Archive for October, 2009

This year’s American Society of Anesthesiologists show in New Orleans was a huge success.  Our week started on Friday October 16th at the Marriott Renaissance Arts Hotel where we exhibited at Duke University’s “Ultrasound for Every Anesthesiologist” pre-ASA Symposium.  The attendees were instructed on how to perform Ultrasound Guided Peripheral Nerve Blocks by a talented [...]

The American Society of Anesthesiologists is urging members to support an amendment to H.R. 3200 that would “…de-link anesthesia payments from Medicare rates under a public plan.”  The amendment was introduced by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30) and is being called the “Johnson Amendment.”  To read more about the how you can support the “Johnson [...]

Leaders of the American Academy of Pain Medicine recently published a Pain Medicine Position Paper which documents that businesses lose large sums of money due to ineffective pain care and pain care delivery.  The AAPM leaders propose a new approach to pain care. To learn more, click here.

October 15th is recognized by 70 countries worldwide as Global Handwashing Day. The purpose of Global Handwashing Day is to improve handwashing practices, particularly in children. Every year, a million people die of diarrheal disease and respiratory illness. Both diseases can easily be avoided by simply washing your hands with soap and water. The soap [...]

The Cochrane Reviews recently published a review by KJ Walker regarding the use of ultrasound guidance for peripheral nerve blockades. Although the use of ultrasound did not determine a block’s success, it does have a number of benefits for the patient: reduced bruising, reduced time to do the block, quickness in the block working, and [...]

In an article in Practical Pain Management, Ron Lechnyr, PhD, DSW and Terri Lechnyr, PhD have created a handout for patients to help them better understand the world of pain medicine. Often, patients ask questions, but the questions are directed at everyone on the pain management team except the doctor in charge. Psychologists, social workers [...]

In a recent article in the Journal of Medical Ethics, the ethical violation caused by undertreating pain is examined.  Too few pain specialists exist worldwide.  Most pain specialists deal with patients with terminal conditions.  Doctors outside pain and palliative specialties are often not familiar with pain guidelines.  The author argues that physicans who are not [...]

The website for the International Symposium of Ultrasound for Regional Anesthesia 2010 in Toronto is now live. The full program and faculty list is available online. Click here to go to the site.

Researchers at Queens University have found that patients with neuropathic pain experience less pain when taking both gabapentin (an anti-seizure drug) AND nortriptyline (an anti-depressant drug.)  The drug combination also reportedly helps patients sleep better.  Results of the study are published in the international journal The Lancet. To read more about the study, click here.

In a recent article in the New York Times, Adam Bosworth spoke about his company, Keas, and their efforts to “combine personal data with health information to deliver tailored health plans for individuals.” Adam Bosworth is the former head of the Google Health team. Keas has partnered with both Google Health and Microsost HealthVault to [...]