End-Tidal Control Versus Manual Control of Inhalational Anesthesia Delivery: A Randomized Controlled Noninferiority Trial.

Background: Precise anesthesia delivery helps ensure amnesia, analgesia, and immobility. Conventionally, the end-tidal anesthetic concentration is maintained through manual adjustment of the fresh gas flow and anesthetic vaporizer output. Some anesthesia delivery systems can deliver and maintain clinician-selected end-tidal anesthetic agent (EtAA) concentration using a modified closed-loop system.

Trends in Cardiac Anesthesiologist Compensation, Work Patterns, and Training From 2010 to 2020: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Salary Survey.

Increasing cardiac procedural volume, a shortage of practicing cardiac anesthesiologists, and growth in specialist physician compensation would be expected to increase cardiac anesthesiologist compensation and work load. Additionally, more cardiac anesthesiologists are graduating from accredited fellowships and completing echocardiography certification. The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) biannual salary survey longitudinally measures these data; we analyzed these data from 2010 to 2020 and hypothesized survey respondent inflation-adjusted total compensation, work load, and training would increase.

Mitral Regurgitation in Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is one of the most frequently encountered types of valvular heart disease in the United States. Patients with significant MR (moderate-to-severe or severe) undergoing noncardiac surgery have an increased risk of perioperative cardiovascular complications. MR can arise from a diverse array of causes that fall into 2 broad categories: primary (diseases intrinsic to the valvular apparatus) and secondary (diseases that disrupt normal valve function via effects on the left ventricle or mitral annulus).

Bioaerosol Sampling for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a Referral Center with Critically Ill Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Patients March-May 2020.

Background: Previous research has shown that rooms of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) present the potential for healthcare-associated transmission through aerosols containing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, data on the presence of these aerosols outside of patient rooms are limited. We investigated whether virus-containing aerosols were present in nursing stations and patient room hallways in a referral center with critically ill COVID-19 patients.

A scalable tool for adjudication of time sensitive cases during COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritization of care and utilization of scarce resources are daily considerations in healthcare systems that have never experienced these issues before. Elective surgical cases have been largely postponed, and surgery departments are struggling to correctly and equitably determine which cases need to proceed. A resource to objectively prioritize and track time sensitive cases would be useful as an adjunct to clinical decision-making.

The Emory University Perioperative Algorithm for the Management of Hyperglycemia and Diabetes in Non-cardiac Surgery Patients.

Hyperglycemia is a frequent manifestation of critical and surgical illness, resulting from the acute metabolic and hormonal changes associated with the response to injury and stress (Umpierrez and Kitabchi, Curr Opin Endocrinol. 11:75-81, 2004; McCowen et al., Crit Care Clin.

Performance of bedside diagnostic ultrasound in an Ebola isolation unit: the Emory University Hospital experience.

Objective: Individuals with Ebola virus disease, a contagious and potentially lethal infection, are now being treated in specialized units in the United States. We describe Emory University's initial experience, current operating procedures, and ongoing planning with diagnostic ultrasound in the isolation unit.

Conclusion: Ultrasound use has been limited to date.

Positioning an intraaortic balloon pump using intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram guidance.

A 72-year-old man with an ejection fraction of 25% is scheduled to undergo elective coronary artery bypass graft using cardiopulmonary bypass. Because of the high-risk nature of the operation, the surgeon wants to insert an intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) before initiating cardiopulmonary bypass. An intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is requested to ensure correct placement.

Cost-effectiveness of bispectral index monitoring.

Purpose Of Review: In the current era of limited resources, organizations are evaluating the cost-effectiveness of their care. To analyze the cost-effectiveness of a physiologic monitor, one must first determine what negative outcome will be reduced or what positive outcome will be promoted. For example, if one was studying the cost-effectiveness of the pulse oximeter, it would be important to state whether the endpoint is prevention of hypoxic events or prevention of myocardial infarction.