Case Synopsis A 43-year-old African American male gas station attendant is scheduled for emergency exploratory laparotomy after sustaining an abdominal stab wound in an attempted robbery. He is dialysis dependent and awaiting renal transplantation. His last hemodialysis was 52 hours…
Case Synopsis A 38-year-old woman is transported to the emergency department (ED) via ambulance following a motor vehicle crash. Her medical history is notable for hypothyroidism, as well as a history of an intravenous (IV) opioid use disorder diagnosed at…
Case Synopsis A 38-year-old anesthesiologist is found unresponsive and cyanotic in the call room after failing to return from a break in the case of a patient undergoing a craniotomy for tumor. Both fresh and recent venipuncture sites are found…
Case Synopses Alcohol Dr. P is a 60-year-old white male anesthesiologist with a 40-year history of alcohol abuse. Five years ago, he was questioned about alcohol on his breath before starting an 8:00 am case. He immediately took a blood…
Case Synopsis A 78-year-old woman, living independently at home, falls and sustains a hip fracture. She is admitted to the hospital, and the medical history reveals only hypertension, for which she takes hydrochlorothiazide. Cleared for surgery, she undergoes a 3-hour…
Case Synopsis A 68-year-old, 5-foot 10-inch, 100-kg man develops refractory hypotension toward the end of a laparotomy to remove the left colon because of recurrent diverticulitis and suspected peridiverticular abscess. The patient remains intubated at the end of the procedure…
Introduction The use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), performed by the anesthesiologist, has become commonplace in cardiac surgery operating rooms in recent years. This has been especially prominent as the use of Swan-Ganz catheters has diminished at the same time. Outside…
Introduction Lung ultrasound (LUS) has become standard of care in many clinical settings and has proven feasible at the bedside for detecting life-threatening conditions, such as pneumothorax, with a sensibility and specificity often superior to standard chest radiography. For some…
Introduction Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) refers to a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to patient-centered care in the perioperative period. The primary goals of enhanced recovery are an efficient return to baseline functional status and an avoidance of complications. Enhanced recovery…
Introduction Robots have become increasingly present in contemporary reality. One can find them working in places where humans cannot reach because of biologic limitations, and helping people in different fields, as in the area of health care. In this regard,…