Anesthetics News and Research

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Study finds that IV steroids decrease amount of pain medication needed for nerve blocks

Nerve blocks using local anesthetics, or numbing medicines similar to Novocain, are routinely performed by anesthesiologists to provide pain relief for patients undergoing surgery.

15 Mar 2017

Seven facts about malignant hyperthermia that can help avoid dangerous consequences during surgery

When general anesthesia is required for surgery or another procedure, a patient's care team must be ready for anything—especially the rare, life-threatening syndrome known as malignant hyperthermia.

13 Mar 2017

CRNAs urge patients to learn about risks, benefits of pain relief treatments

The opioid crisis is one of the largest challenges facing today's healthcare professionals and the patients for whom they care.

8 Mar 2017

$Study finds ketogenic diet as 'feasible' option for people with super-refractory status epilepticus$

Study finds ketogenic diet as 'feasible' option for people with super-refractory status epilepticus

In a small phase I and II clinical trial, Johns Hopkins researchers and colleagues elsewhere found that the high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet was a safe and effective treatment option for the majority of adults experiencing a relatively rare, often fatal and always severe form of epilepsy marked by prolonged seizures that require medically induced comas to prevent them from further damaging the body and the brain.

27 Feb 2017

Dermatologist offers tips to help soothe itchy skin

Everyone gets an itch once in a while. Usually it only lasts for a short time and is often caused by annoyances like a mosquito bite or scratchy fabric.

10 Jan 2017

VA’s final rule leads to underutilization of CRNAs in VHA facilities

Despite documented evidence confirming that veterans are experiencing delays for essential healthcare services due to lack of anesthesia support in Veterans Health Administration facilities, the Department of Veterans Affairs has published its final rule granting full practice authority to all advanced practice registered nurses except Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists.

15 Dec 2016

AANA Journal app updated with new features for better user experience

The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists announces an update with several new features for its AANA Journal app, which debuted in August 2012.

22 Nov 2016

Study reveals way to actively reverse anesthetic-induced unconsciousness

The latest study from a Massachusetts General Hospital/Massachusetts Institute of Technology team investigating the mechanisms underlying general anesthesia finds that stimulating a specific group of neurons in mice produces signs of arousal -- including getting on their feet and walking -- even as the animals continue to receive the anesthetic drug isoflurane.

27 Oct 2016

Exposure to general anesthesia in young children not linked to long-term effects on brain development

Children who are exposed to general anesthesia from birth to age 2 have developmental testing results in kindergarten that are similar to those of children who have not been exposed, according to a new study published in the October issue of Anesthesiology, the official medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

18 Oct 2016

CRNAs use holistic approach to effectively manage pain with less opioid dependency

The holistic approach to patient care and pain management used by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists can help prevent opioid dependency, substance use disorder, drug overdoses and death, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

23 Sep 2016

Music interventions help improve quality of life in cancer patients

We've all heard of laughter being the best medicine, but what about music? A systematic review published by the Cochrane Library found that there is significant evidence that music interventions help alleviate symptoms of anxiety, pain and fatigue in cancer patients, while also boosting their quality of life.

17 Aug 2016

Japanese researchers suggest link between stimulus response and consciousness

Japanese researchers centered at Nagoya University reveal a role for orexin neurons of the hypothalamus when mice respond to painful stimuli, and suggest a link between stimulus response and consciousness.

18 Jul 2016

AANA clarifies truth behind VA's proposed rule

There is a lot of press coverage about the VA proposed rule to allow advanced practice registered nurses, including Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, to practice to the full scope of their education, training, and licensure in the Veterans Health Administration.

7 Jul 2016

Single, short duration exposure of general anesthesia appears to cause no cognitive harm in healthy, young children

A recent study concluded that very young, healthy children undergoing short surgical procedures requiring a single exposure to general anesthesia did not exhibit any effect on the cognitive outcomes tested, according to SmartTots, a public-private partnership of the International Anesthesia Research Society and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

21 Jun 2016

General anesthesia affects heart muscle proteins and causes depressed heart function, study shows

Anesthesia is used every day, but surprisingly little is known about one of its most dangerous side effects--depressed heart function.

13 May 2016

Modified surgical technique may be effective treatment option for chronic temporal headache

A modified surgical technique may provide a simpler approach to the surgical treatment for one type of chronic headache, according to an "Ideas and Innovations" paper in the May issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

30 Apr 2016

Proliposomal ropivacaine may offer valuable new option for pain relief

A new "proliposomal" preparation of the local anesthetic drug ropivacaine may provide a valuable new option for pain relief in some clinical situations, with key advantages over other types of slow-release local anesthetics, suggest a pair of reports in Anesthesia & Analgesia.

15 Apr 2016

AANA reminds patients to share details of medication use with nurse anesthetist

Many surgical patients don't know that it's advisable to stop taking complementary and alternative medicine at least one to three weeks prior to surgery. During Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 13-19, 2016, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists is reminding patients to bring a list of all medications - prescription or not - to their pre-anesthesia interview, and to share details about their medication use with their Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist or other anesthesia professional.

16 Mar 2016

Needle-free administration of anesthetic in the mouth could save costs, improve patient compliance

If you're scared of the dentist's needles you're not alone - but new research means you might not have to put off that appointment again. A study published in Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces reveals how the dentist could give you anesthetic using a tiny electric current instead of a needle.

19 Jan 2016

New Josie Robertson Surgery Center provides optimal care for patients undergoing cancer surgery

A major transformation is beginning in cancer surgery that will enable patients to go home within a day of undergoing a significant operation. The new Josie Robertson Surgery Center, opened by Memorial Sloan Kettering, exemplifies that transformation: a patient-focused facility that leverages technology and highly trained clinical teams to provide optimal care.

29 Dec 2015