Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 2017
ReviewNarrative Review of Statistical Reporting Checklists, Mandatory Statistical Editing, and Rectifying Common Problems in the Reporting of Scientific Articles.
Considerable attention has been drawn to poor reproducibility in the biomedical literature. One explanation is inadequate reporting of statistical methods by authors and inadequate assessment of statistical reporting and methods during peer review. In this narrative review, we examine scientific studies of several well-publicized efforts to improve statistical reporting. ⋯ Third, statistical review is needed for all papers that involve data analysis. A consistent finding in the studies was that nonstatistical reviewers (eg, "scientific reviewers") and journal editors generally poorly assess statistical quality. We finish by discussing our experience with statistical review at Anesthesia & Analgesia from 2006 to 2016.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 2017
ReviewWhat's New in Obstetric Anesthesia: The 2016 Gerard W. Ostheimer Lecture.
This special article presents potentially important trends and issues affecting the field of obstetric anesthesia drawn from publications in 2015. Both maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States have increased in recent years because, in part, of the changing demographics of the childbearing population. Pregnant women are older and have more pre-existing conditions and complex medical histories. ⋯ The goal of this initiative is to funnel more complex obstetric patients toward high-acuity centers where they can receive more effective care. Despite the increasing obstetric complexity, anesthesia-related adverse events and morbidity are decreasing, possibly reflecting an ongoing focus on safe systems of anesthetic care. It is critical that the practice of obstetric anesthesia expand beyond the mere provision of safe analgesia and anesthesia to lead in developing and promoting comprehensive safety systems for obstetrics and team-based coordinated care.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 2017
Randomized Controlled TrialDoes Preprocedural Ultrasound Increase the First-Pass Success Rate of Epidural Catheterization Before Cesarean Delivery? A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Preprocedural ultrasound may improve the efficacy and safety of epidural catheterization, especially in difficult cases. Most studies of ultrasound-assisted epidural catheterization in the obstetric population are dated and nonblinded with inconsistent designs. This double-blind, randomized controlled study aimed to compare the ultrasound-assisted with the conventional palpation techniques for epidural catheterization in parturients undergoing cesarean delivery. We hypothesized that the use of preprocedural ultrasound would increase the success rate of epidural catheterization at the first needle pass. ⋯ For experienced anesthesiologists, it remains unclear whether preprocedural ultrasound improves the epidural catheterization technique in parturients with palpable anatomical landmarks undergoing cesarean delivery.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 2017
ReviewWhy Anesthesiologists Must Incorporate Focused Cardiac Ultrasound Into Daily Practice.
The size, availability, cost, and quality of modern ultrasound devices have, for the first time in modern medicine, enabled point-of-care ultrasound by the noncardiologist physician. The appropriate application of focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) by anesthesiologists has the potential to alter management and affect outcomes for a wide range of patients. In this article, the indications, benefits, and limitations of FoCUS are described. The training and equipment required to perform FoCUS are also discussed.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 2017
ReviewThe Nuts and Bolts of Performing Focused Cardiovascular Ultrasound (FoCUS).
The benefit of focused cardiovascular ultrasound as an adjunct to physical examination has been shown in numerous specialties and in diverse clinical settings. Although the value of these techniques to the practice of anesthesiology is substantial, they have only begun to be incorporated. This article reviews the basic techniques required to perform a bedside focused cardiovascular ultrasound (ie, FoCUS examination). This includes a discussion of patient positioning, breath control, probe position, and manipulation and was supplemented by normal and abnormal examples for review.