Anesthesiology Commons^™

Physical Activity After Delivery: A Feasibility Study, Antonio Gonzalez Fiol, Md, Geoffrey Ho, Mbbs, Dongchen Li, Md, Richard Amdur, Phd, Chapman Wei, Md, Homa K. Ahmadzia, Md, Marianne David, Md, Christopher Jackson, Md, Jeffrey S. Berger, Md, Mba

Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Early mobility is one of the main goals of the enhanced recovery after cesarean delivery, yet it is rarely objectively measured. Benefits related to this goal include mechanical prevention of deep venous thrombosis and early discharge.

Methods: We conducted a multi-center prospective study in which an activity tracker was utilized to measure the steps taken by patients after delivery. The primary outcome was steps taken after vaginal or cesarean delivery. Secondary outcomes was factors affecting ambulation (e.g pain/satisfaction with pain management and mode of delivery).

Results: Data from 50 postpartum patients were analyzed. Vaginal delivery patients took more cumulative …

Mepivacaine Versus Bupivacaine Spinal Anesthesia For Early Postoperative Ambulation., Eric S. Schwenk, Vincent P. Kasper, Jordan D. Smoker, Andrew M. Mendelson, Mathew S. Austin, Scot A. Brown, William J. Hozack, Alexa J. Cohen, Jonathan J. Li, Christopher S. Wahal, Jaime L. Baratta, Marc Torjman, Alyson C. Nemeth, Eric E. Czerwinski

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Early ambulation after total hip arthroplasty predicts early discharge. Spinal anesthesia is preferred by many practices but can delay ambulation, especially with bupivacaine. Mepivacaine, an intermediate-acting local anesthetic, could enable earlier ambulation than bupivacaine. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that patients who received mepivacaine would ambulate earlier than those who received hyperbaric or isobaric bupivacaine for primary total hip arthroplasty.

METHODS: This randomized controlled trial included American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status I to III patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty. The patients were randomized 1:1:1 to 52.5 mg of mepivacaine, 11.25 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine, …

The Clinical Relevance Of Cement Volume In Percutaneous Vertebral Augmentation, Ravi G. Mirpuri, Madhuri Are, Virginia Hardie, Michael J. Warden, Robin High

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Introduction: Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty are two forms of percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA), in which polymethylmethacrylate cement is used to stabilize vertebral compression fractures (VCF). This study sought to evaluate the relationship between cement volume and clinical outcomes, including pain reduction, opioid use, and complication rate.

Methods: Retrospective chart review produced 88 patients who received PVA at a tertiary care outpatient pain clinic. Cement volume, type of PVA, gender, level (thoracic vs lumbar) were collected, as well as clinical outcomes of numeric pain score (NPS) reduction, opioid percent change (OPC), and complications. Both pre-procedure and post-procedure (between 2-4 weeks) data were …

Ponv Prophylaxis Failure Disproportionately Affects Female Patients, Despite Intraoperative Computerized Decision Support Guidance, Karl A. Krieser, John B. Riley Iii, Jospeh E. Baus, Julie T. Hoffman, James N. Sullivan Md, Robert L. Lobato

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Objectives: To compare postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) prophylaxis treatment and outcomes based on patients’ sex, using a retrospective cohort. The setting was the operating room and post-anesthesia care unit of a tertiary care university medical center.

Patients: A total of 678 adult male and female patients with American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) scores of 1-4 underwent surgery with general anesthesia. All patients received preoperative PONV risk assessment. PONV prophylaxis was administered at the discretion of the anesthesia care team members with guidance from a computerized decision support system.

