Malignant hyperthermia (MH) crises may induce morbidity or death in MH-susceptible (MHS) individuals. The only sensitive method of determining susceptibility is the caffeine-halothane contracture test, requiring muscle biopsy. Early research on MH demonstrated an abnormal response to catecholamines in MHS individuals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChronic noncancer pain (CNCP) in military and veteran populations mirrors the experience of chronic pain in America; however, these two populations have unique characteristics and comorbid conditions such as traumatic brain injuries, postconcussive syndrome, posttraumatic stress disorder, and behavioral health disorders that complicate the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain. Military members and veterans may also be stigmatized about their conditions and experience problems with integration back into healthy lifestyles and society as a whole following deployments and after military service. The military and veteran health care systems have made chronic pain a priority and have made substantial strides in addressing this condition through advances in practice, education, research, and health policy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEarly research in malignant hyperthermia (MH) focused on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) as a primary trigger of the syndrome. This hypothesis was based on the initial signs and symptoms of MH such as tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, hypertension, and signs of increased metabolism in patients who developed MH. Supporting these early links between MH and the ANS were case reports from anesthesia providers who reported that patients who subsequently developed MH after a nontriggering previous anesthetic had appeared unusually stressed prior to the surgical procedure in which they triggered.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of guided imagery on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing same-day surgical procedures. Forty-four adults scheduled for head and neck procedures were randomly assigned into 2 groups for this single-blind investigation. Anxiety and baseline pain levels were documented preoperatively.
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