Re-engineering the operating room using variability methodology to improve health care value.

Background: Variability in flow of patients through operating rooms has a dramatic impact on a hospital's performance and finances. Natural variation (uncontrollable) and artificial variation (controllable) differ and require different resources and management. The aim of this study was to use variability methodology for a hospital's surgical services to improve operational performance.

Correlates of myalgia in electroconvulsive therapy.

Myalgias are common in patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The mechanism of this side effect is unknown. Two commonly postulated etiologies are the motor activity during the convulsion and the fasciculations induced by succinylcholine.

Anesthesia outcomes in a randomized double-blind trial of sevoflurane and thiopental for induction of general anesthesia in electroconvulsive therapy.

The purpose of the study was to compare hemodynamics and postanesthetic tolerability of sevoflurane versus thiopental in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The design was a randomized double-blind trial in the ECT suite of a tertiary referral medical center. Thirty-one patients were randomized to either sevoflurane or thiopental induction of anesthesia for up to 6 of each subject's ECT treatments.

Seizure length with sevoflurane and thiopental for induction of general anesthesia in electroconvulsive therapy: a randomized double-blind trial.

In general, seizure length does not correlate with clinical outcome with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), but whether markedly short seizures are still therapeutic is unknown. Furthermore, seizure length effects on clinical outcome in ECT may be different among the various anesthetic agents available. Several studies have investigated the use of inhalational anesthesia in ECT with sevoflurane.