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Uncategorized Published - 17 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Stellate Ganglion Block for PTSD, Anxiety and Depression?

Stellate ganglion block shows promise in providing prolonged relief of chronic, extreme post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A pilot 12-patient series by researchers from the Long Beach VA Healthcare System, while far from definitive, revealed that stellate ganglion block may also be effective in treating anxiety or depression. “I became interested in this after seeing the […]

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Uncategorized Published - 17 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
ASA QCDR Adds 18 Quality Reporting Measures

Physician anesthesiologists who participate in the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ (ASA) Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR) have 18 new reporting measures to choose from, the ASA announced. The new measures will allow anesthesiologists to report on items “that matter to their patients and their practices,” according to J.P. Abenstein, MD, ASA president. Some of the […]

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Uncategorized Published - 17 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Restrictive Red Blood Cell Transfusion Strategies Are Safe

Authors:  Holst LB et al., BMJ 2015 Mar 24; 350:h1354 A growing body of evidence suggests that restrictive red blood cell transfusion strategies are safe. In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 31 randomized trials that involved 9800 patients, researchers compared benefits and harms of restrictive (triggers: hemoglobin, 7–9 g/dL; hematocrit, 24%–30%, or symptoms of anemia) versus […]

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Uncategorized Published - 16 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Postoperative fentanyl patch versus subacromial bupivacaine infusion in arthroscopic shoulder surgery

Arthroscopy. 2015 Jul;29(7):1129-34 Authors: Merivirta R et al PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to compare the effectiveness of subacromial bupivacaine infusion and a transdermal fentanyl patch in the treatment of postoperative pain after arthroscopic shoulder surgery. METHODS: Sixty patients with rotator cuff disease scheduled for elective arthroscopic shoulder surgery were enrolled in the study. For […]

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Uncategorized Published - 16 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
A new treatment paradigm for trigeminal neuralgia using Botulinum toxin type A.

Laryngoscope. 2014 Feb;124(2):413-7 Authors: Guardiani E et al OBJECTIVES: To review the current data for the use of Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) in trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and to describe the preferred injection technique of BoNT-A in TN. To propose a new treatment paradigm for TN incorporating the use BoNT-A. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases. […]

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Uncategorized Published - 16 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Combined saphenous and sciatic catheters for analgesia after major ankle surgery: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial

Can J Anaesth. 2015 Aug;62(8):875-882 Authors: Fisker AK et al PURPOSE: Continuous sciatic nerve block is used for pain management following major ankle surgery. Pain from the saphenous nerve territory often persists. We conducted a double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effect of a supplementary saphenous catheter in the proximal thigh combined with a popliteal sciatic […]

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Uncategorized Published - 16 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
A naloxone admixture to prevent opioid-induced pruritus in children: a randomized controlled trial

Can J Anaesth 2015 Aug;62(8):891-900 Authors: West N et al PURPOSE: Morphine administered by continuous opioid infusion (COI) or by patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is associated with opioid-induced pruritus (OIP). Intravenous naloxone administered separately to the morphine infusion at a dose of 0.25-1.65 μg·kg-1·hr-1 can provide effective prevention from OIP. Nevertheless, this strategy requires a dedicated intravenous line and […]

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Uncategorized Published - 16 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Efficacy of dexmedetomidine on postoperative shivering: a meta-analysis of clinical trials.

Can J Anaesth. 2015 Jul;62(7):816-829 Authors: Liu ZX et al PURPOSE: Shivering is a frequent complication in the postoperative period. The aim of the current meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of dexmedetomidine on postoperative shivering. METHODS: Two researchers independently searched PubMed, EMBASE™ and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for controlled clinical trials. The meta-analysis […]

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Uncategorized Published - 15 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Rates of opioid dispensing and overdose after introduction of abuse-deterrent extended-release oxycodone and withdrawal of propoxyphene.

JAMA Intern Med. 2015 Jun;175(6):978-87 Authors: Larochelle MR et al IMPORTANCE: In the second half of 2010, abuse-deterrent extended-release oxycodone hydrochloride (OxyContin; Purdue Pharma) was introduced and propoxyphene was withdrawn from the US market. The effect of these pharmaceutical market changes on opioid dispensing and overdose rates is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between 2 temporally […]

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Uncategorized Published - 15 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Patient-controlled analgesia at the end of life at a pediatric oncology institution.

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2015 Jul;62(7):1237-44 Authors: Anghelescu DL et al BACKGROUND: Patient controlled anesthesia (PCA) is increasingly used to manage pain in pediatric cancer patients and is important in the treatment of escalating pain at the end of life. The description of the use of opioid PCA in this population has been limited. PROCEDURE: This retrospective […]

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