Measurements: Adequacy of prophylaxis was retrospectively determined based on individual patient …

Prophylactic Mesh Placement For The Prevention Of Incisional Hernia In High-Risk Patients After Abdominal Surgery: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jawad Ahmed, Nimra Hasnain, Iayla Fatima, Farheen Malik, Muhammad A. Chaudhary, Junaid Ahmad, Mehreen Malik, Laraib Malik, Muhammad Osama, Mirza Zain Baig, Faisal Khosa, Faiz Bhora

Department of Anaesthesia

Background and objectives: In high-risk populations, the efficacy of mesh placement in incisional hernia (IH) prevention after elective abdominal surgeries has been supported by many published studies. This meta-analysis aimed at providing comprehensive and updated clinical implications of prophylactic mesh placement (PMP) for the prevention of IH as compared to primary suture closure (PSC).
Materials and methods: PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were systematically searched until March 3, 2020, for studies comparing the efficacy of PMP to PSC in abdominal surgeries. The main outcome of interest was the incidence of IH at different follow-up durations. All statistical analyses …

Role Of Extracellular Vesicles In Substance Abuse And Hiv-Related Neurological Pathologies, Katherine E. Odegaard, Subhash Chand, Sydney Wheeler, Sneham Tiwari, Adrian Flores, Jordan Hernandez, Mason Savine, Austin Gowen, Gurudutt Pendyala, Sowmya V. Yelamanchili

Journal Articles: Anesthesiology

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a broad, heterogeneous class of membranous lipid-bilayer vesicles that facilitate intercellular communication throughout the body. As important carriers of various types of cargo, including proteins, lipids, DNA fragments, and a variety of small noncoding RNAs, including miRNAs, mRNAs, and siRNAs, EVs may play an important role in the development of addiction and other neurological pathologies, particularly those related to HIV. In this review, we summarize the findings of EV studies in the context of methamphetamine (METH), cocaine, nicotine, opioid, and alcohol use disorders, highlighting important EV cargoes that may contribute to addiction. Additionally, as HIV and …

Comparison Of Trigger Point Injections Versus Traditional Therapies In The Management Of Post-Surgical Pain In Patients Who Had Anterior Cervical Surgery: A Retrospective Study, Vivien Pat, Ivy Benjenk, Everett Chu, Eric Heinz, Geoffrey Ho, Anita Vincent

Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Posters and Presentations

Introduction: The opioid epidemic has launched the United States into a public health crisis, resulting in a greater emphasis on non-opioid multimodal pain control methods.

At our institution, postoperative posterior neck stiffness and myofascial pain is a common concern after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion or anterior cervical corpectomy with fusion surgery (hereinafter ACS), likely due to prolonged intraoperative positioning in neck extension. Studies have shown successful analgesic outcomes of trigger point injections with local anesthetic for generalized myofascial pain.^1-2 This retrospective pilot study aimed to evaluate whether trigger point injections with bupivacaine decreases postsurgical pain compared with …

Nsaids For Analgesia In The Era Of Covid-19, Daniel L Herzberg, Harry P Sukumaran, Eugene R. Viscusi

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Globally, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are highly used to treat pain. With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, the safety of NSAIDs use has been called into question. These concerns are worthy of review. At present, there is no compelling data showing that NSAIDs worsen the severity of COVID-19 symptoms or increase one's likelihood of contracting the illness. For patients in pain and without symptoms that could potentially be attributed to COVID-19 (cough, fevers/chills, lethargy, myalgias, anosmia and so on), NSAIDs should continue to remain a viable option to provide analgesia to patients in need.

Building Focused Cardiac Ultrasound Capacity In A Lower Middle-Income Country: A Single Centre Study To Assess Training Impact, Wangari Siika, Anders Barasa, Benjamin Wachira, David Nekyon, Barbara Karau, Fatimah Juma, Grace Wanjiku, Harun Otieno, Gerald S. Bloomfield, Erik Sloth

Anaesthesiology, East Africa

Background: In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where echocardiography experts are in short supply, training non-cardiologists to perform Focused Cardiac Ultrasound (FoCUS) could minimise diagnostic delays in time-critical emergencies. Despite advocacy for FoCUS training however, opportunities in LMICs are limited, and the impact of existing curricula uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of FoCUS training based on the Focus Assessed Transthoracic Echocardiography (FATE) curriculum. Our primary objective was to assess knowledge gain. Secondary objectives were to evaluate novice FoCUS image quality, assess inter-rater agreement between expert and novice FoCUS and identify barriers to the establishment …

Frequency Of Intraoperative Hypotension After The Induction Of Anesthesia In Hypertensive Patients With Preoperative Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors, Fahad Salim, Fazal Hameed Khan, Muhammad Nasir, Rashid Ali, Ayesha Iqbal, Amir Raza

