Academic clinician frontline-worker wellbeing and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic experience: Were there gender differences?

Prior research suggests COVID-19 has amplified stress on Academic Clinician Frontline-Workers (ACFW). The aim of this paper is: (1) to better understand the experiences of ACFW during the COVID-19 pandemic including their mental-emotional wellbeing, academic productivity, clinical experiences, and (2) to examine any gender differences. A cross-sectional survey was administered to University of Minnesota/M Health Fairview systems' faculty February-June 2021. Of the 291 respondents, 156 were clinicians, with 91 (58 %) identifying as Frontline-Workers (ACFW). Faculty wellbeing was assessed using validated measures in addition to measures of productivity and sociodemographics. For example, ACFW reported a higher Work-Family Conflict (WFC) scores compared to non-ACFW (26.5 vs. 24.1, p = 0.057) but did not report higher Family-Work Conflict (FWC) scores (17.7 vs. 16.3, p = 0.302). Gender sub-analyses, revealed that women ACFW compared to men ACFW reported higher WFC scores (27.7 vs. 24.1, p = 0.021) and FWC (19.3 vs. 14.3, p = 0.004). Academically, ACFW reported submitting fewer grants and anticipated delays in promotion and tenure due to the COVID-19 (p = 0.035). Results suggest COVID-19 has exacerbated ACFW stress and gender inequities. Reports of anticipated delay in promotion for ACFW may pose a challenge for the long-term academic success of ACFW, especially women ACFW. In addition, women may experience higher FWC and WFC as compared to men. Schools of academic medicine should consider re-evaluating promotion/tenure processes and creating resources to support women ACFW as well as ACFW caregivers.

Post partum pneumomediastinum.

A 19-year-old primigravida had a normal vaginal delivery after a 90-minute second stage of labour. Within two hours she complained of dyspnoea and was noticed to have unusual swelling of the face and neck. The diagnosis of subcutaneous emphysema was confirmed by chest X-ray and pneumomediastinum was also detected. Uneventful recovery over four days followed conservative management, administration of oxygen and use of simple analgesics.

Vancomycin reaction during spinal anaesthesia.

A 77-year-old female received uneventful spinal anaesthesia for a total knee replacement. Upon the advice of the microbiologists and at the request of the orthopaedic surgeon, a vancomycin infusion was commenced prior to the application of the leg tourniquet. Five minutes later, having received only 40 mg of the antibiotic dose, she became unconscious and suffered severe cardiovascular collapse, from which she was resuscitated with intravenous ephedrine and adrenaline.

Uterine rupture during labour in a primigravida.

Uterine rupture is extremely rare in the absence of any of the commonly recognized risk factors. We describe here a case of incomplete uterine rupture in a woman in her first pregnancy who had no previous instrumentation to the genital tract. Her only significant history was that of 2 episodes of minor antepartum haemorrhage occurring prior to induction of labour with artificial rupture of membranes and intravenous oxytocin. The rupture was manifested by 450 mL blood in the peritoneal cavity when an emergency Caesarean section was performed for persistent fetal bradycardia.

Intramuscular ketorolac for postoperative analgesia following laparoscopic sterilisation.

The analgesic effect of intramuscular ketorolac was assessed by double blind study in forty women presenting for day-case laparoscopic sterilisation. The patients were randomly allocated to receive either ketorolac 30 mg or saline by intramuscular injection immediately following induction of general anaesthesia. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in pain scores, opioid requirements or incidence of nausea and vomiting in the postoperative period. In view of the potential side-effects of ketorolac, and the apparent lack of efficacy when used prophylactically, the routine use of the drug in this group of patients cannot be recommended.

