Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 2006
Comparative StudyIncorporating simulation-based objective structured clinical examination into the Israeli National Board Examination in Anesthesiology.
We describe the unique process whereby simulation-based, objective structured clinical evaluation (OSCE) has been incorporated into the Israeli board examination in anesthesiology. Development of the examination included three steps: a) definition of clinical conditions that residents are required to handle competently, b) definition of tasks pertaining to each of the conditions, and c) incorporation of the tasks into hands-on simulation-based examination stations in the OSCE format, including 1) trauma management, 2) resuscitation, 3) crisis management in the operating room, 4) regional anesthesia, and 5) mechanical ventilation. Members of the Israeli Board of Anesthesiology Examination Committee assisted by experts from the Israel Center for Medical Simulation and from Israel's National Institute for Testing and Evaluation were involved in this process and in the development of the assessment tools, orientation of examinees, and preparation of examiners. ⋯ The correlation between the total score and the general score was 0.76. According to a subjective feedback questionnaire, most (70%-90%) participants found the difficulty level of the examination stations reasonable to very easy and prefer this method of examination to a conventional oral examination. The incorporation of OSCE-driven modalities in the certification of anesthesiologists in Israel is a continuing process of evaluation and assessment.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 2006
Case ReportsIntrathecal catheter granuloma associated with isolated baclofen infusion.
Intrathecal (IT) baclofen is an effective management strategy for controlling spasticity in patients unresponsive to maximal oral therapy. We present the case of a 57-yr-old woman who was rendered quadriplegic after a complete spinal cord transection at the C6 level. Her course was complicated by severe spasms, which were uncontrolled despite titrating orally administered baclofen to 80 mg/d. ⋯ These investigations revealed neither catheter displacement nor fracture as suspected but, rather, displayed the presence of a catheter tip-associated mass. Catheter tip granuloma has not previously been described in a patient receiving IT baclofen alone. This suggests that although uncommon, the possibility of catheter-associated granuloma must be considered in all patients receiving IT baclofen presenting with altered neurological function or significant increase in drug requirement.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 2006
Comparative StudyPredictive performance of three multivariate difficult tracheal intubation models: a double-blind, case-controlled study.
We performed a case-controlled, double-blind study to examine the performance of three multivariate clinical models (Wilson, Arné, and Naguib models) in the prediction of unanticipated difficult intubation. The study group consisted of 97 patients in whom an unanticipated difficult intubation had occurred. For each difficult intubation patient, a matched control patient was selected in whom tracheal intubation had been easily accomplished. ⋯ The corresponding area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.87, 0.79, and 0.82, respectively. Our new model for prediction of difficult intubation was developed using logistic regression and includes thyromental distance, Mallampati score, interincisor gap, and height. This model is 82.5% sensitive and 85.6% specific with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.90.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyRocuronium is not associated with more vocal cord injuries than succinylcholine after rapid-sequence induction: a randomized, prospective, controlled trial.
Postoperative hoarseness (PH), sore throat (ST), and vocal cord injuries (VCI) are common complications after general anesthesia. Excellent endotracheal intubating conditions are associated with less laryngeal morbidity than good or poor intubating conditions. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that a rapid-sequence induction (RSI) with succinylcholine would lead to less PH and VCI than with rocuronium. ⋯ Intubating conditions were significantly better in the succinylcholine group compared with the rocuronium group. The incidence and severity of ST and myalgia were not increased in the patients receiving succinylcholine. However, the rate of PH and VCI was similar to the rocuronium group.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyP6 acupressure does not prevent emesis during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery.
Nausea and vomiting are major adverse effects during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery. Stimulation of the P6 (Neiguan) acupoint is a traditional Chinese acupuncture technique used for effective antiemetic purposes. In this study, we evaluated the antiemetic effect of P6 acupressure in parturients during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery. ⋯ There were no statistically significant differences in maternal characteristics. Incidence rates for intraoperative nausea were 64% (acupressure group) and 71% (control group) (P = 0.416), with an incidence of intraoperative vomiting of 22% (acupressure group) and 27% (control group) (P = 0.506). The results suggest that prophylactic use of acupressure bands bilaterally on the P6 acupoint failed to prevent nausea and vomiting during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery.