Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 2007
Comparative StudyCoordination of appointments for anesthesia care outside of operating rooms using an enterprise-wide scheduling system.
An anesthesia department implemented scheduling of anesthetics outside of operating rooms (non-OR) by clerks and nurses from other departments using its hospital's enterprise-wide scheduling system. ⋯ Enterprise-wide scheduling can coordinate anesthetics with other appointments on the same date and improve consistency and accuracy of patient instructions customized to the probability of an anesthetic starting early. The usefulness of implementation depends on the value in having more patient-centered care and/or in having patients arrive just in time for non-OR anesthesia, surgery, or regional block placement (e.g., at facilities with limited physical space).
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 2007
Comparative StudyAn experimental and clinical evaluation of a novel central venous catheter with integrated oximetry for pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) accurately reflects cardiocirculatory function, but is not always feasible in pediatric patients. Using an experimental and clinical approach, we determined the accuracy of a novel pediatric central venous catheter with integrated fiberoptic oximetry, correlated ScvO2 to periprocedural vital variables, and tested its feasibility in pediatric cardiac surgery patients. ⋯ Integrated central venous oximetry catheters provide accurate continuous ScvO2 monitoring in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. ScvO2 fiberoptic oximetry correlates better with changes in CI as compared to routine hemodynamic variables.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 2007
Development of a standardized method for motion testing in pulse oximeters.
Pulse oximeter performance in the presence of motion varies among devices and manufacturers because of variations in hardware, software, testing, and calibration. Compounding these differences is a lack of uniform characterization of motion, and the consequential effects of motion upon the wide range of normal and abnormal human physiology. Traditional motion testing attempts to standardize motion into a reproducible form by using a mechanical jig to produce passive motion of a known amplitude and frequency. This type of motion challenge fails to account for the physiologic changes induced by active movement. ⋯ We have set the stage for a feasibility demonstration using a novel form of testing. With sufficient subjects and proper statistical evaluation, a robust test method for assessing the performance of pulse oximeters in the presence of motion may be at hand.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Dec 2007
Comparative StudyA prospective evaluation of the POVOC score for the prediction of postoperative vomiting in children.
A score to predict postoperative vomiting (PV) in children (POVOC score) has recently been published but has not yet undergone an external validation. ⋯ Using the POVOC score, PV in pediatric patients can be predicted with sufficient accuracy comparable to the results in adult patients, even if one of the risk factors is not applicable.
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Pregabalin is a new synthetic molecule and a structural derivative of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid. It is an alpha2-delta (alpha2-delta) ligand that has analgesic, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, and sleep-modulating activities. ⋯ In this review, I will discuss the pharmacology of pregabalin and available efficacy studies in pain management. This review will focus on the advances in pregabalin pharmacology since my previous review in 2005.