Anesthesiology Commons^™

High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy Versus Standard Oxygen Therapy On Perioperative Outcomes In Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, Kirsten B. Whiteside, Jacqueline M. Case

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Abstract 

Background and Purpose: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is increasingly performed under monitored anesthesia care (MAC) to facilitate faster recovery and reduce complications associated with general anesthesia. Standard oxygen therapy (SOT) may be insufficient in maintaining adequate oxygenation in this high-risk population. High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy has emerged as a potential alternative. This literature review evaluates the effects of HFNC compared with SOT on perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing TAVR under MAC. 

Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to identify studies evaluating HFNC versus SOT during TAVR procedures performed under MAC. Six studies met inclusion …

Implementing Preoperative Anxiety Screening To Enhance Patient-Centered Care: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Adam Chaban, Abigail Limary, Amir Ghafarian, Joyce Li, George Mckelvey, Wael Saasouh

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background: Preoperative anxiety affects 40–80% of surgical patients and is associated with poorer perioperative experiences. Despite evidence linking preoperative anxiety to increase postoperative pain, sleep disturbances, morbidity and delayed recovery, structured anxiety assessment is not routinely integrated into outpatient pre-anesthesia workflows. The Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) is a validated tool that quantifies patient anxiety and information needs. This quality improvement (QI) project aims to implement APAIS screening in a Pre-Anesthesia Testing (PAT) clinic and evaluate its feasibility, workflow integration, and acceptability.

Methods: This QI initiative will be conducted in adult elective surgery patients at the Detroit Medical …

Improving Low Fresh Gas Flow Adherence To Lower Co2e Emissions, Luke Charles Ricci

Honors Theses and Capstones

Volatile anesthetic gases contribute significantly to healthcare-related greenhouse gas emissions. These greenhouse gas emissions can be increased due to higher fresh gas flows. At Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), open and semi-open systems with fresh gas flow (FGF) rates above two liters per minute result in anesthetic gas waste. Literature suggests multifaceted quality improvement interventions are effective in improving low fresh gas flow adherence in anesthesia provider practices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential reduction in anesthetic gas waste and carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center through improved adherence to low fresh gas flow …

Enhancing Patient Outcomes: Developing A Comprehensive Database For Tracking Post- Dural Puncture Headache Incidence And Contributing Factors, Meredith B. Auge, Brittany Bogonovich

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is a debilitating complication following labor analgesia, often resulting from unintentional dural puncture (UDP). While national incidence is approximately 1.5%, institutional rates may vary due to provider experience, documentation practices, and patient factors. This Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) quality improvement project aimed to improve identification and monitoring of UDP and PDPH through a revised tracking tool, retrospective review of 2024 data, and planning for an electronic registry. A multidisciplinary team of anesthesiologists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNAs), and IT and quality specialists revised an existing tracking tool to better …

Sugammadex For Reversal Of Neuromuscular Blocking Agents Versus Neostigmine - Safety Comparison, Amanda K. Butler, Daniel Belu, Bailey Accardo, Courtney Ayana Bullard, Tracy Mcclinton Dnp, Aprn, Agacnp-Bc, Hget-C, Ebp-C, Dwayne Accardo Dnp, Crna, Faana

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Sugammadex and neostigmine are two common drugs used to reverse neuromuscular blockade in anesthesia, but they differ in mechanism of action, side effects, and cost.

Sugammadex provides rapid reversal, has fewer side effects, and has a lower risk of bradycardia than neostigmine. This scoping review examines the frequency of bradycardia in adult surgical patients receiving sugammadex versus neostigmine.

Methods

A scoping review was completed of peer-reviewed articles comparing the incidence of bradycardia in adult surgical patients after the administration of sugammadex and neostigmine for neuromuscular blockade reversal. Findings indicate that sugammadex resulted in fewer adverse events, including bradycardia, than …

Factors Associated With Emergency Difficult Tracheal Intubation And Difficult Airway Management In A Non–Operating Room Setting At A Cancer Treatment Center, Jackson Su, Neil Bailard, Jens Tan, Jeffrey Lim, Catherine Vu, Wenli Dong, Gang Zheng

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Difficult tracheal intubations are reported more often in the emergency non−operating room setting than in the operating setting. To identify the factors associated with emergency difficult intubation (DI) and difficult airway (DA) management in hospitalized patients with cancer, we conducted a single-center retrospective study in hospitalized patients who underwent emergency intubations in a non−operating setting from 2016 to 2019 at a cancer treatment center. Cases of DI (inability to visualize the vocal cords and/or >2 intubation attempts) and DA (DI, advanced airway device use, and/or need for a surgical airway) were included. We reviewed 763 cases; the DI and DA …