Department of Anaesthesia

Introduction: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is an important target in the treatment of hypertension. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors block the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. ACE inhibitors not only treat hypertension but also decrease morbidity and mortality in heart failure patients and in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The discontinuation of ACE inhibitors before the surgery is still controversial. To assess the current magnitude of the problem in our population, we aimed to conduct this study, which evaluated the frequency of intraoperative hypotension after the induction of anesthesia in controlled hypertensive patients with preoperative ACE inhibitors.
Material and …

Blood-Brain Barrier: Mechanisms Governing Permeability And Interaction With Peripherally Acting Μ-Opioid Receptor Antagonists., Eugene R. Viscusi, Andrew R Viscusi

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) describes the unique properties of endothelial cells (ECs) that line the central nervous system (CNS) microvasculature. The BBB supports CNS homeostasis via EC-associated transport of ions, nutrients, proteins and waste products between the brain and blood. These transport mechanisms also serve as physiological barriers to pathogens, toxins and xenobiotics to prevent them from contacting neural tissue. The mechanisms that govern BBB permeability pose a challenge to drug design for CNS disorders, including pain, but can be exploited to limit the effects of a drug to the periphery, as in the design of the peripherally acting μ-opioid …

Folic Acid Supplementation In Patients With Elevated Homocysteine Levels, Alan D. Kaye, George M. Jeha, Alex D. Pham, Mitchell C. Fuller, Zachary I. Lerner, Gerald T. Sibley, Elyse M. Cornett, Ivan Urits, Omar Viswanath, Christopher G. Kevil

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Folic acid is the most important dietary determinant of homocysteine (Hcy). Hcy serves as a critical intermediate in methylation reactions. It is created from methionine and either converted back to methionine or transformed into cysteine. This process is aided through several enzymes and three vitamins, folic acid, B12, and B6. Daily supplementation with 0.5–5.0 mg of folic acid typically lowers plasma Hcy levels by approximately 25%. Hyperhomocysteinemia is a known risk factor for coronary artery disease. In this regard, elevated levels of Hcy have been found in a majority of patients with vascular disease. Methods: A literature review of …

When Limb Surgery Has Become The Only Life-Saving Therapy In Fop: A Case Report And Systematic Review Of The Literature, Esmée Botman, Sanne Treurniet, Wouter D Lubbers, Lothar A Schwarte, Patrick R Schober, Louise Sabelis, Edgar J G Peters, Annelies Van Schie, Ralph De Vries, Zvi Grunwald, Bernard J Smilde, Jakko A Nieuwenhuijzen, Marieke Visser, Dimitra Micha, Nathalie Bravenboer, J Coen Netelenbos, Bernd P Teunissen, Pim De Graaf, Pieter G H M Raijmakers, Jan Maerten Smit, Elisabeth M W Eekhoff

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare disease in which heterotopic ossification (HO) is formed in muscles, tendons and ligaments. Traumatic events, including surgery, are discouraged as this is known to trigger a flare-up with risk of subsequent HO. Anesthetic management for patients with FOP is challenging. Cervical spine fusion, ankylosis of the temporomandibular joints, thoracic insufficiency syndrome, restrictive chest wall disease, and sensitivity to oral trauma complicate airway management and anesthesia and pose life-threatening risks. We report a patient with FOP suffering from life-threatening antibiotic resistant bacterial infected ulcers of the right lower leg and foot. The anesthetic, surgical …

Implementing Positive Language In Anesthesia: Utilizing The Comfort Scale, Elisabeth Prehm, Tricia Oakes

Grace Peterson Nursing Research Colloquium

Implementing Positive Language in Anesthesia: Utilizing the Comfort Scale

Tricia Oakes & Elisabeth Prehm

Faculty Sponsor: Pamela Schwartz DNP, CRNA

Background

Verbal numeric pain scales (ranking pain on a scale from zero to ten) are widely utilized and taught in medicine. Evidence-based research has shown that verbal numeric comfort scales are associated with a decrease in opioid administration, improved pain perceptions, and overall better patient satisfaction .7

Objective

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of a video-based educational tool demonstrating the use of a comfort scale in the perioperative setting among Nurse Anesthesia Trainees (NATs), and …

Crnas And Sugammadex Use: A Qualitative Analysis, Natalia Izquierdo Bsn, Rn, Emily Mancewicz Bsn, Rn

Grace Peterson Nursing Research Colloquium

Background: The availability of Sugammadex has increased options for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists’ (CRNAs) and their choice of neuromuscular reversal agents, however administration is impacted by a variety of provider and institutional factors.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine and describe the personal and institutional factors impacting the use of Sugammadex in Illinois by CRNAs.

