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Updated Sep. 1, 2010

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Rewarmed Blood Linked to Complications After Cold Bypass
Impaired autoregulation implicated
ISSUE: AUGUST 2010
Rewarming of blood after hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass appears to impair autoregulation of blood flow in the brain, increasing the patient’s risk for stroke in the process, researchers have found. read more

Cryospray Against Airway Tumors Leads to Unexpected Complications
Small study of high-risk cases
ISSUE: AUGUST 2010
Spray cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen has been used effectively for ablating esophageal tumors. Some facilities even perform the technique in an outpatient setting under sedation. However, spray cryotherapy for treating advanced airway lesions—when other treatment options are limited—is more recent, and few reports of its effectiveness have been published (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2010;139:781-782). read more

Rapid Loss of Hemoglobin Compound May Deter Oxygen Delivery
Study of stored whole blood reveals SNO-Hb decay
ISSUE: AUGUST 2010
In an effort to better understand the increased risk from red blood cell transfusions for organ failure, heart attack, stroke and even death, North Carolina researchers have found that reduced levels of S-nitrosylated hemoglobin (SNO-Hb) may be a significant factor. read more

Government Finalizes EHR Rule
‘Meaningful Use’ Provision Again Ignores Anesthesiologists
ISSUE: AUGUST 2010
Hospitals and health care professionals will have far greater flexibility in meeting the “meaningful use” requirements for certified electronic health record technology under a final rule issued last month by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. But under the terms of the provision, only anesthesiologists who provide at least 90% of their covered services in an inpatient setting or emergency department will duck the penalties—imposed in 2015—for failing to comply. read more

Researchers Make Strides Against Scar Pain
ISSUE: AUGUST 2010
A small study examining abnormal persistent pain in patients with postoperative scar neuromas has found these nerve injuries are particularly sensitive to mechanical pressure. read more

Endotracheal Tube Cuffs: Design and Function
ISSUE: AUGUST 2010
Endotracheal tube (ETT) cuffs have advanced modestly in design since they were first introduced commercially in the mid-20th century. Until that time, ETTs were packed on either side of the subglottis by anesthetic swabs to prevent gas escape, and ribbon gauze was sewn on by hand to aid extraction at extubation. read more

Airway Management and Patient Positioning: A Clinical Perspective
ISSUE: AUGUST 2010
Patient positioning is an important aspect of anesthesia practice. Based on data from the American Society of Anesthesiologists Closed Claims Project database, advancements in research, improvements in airway management and education, and development of airway devices have resulted in a substantial decrease in respiratory complications—at one time the major cause of anesthesia-related morbidity and mortality. Meanwhile, other factors have started to be reported as sources of liability—including complications related to patient positioning read more

• Sonopathology: Case Studies and Clinical Pearls with an Anesthetic “Ga

• APSF Urges Ways To Improve Med Safety in the OR

• Managing the Unusual Airway: Case Studies in Complexity

• Anesthesiologists Mull New Guidelines on Thoracic Aortic Disease

• Unanswered Questions Linger for Postsurgical Intra-articular Injection

• OR Gases Pose Ecologic Risk, Economic Reward

• Escape the Carnage of the ‘ACO’

• Endotracheal Tube Cuffs: Design and Function

• The Flexible Fiberscope For Airway Management and Diagnosis of Airway

• Pain Not Minimized After Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery


•	Managing the Unusual Airway: Case Studies in Complexity
•	Unanswered Questions Linger for Postsurgical Intra-articular Injections
•	Endotracheal Tube Cuffs: Design and Function
•	OR Gases Pose Ecologic Risk, Economic Reward
•	Escape the Carnage of the ‘ACO’


•	Difficult CPB Weaning Predicts Diastolic Dysfunction 2
•	APSF Urges Ways To Improve Med Safety in the OR 6
•	OR Gases Pose Ecologic Risk, Economic Reward 1
•	Ketamine Combo Shows Promise for Long-term CRPS-1 Relief 2
•	Anesthesia Tech, Mike Davis, Uses MAC 4 Blade as Lure 1