International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Patients with implanted medical devices are increasingly referred for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (... more Patients with implanted medical devices are increasingly referred for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), and the safety of exposing some of these devices to hyperbaric environments has not previously been explored. There is a paucity of evidence surrounding the management of implanted neurological devices such as neurostimulators and intrathecal drug delivery (IDD) pumps in the context of HBOT. However, these devices can be expected to harbor unique risks; for example, vacant space in the reservoir of an implanted IDD pump may change in pressure and volume during the compression and decompression phases of HBOT, resulting in a damaged or dysfunctional device. We present the case of a 27-year-old woman with cerebral palsy referred for HBOT to manage a necrotizing soft tissue infection cultured from a dehiscent abdominal wound at the previous implantation site of an intrathecal baclofen pump. An HBOT protocol was ultimately chosen in partnership with the patient and her family, but tre...
Background. Chronic neuropathic pain is a condition affecting an increasing proportion of the gen... more Background. Chronic neuropathic pain is a condition affecting an increasing proportion of the general population and its management requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program. A growing body of evidence supports the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in several chronic neuropathic pain conditions; however, its role and efficacy remain unclear. Purpose. To summarize current evidence for the mechanistic rationale of HBOT in chronic neuropathic pain conditions and to evaluate its clinical efficacy. Methods. This narrative review was conducted after searching the following databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane, PsycINFO, the Web of Science, Scopus, ClinicalTrials. gov, WHO ICTRP, and ProQuest Digital Dissertation) from January 1946 to March 2020. Articles published in English that involved either animal or human studies with acute or chronic neuropathic pain evaluating any HBOT-related intervention were included. Results. A total of 2971 citations were identified. A total o...
We studied the efficacy of a range of doses of dexamethasone for prevention of postoperative naus... more We studied the efficacy of a range of doses of dexamethasone for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting following strabismus repair in children in a hospital-based, prospective, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Two hundred and ten children were randomized to receive either dexamethasone in one of four dosages: 50 μg/kg (Group 1), 100 μg/kg (Group 2), 200 μg/kg (Group 3) and 250 μg/kg (Group 4) or normal saline (Group 5) prior to corrective surgery for strabismus. Anaesthesia was standardized and included nitrous oxide, pethidine, intubation and the use of muscle relaxant and reversal with neostigmine. Postoperative nausea and vomiting were evaluated in epochs of 0-2 hours, 2-6 hours and 6-24 hours after surgery. Parent satisfaction was assessed 24 hours after surgery and the operated eye was examined for wound infection and delayed healing one week later. Dexamethasone was effective in preventing nausea and vomiting after strabismus repair: 57.1% childr...
Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, Jan 24, 2018
Health professions education and practice have seen renewed calls to restore compassion to care. ... more Health professions education and practice have seen renewed calls to restore compassion to care. However, because of the ways that evidence-based practice (EBP) has been implemented in health care, wherein research-based knowledge is privileged, the dominance of EBP may silence practitioner and patient experience-based knowledge. This study explored what happens when the discourses of compassionate care and EBP interact in practice. Chronic pain management in Canada was selected as the context for the study. Data collection in 2015-2016 involved compiling an archive of 458 chronic pain texts, including gray literature from 2009-2015 (non-peer-reviewed sources, e.g., guidelines), patient blog posts from 2013-2015, and transcripts of study interviews with 9 clinicians and postgraduate trainees from local pain clinics from 2015-2016. The archive was analyzed using an interpretive qualitative approach informed by critical discourse analysis. Four manifestations of the discourse of compa...
Gynecologic and obstetric investigation, Jan 18, 2017
Low back pain (LBP) is commonly experienced during pregnancy and is often poorly managed. There i... more Low back pain (LBP) is commonly experienced during pregnancy and is often poorly managed. There is much ambiguity in diagnostic work-up, appropriate management and decision-making regarding the use of neuraxial analgesia and anaesthesia during labour and delivery in these patients. This systematic review summarises the evidence regarding investigations, management strategies and considerations around performing neuraxial blocks for pregnant women with LBP. We searched 3 databases and reviewed literature concerning LBP in pregnancy with regards to diagnostic modalities, management strategies and use of neuraxial techniques for facilitating labour and delivery. In all, we included 78 studies in this review, with 32 studies concerning diagnostic investigations, 56 studies involving management strategies, and 4 studies regarding the use of neuraxial techniques for labour and delivery. MRI is the safest investigative modality for LBP in pregnancy. Antenatal educational programmes, exerci...
Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal, 2017
Imaging techniques frequently employ contrast agents to improve image resolution and enhance path... more Imaging techniques frequently employ contrast agents to improve image resolution and enhance pathology detection. These gadolinium- and iodine-based media, although generally considered safe, are associated with a number of adverse effects ranging from mild to severe. Reactions are classified as either anaphylactoid (“anaphylaxis-like”) or nonanaphylactoid, depending on a number of elements that will be reviewed. Herein, we have summarized predisposing risk factors for adverse events resulting from the use of contrast, their associated pathophysiological mechanisms as well as known prophylaxis for the antitreatment of high-risk patients. In the unlikely event that a serious adverse reaction does occur, we have provided a comprehensive summary of treatment protocols. Our goal was to thoroughly evaluate the current literature regarding adverse reactions to radiocontrast agents and provide an up to date review for the health care provider.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Patients with implanted medical devices are increasingly referred for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (... more Patients with implanted medical devices are increasingly referred for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), and the safety of exposing some of these devices to hyperbaric environments has not previously been explored. There is a paucity of evidence surrounding the management of implanted neurological devices such as neurostimulators and intrathecal drug delivery (IDD) pumps in the context of HBOT. However, these devices can be expected to harbor unique risks; for example, vacant space in the reservoir of an implanted IDD pump may change in pressure and volume during the compression and decompression phases of HBOT, resulting in a damaged or dysfunctional device. We present the case of a 27-year-old woman with cerebral palsy referred for HBOT to manage a necrotizing soft tissue infection cultured from a dehiscent abdominal wound at the previous implantation site of an intrathecal baclofen pump. An HBOT protocol was ultimately chosen in partnership with the patient and her family, but tre...