Method: A qualitative study design using an open-ended survey yielded 209 responses. The three main themes that emerged were 1) Why CRNAs choose to use or avoid Sugammadex 2) How CRNAs dose Sugammadex and 3) Practice variations existing within the clinical setting. …

Rate Of Unscheduled Administration Of An Epidural Bolus Among Pregnant Women Receiving Labor Epidurals, Aleksandr A. Lyakhov, Emily L. Mcquaid-Hanson, Amanda Affleck, Kenn B Daratha

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Background The labor and delivery process is a painful experience that pregnant women undergo and while various medical options are available for managing labor pain, labor epidurals are the most common.1,3 Breakthrough pain, or inadequate analgesia, is a significant complication of labor epidurals that is typically managed with the administration of an unscheduled epidural bolus. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project is to describe the rate of unscheduled epidural bolus administration in pregnant women receiving continuous labor epidurals (CLE) at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (PSHMC) and Providence Holy Family Hospital (PHFH).

Methods • Design: Retrospective, observational, EBP …

Postoperative Length Of Stay Following Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol Implementation For Scheduled Cesarean Deliveries, Hannah Zimmerman, Emily L. Mcquaid-Hanson, Amanda Affleck, Kenn B Daratha

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Background Cesarean delivery is the most common major surgery worldwide. 1 In 2018, 1.2 million cesarean deliveries occurred in the United States, accounting for nearly 32% of all deliveries.2 Research has shown ERAS benefits include decreased length of stay, improved pain control, and improved patient satisfaction.2,3 Despite its use in numerous surgical specialties, ERAS implementation within obstetrics has been slow.2 The ERAS Society released a three-part guideline specific to cesarean deliveries in 2018 and 2019,4,5,6 yet few studies have assessed the impact of ERAS on cesarean postoperative outcomes.2 An improved perioperative course would be particularly beneficial for mothers undergoing cesarean …

Prophylactic Phenylephrine Infusion To Mitigate Intraoperative Hypotension After Spinal Anesthesia Among Orthopedic Patients, David Nelson, Braden Hemingway, Kenn B Daratha

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Background

Intraoperative Hypotension (IOH) is common after spinal anesthesia (SA) and is associated with an increased risk of end organ damage.1 2 3 The treatment regimen for IOH after SA varies in the orthopedic population. However, the current research literature suggests that a prophylactic infusion of phenylephrine significantly reduces the number of episodes and duration of hypotension.1 This EBP project aims to report the proportion of patients receiving prophylactic phenylephrine infusions and the incidence of hypotension following SA among orthopedic surgery patients at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (PSHMC) in Spokane, WA.

Methods

• A retrospective, observational EBP project was …

Neostigmine Versus Sugammadex And The Relationship To Reintubation Rates In The Pacu, Delanie Urrutia, Scot Pettey, Kenn B Daratha

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Background Findings Discussion Reintubation in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) is a complication that may be related to residual neuromuscular blockade. Neostigmine and sugammadex have different pharmacokinetics that effect speed and completeness of reversal of paralysis. According to Tillquist et al. (2016) reintubation following general anesthesia in the PACU is associated with a 50% increased risk of mortality. Few studies have investigated the incidence rate of PACU reintubation and its possible relationship and choice of reversal medication.

