Anesthesiology Commons^™

Cuff-Less Methods For Blood Pressure Telemonitoring., Dylan M. Bard, Jeffrey I. Joseph, Noud Van Helmond

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Blood pressure telemonitoring (BPT) is a telemedicine strategy that uses a patient's self-measured blood pressure (BP) and transmits this information to healthcare providers, typically over the internet. BPT has been shown to improve BP control compared to usual care without remote monitoring. Traditionally, a cuff-based monitor with data communication capabilities has been used for BPT; however, cuff-based measurements are inconvenient and cause discomfort, which has prevented the widespread use of cuff-based monitors for BPT. The development of new technologies which allow for remote BP monitoring without the use of a cuff may aid in more extensive adoption of BPT. This …

Intravenous Meloxicam For The Treatment Of Moderate To Severe Acute Pain: A Pooled Analysis Of Safety And Opioid-Reducing Effects., Eugene R. Viscusi, Tong J. Gan, Sergio Bergese, Neil Singla, Randall J. Mack, Stewart W. Mccallum, Wei Du, Sue Hobson

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To describe the safety and tolerability of intravenous meloxicam compared with placebo across all phase II/III clinical trials.

METHODS: Safety data and opioid use from subjects with moderate to severe postoperative pain who received ≥1 dose of intravenous meloxicam (5-60 mg) or placebo in 1 of 7 studies (4 phase II; 3 phase III) were pooled. Data from intravenous meloxicam 5 mg, 7.5 mg and 15 mg groups were combined (low-dose subset).

RESULTS: A total of 1426 adults (86.6% white; mean age: 45.8 years) received ≥1 dose of meloxicam IV; 517 (77.6% white; mean age: 46.7 years) …

Perioperative Aspirin And Long-Term Survival In Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft., Qian Ding, Hong Liu, Zugui Zhang, Jordan E. Goldhammer, Eric Yuen, Zhongmin Li, Linong Yao, Nilas Young, Douglas Boyd, William Weintraub, Rohinton Morris, Jianzhong Sun

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

This study aimed to examine association between perioperative uses of aspirin and long-term survival in patients undergoing CABG. A retrospective cohort study was performed in 9,584 consecutive patients receiving cardiac surgery from three tertiary hospitals. Of all the patients, 4,132 patients undergoing CABG met inclusion criteria and were divided into four groups: with or without preoperative or postoperative aspirin respectively. 30-day postoperative and long-term mortality were compared with the use of propensity scores and inverse probability weighting adjustment to reduce the treatment-selection bias. The patients taking preoperative aspirin presented significantly more with comorbidities. However, the results of this study showed …

Ketamine For Refractory Headache: A Retrospective Analysis., Eric S. Schwenk, Amir C. Dayan, Ashwin Rangavajjula, Marc C. Torjman, Mauricio G. Hernandez, Clinton G. Lauritsen, Stephen D. Silberstein, William B. Young, Eugene R. Viscusi

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The burden of chronic headache disorders in the United States is substantial. Some patients are treatment refractory. Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist, provides potent analgesia in subanesthetic doses in chronic pain, and limited data suggest it may alleviate headache in some patients.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 61 patients admitted over 3 years for 5 days of intravenous therapy that included continuous ketamine to determine responder rate and patient and ketamine infusion characteristics. Pain ratings at 2 follow-up visits were recorded. An immediate responder was a patient with decrease of 2 points or greater in the …

Managing Prolonged Pain After Surgery: Examining The Role Of Opioids., Eric S. Schwenk, John-Paul J. Pozek, Eugene R. Viscusi

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

A notable minority of patients experience persistent postsurgical pain and some of these patients consequently have prolonged exposure to opioids. Risk factors for prolonged opioid use after surgery include preoperative opioid use, anxiety, substance abuse, and alcohol abuse. The window to intervene and potentially prevent persistent opioid use after surgery is short and may best be accomplished by both surgeon and anesthesiologist working together. Anesthesiologists in particular are well positioned in the perioperative surgical home model to affect multiple aspects of the perioperative experience, including tailoring intraoperative medications and providing consultation for possible discharge analgesic regimens that can help minimize …

Blood Pressure Measurement Validation Off The Cuff? Comment On "A New Cuffless Device For Measuring Blood Pressure: A Real-Life Validation Study"., Noud Van Helmond, Timothy B. Plante, Jeffrey I. Joseph

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Designing The Ideal Perioperative Pain Management Plan Starts With Multimodal Analgesia., Eric S. Schwenk, Edward R. Mariano

