American Society of Anesthesiologists, Oct. 10 to 14

The annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists was held from Oct. 10 to 14 in San Antonio, Texas, and attracted approximately 5,000 participants from around the world, including anesthesiologists and other health care professionals. The conference featured presentations focused on the latest advances in the relief of pain and total care of surgical patients prior to, during, and after surgery. 

Bibiana Avella Molano, M.D., of Augusta University in Georgia, and colleagues presented data on two studies revealing that babies born to women in rural areas may have a greater risk for poor neonatal outcomes. 

In the first study, the researchers used choropleth maps to illustrate the disparities between women living in rural versus urban areas, even when they receive care at the same medical center. Rural patients were more likely to lack prenatal care and experience non-reassuring Apgar scores. In the second study, Molano and colleagues evaluated which maternal and pregnancy factors independently predict lower Apgar scores and found that maternal age, body mass index, delivery type, and prenatal care were significant factors associated with poor outcomes. 

“Together, these presentations highlight the health care disparities faced by patients in rural areas and help us identify patients who could be at greater risk for poor neonatal outcomes,” Molano said. “Our findings emphasize the need for population-level interventions to address systemic inequities, such as community outreach programs that identify and support pregnant women facing barriers to health care. Additionally, the significant factors identified through multivariate logistic regression enable us to tailor interventions in the population at risk, such as enhanced monitoring, early anesthesia involvement to optimize maternal condition, and ensuring readiness for emergent delivery.” 

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In another study, Gab Pasia, of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, and colleagues found that fentanyl-related overdose deaths among older adults have increased sharply in the past decade and often involve stimulants, such as cocaine and methamphetamines. 

The researchers analyzed national mortality data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention covering 1999 through 2023 and reviewed more than 404,000 death certificates that listed fentanyl as a cause of death. Among older adults aged 65 years and older, Pasia and colleagues identified about 17,000 fentanyl-related deaths. Fentanyl-related deaths involving stimulants increased from about 9 percent in 2015 to nearly 50 percent in 2023.