Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Anesthesiology for October 2015. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Middle Finger Length Good Guide for Intubation Depth in Children
FRIDAY, Oct. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Using middle finger length to guide tracheal intubation depth improves the rate of appropriate tube placement in children, according to a study published in the November issue of Pediatric Anesthesia.
Increasing Numbers of Med School Applicants, Enrollees
FRIDAY, Oct. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There has been a 25 percent increase in the number of medical school enrollees since 2002, with the number reaching an all-time high of 20,630 this year, according to a report published online Oct. 22 by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
Nearly 15 Percent of Plans Lack In-Network Specialists
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A considerable proportion of federal marketplace plans lack at least one in-network specialist, according to a research letter published in the Oct. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Blanket + Warmed IV Best for Hypothermic Infants
THURSDAY, Oct. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The combination of conventional blanket rewarming and pre-warmed intravenous (IV) infusion is most effective for rewarming postoperative hypothermic infants, according to a study published in the November issue of Pediatric Anesthesia.
Caudal Regional Anesthesia Not Linked to Fistula Formation
TUESDAY, Oct. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Caudal regional anesthesia seems not to be associated with urethrocutaneous fistula formation in pediatric patients undergoing primary hypospadias repair, according to a study published in the November issue of Pediatric Anesthesia.
‘Failure Mode and Effective Analysis’ Ups Error Awareness
MONDAY, Oct. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The application of failure mode and effective analysis (FMEA) correlates with increased awareness of medical errors in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), according to a study published online Oct. 3 in Pediatric Anesthesia.
Needle Type Doesn’t Change Epidural Vascular Uptake Risk
MONDAY, Oct. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Blunt-tip and pencil-point needles have comparable risks of inadvertent vascular injection during lumbosacral transforaminal injections, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Pain Medicine.
Peri-Op Experience Similar for Children With, Without Autism
FRIDAY, Oct. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a significant difference in premedication type compared with children without ASD, although in other respects, their perioperative experiences are similar, according to a study published in the November issue of Pediatric Anesthesia.
Safety-Net Hospitals Have Higher Costs, Worse Outcomes
THURSDAY, Oct. 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Intrinsic qualities of safety-net hospitals, rather than patient characteristics, lead to inferior surgical outcomes and increased costs across nine elective surgical procedures, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in JAMA Surgery.
Epidural-Related Complications Down for C-Sections
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Complications from epidural and spinal anesthetic procedures during cesarean deliveries dropped 25 percent over a recent 10-year period, according to a study published online Sept. 29 in Anesthesiology.
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Cannabis Not Recommended to Prevent Post-op Nausea
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cannabis should not be used to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) because of unacceptable side effects and low effectiveness, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Hospital Factors Can Overcome ‘Weekend Effect’
MONDAY, Oct. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More nurses and electronic medical records can help hospitals overcome the “weekend effect” (WE) associated with urgent general surgery procedures performed on weekends, according to a study published in the October issue of the Annals of Surgery.
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Americans Spend More on Health Care, but Fare Worse
MONDAY, Oct. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — When compared to 12 other industrialized nations, Americans spend more on health care services, but they fare worst in terms of life expectancy, according to recent findings from The Commonwealth Fund.
Guidelines Developed for Managing Conflicts of Interest
TUESDAY, Oct. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The Guidelines International Network has developed principles for disclosure and management of conflicts of interest (COIs) during the clinical practice guideline development process, according to a report published in the Oct. 6 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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β-Blockers May Up Risk of Surgical Complications for Some
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients taking β-blockers may face heightened risks of cardiovascular complications during non-cardiac surgeries, according to a large study published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
New Guidelines Developed for Peri-Op Management of Diabetes
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New guidelines have been developed for the perioperative management of surgical patients with diabetes. The guidelines were published online Sept. 29 in Anesthesia.
Modified SOAP Ups Student Awareness of Health Care Costs
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Modification of the traditional Subjective-Objective-Assessment-Plan (SOAP) presentation to consider value (SOAP-V) can help medical students learn to practice high-value, cost-conscious care, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Providers Must Understand Legal Limits of Telemedicine
FRIDAY, Oct. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In order to minimize risk when practicing telemedicine, providers should ensure they hold the proper medical licenses, have medical liability insurance coverage, and communicate with patients regarding the potential risks of telemedicine, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Strategies Provided for Improving EHR Efficiency
THURSDAY, Oct. 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Several strategies can be implemented in order to better use electronic health records (EHRs) for patient care and efficiency, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
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