Journal of anesthesia
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Journal of anesthesia · Dec 2020
The incidence and reasons for canceled surgical cases in an academic medical center: a retrospective analysis before and after the development of a preoperative anesthesia clinic.
The development of a preoperative anesthesia clinic (PAC) can reduce the number of surgical cases canceled on the day of surgery. However, there are only a few studies on the details of cancellations in the operating room. This study aimed to assess the incidence and reasons for surgical cases canceled from admission to the operating room to the start of surgery. ⋯ The total incidence of surgical case cancellations was 0.037%. Before and after the development of a PAC, cancellation rate was comparable. After the development of a PAC, none case were canceled due to insufficient preoperative anesthetic assessment.
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Journal of anesthesia · Dec 2020
ReviewAligning difficult airway guidelines with the anesthetic COVID-19 guidelines to develop a COVID-19 difficult airway strategy: a narrative review.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by a coronavirus that is transmitted primarily via aerosol, droplets or direct contact. This may place anesthetists at higher risk of infection due to their frequent involvement in aerosol-generating airway interventions. Many anesthethetic COVID-19 guidelines have emerged, whose underlying management principles include minimizing aerosol contamination and protecting healthcare workers. ⋯ Our article identifies and compares pre-pandemic difficult airway guidelines with the recent anesthetic COVID-19 guidelines. We combine the principles from both sets of guidelines and explain the necessary modifications to the airway guidelines, to form a failed tracheal intubation airway strategy in the COVID-19 patient. Valuing, and a greater understanding of, these differences and modifications may lead to greater adherence to the new COVID-19 guidelines.
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Journal of anesthesia · Dec 2020
Case ReportsPostoperative outcomes in patients with treatment-emergent central sleep apnea: a case series.
Treatment-emergent central sleep apnea (TECSA) is a central sleep-related breathing disorder, characterized by either the persistence or emergence of central sleep apnea during the initiation of positive airway pressure therapy for obstructive sleep apnea. The purpose of this study was to review the perioperative course of patients diagnosed with TECSA. ⋯ Patients with TECSA have high rates of postoperative complications, characterized by an increased rate of unplanned intensive care admissions and both high 30-day readmission and mortality rates. When dealing with these patients perioperative physicians should implement an increased level of respiratory monitoring, and early postoperative use of their home prescribed non-invasive ventilation devices.