The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists and WHO have updated international anesthesia standards to improve surgical care worldwide. The guidelines aim to provide concrete standards for facilities, equipment, medications, and professional aspects of anesthesia care.
The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists has launched a global anaesthesia workforce map, highlighting huge shortages and disparities in high vs low-income countries. The map shows that only 1 in 100,000 people in some Sub-Saharan African countries have access to trained anaesthesia providers.
A study suggests that methylnaltrexone can improve the survival of advanced cancer patients with constipation, indicating a potential target for cancer therapy. The drug works by blocking opioid receptors in the gut, reversing constipation without affecting pain relief.
Research suggests that women experiencing persistent childbirth pain are more likely to develop postnatal depression following birth. A study conducted in 2016 found that women with persistent pain had significantly higher scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale compared to those whose pain resolved within four weeks.
A five-year study found that patients operated on at night are twice as likely to die compared to those who have surgery during regular working hours. The study also revealed that late-day surgeries carry a higher mortality risk, with patients in these situations 1.43 times more likely to die than those undergoing daytime operations.
A new study found that iPads are as effective as sedatives in reducing child anxiety before surgery. The use of tablets also improved parental satisfaction and the quality of anaesthesia induction. Researchers concluded that non-pharmacologic tools like iPads can reduce perioperative stress without sedative effects.