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Sleep disorders and surgery: Anesthesia & Analgesia marks first decade of the Society of Anesthesia and Sleep Medicine

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...

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalAnesthesia & Analgesia·DateApr 19, 2021

Columbia researchers uncover altered brain connectivity after prolonged anesthesia

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.

SourceColumbia University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 17, 2021

Imaging the twilight zone

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.

Does general anesthesia increase dementia risk?

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.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateOct 7, 2020

Anesthesia's effect on consciousness solved, settling century-old scientific debate

Researchers at Scripps Research Institute discover that anesthetics trigger brain loss of consciousness by perturbing lipid clusters in the cell membrane, leading to changes in consciousness. This breakthrough solves a century-old scientific debate and opens up new avenues for understanding brain functions.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 29, 2020

In cases when patients under anesthesia experience anaphylaxis, hyperactive immune cells to blame

A study of 86 patients reveals how anesthesia drugs can induce life-threatening allergic reactions through alternative immune pathways. Hyperactive immune cells, including neutrophils and macrophages, play a key role in this process, which could lead to the development of new diagnostics for anaphylaxis during anesthesia.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJul 10, 2019

General anesthesia hijacks sleep circuitry to knock you out

Scientists at Duke University discovered that general anesthesia works by hijacking the neural circuitry responsible for sleep and hormone regulation. The study found that certain anesthetic drugs activate a cluster of cells at the base of the brain, leading to unconsciousness and offering potential new avenues for developing pain-free...

SourceDuke University·JournalNeuron·DateApr 18, 2019

New guidance outlines recommendations for infection control in anesthesiology

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America has issued a new expert guidance on how hospitals can reduce infections associated with anesthesiology procedures and equipment. The guidance recommends steps to improve infection prevention through increased hand hygiene, environmental disinfection, and continuous improvement plans.

SourceSociety for Healthcare Epidemiology of America·JournalInfection Control and Hospital Epidemiology·DateDec 11, 2018

Experts recommend new way to describe cognitive changes after anesthesia, surgery in elderly patient

Experts recommend changing the way clinicians and patients describe cognitive changes experienced after anesthesia and surgery, particularly in elderly patients. The new nomenclature suggests Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorder (PND), which includes delirium, delayed neurocognitive recovery, and mild or major neurocognitive disorder.

SourceAmerican Society of Anesthesiologists·JournalAnesthesiology·DateOct 16, 2018

Reporting and evaluating wait times for urgent hip fracture surgery in Ontario, Canada

A new study found that nearly two-thirds of patients admitted to Ontario hospitals with hip fractures did not receive surgery within the recommended 24-hour window. Hospital-level improvements are necessary to address these delays, with factors such as patient transfer and preoperative consultations contributing to wait times.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateJun 11, 2018

International anesthesia standards updated with WHO in global effort to improve surgical care

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.

SourceWorld Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists·JournalCanadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d anesthésie·DateMay 21, 2018