Author: Dr Clemens

Uncategorized Published - 12 August, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Propofol vs. Ketofol for Procedural Sedation in the ED

Authors: Ferguson I et al., Ann Emerg Med 2016 Jul 22; A large high-quality randomized trial finds these regimens to be equivalent. Investigators randomized 573 adults from three emergency departments (EDs) in Australia to receive ketofol (a 1:1 mixture of ketamine and propofol) or propofol prior to a painful procedure. The main outcome was occurrence of a […]

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Uncategorized Published - 12 August, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
The Incidence and Risk of Herpes Zoster in Patients With Sleep Disorders: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Authors: Chung, Wei-Sheng MD, PhD et al Abstract: Lack of sleep can compromise the immune system, which may reactivate latent varicella-zoster virus. Studies on sleep disorders and the risk of herpes zoster (HZ) are scant. We conducted a population-based cohort study to evaluate the risk of HZ in patients with sleep disorders and potential risk […]

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Uncategorized Published - 12 August, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Trends in Ambulatory Surgery Centers: A Result of Myriad Forces

Jennifer Rock-Klotz, M.B.A.; Nicholas M. Halzack, M.P.H. ASA Monitor 08 2016, Vol.80, 14-17. Jennifer Rock-Klotz, M.B.A., is ASA Health Policy Analyst. Nicholas M. Halzack, M.P.H., is ASA Senior Health Policy Analyst ASC Locations and Consolidation Three states with the most ASCs per capita (Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries) are Maryland, Wyoming and Georgia (with the least are Vermont, District […]

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Uncategorized Published - 11 August, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Feds: CRNA Group Offered Free Drugs to ASCs for Exclusive Contracts

The group denies any wrongdoing, calling the pay-to-play claims “meritless” and the product of a “disgruntled” ex-employee. Did an anesthesia group give its ASCs free propofol in exchange for lucrative contracts? An anesthesia group that allegedly offered free medications to ambulatory surgery centers in exchange for the facilities granting the group exclusive contracts has agreed […]

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Uncategorized Published - 11 August, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Transforming Anesthesiology: How the Specialty Can Become a Vibrant Contributor to Improve Public Health and Patient Safety

James C. Eisenach, M.D. ASA Monitor 07 2016, Vol.80, 32-33. James C. Eisenach, M.D., is F.M. James III Professor of Anesthesiology and Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In April, Harold Varmus, Nobel Prize laureate for the discovery of oncogenes and former director of the National Institutes of Health, commented […]

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Uncategorized Published - 11 August, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Genetic Marker Helps Explain Opioid Sensitivity

Not every patient responds to opioids the same way, some patients simply do not get the same pain relief from typical doses. Chances are, these patients may possess a specific genetic variation, which could also increase their chances of becoming addicted to opioids. By Thomas G. Ciccone and Priyank Kumar, PhD As useful as opioids can be for […]

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Uncategorized Published - 11 August, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Closing Out PQRS, Moving Onto MACRA

Matthew T. Popovich, Ph.D. ASA Monitor 07 2016, Vol.80, 56-57. Matthew T. Popovich, Ph.D., is ASA Director of Quality and Regulatory Affairs. According to the 2014 PQRS Experience Report, the average incentive for anesthesiologists who qualified for the incentive was $208, and the most CMS paid to an anesthesiologist was $6,734. Related to payment adjustments, anesthesiologists […]

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Uncategorized Published - 11 August, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Better Not to Publish at All Than to Publish Bad Science

Kenneth R. Abbey, M.D., J.D. et al ASA Monitor 07 2016, Vol.80, 48-49. Want to take the easy path to professorship? In 2013, an email offered to sell co-authorship on a paper that it said had already been accepted by the International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology for the low, low price of $14,800. On its way to […]

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Uncategorized Published - 10 August, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Epidurals and Chronic Postsurgical Pain: Is It Lack of Evidence or Poor Design?

Authors: Eric S. Schwenk, M.D. et al Anesthesiology 8 2016, Vol.125, 439-440. To the Editor: We read with great interest the large, retrospective database review of perioperative epidural use for abdominal surgery by Ladha et al.1 We agree that studying anesthetic techniques that might have an impact on the incidence of persistent postsurgical pain is an important area, […]

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Uncategorized Published - 10 August, 2016    By - Dr Clemens
Platelet Counts, Acute Kidney Injury, and Mortality after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery

Authors: Shangyi Hui, M.D. et al Anesthesiology 8 2016, Vol.125, 437-438 To the Editor: We read with great interest the article by Dr. Kertai et al.,1  in which the authors identified a novel association between postoperative nadir platelet counts and acute kidney injury (AKI) and short-term mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Despite the elaborate statistical analysis […]

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