Uncategorized

Uncategorized Published - 23 May, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
Antithrombin Deficiency during Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Extremely Common, but Does It Matter?

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 More
Uncategorized Published - 23 May, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
Reversal for Respiratory Depression: Let’s Take a Breath!

Author: 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 More
Uncategorized Published - 23 May, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
Addressing Postdural Puncture Headache: Guiding Clinicians Through Diagnosis and Management

Authors: 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 More
Uncategorized Published - 23 May, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
Improving Outcomes in Hip Fractures with Regional Anesthesia

Author: 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 More
Uncategorized Published - 22 May, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
Influence of clinical and genetic factors on propofol dose requirements

Authors: 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 More
Uncategorized Published - 22 May, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
Rebound Pain After Peripheral Nerve Blocks: End of the Honeymoon Period

Author: 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 More
Uncategorized Published - 22 May, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
Ultrasound-Guided Pediatric Regional Anesthesia for Orthopedic Surgery

Author: 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 More
Uncategorized Published - 22 May, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
In the Weeds: Nation’s First Guidelines for Management of Perioperative Patients on Cannabis

Author: 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 More
Uncategorized Published - 22 May, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
Impacting the Next Generation of Patient Safety Champions

Authors: 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 More
Uncategorized Published - 21 May, 2024    By - Dr Clemens
The Anesthesia Patient Safety Officer: Why Every Institution Needs One

Authors: 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 […]

Read More