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Multimodal analgesia is defined as the use of more than one pharmacological class of analgesic medication targeting different receptors along the pain pathway with the goal of improving analgesia while reducing individual class-related side effects. Evidence today supports the routine use of multimodal analgesia in the perioperative period to eliminate the over-reliance on opioids for pain control and to reduce opioid-related adverse events. A multimodal analgesic protocol should be surgery-specific, functioning more like a checklist than a recipe, with options to tailor to the individual patient. Elements of this protocol may include opioids, non-opioid systemic analgesics like acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory …

Challenges Of Pain Management In Neurologically Injured Patients: Systematic Review Protocol Of Analgesia And Sedation Strategies For Early Recovery From Neurointensive Care., David Wyler, Michael Esterlis, Brittany Burns Dennis, Andrew Ng, Abhijit Lele

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: A recent paradigm shift within the intensive care discipline has led to implementation of protocols to drive early recovery from the intensive care unit (ICU). These protocols belong to a large knowledge, translation and quality improvement initiative lead by the Society of Critical Care Medicine, aiming to "liberate" patients from the ICU. They "bundle" evidence-based elements shown to lower ICU stay and mortality and optimize pain management. The bundled elements focus on Assessing, preventing and managing pain; Both spontaneous awakening trials and spontaneous breathing trials; Choice of analgesia and sedation; assessment, prevention, and management of Delirium; Early mobility and …

Ketamine And Remote Hyperalgesia, Steven B. Porter, Eric S. Schwenk

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Systematic In Vivo Evaluation Of The Time-Dependent Inflammatory Response To Steel And Teflon Insulin Infusion Catheters., Jasmin R. Hauzenberger, Julia Münzker, Petra Kotzbeck, Martin Asslaber, Vladimir Bubalo, Jeffrey I. Joseph, Thomas R. Pieber

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) catheters are considered the weak link of insulin pump therapy. Wear-time considerably varies between patients and the choice of catheter material is based on personal preferences rather than scientific facts. Therefore, we systematically assessed and quantified the inflammatory tissue response to steel versus Teflon CSII catheters over a maximum wear-time of 7 days in swine. Tissue surrounding catheters was analysed using histopathology and quantitative real-time PCR. The area of inflammation increased significantly over time independent of material which was confirmed by an increase in CD68 expression and an increase in mononuclear and neutrophil cell infiltrate …

Use Of Caudal Epidural Catheter In A Child With Cerebral Palsy With Prior Posterior Spine (T1-Sacrum) Fusion., Divya Dixit, Mary C. Theroux, Kirk W. Dabney, Freeman Miller

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

The Efficacy Of Peripheral Opioid Antagonists In Opioid-Induced Constipation And Postoperative Ileus: A Systematic Review Of The Literature., Eric S. Schwenk, Alexander E. Grant, Marc C. Torjman, Stephen E. Mcnulty, Jaime L. Baratta, Eugene R. Viscusi

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Opioid-induced constipation has a negative impact on quality of life for patients with chronic pain and can affect more than a third of patients. A related but separate entity is postoperative ileus, which is an abnormal pattern of gastrointestinal motility after surgery. Nonselective μ-opioid receptor antagonists reverse constipation and opioid-induced ileus but cross the blood-brain barrier and may reverse analgesia. Peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonists target the μ-opioid receptor without reversing analgesia. Three such agents are US Food and Drug Administration approved. We reviewed the literature for randomized controlled trials that studied the efficacy of alvimopan, methylnaltrexone, and naloxegol in …

Efficiency Of Spinal Anesthesia Versus General Anesthesia For Lumbar Spinal Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis Of 544 Patients., John T. Pierce, Guy Kositratna, Mark A. Attiah, Michael J. Kallan, Rebecca Koenigsberg, Peter Syre, David Wyler, Md, Paul J. Marcotte, W. Andrew Kofke, William C. Welch

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown varying results in selected outcomes when directly comparing spinal anesthesia to general in lumbar surgery. Some studies have shown reduced surgical time, postoperative pain, time in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), incidence of urinary retention, postoperative nausea, and more favorable cost-effectiveness with spinal anesthesia. Despite these results, the current literature has also shown contradictory results in between-group comparisons.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed by querying the electronic medical record database for surgeries performed by a single surgeon between 2007 and 2011 using procedural codes 63030 for diskectomy and 63047 for laminectomy: 544 …

Upgrading A Social Media Strategy To Increase Twitter Engagement During The Spring Annual Meeting Of The American Society Of Regional Anesthesia And Pain Medicine., Eric S. Schwenk, Kellie M. Jaremko, Rajnish K. Gupta, Ankeet D. Udani, Colin J J.L. Mccartney, Anne Snively, Edward R. Mariano

