Chicago Anesthesia Services

Nitrous oxide, also known as N2O, is commonly used for anesthesia in dental and surgical procedures. Its mechanism of action involves depressing the central nervous system‘s activity. N2O stabilizes axonal membranes, partially inhibiting action potentials and leading to sedation...

Arguments For and Against Nitrous Oxide Anesthesia - Chicago Anaesthesia Services While there are several benefits of nitrous oxide anesthesia, there are also several drawbacks, with additional strong environmental arguments against its use.

Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive method used to measure blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), a critical parameter in monitoring patients’ respiratory status. However, recent research and clinical observations have raised concerns about the accuracy of pulse oximeter readings across different skin tones. Understanding these effects is essential for healthcare providers to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment.

The Effects of Skin Tone on Pulse Oximeter Readings - Chicago Anaesthesia Services Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive method used to measure blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), a critical parameter in monitoring patients’ respiratory status. However, recent research and clinical observations have raised concerns about the accuracy of pulse oximeter readings across different skin tones...

Surgical procedures are a critical component of healthcare. Interestingly, the frequency and types of surgeries performed can vary significantly with the seasons. Seasonal trends in surgeries, driven by a complex interplay of environmental, social, and health-related factors...

Seasonal Trends in Surgeries - Chicago Anaesthesia Services By aligning healthcare services with seasonal trends, hospitals and clinics can better manage workloads, reduce waiting times for elective surgeries, and improve patient outcomes.

Despite playing an essential role, the impact of anesthesia technicians’ work can be underappreciated. As core anesthesia team members, they undergo rigorous training about anesthesia equipment, , , and .

Role of Anesthesia Technicians - Chicago Anaesthesia Services During anesthesia emergencies, anesthesia technicians may work with anesthesiologists to resolve complications.

Intravenous (IV) extravasation, the unintentional leakage of injected drugs from blood vessels into the surrounding tissue, is a potential complication during surgical procedures.

Prevention and Management of IV Extravasation - Chicago Anaesthesia Services Furthermore, continuous monitoring of the infusion site is crucial for early detection and management of IV extravasation.

In the complex world of healthcare reimbursement, Relative Value Units (RVUs) play a crucial role in determining the value of medical services and guiding reimbursement rates.

Relative Value Units: What Are They? - Chicago Anaesthesia Services Relative Value Units (RVUs) play a crucial role in determining the value of medical services and guiding reimbursement rates.

Clear, transparent communication between healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, and patients is crucial to reduce harmful effects when treatments are discontinued.

Effects of Treatments Being Discontinued - Chicago Anaesthesia Services The anticipated consequences of the disappearance of Flovent highlight the harmful effects of discontinued treatments.

The postoperative period significantly influences the overall success of a medical procedure, regardless of its magnitude.

Discharge Criteria After Surgery - Chicago Anaesthesia Services

Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) is an anesthetic technique which uses a combination of agents given exclusively intravenously without the use of inhalational or gas agents. Various anesthetic agents can be used for TIVA, and remimazolam has been established a viable option.

Remimazolam for TIVA - Chicago Anaesthesia Services Various anesthetic agents can be used for Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA), and remimazolam has been established a viable option.

Narcan has been FDA-approved and can help reduce the number of overdose deaths each year.

OTC Narcan: Role in the Opioid Crisis - Chicago Anaesthesia Services FDA approval to change the status of Narcan to an OTC drug could increase access to naloxone and reduce the stigma around opioid addictions.

Anesthetic drugs stored in vials are often wasted because an entire vial is rarely used in a single procedure.

Vial Wastage in Anesthesia - Chicago Anaesthesia Services Vial wastage in anesthesia contributes to hundreds of thousands of dollars in wasted anesthetic drugs each year.

Hemodynamic management aims to prevent organ dysfunction and plays a crucial role in perioperative care. Reactive vs. predictive strategies are two approaches commonly employed in hemodynamic management, each with unique characteristics.

Reactive vs. Predictive Hemodynamic Management - Chicago Anesthesia Services Reactive management involves responding to hemodynamic instability after it occurs, while predictive management aims to anticipate and prevent hemodynamic instability based on individual patient characteristics. Studies have compared reactive vs. predictive hemodynamic management techniques to evalu...

In vertebrates, the blood brain barrier (BBB) serves a protective function by minimize free diffusion in the brain. However, in some cases, there is a clinical need for bypassing the blood-brain barrier to deliver medications.

Bypassing the Blood-Brain Barrier - Chicago Anaesthesia Services In some cases, there is a clinical need for bypassing the blood-brain barrier to deliver medications. Recent studies have contributed to elucidating the function of, and ways to bypass, the BBB.

Insurance companies and healthcare providers use prior authorization to determine the medical necessity and coverage of medications before prescription and procedures before they are performed. There are pros and cons to the process.

Arguments For and Against Prior Authorization - Chicago Anaesthesia Services The prior authorization process ensures quality of care and cost effectiveness, but arguments against the system must be considered.

As we move past the three-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the last remaining places to maintain restrictions are removing mask mandates.

Where Do Covid Restrictions Still Exist? - Chicago Anaesthesia Services Though some authorities continued to enforce COVID restrictions until earlier this year, there are now few places worldwide where they exist.

Patients are taken to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) immediately following surgery. The PACU is run by the anesthesia provider.

What to Expect in the PACU - Chicago Anaesthesia Services What to expect in the PACU is that a nurse will check vital signs, probe dressings, and regulate IV fluids and pain medications as needed.

