Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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To identify and characterize the evidence supporting decisions made in the care of patients with selected medical conditions undergoing ambulatory anesthesia and surgery. Conditions highlighted in this review include: the elderly, heart transplantation, hyper-reactive airway disease, coronary artery disease, and obstructive sleep apnea. ⋯ Ambulatory anesthesia is infrequently associated with adverse outcomes, however, knowledge regarding specific patient conditions is of generally low quality. Few prospective trials are available to guide management decisions.
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To review the effects of maternal anesthesia and analgesia on the fetus and newborn. ⋯ The well-being of the infant is a major criterion for evaluating the anesthetic management of pregnant women. Many tools exist to assist with this determination for the fetus, whereas few are available to evaluate the newborn.
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To determine whether the use of cell salvage reduces the proportion of patients receiving at least one unit of allogeneic packed red blood cells during the perioperative period of an elective vascular surgery. ⋯ Cell salvage, a commonly used technique to recover red cells from the operative field, has been the subject of several studies in vascular surgery. There is insufficient evidence to recommend the routine use of cell salvage in elective abdominal aortic aneurysm and aorto-femoral bypass surgeries. A large RCT would elucidate whether cell salvage is effective as a blood conservation technique.
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To determine whether the use of cell salvage reduces the proportion of patients receiving at least one unit of allogeneic packed red blood cells during the perioperative period of an elective vascular surgery. ⋯ Cell salvage, a commonly used technique to recover red cells from the operative field, has been the subject of several studies in vascular surgery. There is insufficient evidence to recommend the routine use of cell salvage in elective abdominal aortic aneurysm and aorto-femoral bypass surgeries. A large RCT would elucidate whether cell salvage is effective as a blood conservation technique.
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With the advent of competency-based curriculum, technology such as full scale computer simulators have acquired an increasingly important role in anesthesia both in training and evaluation. This article reviews the current role of full scale computer simulators in teaching and evaluation in anesthesia. ⋯ As technology acquires an increasingly important role in medical education, full scale computer simulators represent an exciting potential in anesthesia. However, the full potential and role of simulators in anesthesia is still in development and will require a dovetailing of clinical theory and practice with current research in medical education.