Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Dec 2017
ReviewChallenges in the anesthetic management of ambulatory patients in the MRI suites.
MRI is becoming an indispensable diagnostic tool. The need for prolonged motion-free periods has substantially increased the need for deep sedation or anesthesia in a challenging environment. This review summarises recent literature with respect to pharmacological sedative strategies, nonpharmacological alternative approaches, airway management and safety issues in the ambulatory setting. ⋯ The anesthetic management of ambulatory patients in the MRI environment has its specific challenges and safety issues. However, the implementation of safety guidelines, new pharmacological and alternative nonpharmacological sedation strategies offer interesting perspectives to tackle these challenges.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Dec 2017
ReviewThe future of nonoperating room anesthesia in the 21st century: emphasis on quality and safety.
Nonoperating room anesthesia (NORA) has grown from an insignificant percentage of total anesthesia cases into a major percentage of anesthesia workload over the past 30 years. This trend evidences no signs of abating. ⋯ It may be anticipated that in the next decade that NORA cases will constitute over 50% of the number of cases performed with anesthesia involvement. As the last century belonged to invasive surgery, the next century will belong to interventionalists. There is also an increasing national emphasis on quality measurement and metrics reporting. Future anesthesia payment models under Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, such as merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS), emphasize various process and outcomes measures. Anesthesiologists will be evaluated based on a composite performance score consisting of four components: quality, resource use, clinical practice improvement activities and meaningful use of certified electronic health record technology.
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Epidural analgesia remains a widely used analgesic technique. This article aims to assess the safety of epidural analgesia by balancing efficacy and complications, of epidural analgesia for acute, labor and chronic pain. ⋯ Epidural analgesia for obstetric analgesic purposes is considered to be well tolerated in young, healthy women, since efficacy has been proven and complications leading to permanent neurological damage seldomly occur. Safety of epidural analgesia for perioperative and chronic pain treatment is more difficult to balance; careful selection of appropriate patients cannot be over-emphasized.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Dec 2017
ReviewHeart rate variability: implications for perioperative anesthesia care.
Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of the balance between both the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system and may provide useful information for anesthesia care providers. HRV may offer predictive information about critically ill and operative patients. Further, HRV collection provides real-time information of patient autonomic nervous system status and may allow tailoring of the analgesia for patients in the ICU and operating room. ⋯ Not applicable.
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Simulation training in obstetric anesthesia has become widespread in recent years. Simulations are used to train staff and trainees, assess and improve team performance, and evaluate the work environment. This review summarizes current research in these categories. ⋯ Simulation allows for practice of tasks and teamwork in a controlled manner. There is little data whether simulation improves patient outcomes and metrics to predict the long-term retention of skills by simulation participants have not been developed.