SAMBA is pleased to announce a search for the next Section Editor, Ambulatory Anesthesia, of the society’s official scientific journal, Anesthesia & Analgesia. Dr. Paul White, who has served admirably in this capacity over the last nine years, will finish his term in March 2006. Candidates should be leaders in academic anesthesiology, particularly in the field of ambulatory anesthesia, including an international reputation for research excellence in the scientific basis of ambulatory anesthesia. Candidates should also have experience in medical editing, and proven administrative and organizational skills.

The duties of the Section Editor for Ambulatory Anesthesia include the following: (1) handling of approximately 100 manuscripts per year, (2) serving as an ex-officio member of the SAMBA Board, and providing an "in person" annual report, (3) attending the SAMBA Annual Meeting, (4) attending the annual Editorial Board Meeting, and (5) commissioning review articles, updates, annual meeting reports, and other articles related to ambulatory anesthesia in Anesthesia & Analgesia.

Anesthesia & Analgesia, the first scientific publication in the field of anesthesiology, is the Journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society, the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia, the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia, the International Society for Anaesthetic Pharmacology, and the Society for Technology in Anesthesia. 

Please send applications to: 

Lucy Everett, MD
Chair, Ambulatory Section Editor Search Committee President
Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia
520 N. Northwest Highway
Park Ridge, IL 60068-2573

Questions may be directed to leverett@partners.org.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD - TOP

The 2005 SAMBA Distinguished Service Award was given to Dr Rebecca S. Twersky on May 13, 2005. Read about Dr Twersky's distinguished career and significant contributions to ambulatory anesthesia here.

Among her many achievements, Dr Twersky has been chair of SAMBA’s education committee, and was elected SAMBA’s President in 1998-1999. During her presidency, SAMBA organized the first Outcomes Research Award and developed its website. SAMBA membership grew, especially its international membership. She has served as the SAMBA Chair of the Joint IAAS-SAMBA-FASA meeting, the 2003 International Congress on Ambulatory Surgery held in Boston. She has also been ASA rep to AAAHC, serving on its Board of Directors, Standards Committee, and Institute for Quality Improvement. Dr. Twersky will be Chair of the ASA Annual Meeting this year. Her editorial activities include Associate Editor for Journal of Ambulatory Surgery and Editor of The Ambulatory Anesthesia Handbook (Mosby, Inc.), the only available handbook devoted solely to outpatient anesthesia.

TAKE THE SAMBA SURVEY ON DROPERIDOL - TOP

SAMBA is conducting a survey on the use of droperidol since the issuance of the FDA Black Box warning. Please take a moment to complete this brief, but important, survey. The survey consists of 20 questions and takes approximately two minutes to complete. Please participate in the survey here.

Maintaining a vibrant organization requires input from our membership. The “SAMBA Survey” will become a regular feature on this site that will help us better assess the needs of the membership as well as to get basic survey information on various practice issues.

2005 ANNUAL MEETING ABSTRACTS - TOP

Did you miss the 2005 SAMBA Annual Meeting? Well, it's not too late to view the abstracts. The abstracts are now available online.

NEW RESIDENT SECTION - TOP

Our new Resident Section was formed to better meet the needs of our resident members and to offer them enhanced exposure to organized medicine and to leadership roles. The Resident Section has published its own page on the SAMBA web site.

Information about Resident Travel awards, and much else, is found on the new page.

 

RESEARCH AWARDS - TOP

The White Mountain Institute awarded 5 resident research awards at the Spring SAMBA meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. The recipents were:

• Nicole Higgins. A prospective comparison between the classic Labat and higher intermuscular approach to popliteal-sciatic nerve block. ($500) 
  This prospective longitudinal study randomized 50 adult patients undergoing foot/ankle surgery to receive a popliteal-sciatic block with either a classic Labat approach or a intermuscular approach (between biceps femoris and semitendinosus muscle. The investigators found that the intermuscular approach to popliteal fossa sciatic nerve block resulted in a similar frequency of complete block as the traditional Labat approach. This method had the advantage of using easily identifiable anatomical landmarks for selecting the block site.
  
  
• Benjamin Newell. Nerve stimulator-assisted posterior tibial nerve block improves latency and success of complete sensory block ($400)
  This prospective randomized study compared the frequency of successful posterior tibial nerve block at the distal traditional site with and without peripheral nerve stimulator assistance. These investigators found that nerve stimulator guided posterior tibial block improved the success rate (100% vs. 93.5%) and decreased the latency to onset of complete sensory block.
  
  
• Tamin Wafa. Incidence, severity, and risk factors for hypotension and bradycardia in patients undergoing shoulder surgery in the sitting position under interscalene block plus sedation. ($200)
  This prospective longitudinal study evaluated the incidence of hypotension and bradycardia in 243 conssecutive ASA I to III patients undergoing shoulder surgery in the sitting position under interscalene block (ISB) plus sedation. Clinically relevant hypotension occurred in 28 patients (11.5%) and bradycardia in 16 (6.6%) patients. Acute hypotension with concurrent bradycardia occurred in only 2% of patients. This study indicates that clinically relevant hemodynamic changes following ISB in the sitting position is much lower than previously reported.
  
  
• Minh Chau Joe Tran. Distraction with a hand held video game is as effective as premedication in reducing preoperative anxiety ($300)
  This prospective study randomized 78 children, ages 4 to 12 years, to one of three groups prior to general anesthesia for elective outpatient surgery. The groups were: 1. parental presence only, 2. parental presence and midazolam or 3. a distraction technique using a hand held video game (Gameboy). This study showed that distraction with a hand held video gam is as effective in reducing preoperative anxiety in children as premedication.
  
  
• Matthew J. Shiveley. New Tools for Fast-Tracking: Single Phase Recovery Units. ($100) 
  This study evaluated the ability of a "self transfer" test (performed by asking the patients at the end of the procedure to move onto the stretcher from the operating room table by themselves) to the Aldrete score or subjective nursing assessment in predicting eligiility for Phase II admission in the PACU at the end of surgery. The "self transfer" test was found to be just as reliable as the Aldrete score or subjective nursing assessment in predicting the patients who could go directly to Phase II from the operating room.

FUTURE MEETINGS - TOP

Make plans now to attend the SAMBA 2005 Mid Year Meeting. It will be held in the exciting city of New Orleans, Louisiana on October 21, 2005 (one day before the ASA Annual Meeting).

The meeting program is available here.

Dr. TJ Gan will chair next year's Annual Meeting, with Dr. Peter Glass as vice-chair.  Plan now to attend SAMBA's 21st Annual Meeting which will be held Thursday, May 4 - Sunday, May 7, 2006 at the J.W. Marriott Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC.

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