Articles: cations.
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2023
Observational StudyIncidence and Outcome of Pneumomediastinum in Non-ICU Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.
Pneumomediastinum (PNM) is a rare complication of mechanical ventilation, but its reported occurrence in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to COVID-19 is significant. The objective is to determine the incidence, risk factors, and outcome of PNM in non-ICU hospitalized patients with severe-to-critical COVID-19 pneumonia. ⋯ Non-ICU hospitalized patients with COVID-19 have a high incidence of PNM, increasing the risk for intubation and mortality three- to four-fold, particularly in those with extensive lung damage. These findings help define the risk and outcome of PNM in severe-to-critical COVID-19 pneumonia in a non-ICU setting.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2023
Relationships Between Body Mass Index, Allogeneic Transfusion, and Surgical Site Infection After Knee and Hip Arthroplasty Surgery.
Increased body mass index (BMI) is considered as an important factor that affects the need for total knee and hip arthroplasty (TKA/THA) and the rate of perioperative complications. Previous investigations have not fully established the relationship of BMI and perioperative transfusion with surgical site infection (SSI) or the relationship of BMI and perioperative transfusion after TKA or THA. ⋯ SSI incidence remained unchanged despite continuous reductions in blood transfusion in TKA and THA patients over 8 years. In TKA, ORs for SSI increased, but ORs for transfusion decreased with increasing BMI above normal. Conversely, in THA, ORs for SSI and transfusion both increased for a BMI 40+, but only OR for transfusion increased in underweight patients. These findings suggest the importance of controlling obesity in reducing SSI following TKA and THA.
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The gap between the tremendous burden of neurological disease requiring surgical management and the limited capacity for neurosurgical care has fueled the growth of the global neurosurgical movement. It is estimated that an additional 23 300 neurosurgeons are needed to meet the burden posed by essential cases across the globe. Initiatives to increase neurosurgical capacity through systems strengthening and workforce development are key elements in correcting this deficit. ⋯ This effort will ensure that graduates possess the fundamental skillsets and experience necessary to participate in and lead capacity-building efforts in the developing countries. This additional public health training can also help neurosurgical residents to achieve the core competencies outlined by accreditation boards, such as the Accreditation Committee on Graduate Medical Education in the United States. In this narrative review, we describe the global burden of neurosurgical disease, establish the need and role for the global neurosurgeon, and discuss pathways for implementing targeted global public health education in the field of neurosurgery.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2023
Thrombosis-Related Loss of Arterial Lines in the First Wave of COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit Patients.
Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can present with severe respiratory distress requiring intensive care unit (ICU)-level care. Such care often requires placement of an arterial line for monitoring of pulmonary disease progression, hemodynamics, and laboratory tests. During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, experienced physicians anecdotally reported multiple attempts, decreased insertion durations, and greater need for replacement of arterial lines in patients with COVID-19 due to persistent thrombosis. Because invasive procedures in patients with COVID-19 may increase the risk for caregiver infection, better defining difficulties in maintaining arterial lines in COVID-19 patients is important. We sought to explore the association between COVID-19 infection and arterial line thrombosis in critically ill patients. ⋯ Our study suggests that arterial line complications due to thrombosis are more likely in COVID-19 patients and supports the need for further research on the association between COVID-19 and arterial line dysfunction requiring replacement.
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The Guidelines to the Practice of Anesthesia Revised Edition 2023 (the Guidelines) were prepared by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society (CAS), which reserves the right to determine their publication and distribution. The Guidelines are subject to revision and updated versions are published annually. ⋯ Anesthesiologists should exercise their own professional judgment in determining the proper course of action for any patient's circumstances. The CAS assumes no responsibility or liability for any error or omission arising from the use of any information contained in its Guidelines to the Practice of Anesthesia.