Author: Dr Clemens

Uncategorized Published - 8 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Doctors, Pharmacists Diverting Opioids Among Those Netted in DEA Sting

In what it described as an “unprecedented enforcement action,” the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and federal prosecutors arrested 22 doctors and pharmacists in a 15-month prescription drug trafficking operation. Dubbed Operation Pilluted, the sting involved nearly 1,000 law enforcement officers across Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. The doctors and pharmacists were among 280 individuals arrested […]

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Uncategorized Published - 8 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Pediatric emergence agitation

Published in Anaesthesist. 2015 May;64(5):373-80 Authors: Lehmann V et al BACKGROUND: The origin of emergence agitation in children remains unclear; however, an association between surgical procedure, patient age and anesthetic regimen and the incidence of postoperative agitation has been described in the literature. AIM: The aim of this survey performed between February and April 2014 was to […]

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Uncategorized Published - 8 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
The effect of remifentanil on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in children

Published in J Clin Anesth. 2015 May Authors: Chez BZ et al STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of remifentanil on the isoflurane end-tidal concentration required to eliminate movement reaction upon surgical incision in children. DESIGN: Prospective, double blinded, serial study. SETTING: Operating room of a university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Patients of ASA status 1 or 2, aged […]

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Uncategorized Published - 7 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
See 2013 outpatient payment levels for top 30 ambulatory services

Top services include upper airway endoscopy and nerve injections. The table below shows the top 30 ambulatory payment classifications in the United States in 2013 based on total outpatient services. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services released the data Monday as part of a push to make the costs for these treatments more transparent. […]

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Uncategorized Published - 7 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Remifentanil versus fentanyl in total intravenous anesthesia for lumbar spine surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

Published in J Clin Anesth. 2015 Aug;27(5):391-5 Authors: Thomas B et al STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the speed of anesthetic recovery and the perioperative analgesic requirements in patients who received total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with either remifentanil-propofol or fentanyl-propofol for lumbar spine surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Operating room, postanesthesia […]

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Uncategorized Published - 7 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
The effects of bispectral index monitoring on hemodynamics and recovery profile in developmentally delayed pediatric patients undergoing dental surgery.

Published in Paediatr Anaesth. 2015 May Authors: Sargin et al BACKGROUND: General anesthesia is often preferred for dental surgery or rehabilitation in developmentally delayed pediatric patients. Bispectral index monitoring is used to monitor the depth of anesthesia and to ensure early recovery. However, studies on the topic in developmentally delayed pediatric patients are limited. AIM: To evaluate […]

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Uncategorized Published - 7 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling and dosing simulation of propofol maintenance anesthesia in severely obese adolescents

Published in Paediatr Anaesth, 2015 May Authors: Chidambaran V et al BACKGROUND: Optimal dosing of propofol to maintain appropriate anesthetic depth is challenging in severely obese (SO) adolescents. We previously reported that total body weight (TBW) is predictive of propofol clearance. This study was aimed at characterizing pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of propofol in SO […]

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Uncategorized Published - 7 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Oral Steroids for Acute Sciatica: Improvement in Function Is Modest at Best

Authors: Goldberg H et al. JAMA 2015 May 19. And treatment offered no relief from pain. Oral steroids are used commonly in patients with acute lumbar radiculopathy or sciatica, but strong evidence of benefit is lacking. In this study, researchers at a large California health system randomized 269 patients (mean age, 46) with acute sciatica, magnetic resonance […]

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Uncategorized Published - 6 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
See 2013 inpatient payment levels for top 100 diagnosis-related groups

The table below shows the top 100 diagnosis-related groups in the United States in 2013 based on total inpatient discharges. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services released the data Monday as part of a push to make the costs for these treatments more transparent. The data only includes treatments billed in a fee-for-service model […]

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Uncategorized Published - 6 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Beta-Blockade Risky for Noncardiac Surgery in Low-Risk Patients

Perioperative β-blockade was associated with lower 30-day mortality in patients with three to four cardiac risk factors undergoing noncardiac surgery (NCS), but with increased mortality in patients with no cardiac risk factors, according to a retrospective cohort study published in May JAMA Surgery. “Perioperative β-blockade is widely accepted in patients who undergo cardiac surgery,” write Mark […]

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