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Sachin Kheterpal

Publications and source records attributed to Sachin Kheterpal.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

A comparison of anesthesiology resident and faculty electronic evaluations before and after implementation of automated electronic reminders.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To develop an automated e-mail reminder system to contact residents and faculty regarding incomplete evaluations. DESIGN, SETTING, INTERVENTION, AND MEASUREMENTS: In the retrospective study, two 9-month periods were evaluated representing pre- and post-introduction of the automated e-mail reminder system. Data collected contained the number of evaluations completed and the rating of residents and faculty at the University of Michigan Health System in 5 different categories on a 5-point scale. MAIN RESULTS: The use of electronic reminders resulted in a nearly 4-fold increase in the number of resident evaluations by faculty from 1050 to 3761. Faculty completing evaluations increased from 40 (61%) to 66 (100%). The mean evaluation scores showed statistically significant but clinically negligible change for resident judgement, interpersonal skills, and intraoperative management. Resident preoperative evaluation and knowledge did not show statistically significant changes. Residents completing evaluations of faculty increased from 244 to 1798, and the number of residents completing evaluations rose from 40 (56%) to 87 (100%). There were no statistically significant changes in the evaluation of faculty except in the category of feedback. CONCLUSION: An automated e-mail reminder system implemented to contact residents and faculty regarding incomplete evaluations for residents and faculty dramatically enhanced participation in the evaluation process.

Anesthesiology↗

Incidence and predictors of difficult and impossible mask ventilation.

BACKGROUND: Mask ventilation is an essential element of airway management that has rarely been studied as the primary outcome. The authors sought to determine the incidence and predictors of difficult and impossible mask ventilation. METHODS: A four-point scale to grade difficulty in performing mask ventilation (MV) is used at the authors' institution. They used a prospective, observational study to identify cases of grade 3 MV (inadequate, unstable, or requiring two providers), grade 4 MV (impossible to ventilate), and difficult intubation. Univariate and multivariate analyses of a variety of patient history and physical examination characteristics were used to establish risk factors for grade 3 and 4 MV. RESULTS: During a 24-month period, 22,660 attempts at MV were recorded. 313 cases (1.4%) of grade 3 MV, 37 cases (0.16%) of grade 4 MV, and 84 cases (0.37%) of grade 3 or 4 MV and difficult intubation were observed. Body mass index of 30 kg/m or greater, a beard, Mallampati classification III or IV, age of 57 yr or older, severely limited jaw protrusion, and snoring were identified as independent predictors for grade 3 MV. Snoring and thyromental distance of less than 6 cm were independent predictors for grade 4 MV. Limited or severely limited mandibular protrusion, abnormal neck anatomy, sleep apnea, snoring, and body mass index of 30 kg/m or greater were independent predictors of grade 3 or 4 MV and difficult intubation. CONCLUSIONS: The authors observed the incidence of grade 3 MV to be 1.4%, similar to studies with the same definition of difficult MV. Presence of a beard is the only easily modifiable independent risk factor for difficult MV. The mandibular protrusion test may be an essential element of the airway examination.

Adult↗

An anesthesia information system designed to provide physician-specific feedback improves timely administration of prophylactic antibiotics.

Surgical site infections are a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality and add significantly to the cost of care. One component of the national Surgical Infection Prevention (SIP) program is to ensure timely administration of prophylactic antibiotics, a key factor to reduce postoperative infection. Our anesthesia department decided to assume the responsibility for timing and administration of antibiotic prophylaxis and we initiated a multitiered approach to remind the anesthesiologist to administer the prophylactic antibiotics. We used our anesthesia clinical information system to implement practice guidelines for timely antibiotic administration and to generate reports from the database to provide specific feedback to individual care providers with the goal of ensuring that patients receive antibiotic prophylaxis within 1 h of incision. Before the initiation of this project, 69% of eligible patients received antibiotics within 60 min of the incision. After the program began, there was a steady increase in compliance to 92% 1 yr later. Provider-specific feedback increases compliance with practice guidelines related to timely administration of prophylactic antibiotics. Anesthesia information systems hold promise for implementing and monitoring new practice guidelines and the anesthesiologist may play a key role in influencing surgical outcomes by ensuring appropriate therapy that may not be directly related to anesthesia care.

Anesthesiology↗