Effectiveness of an amino acid beverage formulation in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A pragmatic real-world study.

Background: Amino-acid based medical foods have shown promise in alleviating symptoms of drug induced gastrointestinal side effects; particularly, diarrhea-predominant symptoms. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder that affects up to 9% of people globally, with diarrhea predominant IBS (IBS-D) being the most prevalent subtype. Further trials are needed to explore potential added benefits when integrated into standard care for IBS-D.

An in vitro and in vivo validation of a novel monitor for intracuff pressure in cuffed endotracheal tubes.

Background: The clinical practice of pediatric anesthesiology has changed with increasing use of cuffed endotracheal tubes (cETTs) in infants and children. To limit the risk of tracheal mucosal damage, regular monitoring of intracuff pressure (CP) is necessary. This study evaluates the efficacy and accuracy of a novel syringe device that provides a digital readout of the CP.

Changing patterns of hospital length of stay after orthognathic surgery.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the hospital length of stay (LOS) and identify factors associated with LOS in orthognathic surgery patients.

Materials And Methods: Using a retrospective cohort study design, we enrolled a sample composed of patients who underwent orthognathic surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital between January 1994 and July 2006. The primary predictor variables were fixation type (rigid/nonrigid), anesthesia technique (hypotensive/normotensive), and perioperative steroid use (yes/no).

Continuous lumbar plexus block provides improved analgesia with fewer side effects compared with systemic opioids after hip arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial.

Background And Objectives: A single injection lumbar plexus block for acute pain management after hip surgery is usually limited to the immediate postoperative period. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of a continuous lumbar plexus block on perioperative opioid requirements and pain intensity.

Methods: Adult patients undergoing elective hip arthroplasty under general anesthesia were randomized to continuous lumbar plexus block combined with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) or PCA only for postoperative pain.

Local anesthetic infiltration versus caudal epidural block for anorectal surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Study Objective: To compare patient satisfaction with local anesthetic infiltration versus caudal epidural block for anorectal procedures.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Operating room and postanesthesia care unit (PACU).

The PediSedate device, a novel approach to pediatric sedation that provides distraction and inhaled nitrous oxide: clinical evaluation in a large case series.

Background: Pediatric sedation is of paramount importance but can be challenging. Fear and anticipatory anxiety before invasive procedures often lead to uncooperativeness. A novel device (PediSedate) provides sedation through a combination of inhaled nitrous oxide and distraction (video game).

Safety and efficacy of intranasal ketamine for the treatment of breakthrough pain in patients with chronic pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.

Few placebo-controlled trials have investigated the treatment of breakthrough pain (BTP) in patients with chronic pain. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of intranasal ketamine for BTP in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Twenty patients with chronic pain and at least two spontaneous BTP episodes daily self-administered up to five doses of intranasal ketamine or placebo at the onset of a spontaneous BTP episode (pain intensity > or =5 on a 0-10 scale).

Bispectral index in a 3-year old undergoing deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest.

We report a 3-year-old girl who presented with Scimitar syndrome and underwent hypothermic circulatory arrest for correction of anomalous pulmonary veins and an atrial septal defect. In this case the Bispectral Index (BIS) correlated significantly with the gradual onset of hypothermia and circulatory arrest. However, BIS remained low during the rewarming phase of cardiopulmonary bypass, in spite of adequate pump flows and stable haemodynamics.