Editor’s Memo from June 2016 By Forest Tennant, MD, DrPH First, it is important for practitioners to know that the American Pain Society (APS) has progressively pursued research as its primary goal and mission in recent years. This point is noted here because of the outstanding research that was presented in this year’s annual meeting, held […]
Read MoreInternational Journal of Stroke 11 (3), 368-79 (Apr 2016) AUTHORS: Schönenberger S et al BACKGROUND Tracheostomy is a common procedure in long-term ventilated critical care patients and frequently necessary in those with severe stroke. The optimal timing for tracheostomy is still unknown, and it is controversial whether early tracheostomy impacts upon functional outcome. METHOD The […]
Read MoreJournal of Critical Care 32 93-100 (Apr 2016) AUTHORS: Zamani M et al PURPOSE The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of dexmedetomidine used for sedation of patients with sepsis. METHODS We searched Medline, Scopus, TRIP and CENTRAL, DART, OpenGrey, and ProQuest without applying any language filter up to […]
Read MoreStrange: The same patient who thanked me with a fist-bump (“BOOM!”) was also complaining he couldn’t move his legs. Eighteen-year-old Ralph, we’ll call him, had just undergone a 45-minute general anesthetic for a dental procedure. His parents stood beside him, the father fidgeting and the mother distracted. His sister was there, too, stroking his hair […]
Read MoreA multi-institutional survey of current practices in critical care airway management has found that, among other revelations, video laryngoscopy is the primary choice as both the initial and backup device for routine and difficult airway management. “Video laryngoscopy devices seem to be the primary modality chosen when it comes to airway management in the intensive […]
Read MoreAmong inpatients aged 45 years or older having noncardiac surgery, 9% will experience myocardial injury within the 30 days after the procedure. About 80% of these injuries are clinically silent, detected only by troponin elevation. Mortality, however, is nearly identical for symptomatic and asymptomatic troponin elevations. Within 30 days of surgery, 10% of patients with […]
Read MorePrescription of long-acting opioids for chronic non-cancer pain was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, including deaths from causes other than overdose, compared with anticonvulsants or cyclic antidepressants, according to a study published in the June 14 issue of JAMA. The increase in prescribing opioid analgesics for chronic non-cancer pain has led to […]
Read MoreBMC Anesthesiol. 2016;16(6) Authors: Bin Han et al Background: Difficult airway may result in significant morbidity and mortality. Proficient airway evaluation, therefore, is one of the key elements in the safe conduct of anesthesia. A three-dimensional (3D) printing model was recently introduced for medical application. 3D printing is a fast, convenient, and relatively affordable technique. We present […]
Read MoreA radiology-based measure of obesity more closely aligns with comorbidity risks than body mass index (BMI), according to a large retrospective study. “BMI is a flawed measurement of obesity” because body shape and fat distribution can modify risk for related adverse health outcomes, said Albert Roh, MD, from the Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix. “We […]
Read MoreAuthors: SM Brown FRCA; JR Sneyd FRCA BJA Education. 2016;16(3):87-91. Introduction Nitrous oxide (N2O) was first isolated by Joseph Priestly in 1772 and subsequently recognized for its analgesic properties by Humphrey Davy in 1799. Davy has actually invented a new pleasure, for which language has no name. Oh Tom! I am going for more this evening; […]
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