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INTRAVENOUS ACETAMINOPHEN: AN IMPORTANT NON-OPIOID THERAPY, OR AN EXORBITANTLY PRICED VERSION OF AN OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Intravenous acetaminophen was introduced in Europe in 2002. The United States Food and Drug Administration approved IV acetaminophen (Ofirmev, Cadence Pharmaceuticals) in 2010 for management of mild to moderate pain, moderate to severe pain with adjunctive opioid analgesics, and reduction of fever.     Acetaminophen (Tylenol) has been available in oral and rectal forms for … Continue reading INTRAVENOUS ACETAMINOPHEN: AN IMPORTANT NON-OPIOID THERAPY, OR AN EXORBITANTLY PRICED VERSION OF AN OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION? →

ADVICE FOR PASSING ANESTHESIA ORAL BOARD EXAMS

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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You’re an anesthesiologist nearing completion of  your residency or fellowship. You’ve passed the written exam from the American Board of Anesthesiology, and are preparing for the anesthesia oral board exam. You’ve heard that 20% of examinees fail the oral exam, and you’re worried. What should you do? I’m not an American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) … Continue reading ADVICE FOR PASSING ANESTHESIA ORAL BOARD EXAMS →

AUTISM AND ANESTHESIA

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Anesthetizing uncooperative patients is difficult. The combination of autism and anesthesia requires careful planning. Children or adults with psychological, developmental, or behavioral disorders such as autism may be combative or aggressive, and may require extra measures of preanesthetic sedation or restraint. The parents/guardians and the anesthesia team need to be actively involved with forming the … Continue reading AUTISM AND ANESTHESIA →

FENTANYL AND THE OPIOID CRISIS: AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST’S PERSPECTIVE

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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The United States is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. The crisis consists of two separate threats. One is the increased presence of powerful illicit street drugs such as fentanyl. The second threat is the increasing use of oral prescription painkillers like Oxycontin, Percocet, and Vicodin. This column addresses fentanyl—its medical aspects and the … Continue reading FENTANYL AND THE OPIOID CRISIS: AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST’S PERSPECTIVE →

NEW ANESTHESIOLOGY GRADUATES NEED TO KNOW _______.

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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New anesthesiology graduates know a great deal, and yet still have a lot to learn. What do you need to know before you start your first job following anesthesia residency? You already know the basic science facts, and you’ve done three years of cases with a faculty member next to your right elbow at every … Continue reading NEW ANESTHESIOLOGY GRADUATES NEED TO KNOW _______. →

FIVE MINUTES . . . TO AVOID ANOXIC BRAIN INJURY

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Anoxic brain injury. These three words make any anesthesiologist cringe. In layman’s terms, anoxic brain injury, or anoxic encephalopathy, means “the brain is deprived of oxygen.” In an anesthetic disaster the brain can be deprived of oxygen. Without oxygen, brain cells die, and once they die they do not regenerate. If something dire goes wrong … Continue reading FIVE MINUTES . . . TO AVOID ANOXIC BRAIN INJURY →

THE #7 ANESTHESIA BLOG IN THE WORLD

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Today theanesthesiaconsultant.com was named the #7 anesthesia blog in the world by Feedspot. I’m grateful to Feedspot for this honor, and to my readers for making this possible. See the link here to view the complete list of the world’s top anesthesia blogs. Theanesthesiaconsultant.com was ranked #7, behind such high-powered professional websites such as Anesthesiology … Continue reading THE #7 ANESTHESIA BLOG IN THE WORLD →

ABOUT THE ANESTHESIA CONSULTANT

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Greetings. My name is Dr. Richard Novak, the author of About The Anesthesia Consultant. The Anesthesia Consultant exists to increase your knowledge about anesthesia and the practice of medicine before, during, and after surgery. The Anesthesia Consultant is designed to inform and entertain both laypeople and medical specialists, and provides answers not found in traditional textbooks. I’m a … Continue reading ABOUT THE ANESTHESIA CONSULTANT →

ABOUT THE ANESTHESIA CONSULTANT

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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My name is Dr. Richard Novak, and this website’s mission is to increase your knowledge about anesthesia and the practice of medicine before, during, and after surgery. The Anesthesia Consultant is designed to inform and entertain both laypeople and medical specialists, and provides answers not found in traditional textbooks. I’m a Stanford-trained physician, double-boarded in internal … Continue reading ABOUT THE ANESTHESIA CONSULTANT →

HOW TO MAKE A BILLION DOLLARS IN HEALTHCARE

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Want to know how to make a billion dollars in healthcare and change the world for the better at the same time?  You can make a billion dollars in healthcare by inventing a better Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. If you’re a rising software engineer looking for a Holy Grail, this is it. Round up … Continue reading HOW TO MAKE A BILLION DOLLARS IN HEALTHCARE →

PHYSICIAN ANESTHESIOLOGIST LISTED AS THE #1 BEST PAYING JOB BY U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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For years I’ve extolled the intellectual and emotional virtues of a career in anesthesiology. This week U.S. News and World Report credited anesthesiologist with another honor: the highest paying job in their 2018 Best Paying Jobs survey. Regarding the #1 job, physician anesthesiologist, the article states, “the breadth of the profession has dramatically expanded in … Continue reading PHYSICIAN ANESTHESIOLOGIST LISTED AS THE #1 BEST PAYING JOB BY U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT →

DOCTOR VITA AND THE BS IN HEALTHCARE

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Last week Lawton Burns PhD and Mark Pauly PhD of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania published a landmark economic article entitled, “Detecting BS in Health Care.” Yes, you did not read that wrong—the academic paper used the abbreviation “BS” to describe the bull—- in the healthcare industry.   As a … Continue reading DOCTOR VITA AND THE BS IN HEALTHCARE →

