Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2012
ReviewOff-label use of medications in children undergoing sedation and anesthesia.
Many drugs used for anesthesia and analgesia in children are administered "off-label." We undertook an audit of drugs commonly used for pediatric anesthesia to determine which drugs have United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling for pediatric use, which drugs are age-restricted, and which have no labeling for pediatric use. ⋯ Many drugs used for children during anesthesia continue to lack FDA labeling for pediatric use. Off-label use of these drugs is an accepted practice that is considered superior to the alternative of withholding needed medications. Studies are still needed to determine the safety and efficacy of drugs that lack FDA labeling for this vulnerable patient population.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2012
A method for ultrasonographic visualization and injection of the superior laryngeal nerve: volunteer study and cadaver simulation.
Superior laryngeal nerve block is a valuable technique for provision of upper airway anesthesia. In bilateral scans of 20 volunteers, we developed a technique for ultrasonographic visualization of the superior laryngeal nerve and key anatomical structures using a hockey stick-shaped 8 to 15 MHz transducer (HST15 to 8/20 linear probe, Ultrasonix, Richmond, BC, Canada). ⋯ Ultrasound-guided in-plane advancement of a needle toward the superior laryngeal nerve and injection of 1 mL of green dye was achieved in all 4 attempts and confirmed by a postprocedural dissection performed by an anatomist. We conclude that ultrasound-guided superior laryngeal nerve block in humans may be feasible.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2012
Similar liability for trauma and nontrauma surgical anesthesia: a closed claims analysis.
Trauma care has many challenges, including the perception by nonanesthesia physicians of increased medical malpractice liability. We used the American Society of Anesthesiologists' Closed Claims Project database and the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to compare the rate of claims for trauma anesthesia care to national trauma surgery data. We also used the American Society of Anesthesiologists' Closed Claims Project database to evaluate injury and liability profiles of trauma anesthesia malpractice claims compared to nontrauma surgical anesthesia claims. ⋯ Despite reported perceptions that trauma care involves a high risk of medical liability, there was no apparent increased risk of liability among inpatients presenting for trauma anesthesia care. The proportion in malpractice claims in trauma anesthesia care was not increased compared to nontraumatic surgical anesthesia care. With respect to medicolegal liability, these results support participation of anesthesia providers in multidisciplinary trauma care and organized systems.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2012
The association of maternal race and ethnicity and the risk of postpartum hemorrhage.
There are profound racial and ethnic disparities in obstetric outcomes in the United States, but little is known about disparities in risk of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). We explored the association of race and ethnicity on the risk of PPH due to uterine atony with sequential adjustment for possible mediating factors. ⋯ Hispanic ethnicity and Asian/Pacific Islander race are significant risk factors for atonic PPH independent of measured potential mediators; biological differences may play a role.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2012
ReviewGeneral anesthesia: a gateway to modulate synapse formation and neural plasticity?
Appropriate balance between excitatory and inhibitory neural activity patterns is of utmost importance in the maintenance of neuronal homeostasis. General anesthetic-induced pharmacological interference with this equilibrium results not only in a temporary loss of consciousness but can also initiate long-term changes in brain function. Although these alterations were initially considered deleterious, recent observations suggest that at least under some specific conditions, they may eventually improve neural function. ⋯ Recent series of observations suggesting a developmental stage-dependent impact of these drugs on synaptogenesis will then be summarized together with currently known molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. Particular emphasis will be placed on how anesthetic drugs modulate neural plasticity in the adult brain and how this may improve neural function under some pathological states. The ensemble of these new observations strongly suggests that general anesthetics should not merely be considered toxic drugs but rather acknowledged as robust, context-dependent modulators of neural plasticity.