Articles tagged with Anesthesia
Scientists discovered a novel neural mechanism that accompanies unconsciousness, masking sensory inputs with spontaneous activity. The auditory cortex's response to sounds is indistinguishable from its own internal activity under anesthesia.
Researchers found that cataract surgery patients experienced fewer systemic complications than those undergoing other low-risk procedures, even without anesthesia experts present.
The UK anaesthesia workforce is facing a large-scale staff shortage of 11,000 by 2040, primarily due to the retirement of experienced anaesthetists. The paper proposes solutions such as part-time working, standardized retire-and-return policies, and addressing health and educational needs of anaesthetists as they age.
Patients undergoing virtual reality immersion during hand surgery required significantly less anesthetic to manage pain, suggesting its potential as a non-pharmacologic distraction method. The study compared VR immersion to monitored anesthesia care and found no significant differences in post-operative pain or anxiety levels.
A randomized controlled trial found that virtual reality immersion reduced the need for sedatives during hand surgery, leading to lower doses of propofol and shorter post-operative lengths of stay. Patient satisfaction remained unchanged, but discharge times were significantly shorter.
A new randomized, controlled trial demonstrates that Medasense's NOL monitoring during major abdominal surgery can reduce postoperative pain by 30% compared to standard care. The study found that personalized fentanyl dosing with NOL guidance leads to lower sympathetic activation and surgical stress, resulting in reduced PACU pain scores.
A study by Massachusetts General Hospital researchers found that fentanyl stops breathing before noticeable changes occur, leading to a high risk of death when used illicitly. The discovery could enable safer opioid administration through EEG monitoring.
The new guidance provides a comprehensive approach to preventing unrecognised oesophageal intubation, addressing both technical and human factors. It recommends standardising carbon dioxide monitoring and pulse oximetry, using videolaryngoscopes for correct placement, and addressing stress-related management of crises.
Researchers found that lidocaine injections reduced Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scores by 35-70% and maintained improvements for at least 24 weeks. The study suggests targeting sensory nerves as a potential therapeutic strategy for psoriasis treatment.
A new study published in JAMA Surgery found that surgeons who oversee multiple surgeries simultaneously have a higher risk of complications and death. For surgeries involving one anesthesiologist directing CRNA or resident care, those managing three to four overlapping cases saw complication rates rise by 14%.
Researchers found that despite a powerful brain response to sound during sleep, the level of alpha-beta waves associated with attention and expectation is significantly reduced. This means the brain can analyze auditory input but fails to focus on it, resulting in no conscious awareness.
Research at Massachusetts General Hospital has identified plasma biomarkers Tau-PT217 and Tau-PT181 as predictors of postoperative delirium. High preoperative concentrations of these biomarkers are associated with increased risk, suggesting a potential early warning sign for patients.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists has published new guidance to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from inhaled anesthetics. The guidance provides actionable steps for healthcare professionals to minimize the impact on climate change while maintaining quality outcomes and patient safety.
A study published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia found that fentanyl can induce changes similar to autism-like behaviors in young male and female mice. The research team discovered that fentanyl induces autism-like behaviors via activating the mu-opioid receptor in the anterior cingulate cortex.
A randomized controlled trial found that spinal anesthesia was associated with worse pain immediately after surgery, but differences diminished over time. Researchers also found higher rates of pain reliever prescriptions at 60 days in the spinal anesthesia group.
A recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that patients who underwent spinal anesthesia for hip fracture surgery experienced more pain and were more likely to use prescription painkillers compared to those who received general anesthesia. The researchers hope to improve pain care by increasing the use of peripheral ...
Inhaled anaesthetic gases are potent greenhouse gases with effects up to thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide. The European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care recommends reducing their use through alternatives like TIVA and regional anaesthesia.
New research highlights that women undergoing operations are not being routinely informed about the potential risks of contraceptive failure when administered sugammadex. This anaesthetic drug is known to interact with hormone progesterone and reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives, including the Pill and mini-pill.
Scientists used fMRI to detect burst-suppression events in anesthetized animals and found its spatial distribution varies between primates and rodents. This phenomenon is linked to the brain's sensory areas, with certain regions showing resistance to anesthesia-induced suppression.
A new study published in Anaesthesia found that a 'watch and wait' approach can lead to better outcomes for patients with severe frailty, reducing the need for emergency surgery. The study analyzed hospital data for adult patients with common acute conditions and found significant differences in survival rates between those who receive...
A new clinical decision support software platform reduces harm due to medication errors in the OR by more than 95%. Clinicians using the system work with greater efficiency and provide better care, with improved blood pressure control and accurate pain medication adjustments.
