Author: Dr Clemens

Uncategorized Published - 17 April, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Standardized Safe Surgery Program Reduces Serious Events

Published in J Am Coll Surg. 2015;220:12-17 Authors: Laurie Barclay, MD An effectively implemented standardized safe surgery program significantly reduced rates of serious reportable events (SREs), according to findings of a retrospective cohort study published online October 4, 2014, and in the January 2015 issue of theJournal of the American College of Surgeons. Risk for SREs is […]

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Uncategorized Published - 17 April, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Study Suggests Potential Parent–Child Link in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

This is for our pain providers. Published in BMC Public Health (2014;14:797). Children with parents who have chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) are at a higher risk for developing CMP, a new family-linkage study finds. According to researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, CMP is “among the leading causes of reduced quality […]

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Uncategorized Published - 17 April, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Acetaminophen Not Effective for Low Back Pain

Few pain specialists advise patients with low back pain to simply “take two aspirin and call me in the morning,” to borrow from a now-ancient phrase. Now research suggests that acetaminophen, a commonly used aspirin alternative for low back pain, may not be effective as well. A study published online in The Lancet (2014 Jul 23) found […]

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Uncategorized Published - 17 April, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Injecting Knee with Liposomal Bupivacaine During Replacement Surgery Improves Recovery

Injecting a newer long-acting numbing medicine called liposomal bupivacaine into the tissue surrounding the knee during knee replacement surgery may provide a faster recovery and higher patient satisfaction. While improvements in implantable devices and surgical technique has made knee replacement surgery highly effective, pain control after surgery remains a common but persistent side effect for […]

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Uncategorized Published - 17 April, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Vial Size of Injectable Drugs Affecting Patient Safety and Medication Shortages

The FDA drafted new recommendations regarding the fill size for vials of injectable drugs and biologic products this summer, which prompted a response from the American Society of Anesthesiologists. In a letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, ASA President Jane Fitch, MD, said the anesthesiology group “strongly supports the FDA’s recommendation that a drug product’s […]

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Uncategorized Published - 16 April, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Pilot Study Finds Preprinted Labeling Saves Time, Ups Safety

If the experience of residents holds true for their more senior colleagues, then a pilot project at the State University of New York at Stony Brook has the potential to improve syringe labeling in more than one institution. A preprinted label system developed by residents Brian Cho, MD, and Kevin Lee, MD, received an overwhelmingly […]

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Uncategorized Published - 16 April, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Palonosetron and Aprepitant for the Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Indicated for Laparoscopic Gynaecologic Surgery

Published in BMC Anesthesiol. 2014;14(68) Authors: Hyoung Yong Moon et al A Double-Blind Randomised Trial Abstract Background Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most common postsurgical complications. Palonosetron, a 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor antagonist, is effective for PONV prevention. Herein, we compared palonosetron and aprepitant (a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist) for PONV prevention in patients […]

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Uncategorized Published - 16 April, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Not Fit for a Haircut … How Should We Assess Fitness and Stratify Risk for Surgery?

Published in Br J Anaesth. 2014;112(6):955-957. Authors: M. A. Shulman, et al Owing to increases in life expectancy, the patients presenting for surgery are older, and have more co-morbidities. Worldwide, 3–4% of patients die within 2 months of major surgery, with increased mortality and morbidity in high-risk surgical candidates, including the elderly and medically unwell. In Australia […]

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Uncategorized Published - 16 April, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Anaesthetic Drugs and Survival: A Bayesian Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials in Cardiac Surgery

Authors: G. Landoni, et al Published in Br J Anaesth. 2013;111(6):886-896. Background. Many studies have compared desflurane, isoflurane, sevoflurane, total i.v. anaesthesia (TIVA), or all in cardiac surgery to assess their effects on patient survival. Methods. We performed standard pairwise and Bayesian network meta-analyses; the latter allows indirect assessments if any of the anaesthetic agents were not compared […]

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Uncategorized Published - 16 April, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Effects of Dexamethasone as a Local Anaesthetic Adjuvant for Brachial Plexus Block A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials

Published in Br J Anaesth. 2014;112(3):427-439. Authors: S. Choi, et al Background. Brachial plexus nerve blocks (BPBs) have analgesic and opioid sparing benefits for upper extremity surgery. Single-injection techniques are limited by the pharmacological duration and therapeutic index of local anaesthetics (LAs). Continuous catheter techniques, while effective can present management challenges. Off-label use of perineural dexamethasone as […]

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