Coming in 2019, from All Things That Matter Press: DOCTOR VITA, Rick Novak’s second novel

the anesthesia consultant

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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  How do you imagine the future of medical care? Cherubic young doctors holding your hand as you tell them what ails you? Genetic advances or nanotechnology gobbling up cancerous cells and banishing heart disease? Rick Novak describes a flawed future Eden where the only doctor you’ll ever need is Doctor Vita, the world’s first artificial … Continue reading Coming in 2019, from All Things That Matter Press: DOCTOR VITA, Rick Novak’s second novel →

LETHAL EXECUTION USING FENTANYL . . . AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST’S OPINION

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Lethal injection using fentanyl occurred for the first time in the death penalty execution of Carey Dean Moore in Nebraska August 14th, 2018. Per CBS News, “The Nebraska drug protocol called for an initial IV dose of diazepam, commonly known as Valium, to render the inmate unconscious, followed by the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, then … Continue reading LETHAL EXECUTION USING FENTANYL . . . AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST’S OPINION →

THE CHILD WITH AN OPEN EYE INJURY AND A FULL STOMACH

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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A 3-year-old boy is eating a McDonalds Happy Meal on the lawn of the restaurant. A lawn mower approaches, and a rock is ejected from the mower, hitting the child in the eye. The boy suffers a penetrating open eye injury, and is taken to the nearest hospital. You are on call for the repair. … Continue reading THE CHILD WITH AN OPEN EYE INJURY AND A FULL STOMACH →

WILL ATUL GAWANDE CHANGE THE FUTURE FOR ANESTHESIOLOGISTS?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Dr. Atul Gawande was named CEO of the new Amazon-Berkshire-JPMorgan Chase healthcare partnership. Dr. Robert Pearl wrote an original article in Forbes (June 25, 2018) titled, “Why Atul Gawande Will Soon Be the Most Feared CEO in Healthcare.” Dr. Gawande is a Professor of Surgery at Harvard/ Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and is the bestselling … Continue reading WILL ATUL GAWANDE CHANGE THE FUTURE FOR ANESTHESIOLOGISTS? →

WHEN SURGEONS, OR PATIENTS, TRY TO TELL THE ANESTHESIOLOGIST WHAT TO DO — 14 EXAMPLES

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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You’re a board-certified anesthesiologist. You’ve graduated from a residency program in which you learned the nuances of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative anesthesia practice. Yet at times, surgeons or patients will ask you to do something counter to your medical judgment. Individuals would never board a Boeing 787 aircraft and tell the pilot what to do, … Continue reading WHEN SURGEONS, OR PATIENTS, TRY TO TELL THE ANESTHESIOLOGIST WHAT TO DO — 14 EXAMPLES →

WHY BECOME AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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You’re interested in medicine, but you’re not sure what specialty to pursue. Why become an anesthesiologist? Let Dr. Novak convince you to choose an anesthesiology career. As Dr. Novak states on TheAnesthesiaConsultant.com homepage, “The profession of medicine offers a lifetime of fascination, and no specialty is more fascinating than anesthesiology.”     Listen to Dr. … Continue reading WHY BECOME AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST? →

CARTOON — IS ANESTHESIA AN ART?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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THIS ORIGINAL ANESTHESIA CARTOON WAS PUBLISHED IN THE CALIFORNIA SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS BULLETIN, VOLUME 52, NUMBER 2, APRIL-JUNE 2003. IS ANESTHESIA AN ART OR A SCIENCE? WAS  NIETZSCHE  CORRECT THAT ‘WHAT DOES NOT KILL ME MAKES ME STRONGER?” In 2018, anesthesiologists consider surgeons our colleagues, and we seek and expect collegial relationships with them. I’ve … Continue reading CARTOON — IS ANESTHESIA AN ART? →

CARTOON FROM THE 1999 AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS ART CONTEST

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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The year was 1999, the technology stock market was exploding, and businessmen in Silicon Valley were getting richer by the hour. Meanwhile, back at the metaphor, anesthesiologists practiced their essential healing profession, and hoped HMOs and hospital administrators would not decrease their anesthesia quantum wage any further. The cartoon won an Honorable Mention award at … Continue reading CARTOON FROM THE 1999 AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS ART CONTEST →

THE ELECTRIC CHAIR AND ANESTHESIOLOGY

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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What do the electric chair and anesthesiology have in common? The pertinent Venn diagram includes capital punishment, death by lethal injection, electrocution, and anesthesiology ethics. Anesthesiologists inject intravenous drugs to keep people alive during surgery. No anesthesiologist would be involved in lethal injection procedures or in recommending methods for killing another human being. Lethal injection requires someone … Continue reading THE ELECTRIC CHAIR AND ANESTHESIOLOGY →

MERITS OF PHYSICIAN ANESTHESIOLOGY

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Some people have difficulty seeing the outstanding merits of physician anesthesiology. I understand where these opinions come from, but the phenomenon still bothers me.   Today I read a thoughtful and well-written essay in Anesthesiology News titled, Anesthesiologists-The Utility Players of the Medical Field written by anesthesiologist David Stinson MD from my native state of Minnesota. His … Continue reading MERITS OF PHYSICIAN ANESTHESIOLOGY →

DO DOCTORS EVER RIDE IN AMBULANCES?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Do doctors ever ride in ambulances? Ambulances are a territory usually staffed by Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) personnel, but yes, in certain emergencies doctors do ride in ambulances. In the process of doing 30,000 anesthetics, I’ve taken several rides in the back of an ambulance with my patients. Why? Sixty-six percent of surgeries in the … Continue reading DO DOCTORS EVER RIDE IN AMBULANCES? →

