June 2015

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The best-read anesthesiology publication in the United States

THE INDEPENDENT MONTHLY NEWSPAPER FOR ANESTHESIOLOGISTS AnesthesiologyNews.com • J u n e 2 0 1 5 • Volume 41 Number 6

anesthesiologynews @anesthesianews for iPad

Letter to the Editor:

Closed Claims Study

J.P. Abenstein, MSEE, MD President American Society of Anesthesiologists

Respiratory Depression Injuries Overwhelmingly Preventable

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read with interest the article by Robert E. Johnstone, MD, concerning membership in the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) (“ASA Membership: Some Say No,” April 2015, page 1). There is no question that all medical societies, including the ASA, struggle to grow membership. In my view, the issue boils down to the value of membership. Put another way, what do our physician members get in return for their hard-earned dollars for ASA membership each year? Every one of our members

espiratory depression (RD) often strikes patients within 24 hours of surgery and causes death or brain damage in the most serious of these cases, yet these injuries are often preventable, a new study from the Anesthesia Closed Claims Project and Anesthesia Quality Institute found. More than 88% of the RD events that led to malpractice cases occurred within 24 hours of surgery, with 77% resulting in severe brain damage or death, according to a report in Anesthesiology

see ASA page 14

see RD page 7

‘Put the Phone Away, You Are Having an Operation’ 6 Peter J. Papadakos, MD, FCCM, FAARC

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ny visitor to a modern hospital or health facility will quickly observe that patients, families and visitors are looking into the glow of the box in their right hand. They exercise their thumb with rapid motion on the screen, texting and shuttling between social media posts. The press is full of how this nowknown addiction has affected the human condition. There are thousands of deaths and injuries attributed to distracted driving and walking, and horrible reports

of individuals jumping in front of subways to “rescue the phone.” It is common knowledge that many teens believe theirr life is on the phone and they could not live without it. As one who has observed how such uncontrolled technology use affects health care providers and helped coin the term “distracted doctoring,” I have begun to study how this dependency on what I term “personal see hang up page 13

CLINICAL ANESTHESIOLOGY

Failure to reverse neuromuscular blockade increases reintubation risk sixfold.

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CLINICAL ANESTHESIOLOGY

Identifying, communicating and managing patients designated as “difficult to intubate.”

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COMMENTARY

Is the U.S. health care system really the best?

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COMMENTARY

Follow-up: Welcome change comes to MOCA

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CME: PREANESTHETIC ASSESSMENT

Lesson 316: Management of the Patient With Amniotic Fluid Embolism

EDUCATIONAL REVIEW Current and Emerging Technology In Anesthesia, see insert at page 12.

ffor iPad see page 4

BUYER’S GUIDEE Summer/Fall 20155 Accompanies this issue..


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