Author: Dr Clemens

Uncategorized Published - 9 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
U.S. insurance study charts huge price gaps for hip, knee surgery

I thought this was interesting so I wanted to share with our readers. Hip and knee replacements, two of the fastest-growing U.S. medical procedures, are subject to huge – and apparently random – price variations within the same geographical areas, a new insurance industry study showed. The study by Blue Cross Blue Shield [BCBSFL.UL] health […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 9 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
10 Things ICUs Must Do Better

Compassion tops the list by former Society of Critical Care Medicine president. When R. Phillip Dellinger, MD, looked back over the distinguished career that earned him a lifetime achievement award in critical care, he urged the field forward in 10 directions. Despite the drop in severe sepsis mortality he helped drive, the biggest advance needed […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 9 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
5 tips for future physician leaders

WRITTEN BY EDWARD R. MARIANO, MD Our health care system needs more physician leaders. Physician-led accountable care organizations have been shown to improve the quality of patient care while reducing overall costs. Physicians, by their nature, tend to be goal-oriented, have the ability to gather and assimilate evidence, and make difficult decisions, but these traits […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 6 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Elevated Risk for Thrombotic Events After Superficial Venous Thrombosis

Published in  Blood 2015 Jan 8; 125:229 Authors: Cannegieter SC et al. Risks were higher for subsequent deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, acute myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and death. A recent study showed that 9.4% of patients with superficial venous thrombosis (SVT) had extension of the thrombus to the deep veins (NEJM JW Oncol Hematol Sep […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 6 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Phase 1 Safety Assessment of Intrathecal Oxytocin

Published in The Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists 2 2015, Vol.122, 407-413. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000000539 Authors: James C. Eisenach, M.D et al Background: Preclinical data suggest that oxytocin reduces hypersensitivity by actions in the spinal cord, but whether it produces antinociception to acute stimuli is unclear. In this article, the authors examined the safety of intrathecal oxytocin […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 6 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Effect of Minocycline on Lumbar Radicular Neuropathic Pain: A Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Clinical Trial with Amitriptyline as a Comparator

Published in The Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists 2 2015, Vol.122, 399-406. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000000508 Authors: Pascal Vanelderen, M.D. et al Background: Less than 50% of patients experience sufficient pain relief with current drug therapy for neuropathic pain. Minocycline shows promising results in rodent models of neuropathic pain but was not studied in humans with regard to […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 6 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Reversal of Dabigatran Effects in Models of Thrombin Generation and Hemostasis by Factor VIIa and Prothrombin Complex Concentrate

Published in The Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists 2 2015, Vol.122, 353-362. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000000540 Authors: Maureane Hoffman, M.D. et al Background: The oral thrombin inhibitor dabigatran has the drawbacks that it does not have a validated antidote. Data from animal studies and plasma coagulation assays suggest that prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) or recombinant factor VIIa (FVIIa) […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 6 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Effect of Lateral Tilt Angle on the Volume of the Abdominal Aorta and Inferior Vena Cava in Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women Determined by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published in The Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists 2 2015, Vol.122, 286-293. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000000553 Authors: Hideyuki Higuchi, M.D. Background: Left-lateral tilt position is used to reduce assumed aortocaval compression by the pregnant uterus. Methods: Magnetic resonance images of 10 singleton parturients at full term and 10 healthy nonpregnant women were obtained for measurement of the abdominal aorta […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 5 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Goals Set for Medicare to Pay Providers Based on Quality Rather Than Volume

By the end of 2016, 30% of the payments that Medicare makes to physicians and hospitals should be based on the value, rather than the quantity, of the services provided, and by the end of 2018, the proportion should increase to 50%, the Department of Health and Human Services announced. Currently, value-based payments — made […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 5 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Possible Pathogenic Mechanism of Propofol Infusion Syndrome Involves Coenzyme Q

Authors: Arnaud Vincent Vanlander, M.D. et al Published in The Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists 2 2015, Vol.122, 343-352. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000000484 Background: Propofol is a short-acting intravenous anesthetic agent. In rare conditions, a life-threatening complication known as propofol infusion syndrome can occur. The pathophysiologic mechanism is still unknown. Some studies suggested that propofol acts as uncoupling […]

Read More