Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2006
Can the attending anesthesiologist accurately predict the duration of anesthesia induction?
In a prospective, observational study, the attending anesthesiologists' prediction of anesthesia release time (ART) of the patient to the surgical team was highly correlated with actual ART (r = 0.77; P < or = 0.001). However, this was true only in the aggregate (n = 1265 patients). ⋯ In fact, as the degree of case difficulty increased, the correlation coefficient between predicted and actual ART decreased, indicating a poor predictive value with more difficult inductions (r = 0.82 to r = 0.44; P < or = 0.004). We conclude that knowledge of the presence of specific factors that lead to inaccurate predictions of time required for induction of anesthesia may enhance the accuracy of the operating room schedule.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2006
The incidence and risk factors for hypotension during emergent decompressive craniotomy in children with traumatic brain injury.
We conducted a retrospective cohort study in children <13 yr with traumatic brain injury (TBI) at a Level 1 pediatric trauma center to describe risk factors for intraoperative hypotension (IH) during emergent decompressive craniotomy. Between 1994 and 2004, 108 children underwent emergent decompressive craniotomy for TBI. Overall, 56 (52%) patients had IH. ⋯ IH occurred frequently during emergent decompressive craniotomy in children with TBI. ED hypotension, blood loss, CT lesion volume, and CT midline shift predicted IH. Anesthesiologists can expect children with preoperative CT midline shift > or =4 mm to have IH during this procedure.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2006
Task analysis of the preincision period in a pediatric operating suite: an independent observer-based study of 656 cases.
We designed this cross-sectional investigation to assess anesthesia release time (ART = patient-on-table until release for surgical preparation) and surgical preparation time (start of surgical preparation to incision) of children undergoing anesthesia and surgery (n = 656). Data collected by trained independent observers included variables such as age, ASA physical status, anesthetic technique, and placement of invasive monitoring. We found that mean ART was 11.0 +/- 9.7 min and the mean surgical preparation time was 11.1 +/- 10.0 min. ⋯ Room coverage ratio by the attending anesthesiologist and training level of the anesthesia resident did not impact ART (P = not significant). We conclude that ART in children undergoing surgery is highly variable and is a function of factors such as the surgical service involved, age of the child, and ASA physical status of the child. These factors should be considered when scheduling a surgical case.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2006
The impact of gender on in-hospital mortality and morbidity after isolated aortic valve replacement.
The objective of our retrospective investigation was to examine the influence of gender on in-hospital mortality and morbidity after isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR). Between January 1993 and June 2002, 2212 patients (782 females, 1430 males) underwent AVR. Propensity matching was used to adjust for numerous differences in baseline characteristics and perioperative variables between groups. ⋯ Further analyses, including classification of women and men into quintile groups by propensity scores and logistic regression models with propensity score adjustment, found that females were at increased risk for cardiac morbidity [OR (95% CI), 3.4 [1.1, 10.8]; P = 0.038), but not mortality (0.9 [0.3, 2.5]; P = 0.88) nor other morbidities. These results suggest that there is no greater than a 2.5-fold increase in risk for females compared with males undergoing AVR. Female gender, however, may impart increased risk for cardiac morbidity after AVR.
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Ultrasound technology has advanced regional anesthesia and pain management, by improving accuracy and reducing complication rates. We have successfully performed cryoablation of intercostal nerves with ultrasound guidance with no complications. ⋯ Visualizing the pleura during the procedure is the greatest benefit of using ultrasonography, especially in thin patients whose intercostal groove to pleural distance may be <0.5 cm. Although further studies are needed, we feel that this new technique should reduce the risk of pneumothorax as well as improve the success of cryoablation.