Author: Demicha D. Rankin, MD ASA Monitor February 2023, Vol. 87, 21. Like many anesthesiologists, I have the privilege of serving in an academic institution where teaching medical students is a fulfilling aspect of any given day. Normally, the educational domain revolves around the applications of pharmacology, airway management, and pathophysiology. But on this particular day, […]

Authors: Regan Bergmark, MD, FACS, FARS et al  ASA Monitor February 2023, Vol. 87, 13–14. Patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) have inferior health care outcomes in the United States. Beyond linguistic access, some patients may face social, cultural, insurance-related, and financial barriers to quality care. In 2022, technological innovations should allow for complete interpretation in […]

Authors: Jonathan E. Charnin, MD, FASA et al  ASA Monitor January 2023, Vol. 87, 36–37. There are always opportunities to improve perioperative patient safety, but some might escape notice because the agent of harm is invisible. The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) Committee on Infection Prevention is a multidisciplinary, multiprofessional group of experts who convene to […]

Authors: Tomonori Takazawa, M.D., Ph.D. et al  Anesthesiology February 2023, Vol. 138, 172–183. Background There are no effective pharmacologic interventions for preventing postoperative cognitive dysfunction in daily practice. Since the antibiotic minocycline is known to suppress postoperative neuroinflammation, this study hypothesized and investigated whether minocycline might have a preventive effect on postoperative cognitive dysfunction after noncardiac […]

Authors: Jamie R. Privratsky, M.D., Ph.D. et al  Anesthesiology February 2023, Vol. 138, 184–194. Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) after noncardiac surgery is common and has substantial health impact. Preclinical and clinical studies examining the influence of sex on AKI have yielded conflicting results, although they typically do not account for age-related changes. The objective of […]

AUTHORS: Mona Assefi, Emma Trillaud, Corinne Vezinet, Baptiste Duceau Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2023 Jan 17 INTRODUCTION Postoperative pain management after orthotopic liver transplantation is complex due to impaired liver function and frequent acute kidney dysfunction. Subcostal transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block may be of interest in this population. The aim of this study was […]

DG Journal Club AUTHORS: Philip J Peyton, Grace Liskaser, Alexander Ho, Harry Marsh Anesthesiology. 2023 Jan 16 BACKGROUND Nitrous oxide (N2O) promotes absorption atelectasis in poorly ventilated lung segments at high inspired concentrations. The ENIGMA Trial found a higher incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) and wound sepsis with N2O anesthesia in major surgery compared to […]

Authors: Jacquot M et al Pract Pain Manag. 2023 January/February;23(1). In our 2022 drug report, we review emerging pain management agents, including CBD and THC preparations, nearing the market. Plus, a look at updated formulations in development for more targeted pain treatment. With more than 1 in 5 Americans experiencing chronic pain, pain management is […]

Practical Pain Management Jan 2023 DEA Update on Buprenorphine Prescribing Waivers Clinicians now face one less hurdle in treating patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). As a part of the Consolidation Appropriations Act of 2023, the federal DATA-waiver, or X-waiver, has been removed, making it easier for clinicians to use buprenorphine (marketed under a variety […]

Author: Michael Walter Cardiovascular Business When treating patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery and recurrent angina, repeat CABG is associated with a better mortality rate than percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). PCI, however, is associated with better operative outcomes, meaning clinicians will need to weight the risks and benefits of each treatment option […]