Anesthesia Bioengineer.org has analyzed a new review published in Holistic Integrative Oncology that examines a troubling paradox: the physical trauma of curative cancer surgeries may temporarily create conditions that enable the spread of any tumor cells that are left behind by suppressing the immune system’s ability to hunt them down. The…
Nursing site allnurses has published an extensive article about the potential perioperative dangers facing patients who take GLP-1 drugs. The article, “Why GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Force Aborted Surgeries and Airway Crises Under Anesthesia,” begins with a lengthy patient scenario that brings those potential dangers home. “This emergency plays out daily…
A new review in the journal Current Opinion in Anesthesiology examines the use of ketamine in ambulatory anesthesia, particularly its dose-dependent effects on breathing and cortical function. Noting that low-dose ketamine can be used in ambulatory surgery following an assessment of risks and benefits, the researchers state that ketamine “decreases…
It’s not often that you see an article in the mainstream media that’s exclusively about pre-anesthesia care, but that’s exactly what Montana’s Bozeman Daily Chronicle published last week. Amy Mouat-Hunter, MD, medical director of Bozeman Health Pre-Anesthesia Clinic, penned the article, entitled “On the cutting edge: Bozeman Health’s Pre-Anesthesia Clinic…
A new systematic review published in Cureus examines the literature to determine how well artificial intelligence (AI) predicts (PONV) among surgical patients following general anesthesia. The researchers found that while AI offers promise in this area, it isn’t quite ready to replace conventional assessments. AI “may improve perioperative risk prediction…
The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission has released an 80-page report that details its investigation into the medication errors at Nashville hospital Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown that impacted four surgical patients. It determined the mistakes were primarily caused by human error. According to local TV station WKRN, “at least four out…
The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) has launched a patient education resource called Anesthesia Answers, which it states was created by certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and nurse anesthesiologists to “help patients and their families navigate one of healthcare's most misunderstood topics: anesthesia.” Available at AnesthesiaAnswers.org, it addresses common…
Responding to the reported medication errors that harmed patients who were undergoing joint replacement surgeries at a Nashville hospital, the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP), the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Friday “reaffirmed that spinal anesthesia remains a safe and essential…
A devastating medication error that impacted four surgical patients at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown in Nashville, Tenn., received a large amount of mainstream media attention over the last week—reminding perioperative leaders of the critical importance of medication safety protocols. CBS News affiliate WTVF-TV reported that “at least four people went…
In a new white paper, anesthesia management services provider North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA) examines how workplace culture impacts anesthesia staffing and performance. In a press release, NAPA states, “When an anesthesiology department struggles with turnover, staffing instability, or inconsistent results, healthcare leaders often respond with familiar operational solutions:…
