Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Delirium after cardiac surgery is a serious complication, increasing morbidity and mortality. Despite its high expectations, off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) has largely failed to reduce the incidence of postoperative neurological complications. To further investigate the reasons for this failure, we used perioperative brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the relation between MRI findings and postoperative delirium. ⋯ Magnetic resonance imaging findings of new cerebral ischemic lesions, carotid stenosis, and deep subcortical white matter hyperintensity correlated significantly with postoperative delirium in patients who had undergone OPCAB surgery.
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Multicenter Study
Residents' reluctance to challenge negative hierarchy in the operating room: a qualitative study.
Our aim was to clarify how hierarchy influences residents' reluctance to challenge authority with respect to clearly erroneous medical decision-making. ⋯ Study results showed that hierarchy played a dominant role in the functioning of the operating room. Participants spoke of both the positive and negative effects of such a hierarchical learning environment. The majority of participants described a negative perception of hierarchy as the norm, and they employed many coping strategies. This study provides insight into how a negative hierarchical culture can adversely impact patient safety, resident learning, and team functioning. We propose a theoretical model to describe challenging authority in this context.
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Observational Study
[Evaluating the learning curve for the transversus abdominal plane block: a prospective observational study.]
Anesthesia is a medical specialty where a large number of technical skills need to be mastered with the learning curve for these skills depending on both the technique and the individual involved. The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has demonstrated its effectiveness especially in postoperative analgesia following midline laparotomy. It is usually described as a simple technique even though little is known about the learning curve for this block. The purpose of this study was to determine the learning curve for ultrasound-guided TAP block in anesthesiologists who had no prior experience performing the block. ⋯ This study demonstrates that the TAP block can be rapidly mastered even if the learning curve varies due to inter-individual differences in dexterity and in the ease of obtaining the ultrasound images.
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Preoperative cognitive impairment is a major risk factor for postoperative delirium. We therefore investigated the prognostic significance and feasibility of administering a brief cognitive screen before surgery. ⋯ The AFT is a potentially useful brief cognitive screen for identifying patients at risk of developing postoperative delirium. Limited participation by eligible participants in this study, however, raises questions about how useful and feasible systematic administration of the test is. Large studies using prospective measurement of postoperative delirium are indicated to validate our results.