A pilot study has found that patients randomly assigned to cricoid pressure or sham treatment showed no difference in time to lowest peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) or lowest SpO2 during anesthesia induction with planned endotracheal intubation. “Application of 30 N of cricoid pressure was not associated with a significant difference in time to reach lowest […]
Read MoreUpdate of guidelines recommends FDA-approved treatments and cautions against the use of opioids. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has updated its guidelines on the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in patients with diabetes. The guidelines,1 which were last updated in 2005, recommend pregabalin (Lyrica) or duloxetine (Cymbalta, generic) as first-line medication therapies for managing symptoms of DPN. […]
Read MoreThe standard of care in cardiac surgery, intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), is safe, according to researchers. A recent review found an overall complication rate of 1.4% related to the imaging and diagnostic technique. It also pinpointed several significant risk factors for complications. “The use of transesophageal echocardiography is ubiquitous in cardiac surgical practice,” said Razvan […]
Read MoreNearly all clinicians agree that imaging is unnecessary for patients with nonspecific low back pain, but that does not mean they find it easy to follow the recommendations against such imaging, suggests a study published October 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine. The Choosing Wisely campaign, which aims to reduce unnecessary procedures to improve patient care, includes seven […]
Read MoreWith exponential growth in the number of procedures being done under anesthesia, especially in the gastrointestinal suite, providers are wondering about the best way to provide safe, efficient and affordable care but also prevent adverse events (AEs), such as aspiration. A review of the current gastroenterology literature about AEs using propofol sedation reveals some insights […]
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