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pearl
1
Rotating through 180^o assists intubation with a double lumen tube while reducing sore throat and vocal cord injuries.
Seo JH, Kwon TK, Jeon Y et al. Comparison of techniques for double-lumen endobronchial intubation: 90{degrees} or 180{degrees} rotation during advancement through the glottis. Br J Anaesth. 2013 Nov 1;111(5):812-7.
  Daniel Jolley
pearl
1
Use of a surgical safety checklist is associated with a reduction in all complications, and specifically with wound infection and blood loss.
Gillespie BM, Chaboyer W, Thalib L et al. Effect of Using a Safety Checklist on Patient Complications after Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Anesthesiology. 2014 Jun 1;120(6):1380-9.
  Daniel Jolley
pearl
1
Post-op nausea & vomiting incidence is related to duration of nitrous oxide exposure, but is clinically insignificant at under 1 hour exposure.
Peyton PJ Wu CY. Nitrous Oxide-related Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Depends on Duration of Exposure. Anesthesiology. 2014 May 1;120(5):1137-45.
  Daniel Jolley
pearl
1
Drug treatment for pulmonary hypertension improved 6-minute walk distance and reduced hospitalisation. Combination is more effective than monotherapy.
Coeytaux RR, Schmit KM, Kraft BD et al. Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Drug Therapy for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Chest. 2014 May 1; 145 (5): 1055-1063.
  Daniel Jolley
pearl
2
12-16h of post-op supplemental O₂ (80%) does not reduce wound infection or complication in the morbidly obese undergoing gastric bypass.
Wadhwa A, Kabon B, Fleischmann E et al. Supplemental postoperative oxygen does not reduce surgical site infection and major healing-related complications from bariatric surgery in morbidly obese patients: a randomized, blinded trial. Anesth. Analg. 2014 Aug 1;119(2):357-65.
  Daniel Jolley
pearl
1
Addition of paracetamol or NSAIDs significantly reduces post-operative opioid consumption in children, although not demonstrably opioid side effects.
Wong I, St C, Walker SM. Opioid-sparing effects of perioperative paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in children. Paediatr Anaesth. 2013 Jun 1; 23 (6): 475-95.
  Daniel Jolley
pearl
1
Perineural dexamethasone may improve post-op analgesia for sciatic blocks but not for ankle blocks when compared with systemic dexamethasone.
Fredrickson MJ, Danesh-Clough TK, White R. Adjuvant dexamethasone for bupivacaine sciatic and ankle blocks: results from 2 randomized placebo-controlled trials. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2013 Jul 1; 38 (4): 300-7.
  Daniel Jolley
pearl
1
Intraoperative nitrous oxide use does not improve post-operative analgesia or reduce opioid consumption.
Duma A, Helsten D, Brown F et al. The Effect of Nitrous Oxide Anesthesia on Early Postoperative Opioid Consumption and Pain. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2014 Jan 1; 39 (1): 31-6.
  Daniel Jolley
comment
1
Note that this was firstly a retrospective trial, and secondly that it was a re-analysis of data from an earlier study, the 'Vitamins In Nitrous Oxide trial', and as such not designed with assessment of this article's end point in mind.
Nonetheless an interesting and relevant finding that calls in to question the idea that intra-operative N2O has post-operative analgesia benefit via it's known NMDA antagonism. As with many things, *further studies are required"...
Duma A, Helsten D, Brown F et al. The Effect of Nitrous Oxide Anesthesia on Early Postoperative Opioid Consumption and Pain. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2014 Jan 1; 39 (1): 31-6.
  Daniel Jolley
pearl
1
Greater depth of general anaesthesia as measured by Bispectral Index Score (target BIS 30-40) does not reduce post-operative pain.
Law CJ, Jacobson GM, Kluger M et al. Randomized controlled trial of the effect of depth of anaesthesia on postoperative pain. Br J Anaesth. 2014 Apr 1;112(4):675-80.
  Daniel Jolley