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Uncategorized Published - 8 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Anesthesia Management System: Smart and Saves Money

A cutting-edge anesthesia management system developed at the University of Washington (UW) Medical Center, in Seattle, has generated an estimated return of $1 million annually for the hospital while providing a major boost to patient care. Bala Nair, PhD, associate professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine at UW, detailed the development of the new system […]

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Uncategorized Published - 8 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Communication and Transparency Keys to Risk Management

In the health care industry, communication and transparency both play a large role in maintaining patient safety and ensuring management of clinical risk. In fact, about 70% of adverse events (AEs) can be traced back to gaps in communication. “Many times we blame adverse events on an ill-defined process, the environment of care, lack of […]

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Uncategorized Published - 8 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Doctors, Pharmacists Diverting Opioids Among Those Netted in DEA Sting

In what it described as an “unprecedented enforcement action,” the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and federal prosecutors arrested 22 doctors and pharmacists in a 15-month prescription drug trafficking operation. Dubbed Operation Pilluted, the sting involved nearly 1,000 law enforcement officers across Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. The doctors and pharmacists were among 280 individuals arrested […]

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Uncategorized Published - 8 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Pediatric emergence agitation

Published in Anaesthesist. 2015 May;64(5):373-80 Authors: Lehmann V et al BACKGROUND: The origin of emergence agitation in children remains unclear; however, an association between surgical procedure, patient age and anesthetic regimen and the incidence of postoperative agitation has been described in the literature. AIM: The aim of this survey performed between February and April 2014 was to […]

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Uncategorized Published - 8 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
The effect of remifentanil on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in children

Published in J Clin Anesth. 2015 May Authors: Chez BZ et al STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of remifentanil on the isoflurane end-tidal concentration required to eliminate movement reaction upon surgical incision in children. DESIGN: Prospective, double blinded, serial study. SETTING: Operating room of a university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Patients of ASA status 1 or 2, aged […]

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Uncategorized Published - 7 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
See 2013 outpatient payment levels for top 30 ambulatory services

Top services include upper airway endoscopy and nerve injections. The table below shows the top 30 ambulatory payment classifications in the United States in 2013 based on total outpatient services. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services released the data Monday as part of a push to make the costs for these treatments more transparent. […]

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Uncategorized Published - 7 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Remifentanil versus fentanyl in total intravenous anesthesia for lumbar spine surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

Published in J Clin Anesth. 2015 Aug;27(5):391-5 Authors: Thomas B et al STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the speed of anesthetic recovery and the perioperative analgesic requirements in patients who received total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with either remifentanil-propofol or fentanyl-propofol for lumbar spine surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Operating room, postanesthesia […]

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Uncategorized Published - 7 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
The effects of bispectral index monitoring on hemodynamics and recovery profile in developmentally delayed pediatric patients undergoing dental surgery.

Published in Paediatr Anaesth. 2015 May Authors: Sargin et al BACKGROUND: General anesthesia is often preferred for dental surgery or rehabilitation in developmentally delayed pediatric patients. Bispectral index monitoring is used to monitor the depth of anesthesia and to ensure early recovery. However, studies on the topic in developmentally delayed pediatric patients are limited. AIM: To evaluate […]

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Uncategorized Published - 7 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling and dosing simulation of propofol maintenance anesthesia in severely obese adolescents

Published in Paediatr Anaesth, 2015 May Authors: Chidambaran V et al BACKGROUND: Optimal dosing of propofol to maintain appropriate anesthetic depth is challenging in severely obese (SO) adolescents. We previously reported that total body weight (TBW) is predictive of propofol clearance. This study was aimed at characterizing pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of propofol in SO […]

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Uncategorized Published - 7 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Oral Steroids for Acute Sciatica: Improvement in Function Is Modest at Best

Authors: Goldberg H et al. JAMA 2015 May 19. And treatment offered no relief from pain. Oral steroids are used commonly in patients with acute lumbar radiculopathy or sciatica, but strong evidence of benefit is lacking. In this study, researchers at a large California health system randomized 269 patients (mean age, 46) with acute sciatica, magnetic resonance […]

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