IS SUBLINGUAL SUFENTANIL DANGEROUS?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Is sublingual sufentanil dangerous? The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted to approve the narcotic sufentanil for sublingual use in November of 2018. Sublingual sufentanil is 5-10 times more potent than fentanyl, and dissolves under the tongue in seconds. In an era of opioid overdose crisis, we now have a new, even more … Continue reading IS SUBLINGUAL SUFENTANIL DANGEROUS? →

DENTAL ANESTHESIA DEATHS . . . GENERAL ANESTHESIA FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS IN DENTAL OFFICES

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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GENERAL ANESTHESIA FOR DENTAL OFFICES CASE PRESENTATION: A 5-year-old developmentally delayed autistic boy has multiple dental cavities. The dentist consults you, a physician anesthesiologist, to do sedation or anesthesia for dental restoration. What do you do? DISCUSSION:  Children periodically die in dental offices due to complications of general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. Links to recent … Continue reading DENTAL ANESTHESIA DEATHS . . . GENERAL ANESTHESIA FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS IN DENTAL OFFICES →

ANESTHESIA EXPERT WITNESS

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Dr. Richard Novak, an Adjunct Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology at Stanford University Medical Center, is available for anesthesia expert witness consultation. Dr. Novak is a clinician who administers anesthesia and directs perioperative medical care at Stanford University Hospital and multiple outpatient surgery centers in and around Palo Alto, California. Dr. Novak has personally performed more … Continue reading ANESTHESIA EXPERT WITNESS →

THE ART OF ANESTHESIA—A NEW TEXTBOOK, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Imagine if Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi wrote a book called, “The Art of Jedi Practice.” In the anesthesia world that book is now available, and it’s called Practical Anesthetic Management—The Art of Anesthesiology,  authored by C. Philip Larson and Richard Jaffe. Drs. Larson and Jaffe are both professors who taught me in the Stanford University … Continue reading THE ART OF ANESTHESIA—A NEW TEXTBOOK, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED →

8-YEAR-OLD CONGOESE BOY DIES FROM ANESTHESIA. WHAT HAPPENED?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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8-year-old Matadi Sela Petit, who journeyed from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Los Angeles for surgery, died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital on December 16, 2018, from what has been described as “a rare genetic reaction to the anesthesia.” Matadi was born with a cleft lip and a tumor on the left side of his face/cheek … Continue reading 8-YEAR-OLD CONGOESE BOY DIES FROM ANESTHESIA. WHAT HAPPENED? →

AVOIDING PREVENTABLE ERRORS IN ANESTHESIA – 14 TIPS

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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One goal of theanesthesiaconsultant.com is to make the practice of anesthesia safer. The practice of anesthesia on healthy patients is quite safe, but we want to do everything we can to avoid preventable errors. The safety of anesthesia on ASA I and II patients has been compared to the safety record of commercial aviation. Few … Continue reading AVOIDING PREVENTABLE ERRORS IN ANESTHESIA – 14 TIPS →

THEANESTHESIACONSULTANT HITS ONE MILLION VIEWS – MARCH 2, 2017

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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I want to thank my readers, as theanesthesiaconsult.com reached 1,000,000 views this week. The website was born in 2010 when I posted multiple columns I originally wrote for the Stanford Anesthesia Department publication The Gas Pipeline. Over the following months I added a series of columns aimed at laypeople, answering frequently asked questions about anesthesia. … Continue reading THEANESTHESIACONSULTANT HITS ONE MILLION VIEWS – MARCH 2, 2017 →

HOW NEW IS “MODERN ANESTHESIA?”

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Point/Counterpoint: How new is modern anesthesia? Are modern anesthesia techniques radically different from the methods of twenty years ago? True or false?   POINT: False. Twenty-first century general anesthetics are nearly identical to the anesthetic techniques of the late 1990s. Consider this list of the most commonly administered anesthetic drugs in the United States in … Continue reading HOW NEW IS “MODERN ANESTHESIA?” →

SURGICAL CASES IN FOREIGN LANDS—INTERPLAST

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Imagine . . . rare unrepaired surgical cases in foreign lands, coupled with surgeons in America who rarely have the opportunity to operate on such cases. A win-win situation would be to fly American medical teams overseas to help these patients. This model for plastic and reconstructive surgery was born at Stanford University Medical Center … Continue reading SURGICAL CASES IN FOREIGN LANDS—INTERPLAST →

WHICH ANESTHESIA FELLOWSHIPS ARE MOST POPULAR?

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How many anesthesia residents choose further subspecialty fellowship education at the end of their residency, and which subspecialties are those graduates choosing?The grid below, published in the California Society of Anesthesiologists Vital Times 2018, lists the fellowship choices from the last five years of Stanford anesthesia resident graduates:

DROPPING SUBSPECIALTY ANESTHESIA SKILLS . . . LOSING YOUR RELIGION

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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In anesthesiology residency training we learn to perform every kind of anesthetic—cardiac, trauma, brain surgery, transplant surgery, abdominal surgery, chest surgery—on every type of patient—newborns, one-hundred-year-olds, or pregnant women. We learn those skills, and then we pass the American Board of Anesthesia written and oral exams on these skills. Then for the rest of our … Continue reading DROPPING SUBSPECIALTY ANESTHESIA SKILLS . . . LOSING YOUR RELIGION →

ARE SURGERY CENTERS SAFE?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Are surgery centers safe? This column is in response the Kaiser Health News story “How a push to cut costs and boost profits at surgery centers led to a trail of deaths” published on USAToday.com this week. The article set off a firestorm of controversy in the surgery center industry. The Kaiser article cites anecdotal … Continue reading ARE SURGERY CENTERS SAFE? →

