North Dakota Anesthesia Services

10/11/2024

The pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block is a relatively new and innovative regional anesthesia technique primarily used for hip surgery and pain management. The

The pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block is a new and innovative regional anesthesia technique primarily used for hip surgery and pain management, offering targeted pain relief while preserving mobility, which reduces the need for systemic analgesics like opioids.

08/20/2024

To safely maintain oxygenation and circulation during anesthesia, practitioners must consider the hemodynamic effects of different anesthetics.

To maintain oxygenation and circulation during anesthesia, practitioners must consider the hemodynamic effects of different anesthetics.

07/15/2024

In the modern operating room, a critical piece of equipment that ensures patient safety is the anesthesia machine.

06/17/2024

Spinal cord stimulators have emerged as an innovative treatment option for chronic pain management.

A spinal cord stimulator is primarily used for patients with chronic pain conditions that have not responded to conventional treatments.

06/17/2024

Local anesthetics play a crucial role in modern medicine, providing pain relief during various medical procedures.

Today in the U.S., major local anesthetic systemic toxicity events are documented in 0.04 to 1.8 of 1000 peripheral nerve blocks

03/27/2024

Pregnancy places significant strain on a person’s body and health. Ideally, patients should space their pregnancies out appropriately to mitigate health risks.

Pregnancy places strain on a person’s body and health, so patients should space their pregnancies out appropriately to mitigate health risks.

02/26/2024

Oximetry is a technique that uses differences in light absorption to measure blood oxygen saturation.

Oximetry is a technique that uses differences in light absorption to measure blood oxygen saturation. But how is blood oxygen measured?

01/30/2024

Intubation is a critical procedure to maintain a patient’s airway and allow breathing that can be complicated by various conditions.

01/03/2024

Despite decades of efforts at increasing education and prevention, drug diversion among anesthesia professionals is a too-common occurrence.

Anesthesiologists are managing addictive substances daily. Drug diversion related to anesthesia and surgery remains a problem.

11/20/2023

Given the many complications associated with perioperative hyperglycemia, it is important for surgeons and anesthesiologists to be able to maintain blood sugar levels within safe limits.

In patients undergoing surgery, the presence of diabetes mellitus or high blood sugar is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

10/12/2023

Postoperative pain can lead to chronic pain if poorly managed.

Postoperative pain affects as many as 80% of major surgery patients; when poorly managed, it can cause complications, including chronic pain.

09/07/2023

Acute GI bleeding still carries a relatively high morbidity and mortality, and post-surgery GI bleeds are a risk of both upper and lower GI surgery.

Post-surgery GI bleeds (e.g. post-anastomosis) are commonly seen in hospitals and are a risk of both upper and lower GI surgery.

07/20/2023

An estimated 65 million individuals worldwide have Long COVID, where a constellation of conditions persist after infection with Covid. While the majority of people experience mild symptoms, some are debilitating. We must discuss accommodations as we learn how long COVID affects people.

As it becomes clearer how Long COVID can affect people, it is necessary to discuss what accommodations may be needed and how to provide them in different settings.

06/13/2023

In 2020, about 25 million Americans did not speak English, creating difficulties in the healthcare system as most physicians do not know any other language. This language barrier is troublesome for surgery since the risk posed by a lack of comprehension is high.

This language barrier is particularly troublesome for surgery, where the risks posed by lack of comprehension and misunderstandings are high.

03/23/2023

Detecting tumors early is critical to treating them effectively, but traditional methods of tumor detection can be time-consuming and inaccurate. Machine learning and deep learning algorithms may help physicians with diagnosis.

Advancements in algorithms and other technological methods have buoyed tumor detection and diagnoses by health professionals in many ways.

02/23/2023

Benzodiazepines are depressants that can cause hypnosis, sedation, and decreased anxiety. Midazolam is a commonly used benzodiazepine in the clinical anesthesia setting.

Though not universally better than other benzodiazepines, the consensus appears to be that midazolam is an effective and safe sedative.

11/02/2022

The first COVID-19 vaccines administered mRNA derived from SARS-CoV-2. However, novel variants began to circulate globally by the end of 2020. A bivalent COVID booster was recently approved and the rollout is now happening in the United States.

To increase booster vaccination rates, health care providers should discuss the bivalent COVID booster with their patients.

09/26/2022

Monkeypox virus (MPV) has symptoms similar to smallpox, though they are less severe with less mortality. There is currently no specific clinical therapeutic for MPV infections. The CDC has advised administration of the smallpox vaccine four days post-exposure to prevent the disease and lessen severity of symptoms.

Maintaining preparedness is important for public health, especially in terms of rolling out monkeypox vaccination programs as needed.