Virtual Reality in the Treatment of Pain and Anxiety in Children

The holder of a doctor of osteopathic medicine from Touro University, Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar subsequently completed an anesthesia residency at SUNY Health Sciences Center in New York and, since 2005, has been a partner with Southern Maryland Anesthesia Associates. Supplementing more than a decade of experience, Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar holds membership with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

ASA held its 2018 annual meeting from October 13 to 17 in San Francisco where, among other topics, participants had an opportunity to learn about the benefits of virtual reality as a means of alleviating pain and anxiety in children through a pair of presentations. The first was by University of Texas Southwestern Medical School professor Girish P. Joshi, MD, who outlined his study that involved 21 children, 10 of whom received virtual reality hypnosis (VRH) along with typical postoperative pain management following surgery. The other 11 did not receive VRH. 

Children who received VRH participated in one 20-minute session per day for the three days after surgery and had a substantially lower need for further treatment: 20 percent of children in the VRH group needed IV morphine compared to 62.5 percent in the other group. Moreover, only 37.5 percent of children in the VRH group needed anti-anxiety medication as opposed to 100 percent in the other group. The other study presented, authored by Stanford University clinical associate professor Thomas J. Caruso, MD, found similar results with a much larger sample size of more than 600 patients.

Hiking Trails at Acadia National Park

For more than 13 years, Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar has worked as a consultant anesthesiologist and physician at Southern Maryland Anesthesia Associates, LLC, in Lanham, Maryland. Outside of work, Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar enjoys mountain biking and hiking with his family at national parks such as Acadia National Park in Maine.

Hiking enthusiasts at Acadia National Park have no shortage of options, with park trails ranging from a few miles long to full-day hikes. The Beehive Loop Trail in Bar Harbor is one of the park’s most popular. The loop, measuring just under two miles off the larger Bowl Trail, provides a unique challenge for hikers willing to use iron rungs to climb up steep cliff faces. While the Beehive Loop is not recommended for small children or individuals with a fear of heights, the trail rewards those who reach the top with lovely views of Sand Beach, Frenchman Bay, and other natural wonders in the area.

At 2.2 miles, the Cadillac North Ridge Trail presents individuals with a moderately challenging hike consisting of open-air views of the surrounding park for the duration. This popular trail gets especially busy during summer months, and hikers are advised to take the Island Explorer shuttle from Bar Harbor rather than attempt to find nearby parking. Additional trails to consider at Acadia include Precipice Trail, the Gorham Mountain to Ocean Path Loop, and the Great Head Trail.

Quinton Dunbar Agrees to Contract Extension with Washington Redskins

Since 2005, Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar has served as a partner and consultant anesthesiologist with Southern Maryland Anesthesia Associates, LLC, in Lanham, Maryland. At the office, he maintains responsibility as a compliance officer as well as an Anesthesia EMR representative and OR efficiency committee member. Outside of work, Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar enjoys following NFL football and counts the Washington Redskins as his favorite team. 

Following a somewhat disappointing 2017 season that left the team with a 7-9 record, Washington Redskins fans can look forward to seeing key cornerback Quinton Dunbar on the field for at least the next three seasons. Dunbar, a third-year pro out of the University of Florida, signed a three-year contract extension with the team in early January 2018. 

Since joining the Redskins in 2015, the 6-foot-2 cornerback has played an integral role behind starting cornerback Bashaud Breeland. During the 2017 season, Dunbar pulled down a career-high 28 tackles in 15 games. Four of his 2017 appearances were in the starting role.

With Breeland likely heading into free agency during the 2018 offseason, Dunbar could have the chance to become the Redskins permanent starting cornerback. Although the team did not release the terms of his extension, the contract is worth a reported $10.5 million with a $3 million signing bonus.

Construction of the Indian Tabla

An experienced anesthesiologist, Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar is a partner in Southern Maryland Anesthesia Associates. In his free time, Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar enjoys playing the tabla.

A percussion instrument from the Indian classical tradition, the tabla consists of two drums. The larger is known as the bayan, or big bass drum, and is made of copper with chrome plating. The smaller drum, made of wood, is known as the dayan, though it may also be called “tabla” as an independent instrument.

Both drums feature a closed bottom and an open top over which stretches goatskin leather. A second skin, known as the kani, attaches to the edge of the skin, and the middle features a black circle known as the GAB. Made of iron fillings as well as filler materials like gum, soot, or rice-flour paste, the GAB gives the instrument its unique sound and allows for variations in pitch and timbre.

The musician can tune his or her drums by manipulating the tuning wedges, which attach to the drums with leather straps at the sides. By beating the wedges upward, the musician makes the sound lower, while beating them downward creates a higher sound.

Coldplay's Something Like This Tops Adult Contemporary Chart

Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar draws upon over 12 years of anesthesiology experience in his role as a consultant and partner with Southern Maryland Anesthesia Associates. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Aarohi Ambardekar enjoys listening to Coldplay, which he counts as one of his favorite bands.

Coldplay's collaboration with The Chainsmokers produced the band's second ever No. 1 song on Billboard's Adult Contemporary radio airplay chart. The popular single, "Something Like This," topped the chart dated October 21 and knocked off Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You," which spent 24 weeks at No. 1, marking the second-longest stint at the top in the chart's 56-year history. Uncle Kracker's "Drift Away" was No. 1 for 28 weeks between 2003 and 2004. 

Coldplay's last No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart was "Viva La Vida," which topped the chart for one week in 2009. "Something Like This," however, has had similar success on other Billboard charts, specifically the Dance/Mix Show Airplay and Adult Pop Songs charts, where it held the top spot for seven consecutive weeks. The single also held steady at No. 1 for two weeks on the Pop Songs chart and peaked at No. 3 on the Radio Songs chart, which covers all genres.

2016 American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting in Chicago

For more than 10 years, Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar has practiced as an anesthesiologist and partner at Southern Maryland Anesthesia Associates (SMAA), located in Lanham, Maryland. In an effort to better serve his patients, Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar continues to build on his knowledge and experience through membership with such organizations as the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), founded in 1905, operates on a three-tiered model that creates resources and opportunities for medical students, residents, and established physicians in each state. Among other efforts, the society endeavors to innovate surgical and palliative care through state-of-the-art research, and it organizes regular gatherings to report and discuss progress in the field.

Between October 22 and 26, ASA will host the Anesthesiology 2016 annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois. Sessions presented by leading researchers and opportunities for continuing medical education credits are among the highlights of the five-day event, which bears the theme “Leading the Future of Health Care.” For registration and travel information, please visit www.asahq.org.                            

Tabla - Twin-Drum Instrument of Indian Classical Music

Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar is a respected Lanham, Maryland-based anesthesiologist who practices at Southern Maryland Anesthesia Associates, LLC. With a passion for music, he enjoys pop artists from Modest Mouse to U2. Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar also plays the tabla, an Indian percussive instrument.

Common to North Indian classical music, the tabla is a versatile two-drum combination that has spread to a number of popular music styles. According to legend, the instrument was created in the 18th century, when an angered musician in a drum competition sliced a single-barreled drum in two with a sword. The tabla came into its own with Amir Khusru, who developed a fast, nimble style suited to a new Khayal musical genre. This style is still foundational to modern Indian classical musical renditions.

Learning the tabla has traditionally occurred through a guru-disciple apprenticeship system. This relationship would last many years and end with a ceremony at a Hindu temple, where the teacher passed on ancient, guarded family compositions.