Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1471343
19 ORTHOPEDICS Massachusetts orthopedic hospital converting to outpatient model By Alan Condon S hriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield, Mass., will close its remaining inpatient beds and convert to an outpatient clinic model, local NBC affiliate WWLP reported April 20. The transition will not affect current outpatient services except for ambulatory surgery, which will no longer be offered at the clinic. The pediatric orthopedic hospital, which employs about 200 peo- ple, will work with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to comply with regulations. The hospital will also undergo a branding change and get a new name: Shriners Children's New England. The news follows Shriners' plan to close an orthopedic hospital in Tampa, Fla. Shriners Children's Florida transitioned to outpatient- only care in 2019, but operating a clinic that offered only special- ty care made it "challenging to deliver care efficiently," Shriners spokesperson Mel Bower said. Shriners did not immediately respond to Becker's request for com- ment April 20. n Percentage of female orthopedic physicians grows to 11% By Carly Behm T he percentage of women in orthopedics has grown since 2021, according to Medscape's "Physician Compensation Report 2022." In 2021, 9 percent of orthopedic physicians were women, accord- ing to Medscape. That figure rose to 11 percent in the 2022 report. Pediatrics had the highest population of women in the specialty (58 percent), according to Medscape's 2022 report. Urology had the fewest women (8 percent). Here are the five specialties with the highest female representation: 1. Pediatrics (58 percent) 2. Obstetrics/gynecology (57 percent) 3. Diabetes and endocrinology (52 percent) 4. Dermatology (52 percent) 5. Family medicine (48 percent) n • In patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy, a total of 266 mg (20 mL ) of EXPAREL was diluted with 10 mL of saline, for a total of 30 mL, divided into six 5 mL aliquots, injected by visualizing the anal sphincter as a clock face and slowly infiltrating one aliquot to each of the even numbers to produce a field block. Local Analgesia via Infiltration Dosing in Pediatric Patients The recommended dose of EXPAREL for single-dose infiltration in pediatric patients, aged 6 to less than 17 years, is 4 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 266 mg), and is based upon two studies of pediatric patients undergoing either spine surgery or cardiac surgery. Regional Analgesia via Interscalene Brachial Plexus Nerve Block Dosing in Adults The recommended dose of EXPAREL for interscalene brachial plexus nerve block in adults is 133 mg (10 mL), and is based upon one study of patients undergoing either total shoulder arthroplasty or rotator cuff repair. Compatibility Considerations Admixing EXPAREL with drugs other than bupivacaine HCl prior to administration is not recommended. • Non-bupivacaine based local anesthetics, including lidocaine, may cause an immediate release of bupivacaine from EXPAREL if administered together locally. The administration of EXPAREL may follow the administration of lidocaine after a delay of 20 minutes or more. • Bupivacaine HCl administered together with EXPAREL may impact the pharmacokinetic and/or physicochemical properties of EXPAREL, and this effect is concentration dependent. Therefore, bupivacaine HCl and EXPAREL may be administered simultaneously in the same syringe, and bupivacaine HCl may be injected immediately before EXPAREL as long as the ratio of the milligram dose of bupivacaine HCl solution to EXPAREL does not exceed 1:2. The toxic effects of these drugs are additive and their administration should be used with caution including monitoring for neurologic and cardiovascular effects related to local anesthetic systemic toxicity. • When a topical antiseptic such as povidone iodine (e.g., Betadine ® ) is applied, the site should be allowed to dry before EXPAREL is administered into the surgical site. EXPAREL should not be allowed to come into contact with antiseptics such as povidone iodine in solution. Studies conducted with EXPAREL demonstrated that the most common implantable materials (polypropylene, PTFE, silicone, stainless steel, and titanium) are not affected by the presence of EXPAREL any more than they are by saline. None of the materials studied had an adverse effect on EXPAREL. Non-Interchangeability with Other Formulations of Bupivacaine Different formulations of bupivacaine are not bioequivalent even if the milligram dosage is the same. Therefore, it is not possible to convert dosing from any other formulations of bupivacaine to EXPAREL and vice versa. Liposomal encapsulation or incorporation in a lipid complex can substantially affect a drug's functional properties relative to those of the unencapsulated or nonlipid-associated drug. In addition, different liposomal or lipid-complexed products with a common active ingredient may vary from one another in the chemical composition and physical form of the lipid component. Such differences may affect functional properties of these drug products. Do not substitute. CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Pharmacokinetics Administration of EXPAREL results in significant systemic plasma levels of bupivacaine which can persist for 96 hours after local infiltration and 120 hours after interscalene brachial plexus nerve block. In general, peripheral nerve blocks have shown systemic plasma levels of bupivacaine for extended duration when compared to local infiltration. Systemic plasma levels of bupivacaine following administration of EXPAREL are not correlated with local efficacy. PATIENT COUNSELING Inform patients that use of local anesthetics may cause methemoglobinemia, a serious condition that must be treated promptly. Advise patients or caregivers to seek immediate medical attention if they or someone in their care experience the following signs or symptoms: pale, gray, or blue colored skin (cyanosis); headache; rapid heart rate; shortness of breath; lightheadedness; or fatigue. Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. San Diego, CA 92121 USA Patent Numbers: 6,132,766 5,891,467 5,766,627 8,182,835 Trademark of Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. For additional information call 1-855-RX-EXPAREL (1-855-793-9727) Rx only March 2021