Outpatient anesthesia in elderly patients: What to watch for

Conditions
October 12, 2014

american society of anesthesiologistsA guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

More than 75 percent of operations in the U.S. occur in an outpatient setting. Outpatient, or ambulatory care, can take place in a number of different settings, including physician offices, outpatient surgery centers, or hospital or non-hospital-based outpatient clinics. With more and more elderly patients undergoing outpatient …

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Outpatient anesthesia in elderly patients: What to watch for

Examining the safety of outpatient surgery centers

Physician
October 3, 2014

The unexpected death of Joan Rivers at 81 years of age occurred during a routine outpatient procedure at an accredited doctor-owned surgery center. Although there are few confirmed reports of what actually occurred, what we do know is that media-fed information can resonate amongst the general public — and our patients. Concerns have been raised about the outpatient setting, patient selection, and types of surgeries that are performed.

As a result, the responsibility …

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Examining the safety of outpatient surgery centers

Awareness about intraoperative awareness

Conditions
April 8, 2013

american society of anesthesiologistsA guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

During the Civil War, anesthesia was provided by dipping cloth in chloroform or ether and holding it over a patient’s nose and mouth. Today, anesthetic medications are delivered in a controlled (and more civil) manner through specialized devices to provide unconsciousness for surgery.

Over the last several …

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Awareness about intraoperative awareness

New Year’s resolution: Get healthy to improve surgical outcomes

Conditions
January 15, 2013

Losing weight can decrease the incidence of several chronic and debilitating diseases, as well as their associated complications and risks during the surgical period. Additionally, it can facilitate recovery after surgery. Obesity increases the risk for:

  • Diabetes
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Hypertension
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Depression
  • Joint degeneration
  • Cancer

Additionally, obese patients may present special challenges for anesthesiologists:

  • Blood pressure monitoring (finding an appropriate fitting blood pressure cuff)
  • Locating …

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New Year’s resolution: Get healthy to improve surgical outcomes