Effectiveness of preoperative thoracic epidural testing strategies: a retrospective comparison of three commonly used testing methods.

Purpose: Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is a well stablished technique for pain management in major thoracic and abdominal surgeries; however, it has considerable failure rates. Local anesthetic (LA) administration and subsequent assessment of sensory block through physical examination (e.g.

A sinonasal NUT midline carcinoma in an 84-year-old man undergoing radiation and proton therapy.

NUT midline carcinomas are rare, aggressive, and poorly differentiated tumors that must be considered in the differential diagnosis of midline head and neck tumors. Despite the scarce data, proton therapy could be an option for some patients.

Does the Type of Chronic Heart Failure Impact In-Hospital Outcomes for Aortic Valve Replacement Procedures?

Background: This study assessed in-hospital outcomes of patients with chronic systolic, diastolic, or mixed heart failure (HF) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).

Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was used to identify patients with aortic stenosis and chronic HF who underwent TAVR or SAVR between 2012 and 2015. Propensity score matching and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine outcome risk.

Protection from Omicron Infection in Residents of Nursing and Retirement Homes in Ontario, Canada.

Objectives: To identify factors that contribute to protection from infection with the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 in older adults in nursing and retirement homes.

Design: Longitudinal cohort study with retrospective analysis of infection risk.

Setting And Participants: 997 residents of nursing and retirement homes from Ontario, Canada, in the COVID in LTC study.

Role of ultrasonography in an impalpable tissue larynx model during a simulated front-of-neck access scenario: a randomized simulation study.

Purpose: A large vertical incision is recommended when performing front-of-neck access in patients with impalpable neck landmarks during a cannot intubate-cannot oxygenate (CICO) scenario. We investigated the impact of ultrasonography on vertical incision size of a front-of-neck access on an ultrasound-compatible impalpable porcine larynx model.

Methods: Emergency medicine and anesthesia trainees were randomized to the Ultrasound (US, n = 21) and Non-Ultrasound (NUS, n = 21) groups.

Canadian fellowship experience: the different challenges and emotions faced by an International Medical Graduate and mitigation strategies.

Acknowledging the mental remodeling that a foreign physician goes through and attempting to mitigate the difficulties of this process is crucial to achieving better outcomes in education and patient care. Canada's Healthcare System offers Clinical Fellowship Programs that allow physicians specialists to obtain advanced expertise in a chosen subspecialty. In a Clinical Fellowship, Canadian Medical Graduates (CMGs) practice alongside International Medical Graduates (IMGs); however, there is evidence that they undergo different challenges in the learning experience.

A scalable serology solution for profiling humoral immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination.

Objectives: Antibody testing against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been instrumental in detecting previous exposures and analyzing vaccine-elicited immune responses. Here, we describe a scalable solution to detect and quantify SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, discriminate between natural infection- and vaccination-induced responses, and assess antibody-mediated inhibition of the spike-angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) interaction.

Methods: We developed methods and reagents to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Adverse Fetal Outcomes and Maternal Mortality Following Nonobstetric Abdominopelvic Surgery in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: To quantify the absolute risks of adverse fetal outcomes and maternal mortality following nonobstetric abdominopelvic surgery in pregnancy.

Summary Background Data: Surgery is often necessary in pregnancy, but absolute measures of risk required to guide perioperative management are lacking.

Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and EvidenceBased Medicine Reviews from January 1, 2000, to December 9, 2020, for observational studies and randomized trials of pregnant patients undergoing nonobstetric abdominopelvic surgery.

Effects of prior exposure to a visual airway cognitive aid on decision-making in a simulated airway emergency: A randomised controlled study.

Background: Decision-making deficits in airway emergencies have led to adverse patient outcomes. A cognitive aid would assist clinicians through critical decision-making steps, preventing key action omission.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of a visual airway cognitive aid on decision-making in a simulated airway emergency scenario.

Mandibular reconstruction with the scapula tip free flap.

Introduction: The scapula tip free flap has been described for reconstruction of short mandible defects with extensive soft tissue needs. The versatility of this flap has not been extensively described.

Methods: Retrospective case series of patients who underwent mandibulectomy and reconstruction with the scapula tip free flap from 2005 to 2016.

Pregnancy Outcomes in Women With Heart Disease: The CARPREG II Study.

Background: Identifying women at high risk is an important aspect of care for women with heart disease.

Objectives: This study sought to: 1) examine cardiac complications during pregnancy and their temporal trends; and 2) derive a risk stratification index.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled consecutive pregnant women with heart disease and determined their cardiac outcomes during pregnancy.

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) of the upper airway.

Airway management is a critical skill in the practice of several medical specialities including anesthesia, emergency medicine, and critical care. Over the years mounting evidence has showed an increasing role of ultrasound (US) in airway management. The objective of this narrative review is to provide an overview of the indications for point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) of the upper airway.

Determining the amount of training needed for competency of anesthesia trainees in ultrasonographic identification of the cricothyroid membrane.

Background: Airway guidelines recommend the use of ultrasound to localize the cricothyroid membrane prior to airway manipulation in difficult airways. In this study, we aimed to determine the amount of training anesthesia trainees would need to achieve competence in bedside ultrasound to identify the cricothyroid membrane.

Methods: This is a prospective non-randomized cohort study in the Department of Anesthesia at Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto, Ontario, Canada).