Authors: Klaus U. Koch, M.D. et al Anesthesiology 8 2020, Vol.133, 304-317. Background: Studies in anesthetized patients suggest that phenylephrine reduces regional cerebral oxygen saturation compared with ephedrine. The present study aimed to quantify the effects of phenylephrine and ephedrine on cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen in brain tumor patients. The authors hypothesized […]
Read MoreBy Joe Elia NEJM Journal Watch While opioid prescriptions have dropped nearly 40% over the past 5 years, fentanyl, amphetamine, and cocaine “are now killing more Americans than ever,” according to the American Medical Association’s Opioid Task Force. Citing CDC data, the task force says the overdose rate from those drugs has risen more than […]
Read MoreAuthor: By Kim Yun-mi Korean Biomedical Review Using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with antiplatelet agents in patients with acute myocardial infarction increased the risk of cardiovascular events seven times, and bleeding risk by four times, compared to NSAIDs-free treatment, a study showed. The research team, led by Professor Choi Cheol-ung of the Cardiovascular Center at […]
Read MoreBy Denise Baez Today’s DG Alert covers the prognostic value of smell loss in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and the incidence of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis among intubated patients with severe COVID-19. According to a study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, loss of smell appears to be an independent positive prognostic factor of less severe […]
Read MoreAuthors: Leonard E. Egede, M.D., et al NEJM July 22, 2020 Current protests throughout the United States are highlighting the history of marginalization of and discrimination against Black Americans, including 250 years of slavery, 100 years of Jim Crow laws, high rates of incarceration, and unanswered calls for action after police shootings of unarmed Black […]
Read MoreAuthor: Karen A Penned Point Author’s note: This article was written in May 2020 for the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ monthly magazine, the ASA Monitor. It was published online ahead of print on June 29, 2020. It’s early May in Los Angeles, and dystopian reality is here – storefronts boarded up; people (if they’re out at […]
Read MoreAuthors: Ellen M. Soffin, M.D., Ph.D. et al Anesthesiology 8 2020, Vol.133, 350-363. Background: Prospective trials of enhanced recovery after spine surgery are lacking. We tested the hypothesis that an enhanced recovery pathway improves quality of recovery after one- to two-level lumbar fusion.Methods: A patient- and assessor-blinded trial of 56 patients randomized to enhanced recovery (17 evidence-based pre-, […]
Read MoreA great article for our readers that treat pain patients. Written by Steph Coelho Medical News Today Pain in the neck and upper back can be temporary. For example, a person may have a sore neck after sleeping in an unnatural position. However, for some people, pain in this area is chronic. Upper back pain […]
Read MoreAuthor: Hana Ames Medical News Today A pinched nerve in the upper back occurs when force or pressure irritates a nerve in this part of the body. Nerves make up the “wiring” system that carries messages between the brain and the rest of a person’s body. When the affected nerve is in the upper back, […]
Read MoreBy Denise Baez DG Alert Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is independently associated with acute ischaemic stroke, according to a study published in American Journal of Neuroradiology. The findings suggest that patients with COVID-19 should undergo more aggressive monitoring for stroke. “To our knowledge, this is the first study to link SARS-CoV-2 with an increased […]
Read More