Barry L. Friedberg, MD, is Key Speaker at Florida Society of Anesthesiologists' Meeting

Dr. Friedberg Describes His Perfected Technique to Vastly Reduce Post

Surgical Nausea; BIS Monitor Improves Accuracy of Dosing,

Saving 20% of Unnecessary Medication

CORONA DEL MAR, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--July 10, 2001--

``Adding BIS monitoring to the combination of propofol ketamine anesthesia increases the accuracy of dosing, resulting in better choices in medicating patients, simplifying anesthesia, decreasing the possibility of errors, and producing better outcomes,'' said Barry L. Friedberg, MD, at the recent Florida Society of Anesthesiologists' Annual meeting in Sanibel, Florida. Dr. Friedberg was part of an impressive cadre of nationally respected anesthesiologists, including Paul White, MD.

Dr. Friedberg's presentation was entitled, "Update on Office Anesthesia: Practice Opportunities and Techniques.'' During his address, Dr. Friedberg, a clinical instructor in Anesthesia at the University of Southern California (USC), shared his 10-year experience using propofol ketamine as an innovative anesthesia method for his outpatient cosmetic surgical practice (both in outpatient surgical centers and office-based settings) - plus the added benefit of the bispectral (BIS) Index monitor to ensure that the most accurate dosage is administered to his patients.

He explained that, ``Using old drugs, like propofol, ketamine, and even lidocaine, points the way to 21st century anesthesia. The BIS monitor improves accuracy of dosing (propofol), saving 20 percent of unnecessary medication, resulting in less depression, less risk, improved safety, and ultimately speeding recovery from anesthesia, saving many dollars in wasted anesthetic. A real win-win for patients and their surgeons,'' says Friedberg.

Dr. Friedberg comments, ``Anesthesiologists from all over the state of Florida, where outpatient cosmetic surgery is widely available and in high demand by a very discriminating population, were eager to learn that this anesthesia technique reduces time in the recovery room by eliminating much of the post-surgical nausea which often accompanies these types of procedures.''

He adds, ``The take away message for these anesthesiologists was well embraced and simple: reducing most post surgical nausea helps get patients home quicker, produces better medical outcomes, and with the use of the BIS monitor, also reduces the risk of medical errors - essential elements that both providers and patients demand and should be ensured.''

Susan Cabrera, executive director, Florida Society of Anesthesiologist, Inc., says of his lecture, ``Your presentation was well received and I have heard nothing but complimentary things from the people who attended - they enjoyed the information you had to impart.''

Explaining the technique, Dr. Friedberg explains, ``The bispectral (BIS) Index monitor (Aspect Medical Systems, http://www.aspectms.com) plays a crucial role by measuring the level of propofol at which the ketamine can be safely given. Ketamine produces a brief, dissociative condition during which the surgeon can inject local anesthesia for the planned surgery without hurting the patient. Using this unique approach for office based anesthesia eliminates the need for opioid medications like Morphine, Demerol or fentanyl. Without the opioids, the unpleasant problem of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after anesthesia is essentially eliminated!''

Patient safety and satisfaction has been achieved with Dr. Friedberg's propofol ketamine technique by other anesthesiologists in the U.S.

ABOUT BARRY L. FRIEDBERG, MD

For the past decade, Barry L. Friedberg, MD, a Stanford trained, board certified Anesthesiologist in Corona del Mar, CA, has practiced exclusively in the subspecialty of office-based cosmetic surgery anesthesia. He is the founder of the Society for Office Anesthesiologists (SOFA) which merged with the Society for Office Based Anesthesia (SOBA), a non-profit, international society dedicated to improving patient safety through education. Dr. Friedberg is the developer of propofol ketamine (PK) technique. Many members of SOBA throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and England are enthusiastically using his PK technique in their practices. Dr. Friedberg has published five articles in peer reviewed journals on his technique. His original 1993 article has been cited in twelve subsequent peer reviewed journal articles and two textbooks in anesthesia. Dr. Friedberg is a frequent contributor to electronic discussion groups that include the SOBA (http://www.soba.org), and the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia (SAMBA: http://www.sambahq.org) websites. He has also lectured in the United States, Canada, the Dominican Republic, and Israel.