J. Lance Lichtor

Posts by J. Lance Lichtor:

Cancer recurrence: epidural analgesia compared to use of PCA

September 6, 2013 By J. Lance Lichtor in Patient Safety

Since epidural anesthesia is known to reduce immunosuppression, should it be preferred in patients with cancer who are undergoing surgery? Additionally, do systemic opioids contribute to cancer recurrence, metastasis, and biochemical progression, further encouraging the use of epidural anesthesia for patients with cancer? In the article featured in this month’s issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, […]

A lower dose of epidural morphine is as effective as the standard dose but with fewer side effects

September 4, 2013 By J. Lance Lichtor in Obstetric Anesthesiology

For patients experiencing pain after cesarean delivery, pain is better relieved after administration of epidural morphine rather than parenteral opioids. How much epidural morphine is appropriate? The question is addressed in “The Efficacy of 2 Doses of Epidural Morphine for Postcesarean Delivery Analgesia: A Randomized Noninferiority Trial” by Dr. Sudha I. Singh and colleagues from […]

Spinal anesthesia is reasonable for patients with severe preeclampsia for caesarean delivery.

August 30, 2013 By J. Lance Lichtor in Obstetric Anesthesiology

Should spinal anesthesia be used for caesarean delivery in a patient with preeclampsia,? Spinal anesthesia was once considered contraindicated because the ensuing hypotension would compromise uteroplacental blood flow. This has not been supported by evidence, and indeed spinal anesthesia is a reasonable treatment method. Dr. Vanessa G. Henke, Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of […]

Will the electronic stethoscope replace use of a standard stethoscope in the operating room?

August 28, 2013 By J. Lance Lichtor in Technology, Computing, and Simulation

Anesthesiologists are known to wear stethoscopes around their neck. We use the stethoscope to make sure breath sounds are equal after a patient’s trachea has been intubated, to check lung physiology during anesthesia, and occasionally place the stethoscope earpiece on the ears of deaf patients and speak into the bell to amplify our own voices […]

Aromatherapy may have a role in treating postoperative nausea

August 26, 2013 By J. Lance Lichtor in Ambulatory Anesthesiology

A lot has been written about postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Treatment for PONV usually is accomplished with a drug that can be injected intravenously, administered orally, or, when all else fails, given rectally. Somehow the nose doesn’t seem like an appropriate orifice for treatment of PONV. However, the nose is the only option for […]

A licorice solution can help prevent postoperative sore throat

August 23, 2013 By J. Lance Lichtor in Ambulatory Anesthesiology

Common side effects after anesthesia include postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), sore throat, shivering and headache. Postoperative nausea and vomiting gets the most press: It’s listed as a specific MeSH® (Medical Subject Headings), and over 2500 manuscripts use PONV as a MeSH term compared to fewer than 600 articles where MeSH terms include sore throat […]