Author: Dr Clemens

Uncategorized Published - 3 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Physician Burnout Program Targets Effects of Sentinel Events

I thought this was an article our followers would want to read. Administrative burdens and long hours contribute to rising levels of physician burnout, so too do the emotional repercussions of being involved in an adverse event. Nearly half (46%) of doctors report they felt burnout, up from 40% in 2013, Medscape’s Physician Lifestyle Report, shows. […]

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Uncategorized Published - 3 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
President’s Budget Would Pay for SGR Repeal

In the budget submitted to Congress on February 2, President Barack Obama is seeking almost $84 billion for the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in fiscal 2016, about a $5 billion increase from the previous year. The funding would cover everything from a replacement of Medicare’s sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, to […]

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Uncategorized Published - 3 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Intense Exercise Doesn’t Eliminate the Hazard of Intense Sitting

I included this since anesthesia providers are sitting most of their day. A large analysis in the Annals of Internal Medicine supports earlier observations that the health hazards of sedentary behavior aren’t completely neutralized by exercise. Researchers examined data from 47 studies that assessed the health effects of sedentary behavior adjusted for physical activity. Sedentary behavior was […]

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Uncategorized Published - 2 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Transient Receptor Potential A1 Activation Prolongs Isoflurane Induction Latency and Impairs Respiratory Function in Mice

Authors: Fengxian Li, M.D.; Changxiong J. Guo, B.A.; Cheng-Chiu Huang, Ph.D.; Guang Yu, Ph.D.; Sarah M. Brown, Ph.D.; Shiyuan Xu, M.D.; Qin Liu, Ph.D. Published in The Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists on 1 2015. Background: Isoflurane is a potent volatile anesthetic; however, it evokes airway irritation and neurogenic constriction through transient receptor potential (TRP) A1 channels and sensitizes TRPV1 channels, […]

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Uncategorized Published - 2 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Are we Ready for the Age of Non-invasive Haemodynamic Monitoring?

Published in Br J Anaesth. 2014;113(3):340-343. It is fascinating and alluring—the evidence is converging that with goal-directed haemodynamic therapy we can actively contribute to better postoperative outcomes of our patients, particularly in our high-risk patients. And this is potentially possible, as suggested by an overwhelming number of publications from recent years, with completely non-invasive advanced […]

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Uncategorized Published - 2 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Long-Acting Anesthetic Effect Achieved With Neosaxitoxins

Neosaxitoxin, a novel site 1 sodium channel blocker, significantly prolonged sensory blockade when combined with bupivacaine, with or without epinephrine, in the first-in-human trial of this compound. The study, presented here at Anesthesiology 2014, was distinguished as the Best Clinical Abstract. “Neosaxitoxin prolonged local anesthesia, when given either alone or with bupivacaine or epinephrine, while […]

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Uncategorized Published - 2 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Anaesthesia for Major Spinal Surgery

Published in Anaesth Crit Care and Pain. 2014;14(4):147-152. Introduction The type of surgery performed on the spine encompasses operations for trauma, deformity, and myelopathy. The complexity of procedures is continuing to increase and older patients with significant co-morbidities are being offered ever more major procedures for which they would have previously not been considered. Increasing […]

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Uncategorized Published - 2 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
General vs. Regional Anesthesia for Total Hip Arthroplasty

Published in J Bone Joint Surg Am 2015 Feb 4; 97:e18 Authors: Sharrock NE. In an observational study, most outcomes favored regional anesthesia. For patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, some evidence suggests that perioperative outcomes are more favorable with regional anesthesia than with general anesthesia. To shed additional light on this issue, U.S. researchers accessed […]

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Uncategorized Published - 2 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Number of Patients Experiencing Postsurgical Pain Reduced by 24% in Last Decade

The number of patients reporting moderate to severe pain two weeks after surgery has decreased by 24% in the last decade, a new study found. Researchers surveyed 441 patients before they were discharged from the hospital, and then at one, two and three weeks after surgery. Patients were asked to rate their pain intensity and […]

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Uncategorized Published - 30 January, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Effect of intravenous lidocaine on postoperative recovery of patients undergoing mastectomy: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial

Published in Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2014 Nov-Dec;39(6):472-7. Authors: Terkawi AS et al BACKGROUND: One of the modalities of treatment for breast cancer surgery pain is opioids, and opioids are associated with adverse effects such as itching and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Intravenous (IV) lidocaine has been shown to reduce opioid consumption and to […]

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