J. Lance Lichtor

Posts by J. Lance Lichtor:

A device that can decrease the risk of exposure to anesthetics used in the operating room

July 15, 2013 By J. Lance Lichtor in Ambulatory Anesthesiology

Image: The double mask can decrease exposure risk of inhaled anesthetic agents. Image source courtesy of Anesthesia

In operating rooms in the United States, due primarily to risk of adverse reproductive effects, there are limits set by the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety for exposure to nitrous oxide (25 ppm) and potent inhalation agents (2 ppm). Limited exposure to anesthetic gases in hospitals is accomplished in large part via the […]

Physician burnout is present even in resident anesthesiology physicians

July 12, 2013 By J. Lance Lichtor in burnout, Economics, Education, and Policy

Though much has been written about physician burnout, few studies are of physician burnout in resident physicians. In this month’s Anesthesia & Analgesia, Dr. Gildasio S. de Oliveira Jr. and colleagues at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, examined burnout and depression among anesthesiology residents in the United States and sought to determine […]

Intraoperative hypoxemia during anesthesia in children: a study of incidence

July 10, 2013 By J. Lance Lichtor in Pediatric Anesthesiology

Children undergoing anesthesia are known to have a greater likelihood of developing intraoperative hypoxemia in part due to reduced functional residual capacity and higher metabolic requirements compared to adults. How often do children become hypoxemic during anesthesia? Jurgen C. de Graaff, Department of Pediatric Anesthesia, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, Division of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Emergency […]

Faculty development programs may not increase academic productivity

July 8, 2013 By J. Lance Lichtor in Economics, Education, and Policy

Are academic anesthesiology departments academic departments? When individuals join faculty departments, do they become academics in the classic sense? In other words, do they produce publications so they can be promoted? In the July edition of Anesthesia & Analgesia, Dr. Bradley J. Hindman, Department of Anesthesia, The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. […]

Dextrose administered at the end of surgery has no effect on treating PONV

July 5, 2013 By J. Lance Lichtor in Ambulatory Anesthesiology, PONV

There is some, albeit variable, evidence to show that intravenous dextrose administration can decrease the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Could the timing of dextrose administration influence success in treating PONV? In the manuscript “The Relationship of Intravenous Dextrose Administration During Emergence from Anesthesia to Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” […]

Guidewire retention after central line insertion: It still happens, but systems approaches might eliminate the problem

July 3, 2013 By J. Lance Lichtor in central catheterization, Patient Safety

We use guidewires when inserting large catheters into central veins. If we’re not careful, we can lose track of them and let them vanish into the cannulated vein. In difficult cases requiring several kits the lost guidewire might be found many hours after catheter insertion. In the article “Retained Guidewires After Intraoperative Placement of Central […]