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.

Comparison of ultrasound and nerve stimulation techniques for interscalene brachial plexus block for shoulder surgery in a residency training environment: a randomized, controlled, observer-blinded trial.

Background: The ability to provide adequate intraoperative anesthesia and postoperative analgesia for orthopedic shoulder surgery continues to be a procedural challenge. Anesthesiology training programs constantly balance the time needed for procedural education versus associated costs. The administration of brachial plexus anesthesia can be facilitated through nerve stimulation or by ultrasound guidance.

Evaluating safety of handoffs between anesthesia care providers.

Background: Anesthesia care providers frequently exchange care of patients among one another. This daily process of information exchange could be a potential source for adverse events.

Objectives: Our objectives were to determine if the current handoff system is ineffective and if more standardized methods available for the exchange of patient information could improve the effectiveness of handoffs.

Analysis of orotracheal intubation techniques in the intensive care unit.

Background: The development of specialised airway tools help laryngoscopists secure the airway in intensive care units. The use of videolaryngoscopy has been suggested in simulation studies, and human studies suggest that this advanced airway tool may have an advantage for difficult airways; however, less is known about its use in the ICU.

Objective: To compare orotracheal intubation before and after acquisition of an ICU-dedicated GlideScope (GS), and to determine the incidence of complications with orotracheal intubation in an ICU.

Intrathecal rosiglitazone acts at peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma to rapidly inhibit neuropathic pain in rats.

Unlabelled: In this report, we demonstrate the transcription, expression, and DNA-binding properties of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma subtype of the peroxisome proliferator-activated nuclear receptor family to the spinal cord with real-time PCR, Western blot, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. To test the hypothesis that activation of spinal PPAR-gamma decreases nerve injury-induced allodynia, we intrathecally administered PPAR-gamma agonists and/or antagonists in rats after transection of the tibial and common peroneal branches of the sciatic nerve. Single injection of either a natural (15-deoxy-prostaglandin J2, 15d-PGJ2) or synthetic (rosiglitazone) PPAR-gamma agonist dose-dependently decreased mechanical and cold hypersensitivity.