Journal of clinical anesthesia
-
Review Historical Article
Nitrous or nitric? Same difference. Molecular formulas in the 1840s.
The molecular formulas given by James Y. Simpson for nitrous oxide, diethyl ether, and chloroform are difficult to interpret today. ⋯ The nitrous oxide formula was incorrect owing to confusion with Dalton's nitrous gas, now termed nitric oxide. The Simpson formulas illustrate that inhaled anesthesia arrived at the time of a cusp in the history of chemistry.
-
Regional anesthesia has many advantages, which include low cost, ease of administration, and avoidance of risks associated with general anesthesia. Injection of local anesthetic via a needle as part of a regional anesthetic technique can be a stressful experience. ⋯ The issue of patient comfort has not been reviewed in its entirety. This review seeks to collate known information in a systematic format and provide a framework for patient comfort during regional anesthesia.
-
Smoking is the single most cause of preventable disease and premature death in the United States. We discuss potential hazards that the anesthesiologist should be aware of when caring for patients who abuse tobacco. A review of recent preoperative smoking cessation initiatives is also provided in addition to recommendations on how anesthesiologists may use the preoperative visit as an opportunity to play a more active role in reducing the burden of tobacco-related disease.
-
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) continues to be a "big little problem" despite recent advances in anesthesia. Because of an increased interest in, and the abundant publications on this topic, guidelines for the management of PONV were published in 2003. ⋯ The application of these antiemetics in clinical practice has raised questions regarding the role of the 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in the treatment of postdischarge nausea and vomiting and opioid-induced nausea and vomiting. A brief overview of the incidence, risk factors and current management recommendations for PONV and current controversies with special emphasis on the 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, is discussed.
-
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Outcome Project requires teaching and evaluation of 6 core competencies, one of which is professionalism. Because of this initiative, anesthesiology residency programs are obliged to teach and evaluate professionalism for anesthesiology residents. We decided to create a system that would allow the teaching and evaluation of professionalism in the specific context of anesthesiology.