A recent study published in Neuron reveals that general anesthesia induces synchronized activity in layer 5 pyramidal neurons, leading to the loss of consciousness. This finding has significant implications for the development of better anesthetic drugs and improved surgical outcomes.
Surgeons-in-training suggest reducing waste, switching to reusable devices and gowns, optimizing OR energy use, and delivering care via telemedicine to lower climate impact. Implementing these changes can help extend patient lifespan and expand access to timely care while addressing climate change.
Research at Mount Sinai Hospital found a significant difference in the prevalence of occult hypoxemia among Black, Hispanic, and White patients undergoing anesthesia. The study showed that Black and Hispanic patients experienced higher rates of unrecognized low oxygen levels despite normal pulse oximeter values.
Researchers found a weak correlation between provider and patient satisfaction with anesthesia during ocular surgery, suggesting that providers are poor predictors of patient comfort. The study recommends further research to understand patient satisfaction with anesthesia.
A study of 8,900 patients in New York State hospitals revealed racial and ethnic disparities in pain treatment for obstetric patients. Obstetric patients in minority groups were less likely to receive an epidural blood patch (EBP) for postdural puncture headache during delivery hospitalization.
A retrospective cohort study found that shoulder injuries occurred in fewer than 1 in 10,000 patients who received intramuscular vaccinations administered in the deltoid muscle. Researchers also identified risk factors for developing shoulder conditions, including advanced age, female sex, and receiving pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
Prices paid to anesthesia practitioners increased by 16.5% in facilities that contracted with a PMC versus non-PMC facilities, and by 19% when facilities contracted with a PMC without PE investment. PE-backed PMCs commanded higher prices, possibly due to market share and negotiating expertise.
A study of vaginal births in New York State hospitals found that labor neuraxial analgesia – having an epidural or combined spinal and epidural – was associated with a decreased risk of severe maternal morbidity. The use of epidural anesthesia was linked to a 14% reduction in the risk of severe maternal morbidity, with racial and ethni...
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba investigated the effect of sevoflurane on sleep disturbance caused by systemic inflammation. Sevoflurane preconditioning promoted significant increases in REM sleep after LPS injection, while postconditioning had no effect.
A major study has found that spinal anesthesia is not safer or more effective than general anesthesia in patients undergoing surgery for hip fractures. The study, involving 1,600 patients, showed similar outcomes and risks between the two types of anesthesia, contradicting accepted wisdom.
Researchers developed a machine learning algorithm to automate propofol dosing for unconscious patients, matching human performance in sophisticated simulations. The 'dose penalty' model improved upon traditional software, but limitations remain, highlighting challenges in AI system accuracy and real-world application.
Researchers discovered increased activity in the hippocampus during anesthesia and sleep, preceding Alzheimer's symptoms by years. This abnormality may enable early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Researchers found that women in labor with epidural analgesia experienced significantly faster stomach emptying rates compared to those without. This study challenges current guidelines recommending clear liquids only during labor, proposing a reevaluation of fasting practices.
A new study reveals that the superior colliculus, a lesser-studied region responsible for saccades and facial recognition, dynamically changes its clustering of neurons depending on the mouse's conscious state. This finding suggests that the brain optimizes visual information processing based on its awake or anesthetized state.
Researchers at the University of Victoria have developed a novel broad-spectrum antidote for neuromuscular blockers, consisting of double calixarenes that bind to blocker rods with high selectivity. The 'double chalices' do not block acetylcholine and other physiologically important amines.
A randomized controlled trial of 1,600 patients found that rates of survival, functional recovery, and post-operative delirium are similar for both general and spinal anesthesia. This challenges common thinking about spinal anesthesia being safer.
A study published in Anesthesiology found that anesthesia for total knee replacement surgery generates substantial CO2 emissions, with an average of 14.9-18.5 kg for general, spinal, and combined anesthesia approaches respectively, contributing to a carbon footprint of approximately 42 miles driven by a US car.
A new biomimetic system mimics the body's own receptors for anesthetics, providing prolonged nerve blockade with minimal toxicity. The system consists of nanostructures that bind to tetrodotoxin and slowly release it, allowing for long-lasting pain relief without systemic toxicity.
A new statistical model characterizes how ketamine anesthesia affects brain activity, including distinct states and transition patterns. This model provides a principled guide for anesthesiologists, neuroscientists, and data scientists to understand ketamine's effects on the brain.
