BMC anesthesiology
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ERAS programs aim to reduce the length of hospital stays and lower costs, and minimize the risk of postoperative complications and readmissions while enhancing the overall patient experience. BMC Anesthesiology has initiated a new collection on ERAS, urging investigators to conduct large-scale, high-quality studies that address the existing knowledge gap.
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Abstract
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Although significant advances in clinical monitoring technology and clinical practice development have taken place in the last several decades, in this editorial we argue that much more still needs to be done. We begin by identifying many of the improvements in perioperative technology that have become available in recent years; these include electroencephalographic depth of anesthesia monitoring, bedside ultrasonography, advanced neuromuscular transmission monitoring systems, and other developments. We then discuss some of the perioperative technical challenges that remain to be satisfactorily addressed, such as products that incorporate poor software design or offer a confusing user interface. Finally we suggest that the journal support initiatives to help remedy this problem by publishing reports on the evaluation of medical equipment as a means to restore the link between clinical research and clinical end-users.
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While the long-term negative effects of obesity on health is a well-studied phenomenon, its effects on acute illnesses seem to be the contrary. Several studies have indicated the possibility of an 'obesity paradox' in sepsis - where overweight and obese patients have better outcomes than normal weight patients. ⋯ Limitations common to such studies include inadequate adjustment for confounding and selection bias. More rigorous investigations to clarify any causal relationship between obesity and mortality in sepsis are needed.