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THE INDEPENDENT MONTHLY NEWSPAPER FOR ANESTHESIOLOGISTS AnesthesiologyNews.com • M a r c h 2 0 1 5 • Volume 41 Number 3
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Anesthesiologists Think They Should Be in Charge: Survey
Perioperative QTc Prolongation Linked to Administration Of General or Spinal Anesthesia
For a surgeon’s view, see p. 14.
New York—Most k anesthesiologists believe they should be in charge of key decisions in the operating room (OR) regarding resource and personnel allocation, despite a lack of training in these areas, according to a recent survey. Researchers asked attendees at the 68th New York State Society of Anesthesiologists’ (NYSSA) PostGraduate Assembly (PGA) if they thought anesthesiologists should serve as “OR directors.” Respondents were also asked whether they thought
New w Orleans—Once thought to be an isolated perioperraative phenomenon, QTc prolongation seems to be com mm mon during surgery under general and spinal—but nooot local—anesthesia, a study has found. Additionally, the relative risk for extended QTc prolongation is more than five times greater with general anesthesia than with spinal. “QTc prolongation is an indicator of abnormal ccardiac repolarization,” explained Andreas Duma, MD, one of a team of researchers at WashingM ton University of St. Louis in Missouri; Dr. Duma to is now a resident at the Medical University of is
see OR manager page 13
see QTc page 18
Coarse-Grained Simulation Model Reveals Similarities Among General Anesthetics New York—General anesthetics, despite differences among them at the molecular level, modulate ligand-gated ion channels in a highly generalized fashion. A coarse-grained simulation model of this behavior now offers valuable Thomas T. Joseph, insights into common molecular MD, PhD mechanisms of anesthetic action. Joshua Mincer, MD, PhD, assistant professor, and Thomas T. Joseph, MD, PhD, CA-2 resident and an Eliasberg Research Scholar, both from the
for iPad see page 4
Department of Anesthesiology at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City, presented their research at the most recent Anesthesiology Residents’ Night, held at the New York Academy of Medicine. Their work won first prize and applause from Joshua Mincer, MD, PhD the anesthesiologists in attendance. Scientists recognized early on that a nonspecific mechanism of anesthetic action could account for the fact that diverse molecules see LGICs page 12
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PRN
“Standing My Ground: Memoir of a Woman Physician”
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POLICY & MANAGEMENT
Surgeon disagrees with anesthesiologists assuming role of perioperative director.
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TECHNOLOGY
3D anatomy simulator aids identification of regional anesthesia anatomy.
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PAIN MEDICINE
Managing the Difficult Pain Case: 4 Examples
EDUCATIONAL REVIEW The Role of Local Anesthetic Additives in Perineural Analgesia, see insert after page 40.