Dexmedetomidine As An Adjunct To Local Anesthetics In Neuraxial Anesthesia: A Scoping Review, Meaghan Elrod, Jacob Flake, Sarah Eggers, Kieraney Coston, Dwayne Accardo Dnp, Crna, Faana

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Neuraxial anesthesia is key for pain management and comfort during surgery. While local anesthetics and opioids have notable side effects, Dexmedetomidine (DEX) offers a promising alternative. Early studies suggest DEX improves pain control, prolongs anesthesia duration, and reduces opioid-related side effects. This review explores the benefits of incorporating DEX into neuraxial anesthesia for better patient safety and comfort

Methods

This scoping literature review took place from August 2023 to April 2024, utilizing PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for sources. After reviewing over 2,000 abstracts, 25 articles met the inclusion criteria, with nine selected as most relevant. Four …

Ultrasound-Guided Epidural Placement Vs. Conventional Technique - Evaluating Effectiveness: A Scoping Review, Skylar R. Kuehn, Bsn, Rn, Ccrn-Cmc, Jacob B. Morphis, Bsn, Rn, Sarah D. Price, Bsn, Rn, Katherine E. Pritchard, Msn, Rn, Jordan Isaac Dnp, Crna, Sharon Little Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Tracy Mcclinton

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Epidural anesthesia is a cornerstone of perioperative pain management, offering effective analgesia and reduced opioid dependency. However, traditional landmark-based epidural placement (EP) techniques often result in variable first-pass success rates (FPSR) and increased risks of complications. Ultrasound-guided (USG) EP has emerged as an alternative, providing real-time anatomical visualization to improve accuracy and safety. This scoping review synthesizes evidence on the comparative efficacy of USG EP and conventional techniques in adult patients undergoing perioperative epidural anesthesia.

Methods

This review commenced September 2023 and included full-access, peer-reviewed journal articles published in English between 2014-2023. Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, …

Decreasing Extubation Times Using Adaptive Support Ventilation: A Scoping Review, Daphne Thomas, Cole Vest, Luke Wilson, Shannon Witcher, Bobby Bellflower Dnsc, Nnp-Bc, Faanp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background:This scoping review explores the effectiveness of adaptive support ventilation (ASV) compared to conventional ventilation modes in reducing postoperative extubation times in adults undergoing general anesthesia with ventilatory support. Ventilator weaning is a critical determinant of recovery and outcomes in intensive care settings. ASV, a closed-loop ventilation mode, automatically adjusts ventilator parameters based on patient-specific respiratory mechanics and demand to optimize the weaning process. Although promising, evidence regarding ASV’s effectiveness remains inconsistent across different patient populations and surgical contexts.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted from August 2023 to December 2024 across PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, JAMA, and Google …

Chaos To Calm: Utilizing Checklists In The Icu To Improve Quality During Intubations, J Dunitz, Matthew Daniel, Will Hickman, Sarah Johnson, Erik Porter

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Closing Racial And Ethnic Disparity Gaps In Pediatric Asthma Follow Up Care - A Quality Improvement Initiative, Ayodele Ayeko

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Closing racial and ethnic disparity gaps in pediatric asthma follow up care - A quality improvement initiative

Ayodele Ayeko

Introduction/Background: Inadequate management of asthma significantly contributes to poor asthma control, poor quality of life (QOL), and high hospitalization rates among pediatric patients. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines offer recommendations designed to enhance asthma control and improve the quality of life for those affected (2015), including recommendations for close follow up care. At WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital (WVUMCH), insufficient asthma control has been associated with lower clinic follow-up rates and an increase in hospitalization. Although educational initiatives …

Improving Anesthesia Technician Workflow: Implementation Of A Standardized Checklist And Formal Handoff Communication Tool To Enhance Management Of The Pediatric Portable Anesthesia Lockers Recommendation, Megan Shayna Sosnick Msel, Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: The surgical department of a well-known Bay Area medical center faces substantial challenges in supply management. These challenges include inconsistent stocking, disorganized storage, and an inefficient ordering process. These logistical issues impact patient care negatively, increase supply costs, and weaken team morale and communication. U.S. hospitals spend $83 billion annually on medical supplies, with $25.4 billion wasted on preventable material expenses (Balkhi et al., 2022). Aim and Methods: This quality improvement project aims to train 80% of anesthesia technicians in proper stocking procedures for portable pediatric anesthesia lockers within three months. Interventions include the implementation of a standardized …

Implementation Of A Pilot Quality Improvement Project To Guide The Administration Of Intraoperative Dexamethasone For Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting Prophylaxis In Patients With Diabetes Undergoing Orthopedic Procedures, Brittany W. Hall

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: At a local tertiary care hospital, there was no recommendation to guide anesthesia providers in the administration of intraoperative dexamethasone to patients with diabetes. While dexamethasone is a highly effective antiemetic, it may promote hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to guide and educate about current recommendations for the administration of dexamethasone for PONV prophylaxis in patients with diabetes.

