Anesthesia providers undergo extensive training before becoming licensed. Given the complexities of administering anesthesia safely and effectively, hands-on practice in a controlled environment is crucial. Anesthesia training often involves a combination of simulated patients (dummies), cadavers, and occasionally volunteers, each providing unique advantages for mastering the skills necessary in real-world clinical settings. High-fidelity mannequins, or… Continue reading Anesthesia Training: Volunteers, Dummies, and Cadavers

The United States is currently grappling with a severe shortage of intravenous (IV) fluids as a result of recent natural disasters. The primary cause of this shortage can be traced back to Hurricane Helene, which struck in late September 2024, causing significant damage to Baxter International’s manufacturing plant in Marion, North Carolina. This facility, responsible… Continue reading Guidance on Managing an IV Fluid Shortage

Medical errors are estimated to be the third leading cause of death in the United States1 and pose a large financial burden to the healthcare system.2 Medical errors in anesthesiology are common, reported to be as high as 1.12% during general anesthesia.3 Further, one study found that one in twenty perioperative medication administrations included a… Continue reading Best Practices for Drug Preparation and Dilution in Anesthesia

In the practice of anesthesia, the method used to induce a patient into unconsciousness is crucial and can significantly impact the surgical experience. Two common techniques for anesthesia induction are mask induction and intravenous (IV) induction, each offering distinct advantages and considerations. Mask induction involves administering anesthetic gases through a face mask that covers the… Continue reading Mask Induction vs. Intravenous Induction for Anesthesia

Patients with Type I Diabetes suffer from an absolute deficiency of insulin production due to the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells. This condition predisposes Type I Diabetes patients to various comorbidities, including cardiovascular, renal, and neurological disorders. Consequently, patients with Type I Diabetes undergoing surgery and anesthesia require meticulous and individualized preoperative, intraoperative, and… Continue reading Anesthesia in Patients with Type I Diabetes

In the field of anesthesia billing, physical status modifiers are important reflections of patients’ clinical conditions and the associated risk of administering anesthesia. Accurate usage of physical status modifiers is crucial to maintaining an ethical medical practice and financial integrity. Modifiers range from P1 (a normal healthy patient), P2 (a patient with mild systemic disease),… Continue reading Physical Status Modifiers in Anesthesia Billing

Combined spinal-epidural (CSE) anesthesia is a versatile technique used for pain management during labor, surgery, and postoperative care. It combines the benefits of both spinal and epidural anesthesia, offering rapid pain relief with the ability to prolong analgesia as needed 1. The combined technique involves the insertion of a needle through the spinal and epidural… Continue reading Combined Spinal-Epidural

Ultrasound has rapidly become an important tool in anesthesiology, so much so that the American Society of Anesthesiologists recommends that current medical students intending to specialize in anesthesiology become familiar with the mechanism, uses, and techniques of ultrasound as they complete their clinical rotations in their third and fourth years of medical school.1 While ultrasound… Continue reading Growth of Ultrasound in Anesthesiology

Colonoscopies play a vital role in detecting, diagnosing, and treating gastrointestinal conditions including colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. While this procedure is very common, the use of anesthesia during colonoscopy has been subject to debate. While one camp encourages anesthesia use to increase patient comfort and procedural ease, others may point to costs and… Continue reading Debate over the Use of Anesthesia for Colonoscopy