Monoamine oxidase-(MAO)-inhibitors are a treatment of last resort in treatment resistant depression, which is regarded as a condition of increased psychiatric risk. General and regional anesthesia for elective surgery during use of long-term MAO-inhibitors remains a matter of debate because of an increased risk of drug interactions and decreased sympathetic stability. A series of case reports a...

OBJECTIVE This survey aimed to assess both the extent of practice and need for training in regional anesthesia among anesthesiologists in Saudi Arabia in 2012. METHODS We distributed an electronic survey among 382 anesthesiologists attending the bi-annual meetings of the Saudi Anesthetic Association, enquiring about their practice in regional anesthesia. Questions concerned the practice of re...

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is amenable to various regional anesthesia techniques that may improve patient outcome. We sought to answer whether regional anesthesia decreased mortality, cardiovascular morbidity, deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, blood loss, duration of surgery, pain, opioid-related adverse effects, cognitive defects, and length of stay. We also questioned whether ...

The objective of this Chapter was to investigate the feasibility and outcome of gasless laparoscopy under regional anesthesia. A prospective evaluation of Lift-(gasless) laparoscopic procedures under regional anesthesia (Canadian Task Force classification II-1) was done at three endoscopic gynecology centers (franchise system of EndGyn(r)). Sixty-three patients with gynecological diseases compr...

Regional anesthesia offers many benefits for the patient, surgery center, anesthesiology practice, and hospital. Unfortunately, there are no evidence-based guidelines to follow when starting a new service aimed at providing peripheral nerve blocks. A regional anesthesia program adds value by improving the quality of postoperative analgesia and recovery after surgery. Specialized training in reg...

PURPOSE To review the pattern of malpractice litigation related to regional anesthesia in Canada. SOURCE The Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) provided with information about all anesthesia claims that closed in the years 1990-1997. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In the period 1990-97 there were 7,909 closed legal actions involving all CMPA members (56,000). Of these, there were 310 cases ...

Background The number of patients with Alzheimer's disease is growing worldwide, and the proportion of patients requiring dental treatment under general anesthesia increases with increasing severity of the disease. However, outpatient anesthesia management for these patients involves great risks, as most patients with Alzheimer's disease are old and may show reduced cardiopulmonary functions an...

BACKGROUND Many orthopaedic surgical procedures can be performed with either regional or general anesthesia. We hypothesized that total hip arthroplasty with regional anesthesia is associated with less postoperative morbidity and mortality than total hip arthroplasty with general anesthesia. METHODS This retrospective propensity-matched cohort study utilizing the American College of Surgeons ...