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Uncategorized Published - 30 October, 2023    By - Dr Clemens
Acupuncture could improve cardiac surgery outcomes

Author: Mariah Taylor Becker’s Hospital Review A Chicago-based Northwestern Medicine researcher found acupuncture can improve patient outcomes following cardiac surgery. In a study conducted by the health system, a small group of patients were treated with daily acupuncture following open heart surgery. The treatment was delivered in the patient’s hospital room by three licensed acupuncturists, who coordinated […]

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Uncategorized Published - 30 October, 2023    By - Dr Clemens
Association between “Balance Billing” Legislation and Anesthesia Payments in California

Authors: Anjali A. Dixit, M.D., M.P.H. et al  Anesthesiology November 2023, Vol. 139, 580–590. Background Insured patients who receive out-of-network care may receive a “balance bill” for the difference between the practitioner’s charge and their insurer’s contracted rate. In 2017, California banned balance billing for anesthesia care. This study examined the association between California’s law and […]

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Uncategorized Published - 30 October, 2023    By - Dr Clemens
Challenges of Anesthetic Monitoring in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Availability of Equipment in Major Referral Hospitals in Kenya

AUTHORS: Atandi, Bryan Ogoti MD et al  Anesthesia & Analgesia 137(3):p 648-655, September 2023. BACKGROUND: Anesthetic monitoring within standards defined by various professional anesthesia organizations has been shown to reduce perioperative mortality. Given the scarce resources for anesthesia and surgery in low- to middle-income countries, we sought to determine the availability of recommended monitoring devices in […]

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Uncategorized Published - 30 October, 2023    By - Dr Clemens
Electroencephalographic Biomarkers, Cerebral Oximetry, and Postoperative Cognitive Function in Adult Noncardiac Surgical Patients

Authors: Phillip E. Vlisides, M.D. et al  Anesthesiology November 2023, Vol. 139, 568–579. Background Perioperative neurocognitive disorders are a major public health issue, although there are no validated neurophysiologic biomarkers that predict cognitive function after surgery. This study tested the hypothesis that preoperative posterior electroencephalographic alpha power, alpha frontal-parietal connectivity, and cerebral oximetry would each correlate […]

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Uncategorized Published - 27 October, 2023    By - Dr Clemens
Bispectral Index Changes Following Boluses of Commonly Used Intravenous Medications During Volatile Anesthesia Identified From Retrospective Data

AUTHORS: Schnetz, Michael P. MD, PhD et al  Anesthesia & Analgesia August 15, 2023. BACKGROUND: Although patients are commonly monitored for depth of anesthesia, it is unclear to what extent administration of intravenous anesthetic medications may affect calculated bispectral (BIS) index values under general anesthesia. METHODS: In a retrospective analysis of electronic anesthesia records from […]

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Uncategorized Published - 27 October, 2023    By - Dr Clemens
The Antinociceptive Activity of (E)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)-N-(p-tolyl)acrylamide in Mice Is Reduced by (E)-3-(furan-2-yl)-N-methyl-N-(p-tolyl)acrylamide Through Opposing Modulatory Mechanisms at the α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

AUTHORS: Arias, Hugo R. PhD et al  Anesthesia & Analgesia 137(3):p 691-701, September 2023. BACKGROUND: The primary objective of this study was to characterize the pharmacological and behavioral activity of 2 novel compounds, DM497 [(E)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)-N-(p-tolyl)acrylamide] and DM490 [(E)-3-(furan-2-yl)-N-methyl-N-(p-tolyl)acrylamide], structural derivatives of PAM-2, a positive allosteric modulator of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). METHODS: A mouse […]

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Uncategorized Published - 27 October, 2023    By - Dr Clemens
Influence of Fibrinogen Concentrate on Neonatal Clot Structure When Administered Ex Vivo After Cardiopulmonary Bypass

AUTHORS: Moiseiwitsch, Nina BS et al  Anesthesia & Analgesia 137(3):p 682-690, September 2023. BACKGROUND: Bleeding is a serious complication of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in neonates. Blood product transfusions are often needed to adequately restore hemostasis, but are associated with significant risks. Thus, neonates would benefit from other effective, and safe, hemostatic therapies. The use of fibrinogen […]

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Uncategorized Published - 27 October, 2023    By - Dr Clemens
Lack of Useful Predictors of Dignity-Related Distress Among the Critically Ill as Assessed With the Patient Dignity Inventory

AUTHORS: Hadler, Rachel A. MD et al  Anesthesia & Analgesia 137(3):p 676-681, September 2023. BACKGROUND: Many intensive care unit patients are awake (ie, alert and engaging in conversation), actively experiencing many facets of their critical care. The Patient Dignity Inventory can be used to elicit sources of distress in these patients. We examined the administrative question […]

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Uncategorized Published - 27 October, 2023    By - Dr Clemens
Understanding the changes in migraine treatment

Author: ELAINE C. TIMM, MD KevinMD.com As a primary care provider (PCP) specializing in headaches and migraine, I cannot stress enough the important role of PCPs in diagnosing and treating migraine disease. Almost 40 million Americans and over a billion people worldwide live with migraine and the significant burden that comes with the disease. Migraine […]

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Uncategorized Published - 26 October, 2023    By - Dr Clemens
A Pilot Investigation Evaluating Relative Changes in Fronto-Occipital Alpha and Beta Spectral Power as Measurement of Anesthesia Hypnotic Depth

AUTHORS: Fehrlin, Eloy S. MD et al Anesthesia & Analgesia 137(3):p 656-664, September 2023. BACKGROUND: Other than clinical observation of a patient’s vegetative response to nociception, monitoring the hypnotic component of general anesthesia (GA) and unconsciousness relies on electroencephalography (EEG)-based indices. These indices exclusively based on frontal EEG activity neglect an important observation. One of the […]

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