PIP: Ketorolac is one of the newer non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that appears to have significant analgesic properties. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ketorolac would provide adequate postoperative analgesia following laparoscopic sterilization and whether it would impact the incidence of nausea and vomiting. Patients were assigned randomly, in double-blind fashion, to receive either ketorolac 30 mg or saline by intramuscular injection immediately following induction of anaesthesia. All patients received fentanyl 100 mcg, a sleep-inducing dose of propofol, either atracurium or vecuronium, oxygen, nitrous oxide, isoflurane, atropine 1.2 mg, and neostigmine 2.5 mg. Surgery consisted of applying Hulka clips to the fallopian tubes. Postoperative pain was assessed using a visual analogue score (VAS) on 3 separate occasions in recovery. Patients received analgesia using a standard intravenous fentanyl, morphine or pethidine protocol if required. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups with respect to age, weight or procedure duration. Assessment of pain using the VAS slightly, but not significantly, favored the ketorolac group when patients were assessed prior to leaving the first stage recovery and prior to discharge. The worst pain scores recorded prior to discharge were similar in the 2 groups. On all occasions, there was an extremely wide range of scores in both groups. The mean opioid requirement in terms of pethidine equivalents was 23.5 mg in the ketorolac group and 35.5 mg in the saline group. This difference, however, is not statistically significant. Nausea occurred in 50% of ketorolac and 60% of saline groups, while vomiting ensued in 25% of ketorolac and 35% of saline patients. Anti-emetic use was similar in both groups (ketorolac 35%, saline 45%). A large study involving more than 186 patients would be necessary in order to demonstrate a statistically significant benefit of routinely administering ketorolac, with its potential side-effects, to all patients undergoing laparoscopic sterilization as out-patients.

"Don't turn the needle!".

Accidental dural puncture is a well-recognised complication of epidural anaesthesia. The technique of inserting the epidural needle with the bevel parallel to the spinal ligaments is still taught in some centres. Evidence is presented that the subsequent turning of the needle to allow passage of the epidural catheter may increase the likelihood of dural puncture. There would also appear to be a greater chance of subdural catheterisation. The epidural needle should be introduced with the bevel in the direction in which the catheter is to go and not moved once the epidural space is located.

The HELLP syndrome mimics cholecystitis.

A case of the HELLP syndrome in a pregnant woman, which was diagnosed initially as obstructive cholecystitis, is presented. The diagnostic difficulties and some management problems are discussed. Practitioners should be aware of the HELLP syndrome and related conditions when caring for pregnant patients.

HELLP syndrome and the anaesthetist.

Four pregnant patients are described who had varying signs of pre-eclampsia plus haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and a low platelet count. Two of the patients presented without hypertension and all posed considerable diagnostic difficulties, with problems in clinical management. Pregnancy induced hypertension is only one manifestation of a much more diverse pathophysiological process. Anaesthetists need to be aware of these other pregnancy related disorders in order to avoid diagnostic pitfalls and to enable them to provide safely the appropriate general and regional anaesthetic techniques.

Ranitidine prophylaxis before anaesthesia in early pregnancy.

Forty patients presenting for vaginal termination of pregnancy, divided randomly into four groups, received either no medication, sodium citrate 30 ml orally, ranitidine 150 mg orally or ranitidine 50 mg intravenously. During the procedure, gastric contents were removed by orogastric tube for volume and pH measurements. Ranitidine, orally and intravenously, significantly increased gastric pH and reduced gastric volume. In the control group only one pH was greater than 2.5. Sodium citrate raised the pH above 2.5 in 6 out of 10 patients. Fasting patients in the first months of pregnancy may be at risk of developing Mendelson's syndrome. Ranitidine is very effective in increasing gastric pH and at the same time reducing gastric volume in such patients.

PIP: 40 patients presenting for vaginal termination of pregnancy, divided randomly into 4 groups, received either no medication, sodium citrate 30 ml orally, ranitidine 150 mg orally, or ranitidine 50 mg intravenously. During the procedure, gastric contents were removed by orogastric tube for volume and pH measurements. Ranitidine, both orally and intravenously, significantly increased gastric pH and reduced gastric volume. In the control group, only 1 pH was greater than 2.5. Sodium citrate increased the pH above 2.5 in 6 or 10 patients. Fasting patients in the 1st months of pregnancy may be at risk of developing Mendelson's syndrome. Ranitidine is very effective in increasing gastric pH and at the same time reducing gastric volume in such patients.