Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2019
Comparative StudyRates of Mechanical Ventilation for Patients With Dementia in Ontario: A Population-Based Cohort Study.
The number of elderly patients with dementia receiving invasive mechanical ventilation is increasing over time in the United States, while the balance of potential benefits and harms of intensive care interventions in this population is unclear. In this report, we describe trends in use of invasive mechanical ventilation in elderly individuals with and without dementia in Ontario, Canada, and provide projections of the use of invasive mechanical ventilation through 2025. We show that rates of invasive mechanical ventilation for elderly patients with dementia are increasing faster than for the rest of the elderly (nondementia) population.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2019
Real-Time Measurement of Xenon Concentration in a Binary Gas Mixture Using a Modified Ultrasonic Time-of-Flight Anesthesia Gas Flowmeter: A Technical Feasibility Study.
Xenon (Xe) is an anesthetic gas licensed for use in some countries. Fractional concentrations (%) of gases in a Xe:oxygen (O2) mixture are typically measured using a thermal conductivity meter and fuel cell, respectively. Speed of sound in such a binary gas mixture is related to fractional concentration, temperature, pressure, and molar masses of the component gases. We therefore performed a study to assess the feasibility of developing a novel single sterilizable device that uses ultrasound time-of-flight to measure both real-time flowmetry and fractional gas concentration of Xe in O2. ⋯ The adapted ultrasonic flowmeter estimated Xe (%), but the level of accuracy is insufficient for clinical use. With further work, it may be possible to develop a device to perform both flowmetry and binary gas concentration measurement to a clinically acceptable degree of accuracy.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2019
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of Dexmedetomidine on Blood Glucose and Serum Potassium Levels in Children Undergoing General Anesthesia: A Secondary Analysis of Safety Endpoints During a Randomized Controlled Trial.
Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective α2-adrenergic agonist, which is increasingly used in pediatric anesthesia and intensive care. Potential adverse effects that have not been rigorously evaluated in children include its effects on blood glucose and serum potassium concentrations, which are relevant due to the associations of derangements of both parameters with undesired outcomes. We investigated the effects of 3 different doses of dexmedetomidine on these outcomes in a randomized controlled trial in children undergoing elective surgery. ⋯ Small elevations in glucose and decreases in potassium were observed after induction of anesthesia in children. The elevation in glucose at 15 minutes depended on the dose of dexmedetomidine administered. These preliminary data warrant further investigation.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2019
Identifying Barriers to Implementation of the National Partnership for Maternal Safety Obstetric Hemorrhage Bundle at a Tertiary Center: Utilization of the Delphi Method.
In 2015, the National Partnership for Maternal Safety (NPMS) developed an obstetric hemorrhage consensus bundle to provide birthing facilities in the United States with consistent, validated practice guidelines for postpartum hemorrhage management. The process of implementing each bundle element at a large tertiary labor and delivery unit has not been described; we sought to identify practice deficiencies and perceived barriers to bundle implementation among multidisciplinary providers. ⋯ The NPMS obstetric hemorrhage bundle was created to help guide practice and systems improvement for US birthing facilities. The Delphi method enabled identification of deficient elements and perceived barriers to element implementation, as well as group consensus on elements with highest patient impact and feasibility. Multidisciplinary group consensus can identify deficiencies and promote tangible, quality improvements in a large, tertiary-care labor and delivery unit. Institutions may utilize our described technique to guide implementation of future care bundles.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2019
Comparative Study Observational StudyAdultification of Black Children in Pediatric Anesthesia.
Unconscious racial bias in anesthesia care has been shown to exist. We hypothesized that black children may undergo inhalation induction less often, receive less support from child life, have fewer opportunities to have a family member present for induction, and receive premedication with oral midazolam less often. ⋯ This study suggests that disparities in strategies for mitigating anxiety in the peri-induction period exist and adultification may be 1 cause for this bias. Black children 10 to 14 years of age are 1.3 times as likely as their Caucasian peers to be offered inhalation induction to reduce anxiety. However, black children are less likely to receive premedication with midazolam in the perioperative period or to have family members present at induction. The cause of this difference is unclear, and further prospective studies are needed to fully understand this difference.