Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2019
ReviewApplying Conflict Management Strategies to the Pediatric Operating Room.
Effective communication is essential in today's health care environment, and poor communication can lead to conflict among health care providers. Differences in cultures and beliefs can further incite conflict among health care team members, families, and patients. Pediatric patient care has a higher potential for conflict because decision-making responsibilities are shared among patients, parents/guardians, and clinicians. ⋯ Aligning the interests of the parties involved in conflict will encourage collaborative problem solving. Cultural competency training can improve communication and conflict management skills. Effective conflict management through formal education of all perioperative team members can lead to improved communication and teamwork and better patient outcomes.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2019
Multicenter StudyRetrospective Cohort Study on the Optimal Timing of Orogastric Tube/Nasogastric Tube Insertion in Infants With Pyloric Stenosis.
Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in infants can cause a buildup of gastric contents. Orogastric tubes (OGTs) or nasogastric tubes (NGTs) are often placed in patients with pyloric stenosis before surgical management to prevent aspiration. However, exacerbation of gastric losses may lead to electrolyte abnormalities that can delay surgery, and placement has been associated with increased risk of postoperative emesis. Currently, there are no evidence-based guidelines regarding OGT/NGT placement in these patients. This study examines whether OGT/NGT placement before arrival in the operating room was associated with a longer time to readiness for surgery as defined by normalization of electrolytes. Secondary outcomes included time from surgery to discharge and ability to tolerate feeds by 6 hours postoperatively in patients with and without early OGT/NGT placement. ⋯ OGT/NGT placement on admission for pyloric stenosis is associated with a longer time to electrolyte correction in infants with abnormal laboratory values on presentation and, subsequently, a longer time until they are ready for surgery. It is also associated with longer postoperative hospital stay but not an increased risk of feeding intolerance within 6 hours of surgical repair.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2019
ReviewControversies in the Postoperative Management of the Critically Ill Heart Transplant Patient.
Heart transplant recipients are susceptible to a number of complications in the immediate postoperative period. Despite advances in surgical techniques, mechanical circulatory support (MCS), and immunosuppression, evidence supporting optimal management strategies of the critically ill transplant patient is lacking on many fronts. This review identifies some of these controversies with the aim of stimulating further discussion and development into these gray areas.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2019
Comparative StudyComparison of Standard and Enhanced Pulse Oximeter Auditory Displays of Oxygen Saturation: A Laboratory Study With Clinician and Nonclinician Participants.
When engaged in visually demanding tasks, anesthesiologists depend on the auditory display of the pulse oximeter (PO) to provide information about patients' oxygen saturation (SpO2). Current auditory displays are not always effective at providing SpO2 information. In this laboratory study, clinician and nonclinician participants identified SpO2 parameters using either a standard auditory display or an auditory display enhanced with additional acoustic properties while performing distractor tasks and in the presence of background noise. ⋯ The enhanced auditory display supports more accurate detection of target transitions and identification of SpO2 range for both clinicians and nonclinicians. Despite their previous experience using PO auditory displays, clinicians in this laboratory study were no more accurate in any SpO2 outcomes than nonclinician participants.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2019
ReviewFocused Cardiac Ultrasound in the Pediatric Perioperative Setting.
Focused cardiac ultrasonography (FoCUS) has become an important diagnostic tool for acute care physicians. FoCUS allows real-time visualization of the heart and, in combination with the physical examination, acts as a hemodynamic monitor to manage patient care in acute situations. Most of the available perioperative literature has focused on adult patients. ⋯ Barriers to implementation by pediatric intensivists and emergency medicine physicians include a lack of understanding of indications and training opportunities in pediatric FoCUS. It is likely that similar barriers exist in pediatric anesthesiology resulting in underutilization of FoCUS. The use of FoCUS in the pediatric operating room, however, may positively impact care of infants and children and should be encouraged.