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ANESTHESIOLOGIST OF THE 20TH CENTURY

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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The most significant anesthesiologist of the 20th century died just weeks ago, on December 21, 2017. His name was William New, MD, PhD. Many of you have never heard of Dr. New, and don’t know what he was famous for, but in my opinion he was the Most Valuable Player of the anesthesia ranks in … Continue reading THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ANESTHESIOLOGIST OF THE 20TH CENTURY →

CODE BLUE – WHEN AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST PREMATURELY DEPARTS A FREESTANDING SURGERY CENTER

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Let’s look at a case study which highlights a specific risk of general anesthesia at a freestanding surgery center or a surgeon’s office operating room, when the anesthesiologist departs soon after the case is finished. The patient is a 66-year-old woman admitted for a facelift, neck lift, and blepharoplasties. The surgery is scheduled for 8 … Continue reading CODE BLUE – WHEN AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST PREMATURELY DEPARTS A FREESTANDING SURGERY CENTER →

FRONT OF NECK ACCESS

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Can you perform an emergency surgical cricothyroidotomy? In the dreaded Can’t Intubate, Can’t Oxygenate (CICO) scenario, if your patient has no airway, you must immediately establish a front of neck access (FONA) to save your patient’s life. This week I attended an outstanding Stanford Anesthesia Grand Rounds delivered by Drs. Jeremy Collins, Susan Galgay, and … Continue reading FRONT OF NECK ACCESS →

12 THINGS TO KNOW AS YOU NEAR THE END OF YOUR ANESTHESIA TRAINING

the anesthesia consultant 35 Comments

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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The most difficult challenge for any anesthesiologist is the transition from the end of anesthesia residency into the beginning of your first job. You’re on your at the hospital, sometimes on weekend nights, and sometimes at 3 a.m. In “Subterranean Homesick Blues” Bob Dylan wrote, Twenty years of schoolin’ and they put you on the … Continue reading 12 THINGS TO KNOW AS YOU NEAR THE END OF YOUR ANESTHESIA TRAINING →

NERVE BLOCKS AND NERVE INJURY

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Let’s discuss an elephant in the room of operating room anesthesia–the association between peripheral nerve blocks and nerve injury. The use of peripheral nerve blocks has crescendoed in anesthesia practice, stimulated by the use of ultrasound-guided visualization of nerves. There are growing economic industries in ultrasound machines, ultrasound block needles, and in anesthesia personnel who … Continue reading NERVE BLOCKS AND NERVE INJURY →

IS YOUR GRANDFATHER TOO FRAIL FOR ANESTHESIA?

the anesthesia consultant 2 Comments

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Is your grandfather too frail for surgery? There are iPad apps to help you answer the question regarding frailty and anesthesia. Webster’s Dictionary defines frailty as “the condition of being weak and delicate.” Frailty is also a medical term with an accepted definition of “a multisystem loss of physiologic reserve that makes a person more vulnerable … Continue reading IS YOUR GRANDFATHER TOO FRAIL FOR ANESTHESIA? →

WHAT HAPPENS TO ANESTHESIOLOGISTS WHEN THEIR HOSPITAL CLOSES?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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America’s hospitals are in fiscal chaos. Anesthesiologists work in hospitals, and when a hospital closes, anesthesiologists lose their jobs. Sixty-seven percent of U.S. Hospitals are losing money, particularly when it comes to the treatment of Medicaid/Medicare patients.1  According to a recent study published in the journal Health Affairs, 55% of hospitals lost money on each patient they … Continue reading WHAT HAPPENS TO ANESTHESIOLOGISTS WHEN THEIR HOSPITAL CLOSES? →

WAS JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA’S DEATH FROM OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Justice Antonin Scalia’s death was unexpected. I’ve never examined Justice Scalia, never had access to his medical records, and have no information other than what has been published over the Internet regarding the events of the last 24 hours of his life. According to published news reports, APNewsBreak: Justice Scalia Suffered From Many Health Problems, … Continue reading WAS JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA’S DEATH FROM OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA? →

THE MINI-COG: COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AND SURGICAL OUTCOME

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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What is a Mini-Cog? Most anesthesia professionals have never heard of the Mini-Cog test, but recent evidence shows it can provide important prognostic information on our geriatric patients prior to surgery.     The Mini-Cog™ (© S. Borson, All rights reserved) is a 3-minute screening test for cognitive impairment. The test consists of three steps: … Continue reading THE MINI-COG: COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AND SURGICAL OUTCOME →

THE JOY OF BEING A DOCTOR

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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My greatest joy of being a doctor comes immediately after the conclusion of a pediatric anesthetic. I stay with the child until the anesthetic depth has dissipated, the breathing tube is removed, and the child is awake and safe with the recovery room nurse in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. At that point I walk … Continue reading THE JOY OF BEING A DOCTOR →

ANESTHETIC RISKS IN CHILDREN

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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What are the risks of pediatric anesthesia? What should you do if your 2-year-old son or daughter requires surgery and anesthesia? Is the anesthetic risky? Should you consent to proceed? Should you wait until he or she is 3 years old? The answer to all these questions is: “It depends.” Let’s look at recommendations as … Continue reading ANESTHETIC RISKS IN CHILDREN →

ANESTHETIC RISKS IN CHILDREN

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

Latest posts by the anesthesia consultant (see all)

What are the anesthetic risks for children? What should you do if your 2-year-old son or daughter requires surgery and anesthesia? Should you consent to proceed? Should you wait until he or she is 3 years old? The answer to all these questions is: “It depends.” Let’s look at recommendations as they exist in 2018. … Continue reading ANESTHETIC RISKS IN CHILDREN →

