Anesthesiology clinics
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Although enhanced recovery pathways were initially implemented in inpatients, their principles are relevant in the ambulatory setting. Opioid minimization and addressing pain and nausea through multimodal analgesia, regional anesthesia, and robust preoperative education programs are integral to the success of ambulatory enhanced recovery programs. Rather than measurements of length of stay as in traditional inpatient programs, the focus of enhanced recovery programs in ambulatory surgery should be on improved quality of recovery, pain management, and early ambulation.
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Anesthesiology clinics · Mar 2019
ReviewNovel Methods for Hemorrhage Control: Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta and Emergency Preservation and Resuscitation.
Hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable death after trauma. Junctional and extremity hemorrhage can be temporized with direct pressure and tourniquet application, but noncompressible torso hemorrhage has traditionally required operative or angiographic intervention. ⋯ REBOA is increasingly available in US trauma centers but prospective, randomized demonstration of efficacy is not yet available. Emergency perfusion and resuscitation is an investigational therapy, limited to use in patients with cardiac arrest due to hemorrhage.
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Anesthesiology clinics · Mar 2019
ReviewThe Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasonography in Trauma Anesthesia.
Caring for the trauma patient requires an in-depth knowledge of the pathophysiology of trauma, the ability to rapidly diagnose and intervene to reverse the derangements caused by shock states, and an aptitude for the use of advanced monitoring techniques and perioperative point-of-care ultrasonography (P-POCUS) to assist in diagnosis and delivery of care. Historically, anesthesiology has lagged behind in wholly embracing this technology. P-POCUS has the potential to allow the trauma anesthesiologist to diagnose numerous injuries, quickly guide the placement of central vascular catheters and invasive monitors, and assess the efficacy of interventions.
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Anesthesiology clinics · Mar 2019
ReviewPediatric Traumatic Brain Injury and Associated Topics: An Overview of Abusive Head Trauma, Nonaccidental Trauma, and Sports Concussions.
Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) uniquely affects the pediatric population. Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a subset of severe pediatric TBI usually affecting children in the first year of life. AHT is a form of nonaccidental trauma. ⋯ Current recommended perioperative management of AHT and sports concussions relies on general pediatric TBI guidelines. Research into more specific pediatric TBI screening and management goals is ongoing. This article reviews the epidemiology, mechanisms, clinical signs, and management of AHT and sports-related concussions.
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It is imperative to find the balance between pain control and addressing the opioid epidemic. Opioids, although effective in the acute pain management, have multiple side effects and can lead to dependence, abuse, overdose, or death. Physicians should identify patients who abuse opioids, using their states' prescription drug-monitoring programs and use screening tools to identify patients at increased risk of developing opioid dependence. Multimodal analgesic plans, incorporating regional techniques, and nonopioid medications should be employed to reduce the amount of opioids received by patients.