Ultrasound-guided popliteal sciatic nerve blockade in the severely and morbidly obese: a prospective and randomized study.

Purpose: Limited research data exist regarding optimal block techniques in the severely and morbidly obese patient population. We compared two approaches to sciatic nerve blockade at the popliteal fossa in severely and morbidly obese patients. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in pain scores, block onset characteristics, and adverse events between the proximal (prebifurcation) and the distal (postbifurcation) sites.

The Smoking Cessation Trust Program of Louisiana: The Pediatrician's Role in Identifying and Referring Eligible Caregivers.

Background: A pilot study was conducted to determine whether the caregivers of children being seen at the Ochsner for Children health center were eligible for and using services provided by the Smoking Cessation Trust (SCT).

Methods: The study population consisted of pediatric patients' caregivers who visit the Ochsner for Children health center. Caregivers were offered a questionnaire to assess their age, sex, relationship to the child, medical insurance, smoking status, and prior cessation attempts and aids.

Tailoring the Blood Ordering Process for Cardiac Surgical Cases Using an Institution-Specific Version of the Maximum Surgical Blood Order Schedule.

Background: Excess ordering of blood products for surgical cases is expensive and wasteful. Evidence has shown that institution-specific versions of the Maximum Surgical Blood Order Schedule (MSBOS) lead to better ordering practices. Most MSBOSs recommend a crossmatch for a minimum of 2 units of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) for cardiac surgical cases; however, studies have shown that >50% of these patients receive no transfusions.