Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Anesthesiologists work in a complex environment that is intolerant of errors. Cognitive errors, or errors in thought processes, are mistakes that a clinician makes despite 'knowing better'. Several new studies provide a better understanding of how to manage risk while making better decisions. ⋯ Effective decision-making and risk management reduce the risk of adverse events in the operating room. This article proposes several new decision-making and risk assessment tools for use in the operating room.
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Patient safety is topical today. Competent professionals are necessary to keep anesthesia care safe, and teaching trainees is an important element in safety work. The purpose of this review is to present the latest research on anesthesia training and trainees. ⋯ Much research about anesthesia training concerns simulator training and assessment of trainees' competence. More research is needed to understand the process of learning anesthesia.
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To summarize the currently available data on malpractice claims related to ambulatory anesthesia and provide an insight into the emerging patterns of anesthesia liability in this practice setting. ⋯ With steady increase in outpatient surgery, anesthesiologists are confronted with new areas of liability. More data are needed to identify these risks and reduce exposure to malpractice claims.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Dec 2012
ReviewNausea and vomiting after surgery: it is not just postoperative.
The purpose of this review is to highlight postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), to discuss why it occurs, how it might be prevented and then how it can be treated. ⋯ It is easy to turn the vapourizer dial, but that is a part of the problem. Not everyone reacts the same to drugs. Although PDNV is not as well characterized as PONV, at the very least, avoid an anaesthetic that may make PONV/PDNV worse and be aggressive in treating the problem.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Dec 2012
ReviewMobile computing in medical education: opportunities and challenges.
There is an increasing importance of incorporating mobile computing into the academic medical environment. A growing majority of physicians, residents and medical students currently use mobile devices for education, access to clinical information and to facilitate bedside care. Therefore, it is important to assess the current opportunities and challenges in the use of mobile computing devices in the academic medical environment. ⋯ Understanding the opportunities and challenges of using mobile computing devices in the academic medical environment can help determine the feasibility and benefits of their use for individuals and institutions.