Anesthesiology is often acknowledged as the leading medical specialty in addressing issues of patient safety (Gaba, 2000). The first public demonstration of general anesthesia took place at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1846 and resulted in much fanfare (Wildsmith, n.d.), but the potential risks of anesthesia were recognized soon after when in 1849, physician John Snow
Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, “super-spreader” events, in which large groups of people came together without masks to engage in activities amenable to high aerosol production and exchange (ranging from nightclubs and concerts to religious meetings), were repeatedly reported in poorly ventilated venues – of particular threat given the strong airborne transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 particles.
For patients with compromised airways who struggle to breathe independently, intubation is often a necessary intervention. Intubation involves the insertion of a tube through the mouth and into the trachea of the patient to create a clear airway. Between 13 and 20 million intubations are performed in ERs across the U.S. annually, according to commercial
Medical training to become a physician is a lengthy and time-consuming process. After graduating college, medical school applicants often take 1-2 gap years to strengthen their application. After attending a four-year medical school program, trainees must complete residency in their desired specialty, which can range from 3-7 years of more training. After residency, trainees can
Immunocompromised patients, such as organ transplant recipients, are at a particular risk of experiencing severe symptoms from COVID-19. These patients have reduced resistance to infection, can become infected with fewer infectious particles and less aggressive strains, experience more rapid progression of infections, and have higher mortality rates (1,2). To date, the standard two-dose COVID-19 vaccination
Face-mask ventilation is an important skill for emergent airway management and can be difficult to perform correctly and effectively [1]. Proper positioning of the head and neck, manual opening of the airway, placement of a nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal airway device, and achievement of a tight face mask seal are essential to successful face-mask ventilation [1].
Chronic dystonic movements postoperatively are very rare, especially in a patient without a prior diagnosis of a movement disorder [1,2]. However, experiencing a transient movement disorder in the postoperative period that is associated with induction and emergence of anesthesia is relatively common [2]. Dystonic movements following surgery must be addressed quickly to navigate the differential
Since British physician Edward Jenner pioneered vaccines in the West in 1796, vaccines have revolutionized health care, substantially increasing human health and longevity in the face of infectious diseases spanning smallpox to COVID-19. A record several months following the first release by Chinese researchers of the COVID-19 virus genetic sequence in January 2020, labs had
Risks associated with anesthesia have declined dramatically over the past decades. Mortality rates, which were once as high as 1 in 2,500, now stand at about 1 in 13,000. Young children and infants, however, are more vulnerable to adverse events due to the nature of their physiology. One study, the 2014-2015 Anesthesia Practice in Children
Infection of the surgical site following spine surgery is a dangerous post-operative complication that can result in prolonged recovery time, poor wound healing, the need for further treatment, as well as more serious consequences like sepsis, organ failure, and even death.1 Even though incision sites are kept sterile throughout the procedure, infections are relatively common: