Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 2009
Typical savings from each minute reduction in tardy first case of the day starts.
Analysts and clinicians sitting in operating room (OR) committee meetings cannot evaluate rapidly whether a suggested idea to reduce delays in first case of the day starts can be beneficial economically. ⋯ Typical savings for reducing tardiness of first case of the day starts at a surgical suite equal the product of four values: i) 1.1 min reduction in staffed OR time per 1 min reduction in tardiness, ii) estimate for reductions in tardiness (min) per OR, iii) number of ORs at the suite with more than 8 h of cases, and iv) sum of the average compensations per regularly scheduled minute for personnel in each OR. If small, the analyst and/or clinician can promptly speak up and refocus group conversation toward other potential interventions. If large, the full return on investment analysis would be performed.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 2009
The effect of the Operating Room Coordinator's risk appreciation on operating room efficiency.
The Operating Room Coordinator (ORC) is responsible for filling gaps in every operating room (OR) schedule. We have observed differences among the personalities of the four ORCs with regard to their willingness to agree to assume more risk concerning their daily planning. The hypothesis to be tested is that the relationship between the personality of each of the four ORCs and the risk an ORC is willing to take of cases running late affects OR efficiency. ⋯ The conclusion of this study is that a nonrisk-averse ORC creates significantly less unused OR capacity without a great chance of running ORs after regular working hours or canceling elective cases scheduled for surgery compared to a risk-averse ORC.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 2009
Tracheal tube exchange: feasibility of continuous glottic viewing with advanced laryngoscopy assistance.
Trachea tube exchange via an airway exchange catheter is commonly combined with conventional laryngoscopy to assist intubation of the trachea. Glottic visualization may not be possible in the difficult airway. A delay in reintubation, airway injury, or intubation failure may complicate "blind" tracheal intubation because of excessive endotracheal tube size or tip impingement on airway structures. Advanced laryngoscopic techniques offering "around the corner" visualization may overcome many of the limitations of conventional laryngoscopy's "line of sight." In this data review, I examined the feasibility and usefulness of transforming a high-risk exchange from a blind procedure into one with improved glottic visualization.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 2009
Letter Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyThe EndoFlex tube enhances navigability through the nasal cavity during nasotracheal intubation.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 2009
Antiinflammatory and antihyperalgesic activity of C-phycocyanin.
C-phycocyanin (C-PC), a biliprotein found in blue green algae, such as Spirulina platensis, is often used as a dietary nutritional supplement due to its various therapeutic values. In addition, the antiinflammatory activity of C-PC partly through inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine formation, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygeanase-2 (COX-2) expression has been demonstrated in many in vitro and in vivo studies. However, whether C-PC also has antihyperalgesic activity in inflammatory nociception has not been investigated. ⋯ Based on these results, it is suggested that the inhibition of NO and prostaglandin E(2) over-production through suppressing iNOS and COX-2 induction and attenuation of TNF-alpha formation and neutrophil infiltration into inflammatory sites by C-PC may contribute, at least in part, to its antihyperalgesic activity.