastage: An Affliction On Our Nation’s Health and Our Planet!
Author: Lalitha Sundararaman, MBBS, MD ASA Monitor June 2023, Vol. 87, 18–19. Health care expenditure (HCE) in the United States stands at around $4.3 trillion annually – about 18% of its gross domestic product (GDP) (JAMA 2019;322:1501-9). A study in JAMA revealed a startling fact about this remarkable number – that nearly 20%-30% of it is wasteful (JAMA 2019;322:1501-9). This […]
Anesthesiologist sues Optum-affiliated Oregon ASC for alleged retaliation firing
Author: Claire Wallace Becker’s ASC Review Anesthesiologist Ellis Richard Clark, MD, has filed a lawsuit against Optum-affiliated Salem (Ore.) Surgery Center, which operates under the name Northbank Surgical Center, for allegedly firing him in retaliation for complaining about unsafe anesthesia practices, according to an April 23 report from the Lund Report. Dr. Clark claims that he […]
Anesthesia device might suddenly fail, Draeger says
Author: Paige Twenter Becker’s Hospital Review The internal backup battery in Draeger’s Perseus A500 anesthesia machines might unexpectedly fail, the FDA said April 25. In March, Draeger told customers of the 3,713 machines to test the device’s batteries and return any products with malfunctioning batteries. Four incidents, zero injuries and zero deaths have been reported, according to […]
Pain during Cesarean Delivery: We Can and Must Do Better
Authors: Mark I. Zakowski, M.D. et al Anesthesiology April 2024. To the Editor: The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA; Schaumburg, Illinois) House of Delegates recently approved the “Statement on Pain during Cesarean Delivery” from the Committee on Obstetric Anesthesia advising all practitioners on the pervasive problem of failure to achieve pain-free cesarean delivery. Parturients experience […]
Individual PEEP in Obesity: Reply
Authors: Xiang Li, M.D. et al Anesthesiology May 2024, Vol. 140, 1052–1053. In Reply: We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. González, Dr. Maldonado, and Dr. Cornejo for their invaluable feedback, and to Dr. Edmark and Dr. Östberg for their perceptive remarks on our study about individualized positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in managing postoperative atelectasis in obese […]