Project description:Brachial plexus blockade is the cornerstone of the peripheral nerve regional anesthesia practice of most anesthesiologists. As part of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine's commitment to providing intensive evidence-based education related to regional anesthesia and analgesia, this article is a complete update of our 2002 comprehensive review of upper extremity anesthesia. The text of the review focuses on (1) pertinent anatomy, (2) approaches to the brachial plexus and techniques that optimize block quality, (4) local anesthetic and adjuvant pharmacology, (5) complications, (6) perioperative issues, and (6) challenges for future research.
Project description:AudienceThis ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia elective is designed for emergency medicine residents.Length of curriculumThe proposed length of this curriculum is over one week.IntroductionUltrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) is a useful tool in the emergency department (ED) for managing painful conditions, and many programs have identified that these are useful skills for emergency providers; however, only about 53% of programs report teaching UGRA as part of their core curriculum, and there currently are no widely available or peer reviewed nerve block curricula designed for emergency medicine residents.Educational goalsTo deliver an immersive 1-week elective to provide residents a strong foundation in principles of UGRA and an introduction to 14 nerve block procedures applicable to care provided in the ED.Educational methodsThe educational strategies used in this curriculum include: instructional videos, written and online independent learning materials, one-on-one teaching at the bedside with an emergency ultrasound fellow, simulation of nerve block techniques using a femoral nerve block task trainer, and performance of supervised nerve block procedures on patients in the ED.Research methodsAll residents provided feedback through an online survey after completing the elective.ResultsEight residents completed the elective in the first year of implementation. Following completion of the UGRA curriculum, 8/8 (100%) of residents reported increased level of confidence in performing UGRA. In addition, 8/8 (100%) of residents reported they were "likely" or "very likely" to incorporate UGRA into their future EM practice. All 8 (100%) residents responded they were "very likely" to recommend the elective to other trainees. The elective received high ratings for overall quality with an average rating of 9.4 out of 10 (±0.7).DiscussionAn elective in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia can be successfully incorporated into an emergency medicine training program. The curriculum was successful in providing focused training in UGRA and resulted in increased resident confidence in performing nerve block procedures.TopicsUltrasound-guided regional anesthesia, nerve block, resident, elective, pain.
Project description:ObjectivesUltrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) can be a powerful tool in the treatment of painful conditions commonly encountered in emergency medicine (EM) practice. UGRA can benefit patients while avoiding the risks of procedural sedation and opioid-based systemic analgesia. Despite these advantages, many EM trainees do not receive focused education in UGRA and there is no published curriculum specifically for EM physicians. The objective of this study was to identify the components of a UGRA curriculum for EM physicians.MethodsA list of potential curriculum elements was developed through an extensive literature review. An expert panel was convened that included 13 ultrasound faculty members from 12 institutions and from a variety of practice environments and diverse geographical regions. The panel voted on curriculum elements through two rounds of a modified Delphi process.ResultsThe panelists voted on 178 total elements, 110 background knowledge elements, and 68 individual UGRA techniques. A high level of agreement was achieved for 65 background knowledge elements from the categories: benefits to providers and patients, indications, contraindications, risks, ultrasound skills, procedural skills, sterile technique, local anesthetics, and educational resources. Ten UGRA techniques achieved consensus: interscalene brachial plexus, supraclavicular brachial plexus, radial nerve, median nerve, ulnar nerve, serratus anterior plane, fascia iliaca, femoral nerve, popliteal sciatic nerve, and posterior tibial nerve blocks.ConclusionsThe defined curriculum represents ultrasound expert opinion on a curriculum for training practicing EM physicians. This curriculum can be used to guide the development and implementation of more robust UGRA education for both residents and independent providers.
Project description:Machine learning (ML) is currently being widely studied and applied in data analysis and prediction in various fields, including laboratory medicine. To comprehensively evaluate the application of ML in laboratory medicine, we reviewed the literature on ML applications in laboratory medicine published between February 2014 and March 2024. A PubMed search using a search string yielded 779 articles on the topic, among which 144 articles were selected for this review. These articles were analyzed to extract and categorize related fields within laboratory medicine, research objectives, specimen types, data types, ML models, evaluation metrics, and sample sizes. Sankey diagrams and pie charts were used to illustrate the relationships between categories and the proportions within each category. We found that most studies involving the application of ML in laboratory medicine were designed to improve efficiency through automation or expand the roles of clinical laboratories. The most common ML models used are convolutional neural networks, multilayer perceptrons, and tree-based models, which are primarily selected based on the type of input data. Our findings suggest that, as the technology evolves, ML will rise in prominence in laboratory medicine as a tool for expanding research activities. Nonetheless, expertise in ML applications should be improved to effectively utilize this technology.
