Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Surgery for January 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Rate of Recovery, LOS Tied to Outcomes After Hip Fracture Surgery
FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients receiving inpatient rehabilitation services following hip fracture surgery, the rate of recovery and length of stay (LOS) are associated with mobility and self-care after discharge, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in JAMA Network Open.
2017 to 2018 Saw Increase in Life Expectancy in the United States
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2017 to 2018, there was an increase in life expectancy in the United States and a decrease in age-adjusted death rates, according to a January data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
U.S. Spends More on Health Care, but Has Worse Life Expectancy
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The United States spends substantially more than any other wealthy nation on health care, yet it has a lower life expectancy and a higher suicide rate than other wealthy nations, according to a January data brief released by the Commonwealth Fund.
Promoting Mixed Chimerism Promising in Kidney Transplants
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing living kidney transplants, persistent mixed chimerism can be achieved to allow complete or partial withdrawal of immunosuppressive drugs, according to a study published in the Jan. 29 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
Outcomes Positive With National Kidney Paired Donation Program
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A nationalized kidney paired donation program results in equivalent outcomes compared with control living kidney donor transplant, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Patients Have Less Dyspnea After Bariatric Surgery for Obesity
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Obese individuals undergoing bariatric surgery have improvement in dyspnea, which is associated with less air trapping and end-expiratory tracheal collapse, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in Radiology.
Gender Gap Persists in Starting Salary for Physicians
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The gender gap in starting salary for physicians persists, although it is unclear which factors account for this gap, according to a report published online Jan. 22 in Health Affairs.
Virtual Physical Therapy Feasible Following Knee Replacement
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Virtual physical therapy (PT) with telerehabilitation for skilled clinical oversight significantly lowers three-month health care costs after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) while providing similar effectiveness to traditional PT, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Wealthy Pay Most to Finance U.S. Health Care
MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Health care payments in the United States are more regressive than previously thought, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in Health Services Research.
Postoperative Length of Stay, Costs Down With Prehabilitation Program
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A prehabilitation program is associated with shorter length of stay and lower total episode payment after surgery, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Outcomes for Spinal Fusion Surgery Worse in Black Patients
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Black patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion surgery are more likely to have postoperative complications, be readmitted, have longer lengths of stay, and have higher total hospital charges compared with white patients, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in Spine.
Prenatal Surgery Yields Lasting Benefits for Myelomeningocele
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For myelomeningocele, prenatal surgery does not improve adaptive behavior but is associated with improved mobility and independent functioning in school-aged children, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in Pediatrics.
Structural Traits of Living Donor Kidneys May Predict Graft Failure
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Structural features of kidneys from living donors may predict death-censored graft failure in recipients, according to a study published online Jan. 23 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
First-Biopsy Results for Deceased Donor Kidneys Questioned
THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Considerable differences in histologic categorization are seen in sequential biopsies in deceased donor kidneys that undergo multiple procurement biopsies prior to transplantation, according to a study published online Jan. 23 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Major Insurers Offer $55 Million to Lower Generic Drug Costs
THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A nonprofit that develops and sells cheaper drugs will receive a $55 million investment from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and associated organizations to create cheaper versions of expensive generic drugs.
The New York Times Article
Surgical Gown Shortage Reported in the United States
THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A surgical gown shortage in the United States is causing surgeries to be postponed, according to CNN.
Fewer Than Half of Clinical Trials Comply With Reporting Laws
THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 is low, with only 40.9 percent of trials reporting results within one year, according to a study published online Jan. 17 in The Lancet.
Fast-Track Review of ACA Lawsuit Rejected by U.S. Supreme Court
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A fast-track review of a lawsuit that threatens the Affordable Care Act was rejected Tuesday by the U.S. Supreme Court.
AP News Article
Long-Term Outcomes Worse for Firearm Versus Car Crash Survivors
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Survivors of firearm-related injury have worse long-term outcomes compared with survivors of motor vehicle crashes (MVCs), according to a study published online Jan. 16 in the Annals of Surgery.
