Editor's Note A recent study suggests a single dose of intrathecal morphine provides long-lasting analgesia and reduces the need for postoperative systemic administration of opioids after painful open urological procedures. The Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing published the data January 31. Intrathecal opioid administration is an attractive technique in these surgeries…
Editor's Note Amid a nationwide shortage of anesthesiologists straining many healthcare systems, new data from the Kaiser Family Foundation offers a state-by-state comparison of the number of anesthesiologists per physician. As of January 2024, the data reveal that Indiana leads states with the most anesthesiologists per physician at 13.12% (1,211…
Editor's Note There is a major anesthesia provider shortage that has been and continues to impact ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), and which is driving up costs, Becker’s ASC Review November 29 reports. Meanwhile, reimbursements from payers are declining, straining ASCs’ ability to provide needed care. Some highlights from the Becker’s…
Editor's Note A new study that attempted to find genetic drivers of postoperative pain uncovered only two associated alleles, suggesting wider examination is needed. The findings were published in the American Society of Anesthesiologists journal Anesthesiology December 2023 issue. The researchers looked at 163 studies and evaluated 129 genes and…
Editor's Note According to the 2023 survey from consulting firm SullivanCotter, published in August 2023, compensation for Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) has grown at a faster rate than pay for physicians and nurses, BusinessWire November 15 reports. The final report included data on more than 124,000 individual APPs and over…
Editor's Note A November 2022 survey of American Society of Anesthesiologists members found that, post-pandemic, anesthesiologists are experiencing unprecedented levels of workplace stress and staffing shortages. The findings were published in the November 2023 issue of the journal Anesthesiology. The authors surveyed the US attending members of the American Society…
Editor's Note Anesthesiologist-administered or -directed sedation leads to higher rates of patient discharges to home rather than a long-term care (LTC) facility, according to a study presented at the Anesthesiology 2023 annual meeting. The study focused on interventional radiology (IR) procedures–specifically 9,682 patients who had sedation in the IR suite…
Editor's Note This study, titled "Leadership and Impostor Syndrome in Surgery" and published in the October 2023 issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, examined how impostor syndrome–an internalized sense of incompetence and not belonging–impacts surgeons holding leadership positions in healthcare. The study included 2,183 attending and…
Editor's Note Anesthesiology needs to bolster initiatives to improve the size and diversity of research scientists in its pipeline, according to a new study by the Anesthesia Research Council (ARC), titled "The Anesthesiology Physician-Scientist Pipeline: Current Status and Recommendations for Future Growth" and published in the October 2023 Anesthesia &…
Editor's Note Citing the pervasive connections between healthcare disparities and race and gender, Anesthesia & Analgesia, the oldest publication dedicated exclusively to the specialty of anesthesiology, is devoting its October 2023 issue to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) topics in the field. The issue lays out a number of practical…