Publications by authors named "Elizabeth A Demers Lavelle"
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the effects of wearing N95 masks compared to loop/surgical masks on healthcare workers during long shifts, focusing on symptoms like fatigue and blood gas levels.
- It involved a survey and measurements of carbon dioxide and oxygen levels before and after shifts, with 39 subjects participating.
- Results indicated that those wearing N95 masks reported significantly higher fatigue levels, but no meaningful differences were found in arterial blood gas parameters between the two mask types.
Introduction The use of intrathecal morphine has the potential to help alleviate the pain that patients experience undergoing spinal surgeries. Complications can cause immobilization, which can lead to vascular thrombosis and ileus. Studies have shown epidural analgesia significantly lowered postoperative pain scores in scoliosis surgeries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Morbidity and mortality scores are useful to control for medical comorbidities in study populations where either effects of an illness or benefits of a treatment are examined. Our study examined if a direct relationship existed between the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA) score and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) in an osteoporosis population where patients had sustained a vertebral compression fracture.
Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with osteoporotic compression fractures treated by the same orthopedic surgeon between June 2000 and June 2004 was performed.
Background: : Because of its irreversible nature, Plavix (clopidogrel) has become a double edged sword in the care of some of our sickest patients, particularly when surgical intervention is required. Platelets exposed to a single dose of clopidogrel are affected for the remainder of their lifespan and recover normal platelet function at a rate consistent with platelet turnover, which is within 5 days to 7 days (1-3) with the generation of new platelets not influenced by the drug; however, delay of surgical fixation for orthopedic patients, particularly patients with hip fractures may lead to increased morbidity and mortality.
Methods: : A Web-based survey was created and administered to the program directors of academic orthopedic surgery programs.