Author: Nirav V. Kamdar, MD, MPP, MBA ASA Monitor November 2021, Vol. 85, 30–31. Are you tired of the word “disruption?” Some are. We are inundated with the trendy terminology in lectures, conferences, podcasts, and most of all in descriptions of new companies or services. Each new entrepreneur touts their company as a disruptor for […]
Effect of Global Ventilation to Perfusion Ratio, for Normal Lungs, on Desflurane and Sevoflurane Elimination Kinetics
Authors: James E. Baumgardner, M.D., Ph.D., M.D. et al Anesthesiology December 2021, Vol. 135, 1042–1054. Background Kinetics of the uptake of inhaled anesthetics have been well studied, but the kinetics of elimination might be of more practical importance. The objective of the authors’ study was to assess the effect of the overall ventilation/perfusion ratio (VA/Q), […]
Intubation Biomechanics: Clinical Implications of Computational Modeling of Intervertebral Motion and Spinal Cord Strain during Tracheal Intubation in an Intact Cervical Spine
Authors: Benjamin C. Gadomski, Ph.D. et al Anesthesiology December 2021, Vol. 135, 1055–1065. Background In a closed claims study, most patients experiencing cervical spinal cord injury had stable cervical spines. This raises two questions. First, in the presence of an intact (stable) cervical spine, are there tracheal intubation conditions in which cervical intervertebral motions exceed […]
Postoperative Pain and Age: A Retrospective Cohort Association Study
Authors: Jacqueline F. M. van Dijk, Ph.D. et al Anesthesiology December 2021, Vol. 135, 1104–1119. Background As the population ages, the number of elderly people undergoing surgery increases. Literature on the incidence and intensity of postoperative pain in the elderly is conflicting. This study examines associations between age and pain-related patient reported outcomes and perioperative pain […]
Headache for days: What can cause it?
Author: Caitlin Geng MedicalNewsToday Headache pain can range from mild to severe and can last for hours or even days. There are numerous potential causes, including migraine, a head injury, or a viral illness, such as COVID-19. Anyone who has a headache for days that does not respond to over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief medication should seek guidance […]
Personal Digital Health Assistants
Author: Uday Jain, BSEE, MD, PhD, FASA ASA Monitor November 2021, Vol. 85, 28–29. Personal Digital Health Assistants (PDHAs) are applications that can run on virtually any computer or mobile device, including a smart phone/personal digital assistant (PDA). A PDHA acquires, stores, and analyzes the health-related information of an individual. It usually communicates with remote […]
Anesthesia Hacks
Author: John David Y. Cabral, MD, MPH ASA Monitor November 2021, Vol. 85, 24–25. What is a hack? A hack is a strategy or technique for managing one’s time or activity more efficiently; a trick. Hacks exist in all facets of life. There are hacks for job skills, hobbies, raising children, money, cleaning, building, school, […]
Neurophysiologic Complexity in Children Increases with Developmental Age and Is Reduced by General Anesthesia
Authors: Michael P. Puglia, II, M.D., Ph.D. et al Anesthesiology November 2021, Vol. 135, 813–828. Background Neurophysiologic complexity in the cortex has been shown to reflect changes in the level of consciousness in adults but remains incompletely understood in the developing brain. This study aimed to address changes in cortical complexity related to age and […]
Hypoxemia in Young Children Undergoing One-lung Ventilation:
Authors: T. Wesley Templeton, M.D. et al Anesthesiology November 2021, Vol. 135, 842–853. Background One-lung ventilation in children remains a specialized practice with low case numbers even at tertiary centers, preventing an assessment of best practices. The authors hypothesized that certain case factors may be associated with a higher risk of intraprocedural hypoxemia in children […]
MIPS For 2022
Author: Bryan Sullivan Chief Operating Officer, Plexus Technology Group, LLC, Fairfax, VA F1rst News As with previous years, the MIPS program is continuing to execute on its legislative mandate while also making accommodations for the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 13, 2021, CMS proposed changes for the 2022 reporting year; and, by the time you are […]