Epidural anesthesia as a novel anesthetic technique for anterior lumbar interbody fusion.

Study Objective: To determine if epidural anesthesia is a reasonable technique for anterior lumbar interbody fusion.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Academic university hospital.

Prediction of outcome in severe traumatic brain injury.

Purpose Of Review: Prognostic models for predicting outcome after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be useful in several areas. However, established risk prediction models for general critical illness show significant limitations in neurotrauma. Development of specific risk prediction models for TBI has been difficult due to the variability of injury, which predicates a large sample for construction of robust models.

Optimizing cerebral glucose in severe traumatic brain injury: still some way to go.

This commentary considers some of the factors that affect cerebral glucose metabolism in patients with traumatic brain injury. A study recently reported in Critical Care suggested a blood glucose range that may optimize cerebral glucose utilization; the findings of this study are evaluated and discussed. Some of the mechanisms of cerebral glucose control are explored, including the impact of intensive insulin therapy on cerebral metabolism.

A tale of two stents: perioperative management of patients with drug-eluting coronary stents.

Drug-eluting stents were introduced into clinical practice to decrease coronary stent restenosis rates. Though remarkably effective in reducing this complication, recent data reveal that drug-eluting stents pose a significant risk for late stent thrombosis, an event strongly correlated with discontinuation of anti-platelet therapy. Because anti-platelet agents are often discontinued perioperatively, patients with DES are at risk for perioperative stent thrombosis and myocardial infarction.