[Identification of the epidural space: usual practice among Spanish anesthesiologists]. / Identificación del espacio epidural en la práctica habitual de los anestesiólogos españoles.

OBJECTIVE: To determine what methods are habitually used by Spanish anesthesiologists to identify the epidural space. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Spanish anesthesiologists were asked to fill in an Internet questionnaire about the methods they had learned during residency training for identifying the epidural space, the method they currently use most often, and the one they consider best for residents to learn during training. RESULTS: Responses were received from 617 anesthesiologists. The techniques the respondents had learned during training were loss of resistance to air (LOR-A), 58.5%; LOR to saline (LOR-S), 31.9%; LOR and air bubble (LOR-B), 6.1%; and the hanging drop method, 2.4%. Those who had learned the LOR-A technique had changed in 14.2% of the cases, as had 28.4% of those who learned the LOR-S procedure. LOR-A is currently used by 59.2% of the respondents, LOR-S is used by 32.4%, and LOR-B by 6%. The respondents recommended that new residents physicians learn the LOR-A (48.5%) and LOR-S (37.8%) techniques. The LOR-B is recommended by 12.6% a much larger percentage of anesthesiologists than it is habitually used by. Of those who use the LORA technique habitually, 26.4% recommend that new residents use a different procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The procedure used most often by Spanish anesthesiologists to identify the epidural space is the LOR-A technique; however, over a quarter of Spanish users of LOR-A do not recommend it.

Identificación del espacio epidural en la práctica habitual de los anestesiólogos españoles / Identification of the epidural space: usual practice among Spanish anesthesiologists

OBJETIVO: Indagar los métodos de identificación del espacio epidural que utilizan los anestesiólogos españoles en su práctica habitual. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Mediante una encuesta por Internet se interrogó a los anestesiólogos españoles acerca de los métodos con los que habían aprendido la técnica durante su período de formación, el método que utilizan con mayor frecuencia en la actualidad y el método que consideraban más conveniente para el aprendizaje de los anestesiólogos en período de formación. RESULTADOS: Respondieron la encuesta 617 anestesiólogos. Las técnicas más frecuentes con las que aprendieron a realizar la anestesia epidural fueron: pérdida de resistencia con aire (LOR-A = 58,5%), LOR con solución salina (LOR-S = 31,9%); LOR con salino + burbuja de aire (LOR-B = 6,1%), método de la gota pendiente = 2,4%. El 14,2% de quienes aprendieron la técnica con LOR-A ha cambiado de método, al igual que el 28,4% de quienes aprendieron con LOR-S. Actualmente utilizan LOR-A = 59,2%, LOR-S = 32,4% y LOR-B = 6%. Para el aprendizaje de los nuevos médicos internos residentes (MIR), los encuestados recomiendan: LOR-A (48,5%) y LOR-S (37,8%). La técnica de LOR-B es aconsejada por una proporción de anestesiólogos mucho mayor de la que lo emplean en su práctica habitual (12,6%). El 26,4% de quienes utilizan la técnica de LOR-A recomiendan a los MIR que utilicen otro método. CONCLUSIONES: El método de identificación del espacio epidural más utilizado en España es el de LOR-A; sin embargo, más de una cuarta parte de sus usuarios no lo aconsejan (AU)

OBJECTIVE: To determine what methods are habitually used by Spanish anesthesiologists to identify the epidural space. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Spanish anesthesiologists were asked to fill in an Internet questionnaire about the methods they had learned during residency training for identifying the epidural space, the method they currently use most often, and the one they consider best for residents to learn during training. RESULTS: Responses were received from 617 anesthesiologists. The techniques the respondents had learned during training were loss of resistance to air (LOR-A), 58.5%; LOR to saline (LOR-S), 31.9%; LOR and air bubble (LOR-B), 6.1%; and the hanging drop method, 2.4%. Those who had learned the LOR-A technique had changed in 14.2% of the cases, as had 28.4% of those who learned the LOR-S procedure. LOR-A is currently used by 59.2% of the respondents, LOR-S is used by 32.4%, and LOR-B by 6%. The respondents recommended that new residents physicians learn the LOR-A (48.5%) and LOR-S (37.8%) techniques. The LOR-B is recommended by 12.6% a much larger percentage of anesthesiologists than it is habitually used by. Of those who use the LORA technique habitually, 26.4% recommend that new residents use a different procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The procedure used most often by Spanish anesthesiologists to identify the epidural space is the LOR-A technique; however, over a quarter of Spanish users of LOR-A do not recommend it (AU)

[Analysis of bibliographic citations received by Spanish anesthesiologists for work indexed by Science Citation Index, 1988-2002]. / Análisis de las citas bibliográficas recibidas por las publicaciones de los anestesiólogos españoles (incluidas en el Science Citation Index) en el período 1988-2002.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the international impact of articles published by authors in Spanish anesthesiology departments. METHOD: Citable articles indexed by Science Citation Index between 1988 and 2002 and authored by members of Spanish departments of anesthesiology were considered. Citations were counted 2 years and 5 years after publication. Authors and institutions were ranked according to number of citations received. We also determined the journals Spanish anesthesiologists most often chose for publishing their work. RESULTS: Of the 322 citable articles identified, 61.8% were cited in the 2 years following publication (total 587 citations), and 79.5% were cited within 5 years (total 1472 citations). The most frequently cited articles received 17 citations in 2 years and 45 in 5 years after publication. Articles from the Department of Anesthesiology of Hospital Clinic i Provincial of Barcelona received the largest number of citations (333 citations in 5 years). The author with the highest rate of citations received 11.57 per article. The author with the largest number of citations received 86. Anesthesia & Analgesia was the journal publishing the largest number of articles by Spanish anesthesiologists (35 articles). CONCLUSION: This citation analysis shows the international impact of publications by Spanish anesthesiologists.