Anesthetics News and Research

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Baxter enters definitive agreement to acquire Baxa

Baxter International Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Baxa Corporation, a privately held company based in Englewood, Colo., with additional operations in Florida and the United Kingdom.

From Baxter International Inc. 25 Aug 2011

USPTO issues Notice of Allowance for Cortex AMPAKINE molecules to treat respiratory depression

Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a patent that protects the use of AMPAKINE molecules for the treatment or prevention of respiratory depression.

25 Aug 2011

BIS monitor not superior in preventing intraoperative awareness than other alternatives

Anesthesiology researchers have shown that a device approved by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce the risk that patients will recall their surgery does not lower the risk of the problem, known as intraoperative awareness, any more than a less expensive method.

18 Aug 2011

Study looks at intraoperative awareness

In some cases a patient might lie on the operating table conscious and aware of the surgeon's knife despite general anesthesia and this is worrisome say experts. One recent innovation is the so-called bispectral index, a monitoring system which measures electrical brain activity to attempt to detect awareness.

18 Aug 2011

Intralipid may protect patients from heart attacks

A man-made fat called Intralipid, which is currently used as a component of intravenous nutrition and to treat rare overdoses of local anesthetics, may also offer protection for patients suffering from heart attacks.

6 Aug 2011

U.S. hospitals report severe drug shortages: Survey

A survey called “Impact of Drug Shortages on U.S. Health Systems” released this Tuesday showed that a vast majority of U.S. hospitals have restricted the use of life-saving chemotherapy drugs and other critical-care medications in the past six months to cope with unprecedented shortages.

13 Jul 2011

XLR paediatric-optimized MRI workflow to address unmet need in imaging

HTX announced today it provided $475,385 in financing to XLR lmaging Inc. through their Technology Acceleration Program. The company is developing a complete paediatric-optimized MRI workflow solution designed to directly address the unique challenges in paediatric imaging while developing high resolution images and reducing scan times.

8 Jul 2011

Endo's complete response for new formulation of OPANA ER NDA accepted by the FDA

Endo Pharmaceuticals announced today that it received notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that Endo's complete response to the FDA's Jan. 7, 2011 Action Letter relating to Endo's new drug application (NDA) for a new formulation of OPANA ER has been accepted.

24 Jun 2011

SNP identification may help predict patients’ susceptibility to postoperative nausea and vomiting

There are several anesthetic complications that may have a hereditary background, including postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Past observations have shown PONV to occur in blood relatives as far back as two to three generations.

23 Jun 2011

Acura, Pfizer receive FDA approval for OXECTA Tablets to manage severe pain

Pfizer Inc. and Acura Pharmaceuticals Inc. announce the marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of OXECTATM Tablets CII.

20 Jun 2011

Multiple exposures to anesthesia may increase risk of ADHD, learning disabilities in young children

Infants and very young children who are exposed to anesthesia may experience higher rates of learning disabilities and cognitive difficulties than children who are not exposed to anesthesia, according to research and emerging data presented during the SmartTots: Pediatric Anesthesia Neurotoxicity panel at the International Anesthesia Research Society annual meeting in Vancouver, B.C.

30 May 2011

Labour, delivery health professionals lack clear understanding of anesthesiologist's role: Study

Today, one in four or five women in Ontario will give birth through a cesarean or "C-section." A new study, led by researchers from St. Michael's Hospital and The Wilson Centre for Research in Education and the Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto, has found that many labour and delivery health professionals lack a clear understanding of the anesthesiologist's role as a physician with specialized skills in the management of seriously unwell pregnant patients.

21 May 2011

Evidence of damaged baby brains & inadequate anesthetic induced sleep: Conference updates

According to new studies commonly used anesthetics may be causing brain damage in people, especially babies who receive them while their brains are still developing.

15 May 2011

ASA survey shows more than 90% of respondents experience anesthesia drug shortage

The American Society of Anesthesiologists today announced the findings from its nationwide Drug Shortages Survey. Results showed that more than 90 percent of anesthesiologist respondents are currently experiencing a shortage of at least one anesthetic.

10 May 2011

Anesthetia does not appear to influence children's brain

Young children exposed to a brief, single anesthetic did not show any evidence of adverse long-term effects on the brain, according to a new Danish study published in the May issue of Anesthesiology.

28 Apr 2011

NEJM features pulse oximetry training video

A pulse oximetry training video produced by Rafael Ortega, MD, the vice-chair of academic affairs for the department of anesthesiology at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and professor of anesthesiology at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), and his colleagues is featured in this week's New England Journal of Medicine.

21 Apr 2011

Nuvo Research to acquire ZARS Pharma

Nuvo Research Inc., a pharmaceutical company dedicated to building a portfolio of products primarily for the treatment of pain, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire ZARS Pharma, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

18 Apr 2011

UH conducts first ever pilot study to test heat therapy for treatment of PE

University Hospitals Case Medical Center is conducting the first ever pilot study to test a new procedure using "heat therapy" or local radiofrequency energy to treat premature ejaculation.

9 Mar 2011

U.S.-Chile collaborate to study new long-acting local anesthetic derived from algae

A U.S.-Chile collaboration is bringing surgical patients closer to having a long-acting local anesthetic. In a randomized, double-blind trial, patients given neosaxitoxin, a new local anesthetic derived from algae, had significantly less postoperative pain and recovered about two days sooner than those given the commonly used local anesthetic bupivacaine.

25 Feb 2011

New 'closed-loop' system can provide tightly controlled anesthesia in patients undergoing surgery

A new 'closed-loop' system can precisely adjust levels of anesthetics and analgesic drugs in patients undergoing surgery, reports a study in the March issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society.