Anesthesiology News

Monitoring Emerges as Key for Reducing Peri-op Adverse Events From OSA

Thu, 17 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT

San Francisco—If there’s one clear message from a preliminary analysis of the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Death and Near Miss Registry, it’s this: Monitoring matters.

GPOs Work Alongside Anesthesiologists and Hospitals to Help Address Critical Drug Shortages

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT

In the December issue, Anesthesiology News published a commentary by John G. Brock-Utne, MD, PhD (2018;44[12]:5,7), which maintained that the blame for current drug shortages should go to group purchasing organizations (GPOs).

Peri-op Hypotension Associated With Post-op Delirium in Critically Ill

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Copenhagen, Denmark—Perioperative hypotension may be associated with postoperative delirium in critical care patients, according to a new study, underscoring the risks of low blood pressure in the perioperative setting.

Behind the Mic: How One Anesthesiologist Became Host of a Hit Podcast Series

Fri, 11 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT

San Francisco—The office of the future director of the Johns Hopkins Medicine residency program did not make for an obvious auspicious start to the now widely downloaded ACCRaC podcast.

Airway on Demand: The Airway During CPR

Thu, 10 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT

In this episode, William Rosenblatt, MD, shows the intubation of a patient undergoing chest compressions. Dr. Rosenblatt shares this example from his book, co-written with Wanda M. Popescu, MD, titled Master Techniques in Upper and Lower Airway Management.

General Endotracheal Anesthesia Preferred in ERCP Subset

Wed, 9 Jan 2019 19:00:00 GMT

General endotracheal anesthesia may be preferred over sedation with propofol in high-risk patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

FDA Plans to Ease Informed Consent Rules For Human Studies

Tue, 8 Jan 2019 22:00:00 GMT

The FDA has proposed loosening its rules regarding informed consent to make it easier for researchers to enroll patients in clinical trials.

Propofol Bolus Does Not Affect Incidence, Intensity of Cough on Emergence

Mon, 7 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Montreal—Propofol administered intravenously as an 0.5 mg/kg bolus at emergence does not reduce cough following desflurane-based general anesthesia, according to a new study.

Readers Have Their Say on the Web

Fri, 4 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Viewers of AnesthesiologyNews.com always have the opportunity to comment on all articles we post, and rest assured that all comments are read.

Dynamic Vertebral Artery Imaging for Self-Induced Loss of Consciousness and Apnea in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Mon, 14 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of inherited disorders that affect connective tissues, including blood vessel walls.

Immediate Post-op Desaturation After Extubation Predicts Poor Outcomes

Wed, 9 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Chicago—Very early postoperative desaturation after extubation may have a more profound effect on outcomes than commonly believed.

Intra-op Autologous Blood Collection Reduces Post-op Bleeding, Transfusion

Tue, 8 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Phoenix—While numerous methods have been used to decrease red blood cell transfusions, a technique employed by military surgeons on the battlefield may be the most effective one, according to a retrospective study of cardiac surgery patients.

Scoring for the Clock-Drawing Test Differs by Time Needed to Administer

Thu, 3 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Chicago—For years, the Clock-Drawing Test has been used to measure cognitive impairment. Now, a study by a team of Florida researchers has compared three different methods for scoring this test.

Sleep Apnea Again Linked to Worse Airway Outcomes

Wed, 2 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Chicago—Obstructive sleep apnea is an independent risk factor for difficult and failed intubation, a meta-analysis has concluded, and now there are odds ratios to prove it.

Post–Cesarean Delivery Pain

Tue, 1 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Frost #345—A 25-year-old patient, gravida 3 para 2, at 38 weeks’ gestation, with a body mass index of 36 kg/m2, presented for elective repeat cesarean delivery (CD).

No Difference in Auscultation Through Clothing or Directly on Skin

Fri, 28 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Chicago—Effective auscultation of heart sounds and murmurs is possible over clothing, given firm pressure on the stethoscope, according to a University of Florida research team.

New Calibration Can Improve Needle Pressure Measurements in Nerve Blocks

Thu, 27 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT

New York—A new calibration methodology appears to have improved on existing nerve block needle pressure monitoring systems by calculating pressure gradient across the needle to estimate the pressure on tissue during injection.

Airway on Demand: Discovering an Unexpected Tracheal Scar

Thu, 27 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT

In this episode, William Rosenblatt, MD, shows the intubation of a patient with a unanticipated tracheal scar.

Post-op Hypotension Found Common, Prolonged and Mostly Undetected

Wed, 26 Dec 2018 05:01:00 GMT

San Francisco—Postoperative hypotension is a common occurrence on the surgical ward and frequently undetected by nursing staff using routine monitoring practices, a study has concluded.

New Pediatric Sedation Handbook Published

Wed, 26 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Oxford University Press (www.oup.com/academic) has announced the publication of “The Pediatric Procedural Sedation Handbook,” whose editors include Cheryl K. Gooden, MD, FAAP, FASA, a member of the Anesthesiology News editorial advisory board.

Discussing the Effects of the Guidelines on Ketamine for Acute Pain

Fri, 21 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT

During the 2018 annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), Eric S. Schwenk, MD, the lead author on guidelines, discussed the rollout of the joint ketamine guidelines from the ASRA, ASA and AAPM.

Anesthesia’s Long-Term Effects on Ped Brains Still Elusive

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 15:00:00 GMT

On Dec. 14, 2016, the FDA released a warning now considered either famous or infamous within the field of pediatric anesthesia, depending on whom you talk to.

Demystifying Perioperative Assessment for the Modern Anesthesia Provider

Wed, 19 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT

During the 2018 annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists in San Francisco, William Rosenblatt, MD, explained his decision-making process for airway management and how his perioperative assessment algorithm can improve that process.

Best Practices for Implementing a Multimodal Approach to Postsurgical Pain Management: Lessons Learned in the Era of the Opioid Crisis

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 17:02:00 GMT

This monograph reviews evidence-based recommendations for multimodal analgesia and the successful implementation of enhanced recovery protocols in various hospital and community-based settings, including the organizational and cultural changes that may ensue, as well as the development of an opioid task force.

ACCRaC Episode 100: Answering Listener Questions

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT

In this episode, host Jed Wolpaw, MD, celebrated the 100th episode of the ACCRAC podcast by answering listener submitted questions, which range from best practices to Dr. Wolpaw’s personal preferences to the optimal way to maintain a healthy lifestyle as an anesthesia provider.

OR Handovers, Particularly During Long Surgeries, Increase Post-op Adverse Outcomes

Fri, 14 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT

San Francisco—Intraoperative handovers between anesthesia providers are associated with adverse postoperative outcomes, and these effects are worsened when handovers occur among less experienced practitioners or during longer surgeries.

Airway on Demand: A Pedunculated, Ball-Valve Mass

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 15:00:00 GMT

In this episode, William Rosenblatt, MD, shows the problem-solving intubation of a patient with a pedunculated mass partially blocking the airway.

Identifying the Root Cause of Drug Shortages

Wed, 12 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT

How could drug shortages happen in a free enterprise country like the United States?

ACCRaC Episode 99: Substance Abuse Among Anesthesia Providers

Tue, 11 Dec 2018 21:30:00 GMT

In this episode, host Jed Wolpaw, MD, discusses the prevalence of substance abuse among anesthesia providers with Michael Fitzsimons, MD.

National PDPH Rates, Clinical Practice Strategies Analyzed

Tue, 11 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Chicago—A large analysis of rates of postdural puncture headache (PDPH) following labor analgesia/anesthesia in the United States closely replicates findings from previous smaller studies.