Background. Chronic neuropathic pain is a condition affecting an increasing proportion of the gen... more Background. Chronic neuropathic pain is a condition affecting an increasing proportion of the general population and its management requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program. A growing body of evidence supports the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in several chronic neuropathic pain conditions; however, its role and efficacy remain unclear. Purpose. To summarize current evidence for the mechanistic rationale of HBOT in chronic neuropathic pain conditions and to evaluate its clinical efficacy. Methods. This narrative review was conducted after searching the following databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane, PsycINFO, the Web of Science, Scopus, ClinicalTrials. gov, WHO ICTRP, and ProQuest Digital Dissertation) from January 1946 to March 2020. Articles published in English that involved either animal or human studies with acute or chronic neuropathic pain evaluating any HBOT-related intervention were included. Results. A total of 2971 citations were identified. A total o...
We studied the efficacy of a range of doses of dexamethasone for prevention of postoperative naus... more We studied the efficacy of a range of doses of dexamethasone for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting following strabismus repair in children in a hospital-based, prospective, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Two hundred and ten children were randomized to receive either dexamethasone in one of four dosages: 50 μg/kg (Group 1), 100 μg/kg (Group 2), 200 μg/kg (Group 3) and 250 μg/kg (Group 4) or normal saline (Group 5) prior to corrective surgery for strabismus. Anaesthesia was standardized and included nitrous oxide, pethidine, intubation and the use of muscle relaxant and reversal with neostigmine. Postoperative nausea and vomiting were evaluated in epochs of 0-2 hours, 2-6 hours and 6-24 hours after surgery. Parent satisfaction was assessed 24 hours after surgery and the operated eye was examined for wound infection and delayed healing one week later. Dexamethasone was effective in preventing nausea and vomiting after strabismus repair: 57.1% childr...
Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, Jan 24, 2018
Health professions education and practice have seen renewed calls to restore compassion to care. ... more Health professions education and practice have seen renewed calls to restore compassion to care. However, because of the ways that evidence-based practice (EBP) has been implemented in health care, wherein research-based knowledge is privileged, the dominance of EBP may silence practitioner and patient experience-based knowledge. This study explored what happens when the discourses of compassionate care and EBP interact in practice. Chronic pain management in Canada was selected as the context for the study. Data collection in 2015-2016 involved compiling an archive of 458 chronic pain texts, including gray literature from 2009-2015 (non-peer-reviewed sources, e.g., guidelines), patient blog posts from 2013-2015, and transcripts of study interviews with 9 clinicians and postgraduate trainees from local pain clinics from 2015-2016. The archive was analyzed using an interpretive qualitative approach informed by critical discourse analysis. Four manifestations of the discourse of compa...
Gynecologic and obstetric investigation, Jan 18, 2017
Low back pain (LBP) is commonly experienced during pregnancy and is often poorly managed. There i... more Low back pain (LBP) is commonly experienced during pregnancy and is often poorly managed. There is much ambiguity in diagnostic work-up, appropriate management and decision-making regarding the use of neuraxial analgesia and anaesthesia during labour and delivery in these patients. This systematic review summarises the evidence regarding investigations, management strategies and considerations around performing neuraxial blocks for pregnant women with LBP. We searched 3 databases and reviewed literature concerning LBP in pregnancy with regards to diagnostic modalities, management strategies and use of neuraxial techniques for facilitating labour and delivery. In all, we included 78 studies in this review, with 32 studies concerning diagnostic investigations, 56 studies involving management strategies, and 4 studies regarding the use of neuraxial techniques for labour and delivery. MRI is the safest investigative modality for LBP in pregnancy. Antenatal educational programmes, exerci...
Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal, 2017
Imaging techniques frequently employ contrast agents to improve image resolution and enhance path... more Imaging techniques frequently employ contrast agents to improve image resolution and enhance pathology detection. These gadolinium- and iodine-based media, although generally considered safe, are associated with a number of adverse effects ranging from mild to severe. Reactions are classified as either anaphylactoid (“anaphylaxis-like”) or nonanaphylactoid, depending on a number of elements that will be reviewed. Herein, we have summarized predisposing risk factors for adverse events resulting from the use of contrast, their associated pathophysiological mechanisms as well as known prophylaxis for the antitreatment of high-risk patients. In the unlikely event that a serious adverse reaction does occur, we have provided a comprehensive summary of treatment protocols. Our goal was to thoroughly evaluate the current literature regarding adverse reactions to radiocontrast agents and provide an up to date review for the health care provider.
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Papers by Anuj Bhatia