There is a major ongoing health crisis in Haiti. Haiti's infant and maternal mortality rate is of particular concern as it is the highest in the Western hemisphere.

Health and Healthcare Crisis in Haiti - Chicago Anaesthesia Services Haiti began with a disadvantage since its population was struggling with TB before HIV entered the picture and amplified the health crisis.

Doctors, hospitals, drug companies, and clinics often advertise directly to consumers, which is known as medical marketing. While information can be made more accessible given the rise of the digital age, the ethics of medical marketing remain unclear, and there is potential for harm.

Ethics of Medical Marketing - Chicago Anaesthesia Services To be ethical, medical marketing must follow strict codes of ethics and guidelines set by medical boards and governmental organizations.

Covid vaccines, while effective in reducing mortality rates, have suboptimal efficacy in immunocompromised patients. Monoclonal antibodies, in addition to vaccination, can help better protect vulnerable individuals from infection. In particular, the use of monoclonal antibodies to treat prophylaxis in immunocompromised patients is being explored.

Monoclonal Antibody COVID-19 Prophylaxis for Immunocompromised Patients - Chicago Anaesthesia Services Additional research is required in order to elucidate the impact of monoclonal antibody prophylaxis in immunocompromised patients.

Certain surgeries can lead to postoperative pain, which can be controlled through peripheral nerve blocks via catheters. The application of peripheral nerve catheters requires skill, efforts, funds, and well-researched protocols.

Postoperative Pain Management with Peripheral Nerve Catheters - Chicago Anaesthesia Services Postoperative pain is controlled by the application of peripheral nerve blocks via catheters, which can provide longer lasting relief.

Bariatric surgery can have complicated anesthesia considerations and rates have been increasing over the past decades. For instance, one of the most common comorbidities for obese patients is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Anesthesia Considerations for Bariatric Surgery - Chicago Anaesthesia Services Bariatric surgery can have complicated anesthesia considerations due to the high risk of comorbidities such as obstructive sleep apnea.

A recent study finds that patients with chronic diseases face higher medical debt; researchers analyzed medical data from a state-level insurance plan and found that rates of medical debt, low credit score, and recent bankruptcy increased with the number of chronic diseases a patient had.

With More Chronic Disease Comes More Medical Debt A new study shows that patients with chronic disease owe more medical debt, and that debt increases with the number of chronic diseases a person has.

Canada is currently experiencing an epidural shortage, adding to mothers’ stress about childbirth. Epidural blocks pain during childbirth, and without it, many mothers feel anxious and lacking in control.

An epidural shortage in Canada is panicking expecting parents "It feels like some of your control is being taken away from you."

Ongoing shortages of epidural kits and remifentanil, an analgesic, have challenged anesthesia providers and pain management specialists. The National Health Service in the UK has instructed its anesthesiologists to safeguard stocks for patients with allergies or a clinical need, rationing the available supply.

UK Hospitals Are "Having To Ration" Epidural Kits Due To Shortage An epidural shortage in the UK has been made worse by the simultaneous shortage of Remifentanil, a short-acting opioid used to ease labor pains.

A recent study reveals US adult opinions on the public health officials’ handling of the COVID-19 pandemic; those that believed harassing or threatening public health officials because of business closures was justified rose from 20% to 25% and 15% to 21%.

US Adults’ Beliefs About Harassing or Threatening Public Health Officials During COVID-19 This survey study examines the share of US adults who believed harassing or threatening public health officials because of COVID-19 business closures was justified and the factors shaping those beliefs.

A new study analyzing ma*****na users finds that they may experience fewer cases of congestion, sneezing, and sinus issues compared to their nonsmoking peers, but why this is the case is not clear.

Pot Users Are Less Prone to Sinus Problems MONDAY, Aug. 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Could smoking pot somehow help keep sinus problems at bay?It's possible, suggests a new study that found people who use ma*****na may experience fewer bouts of congestion, sneezing and sinus pain than their nonsmoking peers do, though the reasons why remain c...

Researchers at Columbia developed a novel algorithm that identified nearly 20,000 ADEs (adverse drug event) signals in the different pediatric development stages; the information is widely available for public use and is predicted to benefit the understudied pediatric community, who has a relatively high rate of hospitalization due to drug side effects.

Drug Side Effects Across Pediatric Development Stages Identified, Shared Publicly - Columbia DBMI Side effects from pediatric drug treatment are responsible for nearly 10 percent of childhood hospitalizations, with nearly half of those being

Postoperative anosmia, the loss of smell, and ageusia, the loss of taste, can lead to an increased risk of chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, renal disease, or hypertension.
https://chicagoanesthesiaservices.com/postoperative-alterations-in-taste-and-smell/

Postoperative Alterations in Taste and Smell - Chicago Anaesthesia Services Although short-lived, these postoperative alterations in sensation like anosmia and ageusia can negatively impact patient quality of life.

A survey of around 60,000 US healthcare workers finds that stress from unavailable or unaffordable childcare during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an 80% higher chance of burnout.

Survey: COVID + childcare woes = burnout in health workers Stress from childcare issues amid the pandemic was tied to an 80% higher chance of burnout.

A survey of around 60,000 US healthcare workers finds that stress from unavailable or unaffordable childcare during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an 80% higher chance of burnout among healthcare workers.

Survey: COVID + childcare woes = burnout in health workers Stress from childcare issues amid the pandemic was tied to an 80% higher chance of burnout.