Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Lumbar plexus (LP) block is a common and useful regional anesthesia technique. Surface landmarks used to identify the LP in patients with healthy spines have been previously described, with the distance from the spinous process (SP) to the skin overlying the LP being approximately two-thirds the distance from the SP to the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS) (SP-LP:SP-PSIS ratio). In scoliotic patients, rotation of the central neuraxis may make these surface landmarks unreliable, possibly leading to an increased block failure rate and an increased incidence of complications. The objective of the present study was to describe these surface landmarks of the LP in patients with scoliosis. ⋯ In patients with scoliotic disease of the spine, there is wide variability in the bony surface landmarks. The location of the LP is generally more medial than expected when compared with both modified and traditional landmarks. A review of the imaging studies and the pre-procedural ultrasound assessment of the anatomy should be considered prior to needle puncture.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Intraoperative awareness risk, anesthetic sensitivity, and anesthetic management for patients with natural red hair: a matched cohort study.
Red-haired patients show no greater risk of intraoperative awareness than other phenotypes.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Efficacy of a single dose of dexmedetomidine for cough suppression during anesthetic emergence: a randomized controlled trial.
Maintenance of a remifentanil infusion during anesthetic emergence has been reported to decrease the incidence of coughing and thereby help to ensure a smooth emergence. It may, however, cause respiratory depression and possibly delay emergence. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a single dose of dexmedetomidine combined with a low-dose remifentanil infusion on cough suppression during emergence from general anesthesia. ⋯ Compared with an infusion of low-dose remifentanil alone, the addition of a single dose (0.5 μg·kg(-1)) of dexmedetomidine during emergence from sevoflurane-remifentanil anesthesia was effective in attenuating coughing and hemodynamic changes and did not exacerbate respiratory depression after thyroid surgery. This trial was registered at Clinicaltrial.gov, identifier: NCT01774305.
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Perioperative medicine is emerging as a unique area of medical practice. Anesthesiology graduates are particularly well suited for this role given their training. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the various fellowships being offered in perioperative medicine and the scope of clinical perioperative practice that currently exists. The common areas of competency covered in these perioperative medicine fellowships are also identified. ⋯ There is a paucity of published literature on what perioperative care entails as well as what perioperative fellowship curricula should include. While we suggest certain areas of focus to include, the subspecialty of perioperative medicine would benefit from a cohesive and consensus-based curriculum to which academic fellowships could adhere.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Combined general and neuraxial anesthesia versus general anesthesia: a population-based cohort study.
To determine whether combining spinal or epidural anesthesia with general anesthesia (combined anesthesia) reduces major medical complications of elective surgery compared with general anesthesia alone. ⋯ The addition of spinal or epidural anesthesia to general anesthesia was not associated with a reduced risk of major medical complications among 21 different elective procedures when compared with general anesthesia alone.