Author: Dr Clemens

Uncategorized Published - 2 February, 2018    By - Dr Clemens
Heart Group Warns of Cardiovascular Risks with Breast Cancer Treatments

Women with breast cancer face increased risk for cardiovascular disease due, in part, to cardiotoxic effects of some breast cancer treatments, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Also at play are overlapping risk factors for both breast cancer and CVD, including smoking, obesity, and a Western diet. The statement, published […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 2 February, 2018    By - Dr Clemens
18F-florbetapir Positron Emission Tomography–determined Cerebral β-Amyloid Deposition and Neurocognitive Performance after Cardiac Surgery

Authors: Rebecca Y. Klinger, M.D., M.S. et al Anesthesiology published on January 31, 2018. Background: Amyloid deposition is a potential contributor to postoperative cognitive dysfunction. The authors hypothesized that 6-week global cortical amyloid burden, determined by 18F-florbetapir positron emission tomography, would be greater in those patients manifesting cognitive dysfunction at 6 weeks postoperatively. Methods: Amyloid deposition was evaluated in […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 2 February, 2018    By - Dr Clemens
CMS Releases 2018 Value-Based Payment Modifier Data; Less than 2 Percent of Clinicians See Positive Adjustment

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released final data on practices and individual clinicians impacted by the 2018 Value-Based Payment Modifier (VM). Such eligible professionals will see a positive, negative or neutral adjustment to their 2018 Medicare Part B Fee-For-Service payments. The payments are based upon whether a practice successfully participated in the Physician […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 2 February, 2018    By - Dr Clemens
Unnecessary Medical Care Is More Common Than You Think

A study in Washington state found that in a single year more than 600,000 patients underwent treatment they didn’t need, at an estimated cost of $282 million. “Do no harm” should include the cost of care, too, the report author says. By Marshall Allen WASTED MEDICINE Squandered Health Care Dollars This story was co-published with NPR’s […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 2 February, 2018    By - Dr Clemens
Migraine Tied to Increased Risks for Myocardial Infarction, Stroke

Migraine is associated with increased risks for numerous cardiovascular outcomes, a study in The BMJ finds. Using Danish health and population registries, researchers matched 51,000 patients with migraine diagnoses to 510,000 migraine-free individuals (median age, 35). During 19 years’ follow-up, cardiovascular events were significantly more common in the migraine cohort. Here are the incidences per 1000 population […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 1 February, 2018    By - Dr Clemens
Alex Azar Confirmed by Senate as Next HHS Secretary

UPDATE: On January 29, Mr. Azar was officially sworn in as the as the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Original Alert: On Wednesday, January 24, the United States Senate voted 55 – 43 to confirm Mr. Alex Azar as the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 1 February, 2018    By - Dr Clemens
Mitochondrial Diseases, Sjögren’s Syndrome And von Hippel-Lindau Disease: Rarities With Anesthetic Implications

Authors:Elizabeth A.M. Frost, MD Professor of Anesthesiology Mount Sinai Medical Center New York, New York von Hippel-Lindau Disease What Is It? von Hippel-Lindau (vHL) disease, named after Eugene von Hippel (1904) and Arvid Lindau (1927), is an autosomal dominant inherited systemic cancer syndrome that results in cysts and hemangiomas in many organs, especially involving the […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 1 February, 2018    By - Dr Clemens
Transfusion Requirements Significantly Increased in Revision Cardiac Surgery

Blood conservation strategies need to be more aggressive in revision cardiac surgery. When compared with first-time cardiac surgery, blood product utilization for revision cases was two to four times greater—a difference that is much greater than the 75% increase previously reported (Transfusion 1995;35:850-854). According to the researchers, understanding transfusion requirements should lead to better preparation […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 1 February, 2018    By - Dr Clemens
Changing Anesthesia Could Help Hospitals Drastically Reduce Emissions

United Press International · December 9, 2017 Hospital operating rooms produce thousands of tons of greenhouse gases each year, but changing the type of anesthesia used in surgery can help lower those emissions, researchers report. For the study, investigators assessed the carbon footprint of operating rooms at three hospitals: Vancouver General Hospital in Canada; University […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 1 February, 2018    By - Dr Clemens
FDA Publishes Letter Supporting Forced Air Warmers

The FDA published an open letter to health care providers highlighting the benefits of thermoregulation devices, such as forced-air warming systems, during surgery. The letter states that the FDA is aware of hesitation by many providers to use the technology due to a possible increased risk for infection. The FDA wrote the letter, after a “thorough review […]

Read More