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Microblogs known as "tweets" are a rapid, effective method of information dissemination in health care. Although several medical specialties have described their Twitter conference experiences, Twitter-related data in the fields of anesthesiology and pain medicine are sparse. We therefore analyzed the Twitter content of 2 consecutive spring meetings of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine using publicly available online transcripts. We also examined the potential contribution of a targeted social media campaign on Twitter engagement during the conferences. The original Twitter meeting content was largely scientific in nature and created by meeting attendees, the majority of whom …

Telemedicine Coverage For Post-Operative Icu Patients., Tara Ann Collins, Matthew P. Robertson, Corinna P. Sicoutris, Michael A. Pisa, Daniel N. Holena, Patrick M. Reilly, Benjamin A. Kohl

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Introduction There is an increased demand for intensive care unit (ICU) beds. We sought to determine if we could create a safe surge capacity model to increase ICU capacity by treating ICU patients in the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) utilizing a collaborative model between an ICU service and a telemedicine service during peak ICU bed demand. Methods We evaluated patients managed by the surgical critical care service in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) compared to patients managed in the virtual intensive care unit (VICU) located within the PACU. A retrospective review of all patients seen by the surgical critical …

Coexisting Cardiac And Hematologic Disorders., Jordan E. Goldhammer, Benjamin A. Kohl

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Patients with concomitant cardiac and hematologic disorders presenting for noncardiac surgery are challenging. Anemic patients with cardiac disease should be approached in a methodical fashion. Transfusion triggers and target should be based on underlying symptomatology. The approach to anticoagulation management in patients with artificial heart valves, cardiac devices, or severe heart failure in the operative setting must encompass a complete understanding of the rationale of a patient's therapy as well as calculate the risk of changing this regimen. This article focuses common disorders and discusses strategies to optimize care in patients with coexisting cardiac and hematologic disease.

Long-Term Clinical Outcome Of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation For Chronic Headache And Complication Prevention, Linqiu Zhou, Avi Ashkenazi, Joseph W. Smith, Na Jen, Timothy R. Deer, Chen Zhou

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Background: Subcutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) has emerged as a useful tool in the treatment of intractable headaches. However, complications such as skin erosion, infection and lead migration have adversely affected clinical outcome, and occasionally led to treatment cessation. Objectives: Here we report the results of peripheral nerve stimulator implantation performed on 24 patients with various chronic headaches at our center over a period of 9 years. We describe the complications of the procedure and their prevention with a modified surgical technique. Patients and Methods:We searched our database for patients with chronic refractory headacheswhohad undergone PNS. Patients were assessed before …

Adverse Drug Effects And Preoperative Medication Factors Related To Perioperative Low-Dose Ketamine Infusions., Eric S. Schwenk, Stephen F. Goldberg, Ronak D. Patel, Jon Zhou, Douglas R. Adams, Jaime L. Baratta, Eugene R. Viscusi, Richard H. Epstein

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

High-dose opioid administration is associated with significant adverse events. Evidence suggests that low-dose ketamine infusions improve perioperative analgesia over conventional opioid management, but usage is highly variable. Ketamine's adverse drug effects (ADEs) are well known, but their prevalence during low-dose infusions in a clinical setting and how often they lead to infusion discontinuation are unknown. The purposes of this study were 3-fold: (1) to identify patient factors associated with initiation of ketamine infusions during spine surgery, (2) to identify specific spine procedures in which ketamine has been used most frequently, and (3) to identify ADEs associated with postoperative ketamine infusions …

Managing Opioid-Tolerant Patients In The Perioperative Surgical Home., John T. Wenzel, Eric S. Schwenk, Jaime L. Baratta, Eugene R. Viscusi

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Management of acute postoperative pain is important to decrease perioperative morbidity and improve patient satisfaction. Opioids are associated with potential adverse events that may lead to significant risk. Uncontrolled pain is a risk factor in the transformation of acute pain to chronic pain. Balancing these issues can be especially challenging in opioid-tolerant patients undergoing surgery, for whom rapidly escalating opioid doses in an effort to control pain can be associated with increased complications. In the perioperative surgical home model, anesthesiologists are positioned to coordinate a comprehensive perioperative analgesic plan that begins with the preoperative assessment and continues through discharge.

