Access to vaccines for COVID-19 varies dramatically worldwide, with roughly a third of the global population still entirely unvaccinated. Low-income countries (LICs) are the least vaccinated, with only 20.7 percent of eligible individuals in these countries having received at least one dose as of August 2022.1 While the rate of booster vaccination in LICs hovers
The use of dexmedetomidine in pediatrics has grown over the last decade as research has shown the benefits of its use in procedural sedation, anxiety management, and pediatric palliative care [1]. In contrast to other anesthetic drugs, dexmedetomidine is unique in that its pharmacological profile mimics natural sleep patterns [2]. After dexmedetomidine administration, children
The physiological effects of zero gravity have long been investigated and remain an area of active inquiry 1. Zero gravity has both short- and long-term effects on the human body, upon entry and following prolonged exposure 2 , and is known to affect the entire human body, including the neurovestibular, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and hemato-immunological systems.
One of the most difficult aspects of treating pain is maintaining analgesia without overprescribing addictive pain medications such as opioids. Enter the placebo – an approach which has typically been characterized as a way of “tricking” the mind into believing that the pain has been treated, even when it hasn’t. As a result, the patient
Two weeks ago, the FDA granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for the InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer, the first breath test for SARS-CoV-2 infection that has received such status in the US. The EUA is for the “near patient/point-of-care” setting, meaning settings in which the patient specimen is both collected and analyzed, as compared to PCR tests
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, colloquially known as heartburn, is a very common ailment all over the world. Almost everyone experiences acid reflux at some point in their lives, and for almost half those people, it occurs at least once a month [1]. Acid reflux occurs due to decreased lower esophageal sphincter tone, causing gastric acid from
Traditionally used as an antihypertensive agent since the late 1960s, clonidine has emerged in recent years as an adjuvant to commonly used medications for analgesia [1,2]. Given its potent sedative, anxiolytic, and analgesic properties, clonidine has gained popularity among anesthesiologists for clinical use [2]. Clonidine is available as tablets, injections, and transdermal patches [2]. It
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