DEPARTMENT OF ANESTHESIOLOGY ANNUAL REPORT

CLINICAL ACTIVITIES
Infraclavicular 15
Caudal 21
Wrist 21
Artificial cervical plexus 24
Epidural 62
IV regional 85
Ankle 240
Supraclavicular 387
Axillary 492
Fem oral 536
Continuous catheter 807
Spinal 899
Anesthesia has been instrumental in our
center being distinguished as a “Center
of Excellence” in Regional Anesthesia.
Our Center is one of five centers across
the nation with this distinction.
As the Ambulatory Surgery Center
continues its recognition as a leader
in regional anesthesia techniques, the
Ambulatory Anesthesia division is frequented
by international physicians who
come here to study the techniques of
regional anesthesia as well as the clinical
operations of an ambulatory surgical
center. Of special interest to our international
guests is the outcomes database.
Educational exchanges have
been experienced this year with
Jamaica, Australia and Great Britain.
This cultural as well as educational
exchange has provided an exciting
opportunity for our division.
The faculty of the Division of
Ambulatory Anesthesia working collaboratively
have published in the year
2000: Interscalene Brachial Plexus
Block With a Continuous Catheter
Insertion System and a Disposable
Infusion Pump. Anesth Analg 2000;
Thromboelastography as a Perioperative
Measure Of Anticoagulation Resulting
From Low Molecular Weight Heparin: A
Comparison with Anti-Xa Concentrations.
42 CLINICAL ACTIVITIES
TABLE 1
Regional Techniques
Ambulatory Surgery Center
July 13, 1998–December 31, 2000
Lumbar plexus 982
Paravertebral 1145
Interscalene 1567
Sciatic 1656
500 1000 1500 2000
Anesth Analg 2000; Thoracic Paravertebral
Block for Breast Surgery. Anesth
Analg 2000; Thoracic Paravertebral
Block for Breast Surgery. Anesth Analg
2000; Continuous Interscalene Brachial
Plexus Blockade at Home After Major
Shoulder Surgery (abstract) Anesthesiology
2000; Continuous Peripheral
Nerve Blocks For Ambulatory Surgery
(abstract). Anesthesiology 2000;
Continuous Ambulatory Brachial Plexus
Block with a New Catheter Insertion
System and a Disposable Infusions
Pump (abstract). Anesthesiology 2000;
Paravertebral Somatic Nerve Block
Versus Local Infiltration for Outpatient
Inguinal Herniorrhaphy (abstract).
Anesthesiology 2000.
Research
Marcella J. Lanzinger, M.D., and Karen C. Nielsen, M.D.
A major project in the Division of
Ambulatory Anesthesia continues to be
the Outcomes Database for Ambulatory
Anesthesia. This database has consistently
provided us with an excellent
cross section of information that clearly
elucidates our accomplishments and
achievements at the Ambulatory Surgery
Center as evidenced in the patient satisfaction
statistics quoted earlier. We
know from this data that over 96.9%
of our patients would choose the same
anesthesia again 24 hours postoperatively
and 96.3% 7 days postoperatively.
Our database provides information that
enables the constant tracking of our
performance and patient satisfaction.
We have added technology to enhance
and improve the collection of our data
as well as achieve its integration with
the Saturn Information Systems. This
improved technology will improve the
integrity of the data as well as save time
in processing the information. This
database is also an integral part of the
educational opportunities within the
division as cited above.