Intervention: 1) Examined pre-intervention practices of dexamethasone administration. 2) Educated about current and best practices to anesthesia staff. 3) Developed badge buddy cards outlining the guideline. 4) Examined post-intervention practices. 5) Evaluated the effect …

Power Safety Plan Checklist As An Intervention In The Operating Room, Scott John Fankhauser

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Power Safety Plan Checklist as an Intervention in the Operating Room

Scott J. Fankhauser

Background: Intraoperative power failures (IOPF) force anesthesia providers to quickly make decisions to prevent patient harm when equipment does not operate as designed. Familiarity with alternative methods is critical during this decision process to deliver high-quality care during IOPF events. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to assess the impact of a checklist on anesthesia providers’ perceptions regarding continuation of care during an IOPF. Interventions: Pre- and post-intervention surveys were conducted during a simulation and education setting for annual competencies. Methods: The study …

Feature Selection From Clinical Surveys Using Semantic Textual Similarity, Benjamin Warner

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Survey data collected from human subjects can contain a high number of features while having a comparatively low quantity of examples. Machine learning models that attempt to predict outcomes from survey data under these conditions can overfit and result in poor generalizability. One remedy to this issue is feature selection, which attempts to select an optimal subset of features to learn upon. A relatively unexplored source of information in the feature selection process is the usage of textual names of features, which may be semantically indicative of which features are relevant to a target outcome. The relationships between feature names …

Utilizing The Anatomage Virtual Dissection Table For Learning Neuroanatomical Structures In Nurse Anesthesia Programs, Domenica Camaci-Douleh, Nicole Gorris

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Certified registered nurse anesthetists are responsible for developing expertise in neuraxial anesthesia. A thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology is essential in the performance of subarachnoid and epidural blocks. Although cadaveric dissection is considered the gold standard for learning anatomy, student use of cadavers can become limited due to supervisory, ethical, accessibility, and financial constraints (Periya and Moro, 2019). In recent years, the evolution of technology has produced a virtual option for cadaver dissection (Washmuth et al., 2020). The anatomage virtual dissection table is a tool that could be used to increase knowledge of neuroanatomical structures and their spatial relationships …

Development Of Neuraxial Anesthesia Educational Videos For Nurse Anesthesia Students, Mackenzie Schutt, Kaylie Lajeunesse

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Development of Neuraxial Anesthesia Educational Videos for Nurse Anesthesia Students

Kaylie LaJeunesse, BSN, RN, SRNA & Mackenzie Schutt, BSN, RN, SRNA

Performance and evaluation of anesthetic procedures, specifically neuraxial anesthesia, are core components of nurse anesthesia curriculums. Teaching methods must provide nurse anesthesia students with the proper tools and knowledge to perform skills confidently and proficiently. Traditional teaching methods have fallen short of providing the necessary instruction for optimal student success. Incorporating video-learning resources on neuraxial anesthesia into course curriculums can significantly improve nurse anesthesia practice by better-preparing students for the clinical setting. Video learning increases student engagement and facilitates …

Implementation Of A Glidescope Educational Program For Novice Student Registered Nurse Anesthesiologists, Joshua F. Snodgrass, Brian Bendel

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

GlideScope Video laryngoscopy carries a higher risk of injury to the pharyngeal cavity than direct laryngoscopy. Verathon is aware of this risk and has developed a proprietary “Four-step method” to mitigate it. This project aimed to reduce injuries related to GlideScope video laryngoscopy by providing first-year nurse anesthesiologists at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with didactic and simulation education related to GlideScope video laryngoscopy and injury prevention. Didactic education was provided via a pre-recorded PowerPoint presentation. Simulation education was provided with the GlideScope and airway trainer manikins. The participants completed an identical 8-question pre-test and post-test to assess for knowledge gain …

Pectoralis Nerve Block Compared To Thoracic Paravertebral Nerve Block In The Mastectomy Patient: Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations, Eric Boyer

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Patients undergoing a mastectomy are at increased risk of becoming opioid dependent. Most patients undergoing a mastectomy are diagnosed with breast cancer, and the use of opioids is known to aid in cancer metastasizing due to the suppression of the body's natural killer cells. In addition, regional anesthesia, also known as a nerve block, has long provided a reduction in sensation by blocking the nerve pathway, thus numbing the feeling of pain in the operative area. The Pectoralis nerve block (PECS) and the Thoracic Paravertebral block (TPVB) are used in patients undergoing a mastectomy to help reduce the severity of …

