A Simplified Decision Algorithm to Proceed with an Elective Procedure in Patients with a History of Cocaine and Methamphetamine Use-A Simplified Decision Algorithm to Proceed with an Elective Procedure in Patients with a History of Cocaine and Methamphetamine Use

A Simplified Decision Algorithm to Proceed with an Elective Procedure in Patients with a History of Cocaine and Methamphetamine Use

Video Transcription

Video Summary

At the AANA Congress, Valerie Diaz and Jeff Darna begin by welcoming attendees and covering logistics such as restroom locations and deadlines for session evaluations critical for continuing education credits. Diaz emphasizes the importance of timely session feedback. Jeff Darna introduces two nurse anesthesia residents, Omar Silva and Lauren Destrata, who present their capstone project about safely administering anesthesia to patients with histories of cocaine and methamphetamine use. Their research highlights the importance of comprehensive risk assessments, including urine drug screens and cardiac risk calculators, to ensure patient safety without unnecessarily cancelling procedures. They revealed a simplified decision algorithm to guide anesthesia professionals through assessing and deciding on proceeding with an elective procedure under these circumstances. Their findings show that patients with a history of substance use can often safely undergo anesthesia provided they’re not in a toxic state, stressing the limited utility of routine urine drug tests. The presentation concludes with practical applications of the algorithm through case studies and a Q&A session where various implementation scenarios and future research directions are discussed.

Keywords

AANA Congress

Valerie Diaz

CE credits

Jeff Darna

nurse anesthesia residents

decision algorithm

elective surgeries

cocaine or methamphetamine use

cardiac risk calculators

nurse anesthesia

substance use

risk assessments

anesthesia safety

patient safety