Category Archives: Article Review

Sugar Rush: Managing SGLT2 Inhibitors and DKA Risks

By Florencia Moraga Masson, Zheng Cheng Zhu Key reference: Hamblin, P. S., Wong, R., Ekinci, E. I., Sztal-Mazer, S., Balachandran, S., Frydman, A., Hanrahan, T. P., Hu, R., Ket, S. N., Moss, A., Ng, M., Ragunathan, S., & Bach, L. A. (2021). Capillary Ketone Concentrations at the Time of Colonoscopy: A Cross-Sectional Study With Implications […]

A single case of a successful sphenopalatine block in a patient with a post dural puncture headache

Case Report Corresponding Author: S. Muthu S. Muthu,1 L. Amaratunge,2 1. Intensive Care Registrar, Western Health, Melbourne, Australia 2. Anaesthetist, Western Health, Melbourne, Australia MeSH terms: Post Dural Puncture Headache (D051299), Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block (D059387), Pain Management (D059408). Acknowledgements Published with the written consent of the patient with appropriate deidentification. No external funding or competing […]

Is tranexamic acid safe and effective in reducing bleeding in non-cardiac surgery? The POISE-3 trial

By Zheng Cheng Zhu Key reference: Devereaux et al. (2022). Tranexamic Acid in Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery. The New England journal of medicine, 386(21), 1986–1997. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2201171 Quick Summary Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic that reversibly antagonises plasminogen’s binding site for fibrin and tissue plasminogen activator, thus preventing plasminogen activation and fibrinolysis. TXA has been […]

Your 75-year-old hip fracture case is at risk of post-op delirium, but what about dementia?

Dementia risk following general or regional anaesthesia by Dr. Matthew Vella @mjv.igee #Anaesthesia #anaesthetics #anesthesiology #anaesthesia #anaesthetic #abcsofanaesthesia #medicine #anesthesiologist #anaesthetist #anesthetist #anaesthesiology #nurse #medical #meded #FOAMed #medicalstudent #dementia #delirium #cognitivedysfunction #generalanaesthesia #GA #regionalanaesthesia #RA #inhalational #spinal #epidural #TIVA #hipfracturesurgery #longtermanaestheticrisk #anaestheticconsent Title: Dementia risk amongst older adults with hip fracture receiving general anaesthesia or […]

Delayed gastric emptying: an unwanted effect of glucagon like peptide 1 agonists in the perioperative setting

By Zheng Cheng Zhu Key reference: Olesnicky, B. (2023). GLP-1 agonists and gastric emptying. Bulletin. Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) & Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM). Winter 2023 edition, p20 Quick Summary Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a short-acting, endogenous incretin hormone produced by the gastrointestinal tract to reduce glycaemia by: stimulating […]

Is our every-day “milk of amnesia” really safe? Review of recent meta-analysis on propofol and associated mortality

By Zheng Cheng Zhu Quick Summary Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) is one of the most widely-used hypnotic agents in critical care departments worldwide, owing to its rapid and predictable onset/offset, favourable safety profile and low adverse effect rates. However, emerging evidence suggests an association between propofol used in operative and ICU settings and increased mortality. Most recent […]

Would you give dexamethasone to your total knee replacement case with a history of type 2 diabetes and severe PONV?

The PADDI trial by Dr. Matthew Vella @mjv.igee PADDI (The Perioperative ADministration of Dexamethasone and Infection Trial) Corcoran, T. B., Myles, P. S., Forbes, A. B., Cheng, A. C., Bach, L. A., O’Loughlin, E., Leslie, K., Chan, M. T. V., Story, D., Short, T. G., Martin, C., Coutts, P., Ho, K. M., PADDI Investigators, Australian […]

Does IV Iron Infusion for Pre-operative Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) Improve Outcomes? Implications of the PREVENTT trial

By Zheng Cheng Zhu Key reference: Richards, T., Baikady, R. R., Clevenger, B., Butcher, A., Abeysiri, S., Chau, M., Macdougall, I. C., Murphy, G., Swinson, R., Collier, T., Van Dyck, L., Browne, J., Bradbury, A., Dodd, M., Evans, R., Brealey, D., Anker, S. D., & Klein, A. (2020). Preoperative intravenous iron to treat anaemia before […]

Chronic Kidney Disease and Anaesthesia

A summary of this fantastic BJA education article: https://www.clinicalkey.com.au/#!/content/playContent/1-s2.0-S2058534922000506             Epidemiology Most common causes of CKD are diabetes and hypertension What is the definition of CKD? CKD definition: abnormality of kidney structure or function > 3 months (Renal Association) Electrolyte abnormalities, proteinuria (ACR > 3), haematuria of renal origin, histological/radiological […]

Would you choose general or regional anaesthesia for your paediatric case? What you need to know about the GAS trial

by Dr. Matthew Vella Title: Neurodevelopmental outcome at 5 years of age after general anaesthesia or awake-regional anaesthesia in infancy (GAS): an international, multicentre, randomised, controlled equivalence trial McCann, M. E., de Graaff, J. C., Dorris, L., Disma, N., Withington, D., Bell, G., Grobler, A., Stargatt, R., Hunt, R. W., Sheppard, S. J., Marmor, J., […]