Methods • Retrospective Observational Research Study. • This project was approved by the PSHMC Clinical Innovation and Research Council and deemed human subjects …

Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting With Low-Dose Propofol Infusions In Patients Undergoing Gynecological Surgeries With Volatile Anesthetics At Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center And Providence Holy Family Hospital, Adrianna Silva, Braden Hemingway, Kenn B Daratha

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Background Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication following surgery. It remains the most important determinant of length of stay and leading cause of dissatisfaction in anesthesia.4 Females undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery have the highest rates.8 Apfel’s baseline risk factors for PONV include female gender, history of motion sickness and/or PONV, non-smoking status and administration of postoperative opioids.1 Propofol has antiemetic properties and Gan’s evidence supports the use of an intraoperative low-dose infusion to reduce baseline risk factors for PONV.6 This project aims to describe the rates of intraoperative low-dose propofol infusions in female patients undergoing gynecological surgery …

Intratracheal Lidocaine And Postoperative Sore Throat At Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center And Providence Holy Family Hospital, Jennifer Cowgill, Scot Pettey, Kenn B Daratha

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Background Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a common side effect from general anesthesia (GA) and has a prevalence of 14.4-50%.1 The experience of POST contributes to patient discomfort during recovery from surgery. The etiology of this is thought to be from tracheal mucosal erosion from the cuff of the endotracheal tube (ETT), trauma from intubation, coughing and bucking, and friction between the ETT and the tracheal mucosa during general anesthesia.2 Risk factors shown to contribute to the development of POST include, but are not limited to, elderly age, smoking history, patient positioning, ETT cuff pressure, and movement of ETT during …

Opioid Consumption After Scheduled Cesarean Delivery Following Implementation Of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery, Mindy Woodruff, Emily L. Mcquaid-Hanson, Amanda Affleck, Kenn B Daratha

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Background With 47,600 opioid overdose related deaths in the U.S. in 2017, the opioid crisis is of national concern.1 Cesarean delivery is the most common surgery worldwide, with over 1.2 million in the U.S. in 2018 alone.2,3 As cesarean delivery is a highly prevalent surgery it has a large capacity to influence the opioid epidemic. Literature is showing that Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) and multimodal analgesia are effective means of managing postoperative pain while minimizing opioid use.4,5,6,7,8 This project aims to help discover if introduction of ERAS, and more specifically it’s multimodal analgesia aspect, has helped decrease oral morphine …

Rates Of Ondansetron Administration Prior To Spinal Anesthesia: Evaluating The Practice Of Prophylactic Attenuation Of Spinal-Induced Hypotension And Bradycardia, Clare Santana, Scot Pettey, Kenn B Daratha

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Background Hypotension and bradycardia are common complications of spinal anesthesia. Intraoperative hypotension and bradycardia may lead to complications that require additional treatment and increase cost. The literature identifies intervention strategies to attenuate spinalinduced hypotension (SIH) and bradycardia.1 Prophylactic administration of ondansetron, a serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor antagonist, prior to spinal anesthesia is associated with reduced SIH and bradycardia.1,2,3,4,6 The objective of this scholarly project was to report the practice of ondansetron prophylaxis for SIH and bradycardia and the rate of rescue interventions in patients who received ondansetron prior to spinal anesthesia.

Methods Retrospective, multi-center observational evidence-based practice project conducted at Providence …

Intraoperative Hypotension And Acute Kidney Injury In Non-Cardiac Surgery At Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Elizabeth Davison, Amanda Affleck, Kenn B Daratha

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious postoperative complication that increases a patient’s risk for both long and short-term morbidity and mortality.¹ Intraoperative hypotension (IOH) is an independent risk factor for AKI,^2-5 which can be readily modified by anesthesia providers. This project aims to describe the risk factors and rates of AKI following IOH at various absolute mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) thresholds for specified durations of time among adults undergoing non-cardiac surgery at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (PSHMC).