Project description:Purkinje fibers/cells continue to be a focus of arrhythmologists. Here we review several new ideas that have emerged in the literature and fold them into important new points. These points include the following: some proteins in Purkinje cells are specific to Purkinjes; pacemaker function in Purkinje may be similar to that of the sinus node cell; sink-source concerns about tracts/sheets of Purkinje fibers; role of Ito in arrhythmias; and genetic lesions in Purkinjes and their high impact on cardiac rhythm. Although new ideas about the remodeled Purkinje cell are not the focus of this review, one can easily imagine how Purkinjes and their function may be altered in diseased hearts.
Project description:Due to the growing interest in regional anesthesia (RA) techniques and the realization of the need for formalized education in them, the Greek Chapter of the European Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Therapy (ESRA-Hellas) has established a structured hands-on training course held annually since 2009, which is quite popular in the community of Greek anesthesiologists. The aim of the current survey was twofold: first, to provide an overview of the current practice of RA in Greece; secondly, to evaluate the effect the aforementioned training course has on participants' knowledge and attitude towards RA. An electronic questionnaire was uploaded on SurveyMonkey and a link giving access to the questionnaire was forwarded via email to a mailing list of 825 practicing Greek anesthesiologists held in the electronic database of ESRA Hellas. The survey was totally anonymous and no identifying information was collected throughout. It contained questions relating to the anesthesiologists' demographic characteristics, their RA practice, and information pertaining to the RA training course. A total of 424 fully completed questionnaires were received, representing an overall response rate of 51.4%. Attendants of the course are more familiar than non-attendants with the performance of peripheral nerve blocks with neurostimulation and/or ultrasound guidance (p < 0.001). Attendants are also less likely to practice exclusively general anesthesia, more likely to use peripheral blocks for lower limb surgery, and more likely to consider taking the European Diploma of RA in comparison to non-attendants (p < 0.001, p = 0.018 and p = 0.002, respectively). Both cohorts consider the course of value and agree that the main reason to use regional techniques is to ensure optimal postoperative analgesia, while the main hindrance to RA practice is the lack of relevant education in the techniques, especially those under ultrasound guidance. Regarding improvement of the course, most participants suggested devoting ampler time in hands-on ultrasound practice and application. Conclusion: Greek anesthesiologists seek educational activities in the field of RA and the course seems to fulfil the majority of attendants' expectations. There will be further effort by the organizers to improve weaknesses of the current course and undertake further educational initiatives in the field of RA according to international recommendations.
Project description:PurposeTo determine the preferences and attitudes of members of regional anesthesia societies during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe distributed an electronic survey to members of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Regional Anaesthesia-UK, and the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia & Pain Therapy. A questionnaire consisting of 19 questions was developed by a panel of experienced regional anesthesiologists and distributed by email to the participants. The survey covered the following domains: participant information, practice settings, preference for the type of anesthetic technique, the use of personal protective equipment, and oxygen therapy.ResultsThe survey was completed by 729 participants from 73 different countries, with a response rate of 20.1% (729/3,630) for the number of emails opened and 8.5% (729/8,572) for the number of emails sent. Most respondents (87.7%) identified as anesthesia staff (faculty or consultant) and practiced obstetric and non-obstetric anesthesia (55.3%). The practice of regional anesthesia either expanded or remained the same, with only 2% of respondents decreasing their use compared with the pre-pandemic period. The top reasons for an increase in the use of regional anesthesia was to reduce the need for an aerosol-generating medical procedure and to reduce the risk of possible complications to patients. The most common reason for decreased use of regional anesthesia was the risk of urgent conversion to general anesthesia. Approximately 70% of the responders used airborne precautions when providing care to a patient under regional anesthesia. The most common oxygen delivery method was nasal prongs (cannula) with a surgical mask layered over it (61%).ConclusionsGiven the perceived benefits of regional over general anesthesia, approximately half of the members of three regional anesthesia societies seem to have expanded their use of regional anesthesia techniques during the initial surge of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Project description:BackgroundMany clinical practices in transfusion medicine are