Samuel Wald, MD

View details for DOI 10.1097/SLA.0000000000004124

View details for PubMedID 32541233

View details for DOI 10.1097/SLA.0000000000003968

View details for PubMedID 32487801

View details for DOI 10.1213/ANE.0000000000004938

View details for PubMedID 32366770

View details for DOI 10.1213/ANE.0000000000005134

View details for PubMedID 32701549

View details for DOI 10.1213/ANE.0000000000004921

View details for PubMedID 32345854

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7202114

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed an extraordinary demand on the United States healthcare system. Many institutions have cancelled elective and non-urgent procedures to conserve resources and limit exposure. While operational definitions of elective and urgent categories exist, there is a degree of surgeon judgment in designation. In the present commentary, we provide a framework for prioritizing head and neck surgery during the pandemic. Unique considerations for the head and neck patient are examined including risk to the oncology patient, outcomes following delay in head and neck cancer therapy, and risk of transmission during otolaryngologic surgery. Our case prioritization criteria consist of four categories: urgent - proceed with surgery, less urgent - consider postpone >30days, less urgent - consider postpone 30-90days, and case-by-case basis. Finally, we discuss our preoperative clinical pathway for transmission mitigation including defining low-risk and high-risk surgery for transmission and role of preoperative COVID-19 testing. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

View details for DOI 10.1002/hed.26184

View details for PubMedID 32298036

View details for DOI 10.1213/ANE.0000000000005136

View details for PubMedID 32701548

View details for PubMedID 29351634

View details for DOI 10.1093/neuros/nyx627

View details for Web of Science ID 000439686300003

Abstract

A keystone of operating room (OR) management is proper OR allocation to optimize access, safety, efficiency, and throughput. Access is important to surgeons, and overlapping surgery may increase patient access to surgeons with specialized skill sets and facilitate the training of medical students, residents, and fellows. Overlapping surgery is commonly performed in academic medical centers, although recent public scrutiny has raised debate about its safety, necessitating monitoring. This article introduces a system to monitor overlapping surgery, providing a surgeon-specific Key Performance Indicator, and discusses overlapping surgery as an approach toward OR management goals of efficiency and throughput.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.anclin.2018.01.002

View details for PubMedID 29759280

View details for PubMedID 28319544

View details for DOI 10.1097/SIH.0b013e318223d755

View details for Web of Science ID 000300414000010

View details for PubMedID 21937964

View details for DOI 10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181ef8e82

View details for Web of Science ID 000283844700030

Abstract

A 6-year-old girl with Treacher Collins syndrome presented for implantation of a hearing device. The patient was developmentally delayed and had severe micrognathia. After induction of anesthesia with dexmedetomidine and ketamine, the patient tolerated the introduction of a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope without any change in respiration, and intubation was achieved easily.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jclinane.2008.03.012

View details for Web of Science ID 000260134200011

View details for PubMedID 18929288

Abstract

Craniosynostotic correction typically performed around infant physiologic nadir of hemoglobin (approximately 3-6 months of age) is associated with high transfusion rates of packed red blood cells and other blood products. As a blood conserving strategy, we studied the use of 1) recombinant human erythropoietin or Procrit (to optimize preoperative hematocrit) and 2) Cell Saver (to recycle the slow, constant ooze of blood during the prolonged case).UCLA Patients with craniosynostosis from 2003-2005 were divided into 1) the study group (Procrit and Cell Saver) or 2) the control group (n = 79). The study group 1) received recombinant human erythropoietin at 3 weeks, 2 weeks, and 1 week preoperatively and 2) used Cell Saver intraoperatively. Outcomes were based on morbidities and transfusion rate comparisons.The 2 groups were comparable with regards to age (5.66 and 5.71 months), and operative times (3.11 vs 2.59 hours). In the study group there was a marked increase in preoperative hematocrit (56.2%). The study group had significantly lower transfusions rates (5% vs 100% control group) and lower volumes transfused than in the control group (0.05 pediatric units vs 1.74 pediatric units). Additionally, of the 80% of patients in the study group who received Cell Saver blood at the end of the case, approximately 31% would have needed a transfusion if the recycled blood were unavailable.Our data showed that for elective craniosynostotic correction, successful blood conserving dual therapy with Procrit and Cell Saver might be used to decrease transfusion rates and the need for any blood products.

View details for Web of Science ID 000252619900016

View details for PubMedID 18216672

View details for DOI 10.1097/SIH.0b013e3181461b60

View details for PubMedID 19088623

Abstract

Auscultation of breath sounds is used routinely to confirm tracheal placement of endotracheal tubes (ETT). In infants and children, this method is limited by the conduction of breath sounds bilaterally, despite endobronchial intubation. Although several methods of detecting endobronchial intubation have been described, none is both simple and reliable. In this investigation, we determined whether changes in pulmonary compliance and airway pressures, measured using continuous side stream spirometry, can reliably detect endobronchial intubation in pediatric patients.Forty patients aged 1 month to 6 years were included. After endotracheal intubation the ETT was incrementally advanced as two observers monitored breath sounds and spirometry (Pressure-Volume Loops). Changes in pulmonary compliance, peak inspiratory pressure, or auscultation were reported, at which point ETT position was confirmed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy.Endobronchial intubation decreased measured pulmonary compliance by 45 +/- 11% (mean +/- sd; P < 0.001, Range 26%-66%) and increased peak airway pressures by 26 +/- 17% (mean +/- sd; P < 0.001, Range 0-87). Changes in peak airway pressures were smaller and more variable when compared to changes in compliance. Breath-sound auscultation failed to detect endobronchial intubation in 7.5% of cases.Pulmonary compliance changes are a sensitive and an accurate indicator of endobronchial intubation in infants and children. Both increased peak airway pressures and changes in breath sounds are less sensitive indicators of endobronchial intubation.

View details for DOI 10.1213/01.ane.0000268119.55909.b4

View details for Web of Science ID 000247444800016

View details for PubMedID 17578956

Abstract

Previously reported techniques for single lung ventilation in children have failed to provide consistent, single lung ventilation with relative ease and reliability. We report our experience with the use of a new device, the Arndt 5 French (Fr) paediatric endobronchial blocker, for single lung ventilation in a series of 24 children. We were able to achieve single lung ventilation in 23 of the 24 patients (aged 2-16 yr). Placement required approximately 5-15 min. Attempts at placement were aborted in one patient who was unable to tolerate even short periods of apnoea because of lung pathology. Although it has some limitations, our experience suggests that the paediatric bronchial blocker can be used as a consistent, safe method of single lung ventilation in most young children.

View details for DOI 10.1093/bja/aeh292

View details for Web of Science ID 000226415700016

View details for PubMedID 15486004