Authors: Nicholas L. McKenzie, BSPH et al  Anesthesiology  October 2022. Background Perioperative beta-blocker therapy has been associated with increased risk of stroke. However, the association between beta-blocker initiation prior to the day of surgery and the risk of stroke is unknown. We hypothesized there would be no association between preoperative beta-blocker initiation within 60 days […]

“Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty” By Radden Keefe Patrick, New York Doubleday 2021 Pages: 560. ISBN 978-0-385-54568-6. Price: $21 (Hardcover); $15.99 (Kindle Edition). “Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America” By Macy Beth, New York,  Little Brown and Company, 2018 . Pages: 400. ISBN 978-0-316-55128-1. Price: $29.69 […]

Authors: Tran D, Ferguson M. Pract Pain Manag. 2022 September/October;22(5). CRPS: A Brief Background Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic neuro-inflammatory disorder that affects one or more extremities, usually following surgery, injury, or trauma, but also occurs spontaneously. The pathophysiology of CRPS is complex and poorly understood; therefore, well-defined criteria for diagnosis are […]

Authors: Richard Simoneaux; Steven L. Shafer, MD, FASA ASA Monitor October 2022, Vol. 86, 1–8. In 2012, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Robert J. Lefkowitz, Howard Hughes Medical Institute/Duke University Medical Center, and Brian K. Kobilka, Stanford University School of Medicine, for “groundbreaking discoveries that reveal the inner workings of… G-protein-coupled receptors” (asamonitor.pub/3Cb1vVL). G-protein-coupled […]

#TheAnesthesiaBlog Increasing numbers of NHS consultants are voluntarily reducing their time spent delivering contracted direct clinical care. The result is concerning, with experienced clinicians working less hours and retiring early. This new guidance aims to highlight contributory issues and list clear, implementable solutions. One theme is that ‘age’ in anaesthesia should not be perceived negatively […]

Authors: Brian M. Ilfeld, M.D., M.S. et al  Anesthesiology November 2022, Vol. 137, 529–542. Background Ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryoneurolysis is an analgesic technique in which a percutaneous probe is used to reversibly ablate a peripheral nerve(s) using exceptionally low temperature, and has yet to be evaluated with randomized, controlled trials. Pain after mastectomy can be difficult to […]

Author: Richard Novak The Anesthesia Consultant Imagine this scenario: You’ve just finished anesthetizing a patient in a hospital setting, and the patient now requires transport from the operating room (OR) to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). During surgery your patient monitors included: a pulse oximeter, an ECG, a blood pressure cuff, a temperature monitor, and […]

Authors: Benjamin J. Marsh, M.D. et al  Anesthesiology November 2022, Vol. 137, 543–554. Background Increasing wildfire activity worldwide has led to exposure to poor air quality and numerous detrimental health impacts. This study hypothesized an association between exposure to poor air quality from wildfire smoke and adverse respiratory events under general anesthesia in pediatric patients. Methods […]

Authors: Olusanya A, Goree J. Pract Pain Manag. 2022 September/October;22(5). Low Back Pain Continues to Perplex Physicians A perpetual topic of discussion in interventional pain management is the treatment of chronic low back pain. The American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN) annual meeting, held in July 2022, was no different. Low back pain is […]

Anesthesiology October 2022. The article by Boldt et al., entitled “Preoperative plasmapheresis in patients undergoing cardiac surgery procedures” by J Boldt, B von Bormann, D Kling, M Jacobi, R Moosdorf, G Hempelmann, published in Anesthesiology 1990;72:282–8 has been retracted in its entirety by the Journal Editor-in-Chief, Evan Kharasch, M.D., Ph.D. This article is being retracted following an […]