IS PRIVATE PRACTICE ANESTHESIA DOOMED?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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What is the future of private practice anesthesiology? First off, let’s define “private practice.” The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines private practice as: “a professional business (such as that of a lawyer or doctor) that is not controlled or paid for by the government or a larger company (such as a hospital).” In my community the … Continue reading IS PRIVATE PRACTICE ANESTHESIA DOOMED? →

PREANESTHESIA CLEARANCE: TWO QUESTIONS FOR PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS

the anesthesia consultant 2 Comments

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Many patients require preoperative clearance prior to surgery, especially patients with significant medical problems or at extremes of age. Preanesthesia evaluation reduces surgical and medical complications. What two questions for primary care doctors summarize the desired important information in preoperative surgical clearance? Some health care systems run preoperative anesthesia clinics, where anesthesia professionals evaluate these … Continue reading PREANESTHESIA CLEARANCE: TWO QUESTIONS FOR PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS →

LEARJET ANESTHESIA – THE EARLY DAYS OF HEART TRANSPLANTATION

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Learjet anesthesia? Yes, anesthesia can be a glamorous specialty. During my Stanford training in 1984-1986 I flew on Learjets more times than I can count, during missions to harvest donor hearts from throughout the western United States. Norman Shumway MD PhD, a Stanford surgical professor and legend, invented the heart transplantation procedure and performed the … Continue reading LEARJET ANESTHESIA – THE EARLY DAYS OF HEART TRANSPLANTATION →

MYOCARDIAL INJURY AFTER NONCARDIAC SURGERY . . . COMMON, SILENT, AND DEADLY. WHAT CAN WE DO?

the anesthesia consultant 2 Comments

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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You’re a 55-year-old man with hypertension, scheduled for surgery for a right colon removal for colon cancer. How likely is your death within 30 days after surgery? Higher than you would think. Your 30-day morality following this inpatient surgery is 1.2%. What can we do to improve myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery? Read on… Dr. … Continue reading MYOCARDIAL INJURY AFTER NONCARDIAC SURGERY . . . COMMON, SILENT, AND DEADLY. WHAT CAN WE DO? →

11 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAKE YOUR ANESTHETIC SAFER

the anesthesia consultant 1 Comment

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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  What can you do to make your anesthetic safer? This is what the anesthesia experience is like for most patients: You show up for surgery, and some anesthesia professional you’ve never met or talked to appears 10 minutes before you are to be wheeled into the operating room. The anesthesia professional might be an … Continue reading 11 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAKE YOUR ANESTHETIC SAFER →

FRAILTY IN ANESTHESIA

the anesthesia consultant 1 Comment

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Recognizing frailty in anesthesia patients is critical. What if your patients, especially elderly patients, could enter their personal data and symptoms into an iPad app, and what if that information could help you determine if their risk for anesthesia was too great to risk having surgery? Can you imagine this? It will happen someday soon. … Continue reading FRAILTY IN ANESTHESIA →

LESSONS LEARNED REGARDING SUGAMMADEX

the anesthesia consultant 1 Comment

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Regarding sugammadex and residual neuromuscular blockade: I’m aware of two cases of residual neuromuscular blockade which occurred during the past year. Both cases involved obese patients who required emergency reintubation. Both cases were near misses for brain death. Both of these near misses would never have occurred if sugammadex had been used. The first case … Continue reading LESSONS LEARNED REGARDING SUGAMMADEX →

THE ANESTHESIOLOGIST AND THE NFL

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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    The National Football League (NFL) of American football is a multibillion-dollar industry which dominates the sports airwaves and press headlines from the first preseason game each August until the Super Bowl each February. Do you know the intersection between an anesthesiologist and the NFL? At each and every NFL game there must be … Continue reading THE ANESTHESIOLOGIST AND THE NFL →

ANESTHESIOLOGISTS: BEFORE YOU ADVANCE THAT NEEDLE . . . A CAUTIONARY TALE

the anesthesia consultant 1 Comment

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Clinical Case for Discussion regarding postoperative anticoagulation: You’re scheduled to anesthetize a 58-year-old, 80 kg male for a left total knee replacement. You utilize the current multimodal strategies for operating room anesthesia and postoperative pain reduction, including an ultrasound-guided adductor canal block with 0.5% ropivicaine, a spinal anesthetic (using a pencil-tipped 25-gauge Quincke needle) of 1.5 … Continue reading ANESTHESIOLOGISTS: BEFORE YOU ADVANCE THAT NEEDLE . . . A CAUTIONARY TALE →

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN MEDICINE

the anesthesia consultant 4 Comments

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

Latest posts by the anesthesia consultant (see all)

I’m fascinated by the topic of artificial intelligence in medicine. This is the third column in a series regarding robots in medicine. (See Robot Anesthesia and Robot Anesthesia II) AI already influences our daily life. Smartphones verbally direct us to our destination through mazes of highways and traffic. Computers analyze our shopping habits and populate our … Continue reading ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN MEDICINE →

ADVICE FOR LAYPEOPLE: HOW TO MAKE YOUR ANESTHETIC SAFER

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Patients, what can you do to assure you have safe anesthesia care? This is what the anesthesia experience is like for most patients: You show up for surgery, and some anesthesia professional you’ve never met or talked to appears 10 minutes before you are to be wheeled into the operating room. The anesthesia professional might … Continue reading ADVICE FOR LAYPEOPLE: HOW TO MAKE YOUR ANESTHETIC SAFER →

ANESTHESIA EMERGENCY GUIDEBOOK

the anesthesia consultant 1 Comment

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

Latest posts by the anesthesia consultant (see all)

