National Survey of US academic anesthesiology chairs on clinician wellness.

Study Objective: The prevalence of anesthesiology department wellness programs is unknown. A database of wellness programs is needed as a resource for departments attempting to respond to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Anesthesiology Milestones Project. The purpose of this study was to survey academic anesthesiology chairs on wellness issues, characterize initiatives, and establish wellness contacts for a Wellness Initiative Database (WID).

Automated Control of the Organic and Inorganic Composition of Aloe vera Extracts Using (1)H NMR Spectroscopy.

Recent classification of Aloe vera whole-leaf extract by the International Agency for Research and Cancer as a possible carcinogen to humans as well as the continuous adulteration of A. vera's authentic material have generated renewed interest in controlling A. vera.

A survey of airway training among U.S. and Canadian anesthesiology residency programs.

Study Objective: To determine the current trends in airway education in academic programs.

Design: Survey instrument.

Setting: American academic medical center.

Quantitative 1H-NMR spectrometry method for quality control of Aloe vera products.

An 1H-NMR spectrometry method was developed and validated to quantify acetylated polysaccharides, glucose, malic acid, lactic acid, and acetic acid in Aloe vera products. Nicotinamide was selected as an internal standard (IS) in this quantification method. The quantity of marker compounds was calculated by the relative ratio of the integrals of each compound to the IS.

Quality assessment of unfractionated heparin using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Due to problems, especially anaphylactoid reactions, raised by impure unfractionated heparin the quality assessment of heparin has to be reconsidered. Neither the USP nor the European Pharmacopoeia are able to guarantee the purity of heparin, i.e.

Degradation of heterocyclic aromatic amines in oil under storage and frying conditions and reduction of their mutagenic potential.

Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAA) were systematically studied concerning their partition behavior in water/oil-systems and their thermostability in different animal derived fats and vegetable oils. Partitioning of IQx-compounds and PhIP in water/oil systems was found to depend on the polarity defined by the molecular structure and on the pH-value of the aqueous phase. In particular, beta-carbolines norharman and harman showed a significant strong lipophilic character at alkaline pH.

The unexpected difficult airway and lingual tonsil hyperplasia: a case series and a review of the literature.

Background: An unexpected difficult intubation occurs because physical examination of the airway is imperfect in predicting it. Lingual tonsil hyperplasia (LTH) is one risk factor for an unanticipated failed intubation that is not detectable during a routine oropharyngeal examination. The authors attempted to determine the incidence of LTH in unanticipated failed intubation in patients subjected to general anesthesia.

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In the present study the quality management system of 39 milling companies was investigated regarding the analysis and the prevention of mycotoxin contamination. 21 companies- mainly companies with a high processing volume - established a quality management system according to DIN EN ISO 9000ff. In view of previous studies the data indicated an improvement of quality management systems in the milling industry during the last years.

Initial clinical experience with remifentanil, a new opioid metabolized by esterases.

Remifentanil is a new, esterase-metabolized opioid for anesthesia. Nonspecific esterases terminate the drug effect, with a context-sensitive half-time which plateaus at 3-4 min. This dose-ranging pilot study was designed to estimate the dose requirement of remifentanil for abolition of the responses to skin incision and intraoperative stimuli, and to determine the speed of recovery.

The role of the fiberscope in the critically ill patient.

The role of the fiberscope in the management of difficult and failed intubations has been well established and the importance of learning this valuable skill has been emphasized. Nonetheless, the fiberscope is underutilized in anesthesia and critical care practices because of a high rate of intubation failure. The main cause of failure is lack of expertise in maneuvering the fiberscope.

Desflurane versus propofol anesthesia: a comparative analysis in outpatients.

This study compares the induction, hemodynamic, and recovery characteristics of a general anesthetic with desflurane to one with propofol. Sixty outpatients presenting for orthopedic surgery received either a propofol induction of anesthesia followed by desflurane and nitrous oxide (Group 1), a propofol induction followed by propofol infusion and nitrous oxide (Group 2), a desflurane and nitrous oxide induction and maintenance (Group 3), or a desflurane induction and maintenance (Group 4). The quality of induction was inferior in Groups 3 and 4 with more breath-holding and excitation than in Groups 1 and 2.

Upper respiratory tract infections and general anaesthesia in children. Peri-operative complications and oxygen saturation.

Conflicting reports regarding the hazards of anaesthesia in children presenting for surgery with an upper respiratory tract infection have appeared in the literature. In the present study 130 children undergoing general anaesthesia with face mask for myringotomy and grommet insertion were graded as having either an acute or recent upper respiratory tract infection or were asymptomatic according to predetermined clinical symptoms and signs. The severity of respiratory and related complications were scored during induction, emergence and recovery.

Propofol versus thiamylal-enflurane anesthesia for outpatient laparoscopy.

Study Objective: To determine whether propofol anesthesia differs from thiamylal-enflurane anesthesia in induction characteristics, intraoperative hemodynamics, postoperative side effects, and postoperative psychomotor function recovery.

Design: A randomized, double-blind, two-group study.

Setting: A large university hospital with gynecologic outpatient operations performed in an integrated operating room suite.