Intraoperative Kirschner Wire Migration during Robotic Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery.

We present the case of a 58-year-old woman who underwent a minimally invasive robotic-assisted L4-S1 instrumentation and fusion which was complicated by a Kirschner wire (K-wire) fracture and migration into the abdominal cavity necessitating emergent exploratory laparotomy. Retrieval of the K-wire proceeded without incident, and the patient had an otherwise uneventful surgery and recovery. This is the first such case description reported in the literature. As minimally invasive robotic-assisted spine procedures become more common, it is essential for the anesthesiologist to be familiar with potential complications to manage such patients in the perioperative period optimally.

Retcam fluorescein angiography findings in eyes with advanced retinoblastoma.

PURPOSE: To characterise the fluorescein angiogram (FA) findings of eyes with advanced retinoblastoma evaluated with the Retcam contact fundus camera. METHODS: A retrospective case series was performed on all new retinoblastoma patients evaluated with Retcam FA between 2000 and 2012. Inclusion criteria included (1) patients with advanced retinoblastoma (group D or E), (2) eyes studied with early, mid-phase and late-phase Retcam FA photographs and (3) no prior treatment. RESULTS: A total of 100 eyes fulfilling the inclusion criteria were identified. For the 47 group D eyes, FA findings included iris neovascularisation (10/47), large retinal vessel dilatation (46/47), small retinal vessel changes (35/47) and retinal venous leakage (20/47). Among the 53 group E eyes, FA findings included iris neovascularisation (45/53), large retinal vessel dilatation (43/53), small retinal vessel changes (37/53) and vascular abnormalities at multiple levels (11/53). CONCLUSIONS: Advanced intraocular retinoblastoma is associated with multiple retinal vascular abnormalities on Retcam FA. These findings may be helpful in defining the extent of disease and distinguishing this tumour from other paediatric ocular conditions. Key clinical findings were subclinical iris neovascularisation, a variety of small vessel changes, intrinsic tumour vessels and retinal venous leakage. Retcam FA was not found to be clinically useful after 3 min.

Preparing Interns for Anesthesiology Residency Training: Development and Assessment of the Successful Transition to Anesthesia Residency Training (START) E-Learning Curriculum.

BACKGROUND: The transition from internship to residency training may be a stressful time for interns, particularly if it involves a change among programs or institutions after completing a preliminary year. OBJECTIVE: We explored whether an e-learning curriculum would increase interns' preparedness for the transition to the first year of clinical anesthesiology training and reduce stress by improving confidence and perceived competence in performing professional responsibilities. INTERVENTION: We tested a 10-month e-learning program, Successful Transition to Anesthesia Residency Training (START), as a longitudinal intervention to increase interns' self-perceived preparedness to begin anesthesiology residency training in a prospective, observational study and assessed acceptance and sustainability. After a needs assessment, we administered the START modules to 22 interns, once a month, using an integrated learning management and lecture-capture system. We surveyed interns' self-assessed preparedness to begin anesthesiology residency before and after completing the START modules. Interns from the prior year's class, who did not participate in the online curriculum, served as controls. RESULTS: After participation in the START intervention, self-assessed preparedness to begin residency improved by 72% (P  =  .02). Interns also felt more connected to, and had improved positive feelings toward, their new residency program and institution. CONCLUSION: Participation in our novel 10-month e-learning curriculum and virtual mentorship program improved interns' impression of their residency program and significantly increased interns' subjective assessment of their preparedness to begin anesthesiology residency. This e-learning concept could be more broadly applied and useful to other residency programs.

Modulation of remifentanil-induced postinfusion hyperalgesia by the ß-blocker propranolol in humans.

Acute and chronic exposure to opioids has been associated with hyperalgesia in both animals and humans. A genetic analysis of opioid-induced hyperalgesia in mice linked the ß(2)-adrenergic receptor to mechanical sensitization after opioid exposure. In humans, expansion of the area of mechanical hyperalgesia surrounding an experimentally induced lesion after the cessation of remifentanil infusion is a commonly used model of opioid hyperalgesia (remifentanil-induced postinfusion hyperalgesia, RPH). The purpose of our translational study was to test the hypothesis that the ß-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol modulates the expression of RPH in humans. This double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study was performed in 10 healthy human volunteers. During test sessions, intracutaneous electrical stimulation was used to generate areas of secondary mechanical hyperalgesia. The area of this sensitization was measured before, during, and after remifentanil infusion. Heat pain sensitivity was also followed. During one test session, subjects received propranolol infusion. We observed an average increase in the areas of secondary mechanical hyperalgesia to 141% of the baseline in subjects infused with remifentanil and placebo (P=0.00040). However, when remifentanil infusion was combined with propranolol, the area of secondary hyperalgesia after terminating remifentanil was not significantly different than the area before beginning the opioid infusion (P=0.13). Thermal hyperalgesia was not observed after remifentanil infusion. Propranolol infusion at the selected dose had minor hemodynamic effects. Concomitant infusion of propranolol with remifentanil prevented the expression of RPH. ß-adrenergic receptor blockade may be a useful pharmacological strategy for preventing hyperalgesia in patients exposed to opioids.

Learning management systems and lecture capture in the medical academic environment.

As residents work disparate schedules at multiple locations and because of workweek hour limits mandated by the ACGME, residents may be unable to attend lectures, seminars, or other activities that would enhance their skills. Further, the ACGME requires that residency programs document resident learning in six stated core competencies and provide proof of completion for various other requirements. LMS/LC is a promising technology to provide a means by which residency programs may overcome these obstacles. More studies are needed to show under what conditions an LMS/LC program actually enhances learning, and which elements are most useful to the new generation of learners comfortable with Web 2.0 technologies.

Regulation of RB transcription in vivo by RB family members.

In cancer cells, the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor RB is directly inactivated by mutation in the RB gene or functionally inhibited by abnormal activation of cyclin-dependent kinase activity. While variations in RB levels may also provide an important means of controlling RB function in both normal and cancer cells, little is known about the mechanisms regulating RB transcription. Here we show that members of the RB and E2F families bind directly to the RB promoter. To investigate how the RB/E2F pathway may regulate Rb transcription, we generated reporter mice carrying an eGFP transgene inserted into a bacterial artificial chromosome containing most of the Rb gene. Expression of eGFP largely parallels that of Rb in transgenic embryos and adult mice. Using these reporter mice and mutant alleles for Rb, p107, and p130, we found that RB family members modulate Rb transcription in specific cell populations in vivo and in culture. Interestingly, while Rb is a target of the RB/E2F pathway in mouse and human cells, Rb expression does not strictly correlate with the cell cycle status of these cells. These experiments identify novel regulatory feedback mechanisms within the RB pathway in mammalian cells.