An anesthesia emergency occurs without warning. Your patient’s vital signs are dropping. As the anesthesiologist, it’s your job to make the correct diagnosis and act promptly to save your patient. You need the ultimate anesthesia emergency guidebook. That ultimate guidebook is the Stanford Emergency Manual of Cognitive Aids for Perioperative Critical EventsS, written by the … Continue reading ANESTHESIA EMERGENCY GUIDEBOOK →

THE MOST IMPORTANT TECHNICAL SKILL FOR AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST?

the anesthesia consultant 1 Comment

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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What’s the most critical technical skill for an anesthesiologist? I ask this question when I’m teaching anesthesia residents and medical students. Their most frequent answer is . . . the ability to place an endotracheal tube. This is the wrong answer. The most critical technical skill for an anesthesiologist is . . . facemask ventilation. Why? … Continue reading THE MOST IMPORTANT TECHNICAL SKILL FOR AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST? →

ANESTHESIA FACTS FOR NON-MEDICAL PEOPLE: WHAT IS MALIGNANT HYPERTHERMIA?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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What is Malignant Hyperthermia? Patients frequently have concerns and misunderstandings.  Patients wonder what the disease is, if it could possibly strike them during anesthesia, and how the disease would be treated. The word “malignant” in Malignant Hyperthermia has nothing to do with malignancy or cancer. Hyperthermia is the medical term for high temperature, and Malignant … Continue reading ANESTHESIA FACTS FOR NON-MEDICAL PEOPLE: WHAT IS MALIGNANT HYPERTHERMIA? →

13 MAJOR CHANGES IN ANESTHESIOLOGY IN THE LAST TEN YEARS

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Let’s look at 13 major changes in the last ten years of anesthesiology, and give a letter grade to mark the significance of each advance:   SUGAMMADEX – The long awaited reversal agent for neuromuscular paralysis reached the market in 2016, and by my review, the drug is wonderful. I’ve found sugammadex to reverse rocuronium … Continue reading 13 MAJOR CHANGES IN ANESTHESIOLOGY IN THE LAST TEN YEARS →

ADVICE FOR PASSING THE ORAL BOARD EXAMS IN ANESTHESIOLOGY

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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As a faculty member on the Stanford Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, I enjoy the opportunity to give mock oral exams to the Stanford residents. First-year residents struggle mightily, while third-year residents are experienced and savvy. Taking six mock oral exams during a three-year anesthesia residency is valuable preparation for the real American … Continue reading ADVICE FOR PASSING THE ORAL BOARD EXAMS IN ANESTHESIOLOGY →

HOW DO ANESTHETICS WORK?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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I commonly hear two questions from my patients: “How does anesthesia work?” and “How do the anesthetic drugs make me fall asleep?” The short answer to both questions is, “We’re not sure.” This column is designed as a brief tutorial for non-anesthesiologists who wish to better comprehend how anesthetic drugs work. General anesthesia is the … Continue reading HOW DO ANESTHETICS WORK? →

12 TIPS ON BECOMING AN OUTSTANDING ANESTHESIOLOGIST

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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What qualities define an outstanding anesthesiologist? The bell-shaped normal curve describes the random distribution of many things. A bell-shaped curve exists for the abilities of anesthesia doctors as well.     I’ve been practicing anesthesia since the mid 1980s. I’ve met and worked alongside hundreds of anesthesia colleagues from all corners of the globe. Some were … Continue reading 12 TIPS ON BECOMING AN OUTSTANDING ANESTHESIOLOGIST →

SMOOTH EMERGENCE FROM GENERAL ANESTHESIA

the anesthesia consultant 6 Comments

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Anesthesiologists prefer their patients to have a gentle transition from the anesthetized state into the awake state. The desired goal is “smooth emergence.” When the general anesthetic requires an endotracheal tube, an issue is how to awaken the patient with minimal patient coughing and bucking while the tube remains in the trachea. Coughing and bucking … Continue reading SMOOTH EMERGENCE FROM GENERAL ANESTHESIA →

DOES GENERAL ANESTHESIA CAUSE DEMENTIA?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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  Does exposure to general anesthesia cause dementia? In a word, “No.” A landmark study published in Anesthesiology Dokkedal U et al, Cognitive Functioning after Surgery in Middle-aged and Elderly Danish Twins. Anesthesiology. 2016 Feb;124(2):312-21  answers this question. Dokkedal studied 8,503 middle-aged and elderly Danish twins. Results from cognitive tests were compared in twins in which … Continue reading DOES GENERAL ANESTHESIA CAUSE DEMENTIA? →

TRENDS FOR THE FUTURE OF ANESTHESIOLOGY

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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What can we expect in the next 10 years of anesthesiology? What will be the trends for the future of anesthesiology? I’m writing this in January 2016. God willing, we’ll all be alive and well to reread this in 2026, and find out how many of these predictions about the future of anesthesiology came true. … Continue reading TRENDS FOR THE FUTURE OF ANESTHESIOLOGY →

AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST’S INCOME

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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  How much money does an anesthesiologist make? Let me begin by offering two anecdotes: I was an invited visiting anesthesia professor at a major university this year, and following one of my lectures an anesthesiology resident approached me for a discussion. During our conversation he revealed that his student loan debt was $300,000. In … Continue reading AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST’S INCOME →

AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST’S SALARY

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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How much money does an anesthesiologist earn? What is a physician anesthesiologist’s salary in today’s marketplace? Let me begin by offering two anecdotes: I was an invited visiting anesthesia professor at a major university this year, and following one of my lectures an anesthesiology resident approached me for a discussion. During our conversation he revealed … Continue reading AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST’S SALARY →

