Sphere Articles

Scenes From PGA78

Legislative Update

In my last Legislative Update, I summarized cases of patient harm and anesthesia-related deaths at two California hospitals that utilized nurse anesthetists as their primary anesthesia providers. This led to a CMS investigation, a finding of “immediate jeopardy”, and the loss of accreditation at both hospitals because they allowed nurse anesthetists to administer anesthesia beyond the scope of their authority and with inadequate credentialing procedures.

Clearing the Confusion: New Multisociety Practice Guidance and a Critical Review of GLP-1RA Literature

As of January 2025, GLP-1RAs, including semaglutide and liraglutide, have been approved for weight loss management, with ongoing studies exploring their benefits when used to treat other metabolic conditions and populations. Given the growing popularity of GLP-1RAs, it is crucial for anesthesiologists to understand their perioperative implications.

Leadless Pacemakers: A New Source of Delays for Rural Surgical Patients?

Joyce Liu, M. Eng., Ismat Mrad, M.D., and William Roberts, M.D., Ph.D. Introduction Leadless pacemakers (LPs) are an emerging technology with the potential to significantly improve outcomes in patients who need long-term pacing. As recently as 2017, only two LPs were available. The Nanostim™ was among the first of these devices. It is no longer […]

The 41st Annual International Symposium: Clinical Update in Anesthesiology, Surgery and Perioperative Medicine

The 41st Annual Update in Anesthesiology, Surgery and Perioperative Medicine, organized by the Department of Anesthesiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, was held January 19-24, 2025, at the Hilton Barbados Resort, Needham’s Point, Barbados. This event is intended to assist active professionals who wish to improve their knowledge […]

The New York Academy of Medicine Hosts Jeopardy Competition and Poster Presentations

The New York Academy of Medicine Section on Anesthesiology held its eighth annual Jeopardy Competition and Poster Presentation Night on December 2, 2024. The evening began with a lively reception where residents were able to meet and chat over wine and plenty of enjoyable snacks. Posters were judged by Drs. Meg Rosenblatt, Elisabeth Abramowicz and David […]

PGA Scientific Exhibits and Poster Presentations: A Vital Tool for Professional Development

Poster presentations offer a wealth of benefits for medical students and trainees, making them a vital tool for professional development, particularly in the early stages of the presenters’ careers. The presentations provide a platform to enhance communication skills by requiring presenters to distill complex research into a visually appealing and concise format, thereby improving their […]

PGA Scientific Panels Offer Something for Everyone

The 78th PostGraduate Assembly in Anesthesiology (PGA) once again featured a wide range of topics with far-reaching appeal. From consistently popular subjects such as airway approaches and regional anesthesia to developing issues, including management of the patient on cannabinoids and the role of anesthesiology in blood management, the PGA offered something for every type of […]

PGA Case-Based Learning Discussions Foster Active Participation and Learning

The PGA’s Case-Based Learning Discussions (CBLDs) are small group discussions led by experienced clinicians. CBLDs allow participants to explore a specific clinical problem and to learn from the moderator and one another. CBLDs are an amazing way to fulfill scholarship obligations or to get started on an exciting career in academics. These presentations can bolster […]

Highlights From the 2024 Young Investigator Research Contest

The 2024 Young Investigator Research Contest, held during PGA78, was a huge success! We were excited to have a large number of high-quality submissions, eight of which were selected for presentation during an engaging two-hour session. The presenters represented multiple countries, including the United States, Poland, and Germany. First place was awarded to Dr. Megan […]

A Look at the 78th PostGraduate Assembly in Anesthesiology

PGA Scientific Exhibits and Poster Presentations: A Vital Tool for Professional Development Poster presentations offer a wealth of benefits for medical students and trainees, making them a vital tool for professional development, particularly in the early stages of the presenters’ careers. The presentations provide a platform to enhance communication skills by requiring presenters to distill […]

Sustainability Tip of the Quarter

Reducing the environmental impact of perioperative care can feel like an overwhelming task, as there are opportunities for improvement almost everywhere you look. Rather than trying to fix everything at once, choose instead to focus on one area of waste at a time. High-impact areas include supply waste reduction, oxygen conservation, proper waste sorting, and […]