AANA journal
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Sevoflurane induction procedure: cost comparison between fixed 8% versus incremental techniques in pediatric patients.
This study compared 2 well-accepted and safe methods of pediatric inhalation induction using sevoflurane. Incremental and fixed 8% induction methods were evaluated for economic outcomes by comparing the amount of liquid sevoflurane consumed. We also tried to establish the relation between cost of induction and demographic parameters in both groups. ⋯ Use of the incremental method preferably over the fixed 8% method could save almost $18 US for each procedure. The volume of sevoflurane consumed during anesthesia induction was found to be independent of age, weight, or sex of pediatric patients. Both induction methods proved to be equally safe and acceptable to the patients.
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Hip fractures occur commonly in elderly patients. Many of these patients have multiple comorbidities requiring the use of anticoagulants. ⋯ This case report discusses the advantages and pitfalls of the selection of local anesthetic and monitored anesthesia care using a propofol-ketamine-lidocaine admixture for an elderly patient with a femoral neck fracture who was receiving dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa). This case illustrates the potential for sedation during monitored anesthesia care to progress to general anesthesia and its associated risks as well as special considerations for anesthesia in geriatric patients.
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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects approximately 20% of Americans. Patients with undiagnosed OSA may experience obstructive episodes during conscious sedation for colonoscopy. The purpose of this investigation was to describe the risk of undiagnosed OSA using the Berlin Questionnaire and to identify the relationship between OSA risk and the number of provider interventions performed to relieve obstructive symptoms during sedation for colonoscopy. ⋯ The incidence of undiagnosed OSA was 40.4%. Patients with hypertension had a higher rate of a positive screen for OSA (70%) than those without hypertension (20.3%), chi2(1) = 3.87, P < .05. There was no statistical difference in the number of provider interventions between the 2 groups. Risk of undiagnosed OSA in this sample is large but it does not appear to be associated with episodes of obstructive symptoms requiring provider intervention.
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Pediatric surgical patients are a population at risk of inadequate pain management. The American Society of Anesthesiologists' 2012 Practice Guidelines for Acute Pain Management in the Perioperative Setting recommend a multimodal approach as the most effective way to prevent and treat pain in children. ⋯ Ketorolac and acetaminophen are the 2 nonopioid IV analgesics currently available for use in the United States. This article provides a review of the literature of IV ketorolac and IV acetaminophen regarding their pharmacology, analgesic efficacy, limitations, and practical considerations, with a focus on patients 16 years of age and younger.