Opioids are frequently prescribed to reproductive-aged women in the U.S., raising concerns about fetal exposure in unrecognized or unintended pregnancies, an MMWR article finds. Opioid exposure during pregnancy is potentially associated with increased risks for neonatal abstinence syndrome and birth defects. CDC researchers examined two databases — one of Medicaid recipients and the other of […]
Read MorePublished in Anesthesiology 2015 Jan 122:29 Authors: Pinheiro de Almeida J et al. A hemoglobin level of 9 g/dL was superior to 7 g/dL as a trigger for transfusion. Randomized trials have shown favorable outcomes with a restrictive red-cell transfusion strategy — that is, not transfusing until hemoglobin levels are <7 g/dL in general critical-care […]
Read MoreFood and Drug Administration (US) AUDIENCE: Pharmacy, Case Manager ISSUE: Hospira announced a voluntary recall of ketorolac tromethamine injection, USP in the United States and Singapore due to potential particulate. The presence of particulate has been confirmed through a customer report of visible, floating particulate identified in glass fliptop vials. The particulate was identified as […]
Read MorePublished in The Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists on 1 2015. Authors: Nicholas P. Franks, F.R.C.A., F.Med.Sci., F.R.S. Background: Most anesthetics, particularly intravenous agents such as propofol and etomidate, enhance the actions of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at the GABA type A receptor. However, there is no agreement as where anesthetics bind […]
Read MorePublished in The Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists on 1 2015. Authors: Lianyan Huang, Ph.D.; Guang Yang, Ph.D. Background: Recent studies in rodents suggest that repeated and prolonged anesthetic exposure at early stages of development leads to cognitive and behavioral impairments later in life. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, […]
Read More