Methods PSHMC approved this retrospective, observational evidence-based project and deemed the project exempt by the Institutional Review …

Correlation Of Ondansetron Timing In Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting: A Retrospective Evaluation Amongst Adult Patients Receiving General Anesthesia, Jeff Tanguay, Braden Hemingway, Kenn B Daratha

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Background Addressed as a national quality initiative by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a vexing complication requiring further attention by anesthesia providers.3 Medication optimization is an area of focus to address this complication.4 Ondansetron, a selective 5- hydroxytryptophan subtype 3 (5-HT3 ) receptor antagonist, is effective and considered the “gold standard” in the prevention of PONV.4 GlaxoSmithKline™ suggests administering Zofran® (ondansetron) before the induction of anesthesia.5 These directions are in contrast to the synthesis of the research evidence, which supports increased effectiveness of ondansetron when administered 30 minutes before emergence from …

Intraoperative Dexmedetomidine Use On Adult Surgical Patients At Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Christina Rose, Scot Pettey, Norel Smith, Kenn B Daratha

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Background Opioids are considered the standard of practice for intraoperative and postoperative pain management but yield unfavorable outcomes.6 The research evidence demonstrates reductions in post-operative opioid use following intraoperative administration of dexmedetomidine.1,3,4,5,6 Due to the prospective nature of literature surrounding dexmedetomidine, the rate of implementation remains largely unknown. The aim of this retrospective, observational project was to identify the rate of adoption of intraoperative dexmedetomidine administration among adult surgical patients at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (PSHMC) from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019. Accordingly, investigation into dexmedetomidine administration at PSHMC may shed light on this strategy aimed to …

In Adults With Difficult Intubations, What Is A Gold Standard Method For Success?, Nathaniel Kitzmann

Theses and Graduate Projects

The objective of this thesis is to analyze existing literature and guidelines for difficult intubations and provide clinical recommendations. This paper is a retrospective analysis of human trials focusing on preparation, medication, and tools in the field of emergency airway management. Techniques will be described and discussed. A large portion of intubations are described as difficult and have the potential to fail. Articles retrieved from databases PubMed, Medline, and PLOS ONE and the search engine Google Scholar were reviewed. Websites for the institutions of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and Difficult Airway Society were used in guidance. Currently, many guidelines …

Covid-19 And Liver Injury: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jawad Ahmed, Tehlil Rizwan, Farheen Malik, Raniyah Akhter, Mehreen Malik, Junaid Ahmad, Abdul Wasay Khan, Muhammad A. Chaudhary, Muhammad Shariq Usman

Department of Anaesthesia

Background and Aims: The prevalence and extent of liver damage in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients remain poorly understood, primarily due to small-sized epidemiological studies with varying definitions of “liver injury”. We conducted a meta-analysis to derive generalizable, well-powered estimates of liver injury prevalence in COVID-19 patients. We also aimed to assess whether liver injury prevalence is significantly greater than the baseline prevalence of chronic liver disease (CLD). Our secondary aim was to study whether the degree of liver injury was associated with the severity of COVID-19.
Materials and Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed and Scopus) were systematically searched in June …

Investigating Sofa, Delta-Sofa And Mpm-Iii For Mortality Prediction Among Critically Ill Patients At A Private Tertiary Hospital Icu In Kenya: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Lillian N. Lukoko, Peter S. Kussin, Rodney Adam, James Orwa, Wangari Siika

Anaesthesiology, East Africa

Background: Outcomes in well-resourced, intensive care units (ICUs) in Kenya are thought to be comparable to those in high-income countries (HICs) but risk-adjusted mortality data is unavailable. We undertook an evaluation of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi ICU to analyze patient clinical-demographic characteristics, compare the performance of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), delta-SOFA at 48 hours and Mortality Prediction Model-III (MPM-III) mortality prediction systems, and identify factors associated with increased risk of mortality.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of adult patients admitted to the ICU between January 2015 and September 2017. SOFA and MPM-III scores were determined …

Current Recommendations For The Perioperative Management Of Patients On Buprenorphine: A Case Study, Coreen Tanner

Nurse Anesthesia Student Capstones

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, more than 2 million Americans suffer from opioid use disorder (DHHS, 2020). Opioid maintenance therapy (OMT) for OUD has been shown to reduce the rates of inpatient hospitalization and overall opioid-related mortality (Quaye & Zhang, 2019). Buprenorphine is a partial mu receptor agonist and kappa receptor antagonist that is used frequently by patients on OMT. Beginning in 2010 annual prescriptions for buprenorphine products have increased dramatically (Lembke, Ottestad, & Schmiesing, 2019).

With the rising level of chronic pain and opioid use nationally, more and more patients taking buprenorphine are presenting …