AANA journal
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Despite great strides during the preceding 3 decades, the ability to consistently eliminate postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) continues to elude anesthesia practitioners. The occurrence of PONV related to anesthesia and surgery prolongs hospital stays and increases healthcare costs. Protracted recovery times place constraints on patients, healthcare systems, and healthcare financiers. ⋯ Eastern culture, on the other hand, relies heavily on naturopathic remedies whose successful use has spanned thousands of years. Increasing attention has been given to the potential benefits of nonpharmacological intervention for the prevention of PONV in association with anesthesia care. Therefore, the purpose of this AANA Journal course will be to focus attention on what is known and what is unknown in the literature regarding use of the nonallopathic remedy of acupressure as a nonpharmacological alternative to commonly utilized antiemetic prophylaxis.
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In selecting an anesthetic agent to be used for neurosurgical procedures, the anesthesia provider must consider the agent's effects on intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption (CMRO2). The anesthetic of choice for neurosurgical procedures for many decades has been thiopental. It meets the strict requirements for neurosurgical procedures because it protects the brain from ischemia and herniation by lowering ICP through decreases in CBF and CMRO However, new drugs, including etomidate and propofol, have been introduced that offer anesthesia providers comparable neuroprotective actions plus other positive attributes. ⋯ The literature showed that all 3 anesthetic agents provide favorable neurological protection. Each drug has some undesirable side effects. Knowledge of these side effects and the patient's medical and surgical history can help CRNAs determine the most suitable anesthetic in specific situations.
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Droperidol has been an efficacious, inexpensive butyrophenone used since the early 1970s to prevent or treat postoperative nausea and vomiting. Because of reports of sudden cardiac death in patients receiving droperidol, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently placed significant restrictions on its administration. ⋯ Haloperidol is another butyrophenone with antiemetic properties but without the FDA restrictions. This article reviews the literature regarding haloperidol and supports its use as a safe substitute for droperidol in the prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting.
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Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) provide surgical care for patients not requiring hospital admission for their postoperative care. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a disease process affecting every phase of anesthesia care delivery. The potential complications of OSAS and anesthesia care have been well documented in the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative phases. ⋯ The influence of residual anesthetics, analgesia, airway edema, and disruption of sleep cycles may result in significant postoperative apneic events in this patient population. There is a lack of studies regarding the outcomes and management of patients with OSAS in the outpatient and ASC environments. Until there are more studies defining the risk and outlining safe and appropriate care for these patients, it would seem reasonable to remain conservative in our approach because the negative outcomes in this population can be catastrophic.
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Documentation is the last component of anesthesia patient management to be affected by technology. Anesthesia information management systems (AIMS) have been introduced in a limited number of practice sites. ⋯ This results in improved patient care and possible medical legal advantages. AIMS also allow anesthesia departments to monitor their business related activity.