Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Apr 2019
ReviewFinancial Considerations of an Anesthesia Consult Service.
Surgical patients with complex cardiac disease often require noncardiac surgery. There have been recent articles written concerning the role of the cardiothoracic anesthesiologist as a consultant in the operating room as well as outside the operating theatre.1,2 With the evolution of the cardiothoracic anesthesia consult service (CACS), there are many issues regarding medical billing, financial reimbursement, and Medicare rules that anesthesiologists may not be familiar with. This paper will discuss the financial implications of starting a CACS.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Apr 2019
Randomized Controlled TrialCalculation Algorithm Reduces Protamine Doses Without Increasing Blood Loss or the Transfusion Rate in Cardiac Surgery: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.
The aim of the study was to investigate whether the HeProCalc algorithm affects heparin and protamine dosage, postoperative blood loss, and transfusion rate. ⋯ Use of the HeProCalc algorithm reduced protamine dosage and the protamine/heparin ratio after cardiopulmonary bypass compared with conventional dosage based on weight without significant effect on postoperative blood loss or the transfusion rate.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Apr 2019
Predictive Value of Stress Testing, Revised Cardiac Risk Index, and Functional Status in Patients Undergoing Non Cardiac Surgery.
Patients undergoing noncardiac surgery are at risk for postoperative cardiovascular complications. Literature regarding the ability of the Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI), functional capacity, and stress testing to predict perioperative cardiac events is scarce. The authors examined the association of these parameters with perioperative cardiac events and their additive ability to predict these outcomes. ⋯ In a cohort of patients with predominantly good functional status and intermediate-to-high RCRI scores, addition of a preoperative stress test was of only moderate value in predicting postoperative cardiovascular outcomes compared with a combination of functional class and RCRI.