Ethical and Legal Considerations in Obstetric Anesthesia M. Joanne Douglas and William J. Sullivan I. Introduction to ethics II. Informed consent A. Background B. Can laboring women give informed…
KEY POINTS 1. Three important channels characteristic of the circulation in utero allow preferential shunting of blood to sustain fetal viability. These include the ductus venosus, foramen ovale, and ductus…
KEY POINTS 1. Increasing utilization of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has greatly expanded the role of the cardiac anesthesiologist in operations for valve repair and replacement. 2. Because atrial contraction…
KEY POINTS 1. An aortic dissection usually occurs when blood penetrates the aortic intima, forming either an expanding hematoma within the aortic wall or simply a false channel for blood…
KEY POINTS 1. For cardiac anesthesia, a five-electrode surface ECG monitor should be used in the diagnostic mode, with a frequency response of 0.05 to 100 Hz. 2. After a…
KEY POINTS 1. Preoperatively respiratory function should be assessed in three related but independent areas: Respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, and cardiopulmonary interaction. 2. The most useful preoperative predictor of difficult…
KEY POINTS 1. Drug errors are a common cause of accidental injury to patients. The author suggests referring to drug package inserts or the Physician Desk Reference to check any…
KEY POINTS 1. The incidence of overt stroke is 2% to 6% for closed-chamber cardiac procedures. For open-chamber procedures, the incidence of stroke is increased to 4.2% to 13%. 2….
KEY POINTS 1. Inability to climb two flights of stairs showed a positive predictive value of 82% for postoperative pulmonary or cardiac complications. 2. Silent ischemia is more common in…
KEY POINTS 1. The majority of cardiac surgical transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) imaging uses 2-dimensions, which is accomplished via phased array transducers consisting of 64 to 128 small crystals activated sequentially….