controversial and/or lack definitive guidelines established by sound clinical trials. Although recommendations based on results of clinical trials performed using infants and children may not always be applied directly to adults--and vice versa--lessons learned from pediatric trials can be useful when critically assessing the design/results/conclusions of adult trials.Study design and methodsFour randomized clinical trials (RCTs) studying pediatric patients were critically reviewed. They addressed two red blood cell (RBC) transfusion issues: 1) transfusion guidelines by which RBC transfusions are "triggered" by liberal (LIB; high pretransfusion patient hematocrit [Hct] levels) versus being "triggered" by restricted (RES; low pretransfusion Hct levels) and 2) transfusion of fresh RBCs (<or=7 days' storage) versus RBCs (up to 42 days' storage).ResultsFindings established by primary outcomes generally were firm (e.g., fewer RBC transfusions were given to infants/children managed by RES guidelines; transfusing small volumes of RBCs stored up to 42 days to preterm infants diminished allogeneic donor exposures and were equally efficacious and safe as fresh RBCs stored <or=7 days). Findings based on secondary outcomes, subset, and post hoc analyses were inconsistent (e.g., clinical outcomes were equivalent after LIB or RES transfusions in only two of three RCTs; in the third, more neurologic problems were found in neonates given RES transfusions).ConclusionsClinical practices should be based on data pertaining to the primary outcomes of RCTs, because trials are designed and statistically powered to address these issues. Clinical practices suggested by analysis of secondary outcomes, subsets of patients, and post hoc analyses should be applied cautiously until studied further-ideally, as primary outcomes in subsequent RCTs.
Project description:Past decades of cancer research have mainly focused on the role of various extracellular and intracellular biochemical signals on cancer progression and metastasis. Recent studies suggest an important role of mechanical forces in regulating cellular behaviors. This review first provides an overview of the mechanobiology research field. Then we specially focus on mechanotransduction pathways in cancer progression and describe in detail the key signaling components of such mechanotransduction pathways and extracellular matrix components that are altered in cancer. Although our understanding of mechanoregulation in cancer is still in its infancy, some agents against key mechanoregulators have been developed and will be discussed to explore the potential of pharmacologically targeting mechanotransduction in cancer.
Project description:BackgroundThis survey assessed satisfaction with the practice environment among physicians who have completed fellowship training in critical care medicine (CCM) as recognized by the American Board of Anesthesiology (and are members of the American Society of Anesthesiology) and evaluated the perceived effectiveness of training programs in preparing fellows for critical care practice.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey composed of 39 multiple choice and open-ended questions was administered between August and December 2018 to all members of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) who self-identified as being CCM trained. The survey instrument was developed and revised in an iterative fashion by ASA committee on CCM and the Society for Education in Anesthesia (SEA). Survey results were analyzed using a mixed-method approach.ResultsThree hundred fifty-three of the 1400 anesthesiologists who self-identified to the ASA as having CCM training (25.2%) completed the survey. Most were men (72.3%), board certified in CCM (98.7%), and had practiced a median of 5 years. Half of the respondents rated their training as "excellent." A total of 70.6% described currently working in academic centers with 53.6% providing care in open surgical intensive care units (ICUs). Most anesthesiologist intensivists (75%) spend at least 25% of their clinical time providing ICU care (versus clinical anesthesia). A total of 89% of the respondents were involved in educational activities, 60% reported being in administrative leadership roles, and 37% engaged in scholarly activity. Areas of dissatisfaction included fatigue, lack of collegiality or respect, lack of research training, decreased job satisfaction, and burnout. Analysis suggested moderate levels of job satisfaction (49%), work-life balance (52%), and high levels of burnout (74%). A significant contributor to burnout was with a perception of lack of respect (P = .005) in the work environment. Burnout was not significantly associated with gender or duration of practice. Qualitative analysis of the open-ended responses also identified these 3 variables as major themes.ConclusionsThis survey of CCM-trained anesthesiologists described a high rate of board certification, practice in academic settings, and participation in resident education. Areas of dissatisfaction with an anesthesia/critical care practice included burnout, work/life balance, and lack of respect. These results may increase recruitment of anesthesiologists into critical care and inform strategies to improve satisfaction with anesthesia critical care practice, fellowship training.