Crna Decision-Making Within The Anesthesia Care Team, Cindi L. Dabney

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

This research focused on Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologists’ (CRNAs’) perspectives on the value placed on their decision-making skills within the Anesthesia Care Team (ACT). The emphasis of the study was to examine CRNA’s perspectives on the strengths, challenges, conflict resolutions, and any other information they were willing to divulge when working with physician anesthesiologists in the ACT model. An electronic survey questionnaire was sent to practicing CRNAs, primarily in the southeast region of the United States, with 171 informants completing the questionnaire. Data analysis included demographic information of the convenience sample that included age, gender, initial educational preparation as a …

Measuring The Patient Safety Culture At A Tertiary Care Hospital In Pakistan Using The Hospital Survey On Patient Safety Culture (Hsopsc), Fasih Ali Ahmed, Fozia Asif, Tahir Munir, Sohail Haleem, Zehra Feroze Ali, Asim Belgaumi, Hasnain Zafar, Asad Latif

Department of Anaesthesia

Background: Patient safety is a top priority for many healthcare organisations worldwide. However, most of the initiatives aimed at the measurement and improvement of patient safety culture have been undertaken in developed countries. The purpose of this study was to measure the patient safety culture at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC).
Methods: The HSOPSC was used to measure the patient safety culture across 12 dimensions at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. 2,959 individuals, who had been working at the hospital, were administered the HSOPSC in paper form between June and …

Esmolol Compared To Fentanyl On Hemodynamic Effects: A Scoping Review, Anna Mccleskey Bsn, Rn, Srna, Landon Mcdonald Msn, Rn, Cnl, Tim Moore Bsn, Rn, Srna, Jamie Pitcock Bsn, Rn, Srna, Dwayne Accardo Dnp, Crna, Aprn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose The purpose of this DNP project is to compare the efficacy of esmolol to fentanyl in attenuation the hemodynamic response associated with direct laryngoscopy.

Specific Aims Compare the effects of esmolol to fentanyl on patient heart rate during laryngoscopy. Compare the effects of esmolol to fentanyl on patient mean arterial pressure during laryngoscopy.

Dexmedetomidine Vs. Propofol In Postoperative Delirium Prevention, Jaclyn Burnett Rn, Srna, Montana Betts Rn, Srna, Christhian De Ochoa Rn, Srna, Maciej Chec Rn, Srna, Dwayne Accardo Dnp, Crna, Aprn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background Postoperative delirium (POD) is an acute neurological condition affecting large numbers of surgical patients in various practice settings. Patients suffering from this condition face postoperative complications, increased lengths of stay, and tremendous financial burden. Understanding the contributing factors for POD, and how adjustments in intraoperative agents can prevent or reduce the incidence, is a crucial aspect of anesthesia practice. This scoping review will examine associations between POD and the intraoperative use of propofol versus dexmedetomidine with general anesthesia.

Methods Studies in this review were limited to peer-reviewed literature, published in medical and nursing journals within the last five years. …

Barriers To Preoperative Warming: Best Practice Guideline, Tyler Comans, Zachary Hays, Caleb Leach

Doctoral Projects

The lack of preoperative warming has a direct relationship to perioperative hypothermia complications which include, but are not limited to: increased infection rate, coagulopathies, and increased myocardial oxygen consumption; all contributing to poor patient and facility outcomes. Implementation of an evidence-based educational module with visual aid can potentially increase the utilization of active warming techniques in the preoperative setting by perioperative staff. The DNP Project investigated barriers to preoperative warming by perioperative staff at a large teaching hospital in the southeastern United States. Barriers were assessed by a voluntary survey sent to 87 perioperative staff members. Twenty-two surveys were completed …

Overcoming Communication Barriers: An Evaluation Of Communication Devices For Healthcare Providers Wearing Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (Paprs), Trevor Hebenstreit, Geoffrey Ho, Amy Tronnier, Everett Chu, Ivy Benjenk, Paul Dangerfield, Ryan Keneally, Timothy Liu, Marian Sherman

Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Posters and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Telephone Preoperative Evaluations On Patient Medication Compliance On Day Of Surgery, Emmanuel Magsino, Michael Jung, Olga Suarez Md

Graduate Research Posters

Patient compliance with medication instructions on day of surgery (DOS) is an important part of the preoperative assessment, as failure to comply with these may lead to serious perioperative consequences. Prior studies have shown that compliance increases with multimodal interventions. However due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many in-person visits transitioned to telephone visits and providers had to rely on patients to follow solely verbal instructions.

To determine medication compliance, this study compared the medication instructions provided by the VCU Preoperative Assessment Communication and Education Clinic, per chart review, with each patient’s own report of which medications they took on …