Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Multicenter Study
Residents' reluctance to challenge negative hierarchy in the operating room: a qualitative study.
Our aim was to clarify how hierarchy influences residents' reluctance to challenge authority with respect to clearly erroneous medical decision-making. ⋯ Study results showed that hierarchy played a dominant role in the functioning of the operating room. Participants spoke of both the positive and negative effects of such a hierarchical learning environment. The majority of participants described a negative perception of hierarchy as the norm, and they employed many coping strategies. This study provides insight into how a negative hierarchical culture can adversely impact patient safety, resident learning, and team functioning. We propose a theoretical model to describe challenging authority in this context.
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Delirium after cardiac surgery is a serious complication, increasing morbidity and mortality. Despite its high expectations, off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) has largely failed to reduce the incidence of postoperative neurological complications. To further investigate the reasons for this failure, we used perioperative brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the relation between MRI findings and postoperative delirium. ⋯ Magnetic resonance imaging findings of new cerebral ischemic lesions, carotid stenosis, and deep subcortical white matter hyperintensity correlated significantly with postoperative delirium in patients who had undergone OPCAB surgery.
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Patients treated with warfarin for therapeutic anticoagulation present a challenge for the perioperative management of urgent and emergent surgery. Anticoagulation must be reversed prior to most surgical procedures to prevent intraoperative bleeding. The purpose of this module is to review the options for urgent reversal of warfarin anticoagulation and the indications for each reversal agent. Selection of the appropriate agent is important to reduce unnecessary complications of treatment and to achieve optimal reversal of anticoagulation. ⋯ Reversal of warfarin anticoagulation can be achieved in a safe and timely manner when the appropriate agent is selected and administered correctly.