Author: Dr Clemens

Uncategorized Published - 19 March, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Practice Improvements Based on Participation in Simulation for the Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program

Published in Anesthesiology 3 2015. Authors: Randolph H. Steadman, M.D., M.S et al Background: This study describes anesthesiologists’ practice improvements undertaken during the first 3 yr of simulation activities for the Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program. Methods: A stratified sampling of 3 yr (2010–2012) of participants’ practice improvement plans was coded, categorized, and analyzed. Results: Using the sampling […]

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Uncategorized Published - 18 March, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
The Impact of Anesthesiologists on Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Outcomes

PUBLISHED in Anesthesia & Analgesia: March 2015 – Volume 120 – Issue 3 – p 526–533 AUTHORS: Glance, Laurent G. MD et al. BACKGROUND: One of every 150 hospitalized patients experiences a lethal adverse event; nearly half of these events involves surgical patients. Although variations in surgeon performance and quality have been reported in the […]

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Uncategorized Published - 18 March, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
 In US hospitals, survival rates vary widely for high-risk surgeries

Survival rates for high-risk surgeries diverge greatly from hospital to hospital, a new report indicates, underscoring the fact that much work still needs to be done to improve patient outcomes. In the analysis, the nonprofit Leapfrog Group used 2013 data from 1,500 hospitals to determine “predicted survival” rates for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repairs, aortic valve replacements (AVR), esophagectomy […]

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Uncategorized Published - 18 March, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
What Is the Optimal Transfusion Threshold After Cardiac Surgery?

Authors: Spertus J., N Engl J Med 2015 Mar 12; 372:1069 A randomized trial suggests no significant differences between liberal and restricted thresholds — but leaves room for debate. The optimal hemoglobin threshold for transfusion after surgical procedures is a longstanding controversy. Observational studies of patients undergoing cardiac surgery have suggested worse outcomes with liberal transfusion thresholds […]

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Uncategorized Published - 18 March, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Postoperative Mortality Among HIV-Infected Patients

Authors: King JT Jr et al., JAMA Surg 2015 Feb 25; Thirty-day mortality, although relatively low, was still higher than for HIV-uninfected patients. Now that HIV-infected individuals have a near-normal life expectancy, they are increasingly likely to undergo surgical procedures. How do their short-term surgical outcomes compare with those of HIV-uninfected patients? To answer this question, investigators studied […]

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Uncategorized Published - 18 March, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Zoster Vaccine Efficacy: How Long?

Authors: Whitley RJ., Clin Infect Dis 2015 Mar 15; 60:910 This is for our providers that take care of chronic pain patients. After 10 years, vaccination lost most of its power. Short-term follow-up of participants in placebo-controlled studies of the herpes zoster (HZ) vaccine confirmed that the vaccine was efficacious for at least 5 years (NEJM JW […]

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Uncategorized Published - 17 March, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
FDA Clears Hydrocodone With Abuse-Deterrent Properties

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the extended-release (ER) single-entity opioid analgesic hydrocodone bitartrate (Hysingla ER, Purdue Pharma) with abuse-deterrent properties in line with the FDA’s 2013 draft guidance to industry, the agency announced. “Hysingla ER has properties that are expected to reduce, but not totally prevent, abuse of the drug when […]

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Uncategorized Published - 17 March, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Rocuronium Blockade Reversal With Sugammadex vs. Neostigmine

Randomized Study in Chinese and Caucasian Subjects Authors: Xinmin Wu et al Published in BMC Anesthesiol. 2014;14(53) Background This study compared efficacy and safety of the selective relaxant binding agent sugammadex (2 mg/kg) with neostigmine (50 μg/kg) for neuromuscular blockade (NMB) reversal in Chinese and Caucasian subjects. Methods This was a randomized, active-controlled, multicenter, safety-assessor-blinded study (NCT00825812) in […]

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Uncategorized Published - 17 March, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Comparison of pain outcomes between two anti-GD2 antibodies in patients with neuroblastoma

Article of our pain providers. Published in Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Author(s): Anghelescu D, Goldberg J, Faughnan L, Wu J, Mao S, Furman W, Santana V, Navid F Treatments discussed: ch14.18, morphine BACKGROUND Addition of anti-GD2 antibody ch14.18 to the treatment of neuroblastoma has improved outcomes. The most common side effect of ch14.18 […]

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Uncategorized Published - 17 March, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Symptom Burden Best Predictor of Concussion Recovery

This is for our pain clinic providers. The best predictor of a speedy recovery after a sports-related concussion is simply the initial symptom burden as measured by the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS), a new study suggests. Other measures, including computerized neurocognitive testing, are not predictive, according to the study results. “The bottom line is that […]

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