Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Apr 2021
ReviewProfessionalism: microaggression in the healthcare setting.
Microaggressions are daily commonplace, subtle behaviors and attitudes toward others that arise from conscious or unconscious bias. Not only can microaggressions affect one's access to power, resources, and opportunity, but they could also contribute to the persistent disparities faced by marginalized groups among healthcare professionals as well as patients. ⋯ This review offers education on the correlation of microaggression and unconscious bias to health disparities, provides tools to address microaggressions as a bystander, and outlines processes for institutional improvement.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Apr 2021
ReviewDoes thoracic epidural anaesthesia constitute over-instrumentation in video- and robotic-assisted thoracoscopic lung parenchyma resections?
Effective and sustained perioperative analgesia in thoracic surgery and pulmonary resection is beneficial to patients by reducing both postoperative pulmonary complications and the incidence of chronic pain. In this review, the indication of thoracic epidural anaesthesia in video- (VATS) and robotic-assisted (RATS) thoracoscopy shall be critically objectified and presented in a differentiated way. ⋯ Since clear evidence-based recommendations for optimal postoperative analgesia are still lacking in VATS and RATS, there can be no universal recommendation that fits all centres and patients. In this context, thoracic epidural analgesia is the most effective analgesia procedure for perioperative pain control in VATS and RATS-assisted surgery for patients with pulmonary risk factors.
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The epidemiology of sepsis and septic shock has been challenging to study for multiple reasons. These include changing diagnostic definitions, as well a high concentration of sepsis-related studies published from high-income countries (HICs), despite a large global burden. This section attempts to address the incidence of sepsis throughout the years and worldwide. ⋯ The true epidemiology of sepsis worldwide continues to be a highly debated subject, and more research is needed among low-income countries and high-risk subpopulations.
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Advances in the care of inhalational injuries have not kept pace with advances that have been seen in the treatment of cutaneous burns. There is not yet a standard of care for best outcomes for airway management of patients with known or suspected inhalational injuries. Clinicians must decide if to intubate the patient, and if so, whether to intubate early or late in their presentation. Unnecessary intubation affects morbidity and mortality. This review will summarize literature that highlights present practices in the treatment of patients with inhalation injuries. ⋯ Inhalational injuries are a significant source of morbidity and mortality in thermally injured patients. Treatment modalities, such as modified ventilator settings, alteration in fluid resuscitation, and a standardized grading system may improve morbidity and mortality.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Apr 2021
ReviewBlood transfusion and alternatives in Jehovah's Witness patients.
More than 8.5 million people in the world observe the Jehovah's Witness faith, and require unique consideration for perioperative blood management as they generally refuse transfusion of blood and blood products. This review addresses a collaborative approach to each patient throughout the perioperative arena. The principles of this approach include optimization of hemoglobin levels preoperatively, attention to blood-salvaging methods intraoperatively, and minimization of blood draws postoperatively. In addition, we review the technologies currently in development as transfusion alternatives, including hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers. ⋯ Utilization of multiple prevention and mitigation strategies to optimize oxygen supply and decrease oxygen demand will lead to decreased incidence of critical anemia and subsequent improved mortality in Jehovah's Witness patients.