A single-center retrospective study found that preoperative thoracic CT findings can complement preoperative clinical risk factors to improve risk assessment for the need of postoperative mechanical ventilation. Bronchial wall thickening, pericardial effusion, and anteroposterior chest diameter were identified as independent predictors...
A systematic review of medical research found that ketamine and esketamine do not have significant deleterious neurocognitive effects in treatment-resistant depression. Some cognitive functions even improved after repeated infusions.
The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) has announced the winners of its 2021 411 Rapid Research Competition. In the Basic Science category, Juhi Uttamani from the University of Illinois at Chicago won first place with her research on miRNAs in periodontal inflammation, while Mary Younan from the University of Texas took se...
Combining interscalene brachial plexus block with general anesthesia attenuates stress and inflammatory response in arthroscopic shoulder surgery. ISB/GA results in lower epinephrine, norepinephrine, and glucose levels, as well as reduced TNF-α and IL-6 levels.
A prospective study analyzing plasma metabolomics during general anesthesia in patients with pancreatic malignancy reveals perioperative tryptophan depletion and increased taurine synthesis. This finding has implications for personalized perioperative management and may identify therapeutic windows for immunotherapy or chemotherapy.
A team of researchers studied how the brain recovers from general anesthesia, finding that recovery unfolds over time and higher cognition recovers first. After anesthetizing 30 healthy adults for three hours, they discovered that abstract problem-solving abilities return before reaction time and attention.
Researchers developed AI algorithms that assess unconsciousness in patients based on brain activity with high accuracy and reliability. The algorithms outperformed existing methods in real-world testing, distinguishing between conscious and unconscious states in surgery patients.
Researchers from China conducted a clinical trial comparing two vasopressor protocols for preventing hypotension post-spinal anesthesia during cesarean sections. They found that norepinephrine infusion significantly reduced maternal hypotension and neonatal tachycardia, as well as improved cerebral oxygenation in newborns.
A recent study from MIT's Picower Institute reveals that anesthesia, specifically propofol, dramatically changes and controls the dynamics of brain rhythms. This alteration affects the coordination between the thalamus and cortical regions, leading to a slower pace of neural activity.
The Society of Anesthesia and Sleep Medicine celebrates its first decade of research achievements in the common ground between sleep and anesthesia. Studies examine the outcomes of patients with undiagnosed sleep disorders or breathing issues undergoing surgery, highlighting the potential for treating perioperative periods as opportuni...
A study published in PLOS Biology found that different general anesthetics have varying effects on the brain's hippocampus, a region essential for memory formation. Isoflurane resulted in undisrupted memory formation in mice, while other anesthetics caused significant changes in brain activity and stability of synaptic connections.
Researchers used machine learning to analyze brain activity in monkeys and found that complexity is key to indicating consciousness, shifting the focus from frontal cortex to back of the head for electrode placement.
OYE Therapeutics is developing a new life-saving strategy to reduce mortality and morbidity resulting from battlefield injuries. The company, in partnership with USU and HJF, aims to enhance acute pain control at the point-of-injury through its drug product pipeline.
A study published in PNAS documents changes associated with prolonged anesthesia in the brains of mice, revealing significant alterations in synaptic architecture. The findings support reports of post-hospital cognitive dysfunction and suggest a physical link between cognitive impairment and prolonged medically induced coma.
Researchers used novel experimental designs to study brain activity during general anesthesia and normal sleep. They found that the effects of anesthesia and sleep on brain activity were surprisingly similar, pointing to a common central core brain network fundamental for human consciousness.
A new study published in The BMJ found that patients who underwent leg artery bypass surgery under spinal or epidural anesthesia had a lower risk of death compared to those under general anesthesia. This may lead to significant cost savings and improved patient outcomes.
A study by researchers at the University of Virginia Health System found that nearly 1 in 8 commercially insured patients received surprise bills for out-of-network expenses after undergoing elective colonoscopies. The team recommends partnering with in-network anesthesia and pathology providers to prevent these unexpected costs.
Researchers investigated exposure to general anesthesia versus regional anesthesia in elective surgery and found no long-term link to dementia. The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society study followed 7,499 individuals aged 66+ for up to 5 years.
Dr. Robert D. Sanders has been recognized by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) for his significant contributions to anesthesia and translational research. His research focuses on delirium, cognitive decline, and sensory perception under anesthesia, aiming to improve outcomes for elderly patients.
Patricia A. Kapur, MD, has been recognized with the ASA's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, for her exceptional contributions to the specialty of anesthesiology. With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, Dr. Kapur has made significant contributions to education, research, and clinical practice.