What is an anesthesiology resident worth?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost of replacing an anesthesiology resident with a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) for equal operating room (OR) work. DESIGN: Retrospective financial analysis. SETTING: Academic anesthesiology department. PARTICIPANTS: Clinical anesthesia (CA)-1 through CA-3 residents. MEASUREMENTS: Cost of replacing anesthesiology residents with CRNAs for equal OR work was determined. MAIN RESULTS: The cost of replacing one anesthesiology resident with a CRNA for the same number of OR hours ranged from $9,940.32 to $43,300 per month ($106,241.68 to $432,937.50 per yr). Numbers varied depending on the CRNA pay scale and whether the calculations were based on the number of OR hours worked at our residency program or OR hours worked in a maximum duty hour model. CONCLUSIONS: A CRNA is paid substantially more per OR hour worked, at all pay levels, than an anesthesiology resident.

The incidence and outcome of perioperative pulmonary aspiration in a university hospital: a 4-year retrospective analysis.

We evaluated the current incidence and outcome of perioperative pulmonary aspiration (PPA) in the nonobstetric adult population at a tertiary university medical center. A 4-yr retrospective analysis (January 2001-December 2004) was conducted using both quality improvement data and the hospital-wide medical archive recording system. PPA was defined as either detection of nonrespiratory secretions from the tracheobronchial tree or development of new pulmonary symptoms and/or new abnormalities in chest radiographs within 24 hr postoperatively. Of 99,441 anesthetics, 14 cases had confirmed PPA. Seven of them (50%) occurred in connection with gastroesophageal procedures. All patients had one or more predisposing risk factors for PPA. PPA occurred under general anesthesia in 10 patients and under monitored anesthesia care in 4 patients. In general anesthesia cases, the aspiration was recognized immediately after induction in 5 patients and occurred during changing of the endotracheal tubes in 5. The PPA was detected during the surgical procedures in all the monitored anesthesia care cases. Six patients with confirmed PPA developed pulmonary complications, of which, one died. Ten of 14 (70%) cases of PPA were the result of improper anesthesia technique. The current incidence of PPA is 1 of 7103, with morbidity 1 of 16,573 and mortality 1 of 99,441.