Prophylactic Methylprednisolone To Reduce Inflammation And Improve Outcomes From One Lung Ventilation In Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial., Mary C. Theroux, Alicia Olivant Fisher, Maria E. Rodriguez, Robert P. Brislin, Kirk W. Reichard, Suken A. Shah, Matt Mccoy, Melinda Brown, Kirk W. Dabney, William G. Mackenzie, Douglas A. Katz, Thomas H. Shaffer

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: One lung ventilation (OLV) results in inflammatory and mechanical injury, leading to intraoperative and postoperative complications in children. No interventions have been studied in children to minimize such injury.

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that a single 2-mg·kg(-1) dose of methylprednisolone given 45-60 min prior to lung collapse would minimize injury from OLV and improve physiological stability.

METHODS: Twenty-eight children scheduled to undergo OLV were randomly assigned to receive 2 mg·kg(-1) methylprednisolone (MP) or normal saline (placebo group) prior to OLV. Anesthetic management was standardized, and data were collected for physiological stability (bronchospasm, respiratory resistance, and compliance). Plasma was assayed for …

Cesarean Sections, Buprenorphine, Intrathecal Opioids & Pain Control – What To Do?, Madeel A. Abdullah, Md, Michelle Beam, D.O., H. Jane Huffnagle, D.O., Suzanne Huffnagle, D.O., Michelle Mele, Md, Eugene R. Viscusi, Md

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Introduction

Suboxone^® is becoming a popular alternative to methadone maintenance in opioid abstinence. This population will likely expand in the future presenting a challenge for perioperative analgesia. Conventional pharmacology suggests that buprenorphine has a high binding affinity for the mu-opioid receptor (MOR), displacing any other opioid; and, only overcome by extremely high opioid doses. Hence recommendations are usually that buprenorphine should be discontinued before surgery so the MOR is available perioperatively. Buprenorphine is considered to have a “ceiling” analgesic effect rather than a classic opioid dose-response curve; it should not be effective for postoperative analgesia. This case supports an …

Comparing The Cumulative Pain Patients Experience Waiting For Knee Arthroplasty To Their Postoperative Pain, Eric S. Schwenk, Richard H. Epstein, Md, Cphims, Franklin Dexter

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Introduction: Reduction of pain is a major goal of anesthesiologists treating patients undergoing knee arthroplasty. This has been achieved traditionally through the use of regional analgesia. Although these techniques decrease postoperative pain, they inherently do not affect the longstanding pain patients experience as they wait for surgery. Our objectives were to quantify: 1) the decrease in pain achieved by surgical joint replacement; and 2) the decrease in postoperative pain achievable through femoral nerve blocks versus opioids. From a systems-based perspective, we wanted to determine how much reduction in waiting time before surgery would be necessary to achieve an equal cumulative …

Evaluation Of Etoricoxib In Patients Undergoing Total Knee Replacement Surgery In A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial., Narinder Rawal, Eugene R. Viscusi, Paul M Peloso, Harold S Minkowitz, Liang Chen, Sandhya Shah, Anish Mehta, Denesh K Chitkara, Sean P Curtis, Dimitris A Papanicolaou

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Optimal postoperative pain management is important to ensure patient comfort and early mobilization.

METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled, randomized clinical trial, we evaluated postoperative pain following knee replacement in patients receiving placebo, etoricoxib (90 or 120 mg), or ibuprofen 1800 mg daily for 7 days. Patients >=18 years of age who had pain at rest >=5 (0--10 Numerical Rating Scale [NRS]) after unilateral total knee replacement were randomly assigned to placebo (N = 98), etoricoxib 90 mg (N = 224), etoricoxib 120 mg (N = 230), or ibuprofen 1800 mg (N = 224) postoperatively. Co-primary endpoints included …

Metabolic Syndrome Increases Risk For Pulmonary Embolism After Hip And Knee Arthroplasty., Boris Mraovic, Md, Brian R Hipszer, Md, Richard H. Epstein, Md, Javad Parvizi, Md, Edward C Pequignot, Md, Inna Chervoneva, Md, Jeffrey Joseph, Md

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

AIM: To investigate whether patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) undergoing total hip or knee replacement have an increased risk for pulmonary embolism (PE).

METHODS: We studied patients undergoing total hip or total knee replacement from January 2001 to April 2006. The diagnosis of PE was based on a positive finding with a chest CT or a lung scan. Components of MetS were defined as 1) BMI≥30 kg/m(2) , 2) non-fasting preadmission glucose ≥11.1 mmol/L or diagnosis of diabetes, 3) hypertension, and 4) dyslipidemia. MetS was diagnosed if at least three of these components were present.

