A Multicenter Study of Stellate Ganglion Block as a Temporizing Treatment for Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmias.

Background: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) are life-threatening conditions and can be refractory to conventional drug and device interventions. Stellate ganglion blockade (SGB) has been described as an adjunct, temporizing intervention in patients with refractory ventricular arrhythmia. We examined the association of SGB with VT/VF in a multicenter registry.

Splanchnic Nerve Modulation Effects on Surrogate Measures of Venous Capacitance.

Background Splanchnic nerve modulation (SNM) is an emerging procedure to reduce cardiac filling pressures in heart failure. Although the main contributor to reduction in cardiac preload is thought to be increased venous capacitance in the splanchnic circulation, supporting evidence is limited. We examined changes in venous capacitance surrogates pre- and post-SNM.

A Case Report of Bilateral Phrenic Nerve Dysfunction After Unilateral Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block: Unveiling Preexisting Diaphragmatic Dysfunction.

A 48-year-old woman with a history of cardiac surgery developed severe dyspnea and anxiety following right-sided supraclavicular nerve block for hand surgery. In this case, right phrenic nerve blockade from a supraclavicular block unmasked a subclinical hemidiaphragmatic paresis from phrenic nerve injury on the left, the latter likely due to previous cardiac surgery. When performing brachial plexus block at or above the clavicle, particularly for prior cardiothoracic surgical patients, anesthesiologists can easily, quickly, and inexpensively use point-of-care ultrasound to assess whether any degree of phrenic nerve dysfunction exists on the contralateral side, as patients may be asymptomatic at baseline.

Trends in Chronic Opioid Use Around Inpatient Surgery Within the Veterans Health Administration.

This study assesses outcomes of veterans who have undergone inpatient surgery since the Veterans Health Administration’s opioid safety initiative was initiated.

Association 'Between Gabapentinoids on the Day of Colorectal Surgery and Adverse Postoperative Respiratory Outcomes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association between gabapentinoids on the day of surgery and adverse postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing colorectal surgery in the United States.

Background: Gabapentinoids, gabapentin and pregabalin, are recommended in multimodal analgesia protocols for acute postoperative pain management after colorectal surgery. However, current literature focuses on the efficacy in reducing opioid consumption, but provides limited information about adverse risks.

Acute Pain Is Associated With Chronic Opioid Use After Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background And Objectives: Pain scores are routinely reported in clinical practice, and we wanted to examine whether this routinely measured, patient-reported variable provides prognostic information, especially with regard to chronic opioid use, after taking preoperative and perioperative variables into account in a preoperative opioid user population.

Methods: In 32,874 preoperative opioid users undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty at Veterans Affairs hospitals between 2010 and 2015, we compared preoperative and perioperative characteristics in patients reporting lower versus higher acute pain (scores ≤4/10 vs >4/10 averaged over days 1-3). We calculated the propensity for lower acute pain based on all available data.

Bio-inspired design of ice-retardant devices based on benthic marine invertebrates: the effect of surface texture.

Growth of ice on surfaces poses a challenge for both organisms and for devices that come into contact with liquids below the freezing point. Resistance of some organisms to ice formation and growth, either in subtidal environments (e.g.

Aerodynamic characteristics of a feathered dinosaur measured using physical models. Effects of form on static stability and control effectiveness.

We report the effects of posture and morphology on the static aerodynamic stability and control effectiveness of physical models based on the feathered dinosaur, [Formula: see text]Microraptor gui, from the Cretaceous of China. Postures had similar lift and drag coefficients and were broadly similar when simplified metrics of gliding were considered, but they exhibited different stability characteristics depending on the position of the legs and the presence of feathers on the legs and the tail. Both stability and the function of appendages in generating maneuvering forces and torques changed as the glide angle or angle of attack were changed.