Anesthesia and analgesia
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2012
ReviewSociety for Ambulatory Anesthesia consensus statement on preoperative selection of adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea scheduled for ambulatory surgery.
The suitability of ambulatory surgery for a patient with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains controversial because of concerns of increased perioperative complications including postdischarge death. Therefore, a Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia task force on practice guidelines developed a consensus statement for the selection of patients with OSA scheduled for ambulatory surgery. A systematic review of the literature was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. ⋯ How does this guideline differ from existing guidelines? Unlike the ASA guidelines, this consensus statement recommends the use of the STOP-Bang criteria for preoperative OSA screening and considers patients' comorbid conditions in the patient selection process. Also, current literature does not support the ASA recommendations that upper abdominal procedures are not appropriate for ambulatory surgery. Why does this guideline differ from existing guidelines? This consensus statement differs from existing ASA guidelines because of the availability of new evidence.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialLocal insufflation of warm humidified CO₂increases open wound and core temperature during open colon surgery: a randomized clinical trial.
The open surgical wound is exposed to cold and dry ambient air resulting in heat loss through radiation, evaporation, and convection. Also, general and neuraxial anesthesia decrease the patient's core temperature. Despite routine preventive measures mild intraoperative hypothermia is still common and contributes to postoperative morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that local insufflation of warm fully humidified CO(2) would increase both the open surgical wound and core temperature. ⋯ Insufflation of warm fully humidified CO(2) in an open surgical wound cavity increases surgical wound and core temperatures and helps to maintain normothermia.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2012
ReviewOff-label use of medications in children undergoing sedation and anesthesia.
Many drugs used for anesthesia and analgesia in children are administered "off-label." We undertook an audit of drugs commonly used for pediatric anesthesia to determine which drugs have United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling for pediatric use, which drugs are age-restricted, and which have no labeling for pediatric use. ⋯ Many drugs used for children during anesthesia continue to lack FDA labeling for pediatric use. Off-label use of these drugs is an accepted practice that is considered superior to the alternative of withholding needed medications. Studies are still needed to determine the safety and efficacy of drugs that lack FDA labeling for this vulnerable patient population.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2012
Similar liability for trauma and nontrauma surgical anesthesia: a closed claims analysis.
Trauma care has many challenges, including the perception by nonanesthesia physicians of increased medical malpractice liability. We used the American Society of Anesthesiologists' Closed Claims Project database and the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to compare the rate of claims for trauma anesthesia care to national trauma surgery data. We also used the American Society of Anesthesiologists' Closed Claims Project database to evaluate injury and liability profiles of trauma anesthesia malpractice claims compared to nontrauma surgical anesthesia claims. ⋯ Despite reported perceptions that trauma care involves a high risk of medical liability, there was no apparent increased risk of liability among inpatients presenting for trauma anesthesia care. The proportion in malpractice claims in trauma anesthesia care was not increased compared to nontraumatic surgical anesthesia care. With respect to medicolegal liability, these results support participation of anesthesia providers in multidisciplinary trauma care and organized systems.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2012
The association of maternal race and ethnicity and the risk of postpartum hemorrhage.
There are profound racial and ethnic disparities in obstetric outcomes in the United States, but little is known about disparities in risk of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). We explored the association of race and ethnicity on the risk of PPH due to uterine atony with sequential adjustment for possible mediating factors. ⋯ Hispanic ethnicity and Asian/Pacific Islander race are significant risk factors for atonic PPH independent of measured potential mediators; biological differences may play a role.