RESULTS: Of 7282 patients, 107 …

Perioperative Management Of Interscalene Block In Patients With Lung Disease., Eric S. Schwenk, Kishor Gandhi, Eugene R. Viscusi

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Interscalene nerve block impairs ipsilateral lung function and is relatively contraindicated for patients with lung impairment. We present a case of an 89-year-old female smoker with prior left lung lower lobectomy and mild to moderate lung disease who presented for right shoulder arthroplasty and insisted on regional anesthesia. The patient received a multimodal perioperative regimen that consisted of a continuous interscalene block, acetaminophen, ketorolac, and opioids. Surgery proceeded uneventfully and postoperative analgesia was excellent. Pulmonary physiology and management of these patients will be discussed. A risk/benefit discussion should occur with patients having impaired lung function before performance of interscalene blocks. …

Root Causes Of Intraoperative Hypoglycemia: A Case Series., Eric S. Schwenk, Boris Mraovic, Ryan P. Maxwell, Gina S. Kim, Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, Richard H. Epstein

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe the root causes of intraoperative hypoglycemic events.

DESIGN: Retrospective analysis.

SETTING: Large academic teaching hospital.

MEASUREMENTS: Data from 80,379 ASA physical status 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 surgical patients were reviewed. Blood glucose values, insulin, oral hypoglycemic medication doses, and doses of glucose or other medications for hypoglycemia treatment were recorded.

MAIN RESULTS: Hypoglycemia in many patients had multiple etiologies, with many cases (8 of 17) involving preventable errors. The most common root causes of hypoglycemia were ineffective communication, circulatory shock, failure to monitor, and excessive insulin administration.

CONCLUSION: Intraoperative hypoglycemia was rare, but often …

Influence Of Body Mass Index And Antibiotic Dose On The Risk Of Surgical Site Infections In Pediatric Clean Orthopedic Surgery., Jeffrey J Cies, Shannon Chan, Jobayer Hossain, B Randall Brenn, M Cecilia Di Pentima

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate body mass index (BMI) and antimicrobial dose as risk factors for surgical site infections in pediatric patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Children between 2 and 19 years of age undergoing clean orthopedic procedures and receiving at least one dose of perioperative antibiotics (cefazolin, vancomycin, or clindamycin) were studied. The retrospective case-controlled study was conducted at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, a 180-bed tertiary-care academic pediatric hospital in Wilmington, DE. Data were collected from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2005.

RESULTS: Underweight children had a higher risk for SSIs than overweight and normal-weight children. American Society …

Influence Of The Menstrual Cycle On The Incidence Of Nausea And Vomiting After Laparoscopic Gynecological Surgery: A Pilot Study., Tatjana Simurina, Boris Mraovic, Neven Skitarelić, Tatjana Andabaka, Zdenko Sonicki

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the phase of menstrual cycle influences the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in women undergoing general anesthesia for elective laparoscopic gynecological surgery.

DESIGN: Prospective, observational, blinded study.

SETTING: General hospital, Postanesthesia Care Unit, and gynecologic floor room.

PATIENTS: 111 ASA physical status 1 and 2 women, aged 18 to 53 years.

INTERVENTIONS: Patients were classified into three groups according to the phase of menstrual cycle at the time of anesthesia: Group F1: follicular phase (menstrual days 1-8; n = 34); Group O2: ovulatory phase (days 9-15; n = 40); and Group L3: luteal …

Ketamine As An Adjunct For The Long-Term Sedation And Analgesia Of A Patient With A Left Ventricular Assist Device (Lvad) And An Open Chest, Avni Gupta, Charles S. Kato, Eugene R. Viscusi

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Conclusion:

A multimodal sedative and analgesic regimen that incorporates ketamine offers important therapeutic advantages in select patients who require very high doses of opioids and benzodiazepines, but warrants futher study.

Effects Of Preoperative Aspirin On Cardiocerebral And Renal Complications In Non-Emergent Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Sub-Group And Cohort Study., Longhui Cao, Scott Silvestry, Ning Zhao, James Diehl, Jianzhong Sun

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Postoperative cardiocerebral and renal complications are a major threat for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This study was aimed to examine the effect of preoperative aspirin use on patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

METHODS: An observational cohort study was performed on consecutive patients (n = 1879) receiving cardiac surgery at this institution. The patients excluded from the study were those with preoperative anticoagulants, unknown aspirin use, or underwent emergent cardiac surgery. Outcome events included were 30-day mortality, renal failure, readmission and a composite outcome - major adverse cardiocerebral events (MACE) that include permanent or transient stroke, coma, perioperative myocardial …