Show Me Your Best and Your Brightest!

By Adaora M. Chima, MBBS, MPH, from the IARS, AUA and SOCCA 2019 Annual Meetings*

The AUA Moderated Poster Session II brought together a collage of posters that covered the spectrum of anesthesia-related bench research, translational research and medically challenging cases. The presentations touched on a range of current hot topics in the field of anesthesiology, and the presenters came prepared with succinct and informative presentations on their work. Below are examples of rising themes and corresponding posters that were presentations.

Opioid Cessation and Sparing Strategies in Perioperative Care

A study titled “Non-Opioid Analgesia Usage among Pediatric Anesthesiologists” was presented by Dr. Michael King, Northwestern University. Although limited by a low response rate, survey responses among members of the Society of Pediatric Anesthesia showed a generally favorable view towards non-opioid analgesia, more so among those with pain or regional subspecialty training.

Dr. Andrew Ward of Stanford University presented a poster focused on the pediatric population titled, “Persistent Postoperative Opioid Use in Children 0 to 18 Years of Age.” This showed that the rate of opioid use in ages 12-18 approaches adult rates, and has a positive association with persistent opioid use well beyond the immediate postoperative period.

On behalf of a Sunnybrook University team, Dr. Naheed Jivraj presented “Associations and Predictors of Opioid Discontinuation after Surgery among Chronic Opioid Users.” The study identified oxycodone use, younger age, a diagnosis of COPD or dementia as factors associated with reduced odds of opioid discontinuation. Procedures indicated for pain reduction were not found to impact opioid discontinuation.

Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction

The SANDMAN Study, standing for Sleep Apnea, Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Dysfunction Manifesting After Non-Cardiac Surgery, aims to determine the association between obstructive sleep apnea and postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Dr. Michael Devinney of Duke University made the presentation, sharing this and other findings of the ongoing study.

Early-Age Exposure to Anesthesia

Dr. Caleb Ing’s (Columbia University) poster on “Exposure to Surgery and Anesthesia in Early Childhood and Subsequent Use of ADHD Medication” showed an increased risk of ADHD medication use in children under the age of 5 years who had been exposed to anesthesia for a single minor procedure (compared to unexposed children).

Education in Anesthesiology

The use of simulation as an educational tool continues to advance medical curriculum design as demonstrated by the presentation by Dr. Scott Pappada, University of Toledo. The presentation, “A Novel Management System to Revolutionize Generation, Administration, and Assessment of Simulation-Based Medical Education” and findings of a presentation by Randolph Hastings (UC San Diego) titled “Performance at Simulated Endotracheal Intubation Can Predict Clinical Success.”

Neuromuscular Blockade Reversal

Dr. Brandon Togioka of Oregon Health and Science University shared his findings regarding postoperative pulmonary complications following neuromuscular paralysis reversal in the presentation titled, “Comparison of Sugammadex and Neostigmine for Reversal of Rocuronium Neuromuscular Blockade on the Incidence of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications.”

These are but a few of many excellent presentations that were made during the session and are representative of the strides that anesthesia personnel continue to make to improve perioperative care through evidence-driven practice.

All e-Posters are available for viewing at https://tinyurl.com/AM19eposters. 

*Coverage from the AUA Moderated Poster Discussion Session II during the AUA 2019 Annual Meeting