Authors: Michael Mazzeffi, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.H.A. et al Anesthesiology June 2024, Vol. 140, 1065–1067. “Management strategies for anticoagulating adult ECMO patients and optimal management continue to be a work in progress.” In this issue of Anesthesiology, Mansour et al. explore the significance of antithrombin deficiency, defined by a time-weighted average antithrombin activity less than 70%, in adults […]
Read MoreAuthor: Thomas K. Henthorn, M.D. Anesthesiology June 2024, Vol. 140, 1059–1061. “Jansen et al. provide evidence that a new BK-channel blocker (i.e., ENA-001) […] may reverse the respiratory depressant effects of propofol, which may add to the utility of arousal-promoting agents and promises its own additional utility of ameliorating propofol’s respiratory depressant effects while permitting sedation.” Respiratory depression […]
Read MoreAuthors: Dibash Kumar Das, PhD; Pamela Flood, MD, MA ASA Monitor March 2024, Vol. 88, 1–4. Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is a well-recognized complication resulting from a dural puncture during epidural analgesia, spinal anesthesia, or other neuraxial interventions. The incidence of unintended dural puncture during placement of an epidural catheter ranges widely, from less than 1% […]
Read MoreAuthor: Kelly Wolfgang ASA Monitor April 2024, Vol. 88, 27. Emerging evidence suggests that patients who suffer hip fractures and other traumatic injuries are at risk of prolonged opioid use when inadequate analgesia occurs. For anesthesiologists, proper acute pain management is imperative, from preoperative patient assessment to the postoperative recovery stage. Uncontrolled pain can be detrimental, […]
Read MoreAuthors: Sirkku Ahlström, M.D. et al Anesthesiology May 2024. Background Propofol is a widely used intravenous hypnotic. Dosing is mostly based on weight with great interindividual variation in consumption. Suggested factors affecting propofol requirements include age, gender, ethnicity, anxiety, alcohol consumption, smoking, and concomitant valproate use. Genetic factors have not been widely explored. Methods We […]
Read MoreAuthor: Vishal Uppal, MBBS, MSc, FRCA ASA Monitor May 2024, Vol. 88, 1–9. When compared with general anesthesia (GA), patients undergoing surgery solely under peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) are more likely to have improved short-term postoperative pain control, less nausea and vomiting, early discharge from the postanesthesia care unit and hospital, and overall improved patient satisfaction […]
Read MoreAuthor: Asha Clarke, MD ASA Monitor February 2024, Vol. 88, 1–7. Ultrasound image showing the placement of a lumbar plexus nerve catheter. Photo courtesy of Asha Clarke, MD. Gaston Labat stated in the forward to his seminal “Regional Anesthesia” textbook, “I do not look forward to the day when regional anesthesia will wholly displace general anesthesia; […]
Read MoreAuthor: Kim Sumrak ASA Monitor March 2024, Vol. 88, 30–33. Figure: ASRA Pain Medicine consensus guidelines on the management of the perioperative patient on cannabis and cannabinoids: an infographic. (Reg Anesth Pain Med 2023;48:119). Whether due to legalization, culture change, or other reasons, Americans have been using more cannabis over the past 20 years. According to […]
Read MoreAuthors: Candace Chang, MD, MPH et al ASA Monitor June 2024, Vol. 88, 56–58. The importance of educating the next generation of patient safety advocates goes beyond ensuring sustainability of current efforts to improve patient care. Engaging anesthesiology residents and practicing anesthesiologists in patient safety and quality improvement (PSQI) projects harnesses their creativity, enhances their understanding […]
Read MoreAuthors: Jonathan B. Cohen, MD, MS, CPPS, FASA et al ASA Monitor June 2024, Vol. 88, 52–55. The Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine) defined quality patient care as care that is safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient-centered. These discrete elements have historically been conflated by health care organizations. The drawback to this […]
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