Anesthesiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Narcotrend does not adequately detect the transition between awareness and unconsciousness in surgical patients.
The Narcotrend index (MonitorTechnik, Bad Bramstedt, Germany) is a dimensionless number between 0 and 100 that is calculated from the electroencephalogram and inversely correlates with depth of hypnosis. The current study evaluates the capability of the Narcotrend to separate awareness from unconsciousness at the transition between these levels. ⋯ In these challenging data, the Narcotrend did not differentiate between awareness and unconsciousness. In addition, Narcotrend values were not independent from the anesthetic regimen.
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Preconditioning against myocardial infarction by volatile anesthetics is well known. The authors tested the hypothesis that new emulsified formulations of halogenated anesthetics administered intravenously reduce myocardial infarct size when administered either 1 or 24 h before prolonged ischemia and reperfusion. ⋯ Intravenous emulsified halogenated anesthetics produce acute and delayed preconditioning against myocardial infarction.
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Operating room efficiency is an important concern in most hospitals today. Little work has been reported to evaluate the contribution of anesthesia residents to changes in anesthesia-controlled time-related efficiencies in the operating room. The goal of this study was to measure the impact of the initiation of new residents to the operating room on anesthesia-related time measures of operating room efficiency. ⋯ Although statistically significant time differences were found, these data strongly suggest that the initiation of anesthesia trainees to the operating room has no clinically or economically meaningful adverse effect on the anesthesia-controlled time component of operating room efficiency.