ANAESTHESIA & SEDATION

The New Science of the Decade: Monitoring Intraoperative Nociception (Pain)

Pain management is an essential element in the medical health system and in patient care. Medicine has advanced in uncovering the physiological process of pain, and more recently the underlying mechanisms of nociception have gained increasing attention in the medical community1,2.

Medtronic seeks to highlight the clinical relevance of intraoperative nociception and its management, and to enhance global awareness of this less considered aspect of pain.

Anaesthesia, Sedation & Respiratory Compromise

UPPER AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION: Causes and Management

Upper airway obstruction happens when there is an anatomic narrowing or occlusion that results in a reduced ability to exchange gas in and out of the lungs. The obstruction can lead to respiratory failure, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest or death within minutes. Therefore, healthcare professionals must be aware of signs and symptoms, possible causes and management in order to intervene promptly and minimise morbidity and mortality.

Anaesthesia, Thoracics & Lungs

The role of the bronchoscopy nurse

Bronchoscopy is an invasive procedure that allows the direct examination of the larynx, trachea and bronchi using either a flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope or a rigid metal bronchoscope.3,4 Nurses perform an important role supporting patients undergoing bronchoscopy. In this article, we review the role of the bronchoscopy nurse in 3 surgical stages.

Medical-Surgical Floor Challenges

Smarter Communication To Save Time on the Medical-Surgical Floor

Communication challenges can impact the medical-surgical floor. And those challenges may affect care. We have four important ways to help you manage them. Find out how you can help improve communication and patient outcomes on the wards.
Anaesthesia, Sedation & Respiratory Compromise

5 Tips to Assess the Difficult Airway: The LEMON tool

In this article we review the tool LEMON which has been used in different clinical settings.

Anaesthesia Digestive & Gastrointestinal (GI)

The Role of the GI Endoscopy Nurse

Around 1-1.5% of the population requires an upper or lower endoscopic investigation of the gastrointestinal tract each year.6 Gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures are used as diagnostic, as well as interventional. It includes gastroscopies where the scope is placed inside the oesophagus, stomach and first part of the small bowel; and colonoscopies where the scope is inserted in the large bowel. Nurse’s play an important role in these procedures. In this article we highlight the role of nurses in gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Anaesthesia, Thoracics & Lungs

COPD & Anaesthesia

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of chronic morbidity and mortality throughout the world. It is currently the fourth leading cause of death in the world.7 An estimated 3 million people have COPD in the UK, of whom 2 million have undiagnosed COPD.8 It is responsible for over 30,000 deaths, 1.4 million General Practitioner consultations, a million hospital bed days and it costs the NHS over £800 million each year.9

Medtronic Respiratory & Monitoring Solutions EMEA

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  • 2. Gan, T. J. Poorly controlled postoperative pain : prevalence , consequences , and prevention. 2287–2298 (2017).
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  • 4. Martin, J. (2013) Preparing and supporting patients undergoing a bronchoscopy. Nursing Times. Available at https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/respiratory-clinical-archive/preparing-and-supporting-patients-undergoing-a-bronchoscopy-14-10-2003/
  • 5. Sepsis Research (2020) What is Sepsis. Available at https://www.sepsisresearch.org.uk/statistics/
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  • 9. Primary Care Respiratory Society UK (2013).  Reviewing people with COPD. Available at: https://www.pcrs-uk.org/sites/pcrs-uk.org/files/os19_copd_review.pdf
  • 10. Sullivan (2019) 5 things to know about capnography. EMS1. Available at https://www.ems1.com/ems-products/capnography/articles/5-things-to-know-about-capnography-Hr5ETRdXzCoU3fLH/
  • 11. American Association of Sleep Technologists (2018) Technical Guideline End-Tidal CO2. AAST. Available at https://www.aastweb.org/hubfs/End-Tidal%20CO2%20-%20AAST%20Technical%20Guideline.pdf
  • 12. Richardson (2016) Capnography for Monitoring End-Tidal CO2 in Hospital and Pre-hospital Settings: A Health Technology Assessment. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK362376/
  • 13. Epstein SK. How often does patient ventilator asynchrony occur and what are the consequences? Respir Care. 2011;56(1):25–38.
  • 14. Puneet Katyal. Pathophysiology of  Respiratory Failure and Use of Mechanical Ventilation. American Thoracic Society Available at https://www.thoracic.org/professionals/clinical-resources/critical-care/clinical-education/mechanical-ventilation/respiratory-failure-mechanical-ventilation.pdf
  • 15. Lotia (2008) Anaesthesia and morbid obesity. Continuing Education in Anaesthesia Critical Care & Pain, Volume 8, Issue 5, October 2008, Pages 151–156 Available at https://academic.oup.com/bjaed/article/8/5/151/268305