Discoveries of Distinction

Primary Author:
Amy Reed, PhD, CRNA

Pulmonary aspiration is a potentially fatal anesthetic complication occurring when gastric contents enter the respiratory system. Current fasting guidelines aim to decrease the risk of pulmonary aspiration; however, these guidelines are for healthy individuals and fail to account for type II diabetes mellitus (DM II) patients (ASA, 2011).

Primary Author:
Kelsey Nelsen, BSN, RN, PHN

Coauthors:
Amy Gnagey, APRN, CRNA, DNAP
J. Kyle Bohman, MD
Oludare Olatoye, MD
Rochelle Molitor, MD
Nathan Smischney, MD
and Adam Jacob, MD

Gastric-to-pulmonary aspiration is a recognized risk during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The risk of aspiration is suspected to be significant in this population due to manipulation of the oropharynx and underlying gastrointestinal pathologies, but a thorough assessment of this risk is lacking.

Primary Author: Michele Ardigo DNP, CRNA

Co-authors:
Jonathan Kline, MSNA, CRNA
Brian Selai, MSN, CRNA
Marilyn A. Pugh, PhD

Ultrasound evaluation (UE) of gastric contents may represent an excellent quantitative diagnostic tool. Research has determined the use of gastric UE beneficial in determining gastric content.

Primary Author: Bryan Anthony Wilbanks,
PhD, DNP, CRNA

This study used observational data collection and psychometric instruments (for perceived workload and user satisfaction) at three hospitals that each used different methods of data-entry for perioperative documentation (auto-filling with unstructured data, computer assisted data selection with semi-structured documentation, and paper-based documentation).

Primary Author:
Aaron Ostrowski, DNP, CRNA

Coauthors:
Suzanne Morrison, DNP, CRNA
John O’Donnell, DrPH, CRNA

Patients were waiting an average of 23 hours for reliable, long-term central venous access in our hospital, and expansion of the IV team service was not an option. A training program in the insertion of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) for CRNAs was developed to provide another cost-effective resource in our hospital to meet patients’ needs.

Primary Author: Amanda Faircloth, PhD,
DNAP, CRNA

Coauthors: Arkadiy Dubovoy, MD; Chuck Biddle, PhD, CRNA; Diane Dodd-McCue, DBA; and John F. Butterworth IV, MD

This study assessed U.S. anesthesia providers’ perceptions of acupuncture and acupressure. After institutional review board approval, 96 anesthesiology departments stratified by geographic region (Northeast, South, West, and Midwest) and institution type (university medical
centers, community hospitals, children’s hospitals, and veterans affairs hospitals) were selected for participation in an anonymous, pretested, online survey.

Primary Author: Michele Ballister,
DNP, CRNA

Student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) at a large academic medical center are limited in clinical training experiences due to the subjective observations of local anesthesia departments that SRNAs decrease OR efficiency because they require too much instruction. Utilizing the Iowa Model of Evidenced-Based Practice to Promote
Quality Care, the investigator inserted a six week structured simulation program into the nurse anesthesia curriculum prior to the SRNAs’ first clinical rotation.

Primary Authors:
LTC Jennifer Coyner, PhD, CRNA

Coauthors:
Jennifer McGuire, PhD
Robert Ursano, MD, PhD
Clarissa Parker, PhD
Abraham Palmer, PhD
Luke R. Johnson, PhD

This research examines the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie conditioned fear learning in a mouse model of high and low fear. Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) demonstrate a higher ‘fear load’ compared to individuals that do not have PTSD.

Primary Authors:
Victoria Goode, PhD, CRNA

Coauthors:
Pamela DeGuzman, RN, PhD; Kenneth Scully, MS; Virginia Rovnyak, PhD; Ivora Hinton, PhD; Elizabeth Merwin, RN, PhD; Elayne Kornblatt Phillips, RN, MPH, PhD, FAAN

Patient safety and the delivery of quality care are major concerns for healthcare in the United States. Special populations (e.g., obese patients) need study in order to support patient safety, quantify risks, advance education for healthcare-workers, and establish healthcare policy.

Primary Author: Joshua Lea, MS, MBA, CRNA

Coauthors: Christine Brown-Mahoney, PhD; Irene Jillson, PhD

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are essential members of the surgical team, and demand for them is increasing as the United States tries to control healthcare costs. Despite the economic benefits of employing CRNAs, like other highly trained healthcare professionals, CRNAs are difficult and expensive to replace.

Primary Author: LT Katherine Kidde, BSN

Coauthors: LT Meredith Tverdosi, BSN, CDR; Mark Lenart MD, CDR; Johnnie Holmes, PhD, CRNA

Epidural analgesia provides safe and effective analgesia with a reduced side effect profile along with increased maternal participation in labor. While the number of women utilizing epidural analgesia for labor continues to grow, there is still a lack of evidence to support which infusion strategy is the most effective. The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of three epidural infusion strategies for labor analgesia to test the hypothesis that a lower basal rate with a higher patient controlled bolus will result in lower drug consumption than the other two comparison regimens.

Primary Author: Katherine Ojalvo, BSN, RN

Coauthors: Jennifer Cooley, BSN, RN; Karin Langford, BSN, RN

Based on recommendations from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence, in 2011 Mayo Clinic Rochester instituted a policy mandating the use of ultrasounds for internal jugular central venous catheter placement in the operating room. In our study we compared rates of complications for central line insertion with and without ultrasound guidance between 2006 and 2012.

Primary Author: Nicholas Gabriel, PhD, CRNA

Coauthors: Bernadette Henrichs, PhD, CRNA; Mary Blegen, PhD, RN; Susan Chapman, PhD, RN

A doctoral study to determine relationships between a written examination, self-assessment, and performance assessment in simulation of practicing nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).

Primary Author: Brian Gegel, DNAP, CRNA

Coauthors: James Burgert, DNAP, CRNA; John Gasko, DNP, CRNA; Sabine Johnson, MS; Jennifer Florez, MSN, CRNA; Edward Dunton II, MSN, CRNA; Don Johnson, PhD, RN

This study was a prospective, between subjects, experimental design using Yorkshirecross swine randomly assigned to two groups; QuikClot Combat Gauze (QCG) (n=11) and control (n=11).

Primary Author: Tatjana Bevans, MSN, CRNA

Coauthors: Cassandra Rice, PhD; Derek Sakata MD; Chris Reilly, PhD

Patients could benefit from an inhaled opioid for pain management in a clinical setting. We investigated the bioavailability and efficacy of inhaled remifentanil in rats. We concluded that rapid profound analgesia was achieved, and remifentanil and metabolites were measurable in rat blood following pulmonary exposure to remifentanil.

Primary Author: Briana Meseroll, DNP, CRNA

Coauthors: Nathaniel Apatov, PhD, CRNA; Carolyn Rutledge, PhD, FNP

Mounting economic pressures and the challenge to maintain competitive advantage have resulted in many healthcare entities to require their practitioners to enter into restrictive covenants such as non-compete clause (NCCs). Many student nurse anesthetists and practicing certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are unaware of the non-compete clause in employee contracts. CRNAs are often surprised by the implication of signing a non-compete clause could have on their future abilities to successfully advocate for themselves and their profession, in order to best meet the needs of the population they serve. This study was completed using an anonymous, Web-based questionnaire distributed to students and CRNAs nationwide and demonstrated a significant knowledge gap in the nurse anesthesia community surrounding the NCC.