LARGE-VOLUME LIPOSUCTION: IS IT SAFE?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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I work in a private practice setting in Palo Alto, California, and liposuction is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed. The accepted definition of a large-volume liposuction is a total aspirate of greater than 4 liters. Seventy percent of the total aspirate is fat, so if a total volume of 4 liters … Continue reading LARGE-VOLUME LIPOSUCTION: IS IT SAFE? →

THE PERILS OF INTERNET MEDICINE

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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The printing press was the most influential invention of the last millennium. Now individuals use computers to search for Internet medical knowledge. THE PRINTING PRESS AND THE REFORMATION . . . , THE INTERNET AND MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE The book 1000 years, 1000 People by Agnes and Henry Gottlieb identifies Johannes Gutenberg as the most influential … Continue reading THE PERILS OF INTERNET MEDICINE →

HOW DO YOU START A PEDIATRIC ANESTHETIC WITHOUT A SECOND ANESTHESIOLOGIST?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Clinical Case: In your first week in community practice post-residency and fellowship, you’re scheduled to anesthetize a 4-year-old for a tonsillectomy. You’ll start the anesthetic without an attending or a second anesthesiologist. How do you start a pediatric anesthetic alone?   Discussion: During residency it’s standard to initiate pediatric cases with an attending at your … Continue reading HOW DO YOU START A PEDIATRIC ANESTHETIC WITHOUT A SECOND ANESTHESIOLOGIST? →

ZDoggMD MUSIC VIDEO TRASHES ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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I’m not a fan of the current state of Electronic Health Records (EHR), also known as Electronic Medical Records (EMR). Particularly in acute care, the computer keyboard and screen have no place between an anesthesiologist and his patient, an emergency room physician and his patient, an ICU doctor and his patient, or an ICU nurse … Continue reading ZDoggMD MUSIC VIDEO TRASHES ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS →

AVOIDING AIRWAY LAWSUITS

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Every anesthesiologist wants to avoid a bad outcome for his or her patients, and every anesthesiologist wants to avoid a malpractice lawsuit. At weddings you’ll often hear a Bible verse that reads, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) A parallel verse in the … Continue reading AVOIDING AIRWAY LAWSUITS →

AN ANESTHESIA PATIENT QUESTION: “WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG TO WAKE UP AFTER ANESTHESIA?”

the anesthesia consultant 41 Comments

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Patients sometimes say, “Why did it take me so long to wake up after anesthesia?” when they discussed their previous anesthetic history. They are fearful that something is wrong with them, and they will always have delayed awakenings.   Certain patients have consistent bad experiences from a past general anesthetic. A previous anesthetic left them somnolent … Continue reading AN ANESTHESIA PATIENT QUESTION: “WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG TO WAKE UP AFTER ANESTHESIA?” →

HOW TO PREPARE TO SAFELY INDUCE GENERAL ANESTHESIA IN TWO MINUTES

the anesthesia consultant 1 Comment

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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How do you prepare to induce general anesthesia in two minutes? You’re called to induce anesthesia for a patient being rushed to the operating room for emergency surgery. You arrive at the operating room only minutes before the patient is scheduled to arrive. I recommend you use the mnemonic M-A-I-D-S as a checklist to prepare … Continue reading HOW TO PREPARE TO SAFELY INDUCE GENERAL ANESTHESIA IN TWO MINUTES →

AIRWAY LAWSUITS

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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At weddings you’ll often hear a Bible verse that reads, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) A parallel verse in the bible of acute care medicine would read, “Emergencies are managed by airway, breathing, and circulation. But the greatest of these is … Continue reading AIRWAY LAWSUITS →

11 MEDICAL INACCURACIES IN FAMOUS MOVIE SCENES . . . AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST’S ANALYSIS

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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I love the movies, but it can be painful to watch scenes where the facts are distorted, sometimes so much that the storyline is implausible. Let’s take a look at medical inaccuracies in movie scenes from 11 famous Hollywood films: Million Dollar Baby (2004). This film is my Hollywood medical pet peeve, and the movie … Continue reading 11 MEDICAL INACCURACIES IN FAMOUS MOVIE SCENES . . . AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST’S ANALYSIS →

ANESTHESIA ERRORS: MALPRACTICE OR NOT?

the anesthesia consultant 1 Comment

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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If a patient suffers a bad outcome after anesthesia, did the anesthesiologist commit malpractice? If there was an anesthesia error, was it anesthesia malpractice?   Not necessarily. There are risks to every anesthetic and every surgery, and if a patient sustains a complication, it may or may not be secondary to substandard anesthesia care. Let’s … Continue reading ANESTHESIA ERRORS: MALPRACTICE OR NOT? →

ARE OLDER ANESTHESIOLOGISTS LESS SAFE? 

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Do you want an older anesthesiologist only months from retirement? Do you want a young and inexperienced anesthesiologist? Is there any data to help answer these questions? You’re boarding a commercial aircraft. It’s raining hard outside, and visibility is limited. You catch a glimpse of the pilots in the cockpit. To your relief, both of them … Continue reading ARE OLDER ANESTHESIOLOGISTS LESS SAFE?  →

WOULD YOU GIVE AN NFL QUARTERBACK A PERIPHERAL NERVE BLOCK?

the anesthesia consultant 1 Comment

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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You’re scheduled to anesthetize an NFL quarterback for a shoulder arthroscopy and rotator cuff repair. The patient earns $20 million dollars per year for throwing footballs. Would you feel comfortable inserting a needle into his neck to do a regional anesthetic? Would you feel comfortable doing an interscalene block on an NFL quarterback as part … Continue reading WOULD YOU GIVE AN NFL QUARTERBACK A PERIPHERAL NERVE BLOCK? →

