Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Aug 2016
ReviewDo we really need sugammadex as an antagonist of muscle relaxants in anesthesia?
Sugammadex is a selective relaxant-binding agent that is designed to encapsulate rocuronium and chemically similar steroidal muscle relaxants such as vecuronium. This review summarizes recent information on the use of sugammadex in clinical practice. ⋯ Sugammadex offers a significantly faster and more predictable recovery profile than neostigmine. It is now possible to reverse rapidly and efficiently any level of neuromuscular blockade and to avoid the risk of adverse events because of residual paralysis such as critical respiratory events during recovery from anesthesia.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Aug 2016
ReviewLevosimendan: new indications and evidence for reduction in perioperative mortality?
In the last years, the perioperative use of levosimendan in cardiac surgery patients is spreading. Moreover, newer indications have been suggested such as the treatment of sepsis-associated myocardial dysfunction. In the present review, we discuss the most recent evidences in these settings. ⋯ Although a strong rationale likely exists to use levosimendan in the setting of perioperative and critical care medicine, evidence mainly comes from small and often poor-quality randomized clinical trials, whose results acquire significance only when pooled in meta-analyses. Moreover, some aspects related to which subgroups of patients may derive the most benefits from receiving levosimendan, to the optimal timing of administration, and to the potential adverse effects need to be further clarified. Important insights will be hopefully provided soon by the several large multicenter investigations which are currently ongoing.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Aug 2016
ReviewThe challenges of implementing electronic health records for anesthesia use outside the operating room.
The nonoperating room environment presents a number of distinct challenges for anesthesiologists in the implementation of electronic health records (EHRs). These include documentation compliance, billing, and room design. ⋯ The needs of anesthesiology practice should be carefully incorporated into future EHR builds as demands for anesthesia care outside of the operating room expand.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Aug 2016
ReviewUse of computer-assisted drug therapy outside the operating room.
The number of procedures performed in the out-of-operating room setting under sedation has increased many fold in recent years. Sedation techniques aim to achieve rapid patient turnover through the use of short-acting drugs with minimal residual side-effects (mainly propofol and opioids). Even for common procedures, the practice of sedation delivery varies widely among providers. Computer-based sedation models have the potential to assist sedation providers and offer a more consistent and safer sedation experience for patients. ⋯ Present automated drug delivery systems can assist in the provision of sedation for out-of-operating room procedures but cannot substitute for anesthesia providers. Use of the available technology has the potential to improve patient outcomes, decrease provider workload, and have a long-term economic impact on anesthesia care delivery outside of the operating room.
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Outpatient plastic surgery is growing around the world. This industry faces unique challenges in terms of patient selection and standards of practice to ensure safety and cost-effectiveness. This review will highlight information about anesthesia practice for outpatient cosmetic surgery in Brazil, especially regarding regulation, legislation, and medical tourism. ⋯ Brazil is one of the world's leaders in cosmetic surgery. Strong legislation governing outpatient facilities and continued development of accrediting standards for healthcare facilities are indications of a commitment to patient safety and high quality of care. Although the market for medical tourism in this country is high, there are still barriers to overcome before Brazil reaches its full potential in this industry.