Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2019
Unpredictable Injectate Spread of the Erector Spinae Plane Block in Human Cadavers.
We performed bilateral ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane blocks at the second and eighth thoracic vertebrae in 11 fresh frozen cadavers. Methylene blue dye spread variably and extensively deep to the erector spinae muscles fascia with involvement of the spinal rami and paravertebral space in 1 of 11 cadavers when injected at the eighth thoracic vertebra, and in 4 of 11 cadavers at the second thoracic vertebra, with crossover to the contralateral side of the spine. Our study demonstrates that in cadavers, an erector spinae plane block follows the fascial planes with unpredictable spread, which might explain its varying clinical efficacy.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2019
ReviewWhat Does a Red Meat Allergy Have to Do With Anesthesia? Perioperative Management of Alpha-Gal Syndrome.
Over the past decade, there has been a growing awareness of a new allergic syndrome known as alpha-gal allergy or alpha-gal syndrome, commonly recognized as a red meat allergy. We performed a review of the literature to identify articles that provide both background on this syndrome in general and any reports of reactions to medications or medical devices related to alpha-gal syndrome. Alpha-gal syndrome results from IgE to the oligosaccharide galactose-α-1,3-galactose, expressed in the meat and tissues of noncatarrhine mammals. ⋯ Many of these reactions result from inactive substances that are part of the manufacturing or preparation process such as gelatin or stearic acid. This allergy may be documented in a variety of ways or informally reported by the patient, requiring vigilance on the part of the anesthesiologist to detect this syndrome, given its serious implications. This allergy presents a number of unique challenges to the anesthesiologist, including proper identification of a patient with alpha-gal syndrome and selection of anesthetic and adjunctive medications that will not trigger this allergy.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2019
Major Neurologic Complications Associated With Postdural Puncture Headache in Obstetrics: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
Increased risks of cerebral venous thrombosis or subdural hematoma, bacterial meningitis, persistent headache, and persistent low back pain are suggested in obstetric patients with postdural puncture headache (PDPH). Acute postpartum pain such as PDPH may also lead to postpartum depression. This study tested the hypothesis that PDPH in obstetric patients is associated with significantly increased postpartum risks of major neurologic and other maternal complications. ⋯ PDPH is associated with substantially increased postpartum risks of major neurologic and other maternal complications, underscoring the importance of early recognition and treatment of anesthesia-related complications in obstetrics.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2019
Customizable Curriculum to Enhance Resident Communication Skills.
Communication remains challenging to teach and evaluate. We designed an online patient survey to assess anesthesia residents' communication skills from August 2014 to July 2015. ⋯ Based on the Hodges-Lehmann 2-sample aligned rank-sum test, overall ratings, reported as the median (interquartile range) of residents' average overall ratings, differed significantly between the preintervention (3.86 [3.76-3.94]) and postintervention (3.91 [3.84-3.95]) periods (P = .025). Future studies should assess the intervention's effectiveness and generalizability.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2019
Association Between Participation and Performance in MOCA Minute and Actions Against the Medical Licenses of Anesthesiologists.
In January 2016, as part of the Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA) program, the American Board of Anesthesiology launched MOCA Minute, a web-based longitudinal assessment, to supplant the former cognitive examination. We investigated the association between participation and performance in MOCA Minute and disciplinary actions against medical licenses of anesthesiologists. ⋯ Both timely participation and meeting performance standard in MOCA Minute are associated with a lower likelihood of being disciplined by a state medical board.