CALIFORNIA SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS ONLINE FIRST: BOOK REVIEW OF THE DOCTOR AND MR. DYLAN AND INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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This post is a link to an article originally published in the California Society of Anesthesiologists Online First Blog, Authored by Dr. Michael Champeau (current Treasurer of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, as of October 2017): Book Review of THE DOCTOR AND MR. DYLAN Mar 02, 2015 by Michael Champeau, M.D. tags: book review, Rick … Continue reading CALIFORNIA SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS ONLINE FIRST: BOOK REVIEW OF THE DOCTOR AND MR. DYLAN AND INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR →

HOW COMMON ARE CARDIAC ARRESTS DURING SURGERY AND ANESTHESIA?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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  How common are cardiac arrests during surgery? Uncommon, but the incidence is not zero and the outcome is usually dire. In 2004 the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists reported 2,443 cardiac arrests (6.34 per 10,000 anesthetics) and 2,638 deaths (6.85 per 10,000 anesthetics) among 3,855,384 anesthetics. The majority of deaths were due to preoperative health complications … Continue reading HOW COMMON ARE CARDIAC ARRESTS DURING SURGERY AND ANESTHESIA? →

ON BECOMING AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST… WHAT PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS ARE ESSENTIAL TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL ANESTHESIOLOGIST?

the anesthesia consultant 25 Comments

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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What are the personal characteristics of a successful anesthesiologist? You’ve found The Anesthesia Consultant website, so you have some interest in anesthesia. Perhaps you’ve heard that anesthesiologists earn a comfortable living. Per wikiprofessionals.org: “According to figures from the U.S. Department of Labor, the lowest 10% of anesthesiologists earn under $135,110 per year, whereas the top … Continue reading ON BECOMING AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST… WHAT PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS ARE ESSENTIAL TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL ANESTHESIOLOGIST? →

ANESTHESIA FACTS FOR NON-MEDICAL PEOPLE: WHY DO I HAVE TO STOP EATING AND DRINKING AT MIDNIGHT BEFORE SURGERY?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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“Why do I have to stop eating and drinking prior to surgery?” This is a common question I hear from my patients—they’re puzzled by the connection between going to sleep and stopping eating prior to surgery.   It’s vital that your stomach is empty prior to elective surgery and anesthesia. Once you’re anesthetized, your cough … Continue reading ANESTHESIA FACTS FOR NON-MEDICAL PEOPLE: WHY DO I HAVE TO STOP EATING AND DRINKING AT MIDNIGHT BEFORE SURGERY? →

ROBOT ANESTHESIA II

the anesthesia consultant 3 Comments

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Are anesthesiologists on the verge of being replaced by a new robot? In a word, “No.” The new device being discussed is the iControl-RP anesthesia robot. THE iCONTROL-RP ANESTHESIA ROBOT On May 15, 2015, the Washington Post published a story titled, “We Are Convinced the Machine Can Do Better Than Human Anesthesiologists.”   In recent … Continue reading ROBOT ANESTHESIA II →

THE ACHILLES’ HEEL OF ANESTHESIOLOGY… WHAT IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO OUR SPECIALTY?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

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Anesthesiology is a wonderful profession, as I have described in many previous posts on theanesthesiaconsultant.com. But nothing is perfect, and anesthesia has one threat which could in time undermine the entire specialty. What is this threat? What is anesthesiology’s Achilles’ heel? No, it’s not the nurse anesthetists, nor the stress of covering surgeries in the … Continue reading THE ACHILLES’ HEEL OF ANESTHESIOLOGY… WHAT IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO OUR SPECIALTY? →

IS ANESTHESIA AN ART OR A SCIENCE?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

Latest posts by the anesthesia consultant (see all)

Is the practice of anesthesia an art or a science? Is the practice of medicine an art or a science?Over one hundred years ago the father of modern medicine, Dr. William Osler of Johns Hopkins Medical Center, made the following statements: “Medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability,” and “The practice … Continue reading IS ANESTHESIA AN ART OR A SCIENCE? →

WHAT IS PUBMED?

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the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

Latest posts by the anesthesia consultant (see all)

PubMed is most important medical website on the Internet. If you’re a layperson seeking practical and accurate medical knowledge, you need PubMed. If you’re a medical professional seeking state-of-the-art information from the medical literature, you need PubMed. PubMed is most important medical website on the Internet. If you’re a layperson seeking practical and accurate medical … Continue reading WHAT IS PUBMED? →

BLOOD PRESSURE DROPS TO 85/45 FOLLOWING THE INDUCTION OF ANESTHESIA: WHAT DO YOU DO?

the anesthesia consultant Leave a comment

the anesthesia consultant

Physician anesthesiologist at Stanford at Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group
Richard Novak, MD is a Stanford physician board-certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.Dr. Novak is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University, the Medical Director at Waverley Surgery Center in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the Associated Anesthesiologists Medical Group in Palo Alto, California.
email rjnov@yahoo.com
phone 650-465-5997

Latest posts by the anesthesia consultant (see all)

CLINICAL CASE: You’re scheduled to anesthetize a healthy 55-year-old female for an appendectomy. Her blood pressure is 150/90 on admission. In the operating room, you induce anesthesia with your standard recipe of 2 mg of midazolam, 100 mcg of fentanyl, 200 mg of propofol, and 40 mg of rocuronium, and intubate the trachea. Five minutes … Continue reading BLOOD PRESSURE DROPS TO 85/45 FOLLOWING THE INDUCTION OF ANESTHESIA: WHAT DO YOU DO? →