Analysis of Compliance with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol for Esophagectomy.

Background: ERAS guidelines have provided an effective recovery approach for esophagectomy. This study aimed to identify the relationship between the length of hospital stay (LOS) and compliance with clinical benchmarks of an established institutional ERAS program.

Methods: A single-center prospective database of esophageal cancer patients was retrospectively analyzed between January 2016 and January 2020.

Resurgence of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the United States: Anesthetic and Critical Care Implications.

Vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) such as measles and pertussis are becoming more common in the United States. This disturbing trend is driven by several factors, including the antivaccination movement, waning efficacy of certain vaccines, pathogen adaptation, and travel of individuals to and from areas where disease is endemic. The anesthesia-related manifestations of many VPDs involve airway complications, cardiovascular and respiratory compromise, and unusual neurologic and neuromuscular symptoms.

Critical Care Basic Ultrasound Learning Goals for American Anesthesiology Critical Care Trainees: Recommendations from an Expert Group.

Objective: In this review, we define learning goals and recommend competencies concerning focused basic critical care ultrasound (CCUS) for critical care specialists in training.

Design: The narrative review is, and the recommendations contained herein are, sponsored by the Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists. Our recommendations are based on a structured literature review by an expert panel of anesthesiology intensivists and cardiologists with formal training in ultrasound.

Clinical effectiveness of a sedation protocol minimizing benzodiazepine infusions and favoring early dexmedetomidine: a before-after study.

Introduction: Randomized controlled trials suggest clinical outcomes may be improved with dexmedetomidine as compared with benzodiazepines; however, further study and validation are needed. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical effectiveness of a sedation protocol minimizing benzodiazepine use in favor of early dexmedetomidine.

Methods: We conducted a before-after study including adult surgical and medical intensive care unit (ICU) patients requiring mechanical ventilation and continuous sedation for at least 24 hours.

Successful airway management in a patient with severe proximal achalasia requires interdisciplinary cooperation.

We report a case of a patient undergoing esophagectomy for end-stage achalasia, a rare condition associated with potentially catastrophic ventilatory and circulatory complications. The complexity of the case necessitated preoperative planning with the surgical specialist, development of a novel algorithm for airway management, and careful implementation of our plan. Isolation of the lungs from the esophagus presented unique challenges due to not only the anatomic derangements that are the hallmark of this disease process but also an unusual anatomic finding seen in this patient.