Mental Health Outcomes No Better for Teens Undergoing RYGB
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Mental health outcomes do not appear to improve for obese adolescents undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.
ACP: Medicare for All Needed to Fix ‘Ill’ U.S. Health Care System
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The American College of Physicians (ACP) says the U.S. health care system “is ill and needs a bold new prescription” that includes coverage for all Americans and lower costs.
AP News Article
American College of Physicians
FDA Warns of Surgical Gowns That May Not Be Sterile
FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Certain surgical gowns and surgical packs made by Cardinal Health may not be sterile and should not be used, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.
Regional Outreach Boosts Female Residency Recruitment
FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Outreach to female medical students may improve recruitment into orthopedic surgery resident programs, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Surgical Education.
Longer External Ventricular Drain Closures Needed to Read ICP
FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Most external ventricular drain (EVD) closures performed in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage last less than one minute, and intracranial pressure (ICP) equilibrium is not reached to allow accurate measurement of ICP before the drain is reopened, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing.
Level of Antibiotic Prescribing High for Children in Tennessee
FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The outpatient antibiotic prescribing rate for children was 1,165 per 1,000 in Tennessee in 2016, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
Single-Payer System Would Likely Save Money
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is near consensus across 30 years of economic analysis of single-payer plans that a single-payer system would reduce health expenditures in the United States, according to a review published online Jan. 15 in PLOS Medicine.
ACA Tied to Narrowing of Disparities in Access to Care
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The Affordable Care Act has reduced disparities in access to health care among black, Hispanic, and white adults, according to a January data brief released by the Commonwealth Fund.
Satisfaction High With Mohs Surgery for Melanoma In Situ
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Patients are very satisfied with Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) for melanoma in situ, according to a research letter recently published in Dermatologic Surgery.
Ageism Predicts Significantly Worse Health Outcomes
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Ageism predicts significantly worse health outcomes, according to a review published online Jan. 15 in PLOS ONE.
Outcomes Superior for HM3 LVAD Regardless of Preimplant Strategy
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with advanced heart failure, the HeartMate 3 (HM3) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is superior to the HeartMate II (HMII), regardless of whether the device is a bridge to transplant (BTT) or a destination therapy (DT), according to a study published online Jan. 15 in JAMA Cardiology.
Interventions More Likely After RYGB Versus Sleeve Gastrectomy
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among adults undergoing bariatric surgery, interventions, operations, and hospitalizations are more likely after Roux en Y gastric bypass (RYGB) than after sleeve gastrectomy (SG), according to a study published online Jan. 15 in JAMA Surgery.
Evolution of Approval, Regulation Processes for Drugs Explored
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. approval and regulation processes for pharmaceutical agents have evolved during the last four decades, according to a study published in the Jan. 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Online Patient Portal Use May Up Likelihood of Kidney Transplant
TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For hemodialysis patients, use of an online portal is associated with an increased likelihood of receiving a kidney transplant at four or five years, according to a study published online Jan. 8 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Doctor Replacement Ratios Higher in Largest, Hospital-Owned Practices
TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2009 to 2016, more physicians entering the Medicare program worked at large group or hospital-owned practices than small group or independent practices, according to a research letter published online Jan. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Robotic Surgery Saw 8.4-Fold Increase From 2012 to 2018
TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Hospitals that launch robotic surgery programs have a broad and immediate increase in the use of robotic surgery, accompanied by a decrease in traditional laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery, according to a study published online Jan. 10 in JAMA Network Open.
Most Eligible Knees Not Being Replaced in Timely Manner
TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Many patients who are eligible for total knee replacement do not have the procedure within two years, according to research published online Jan. 13 in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
NFL Joins Blood Drive by Giving Away Two Super Bowl Tickets
MONDAY, Jan 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The American Red Cross has an urgent need for all blood types, but especially for type O.
Physicians Spend >16 Minutes Per Encounter on EHR Use
MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Physicians spend a considerable amount of time using electronic health records (EHRs) to support care delivery, with wide variation seen in the distribution of time within specialty, according to a study published online Jan. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Survival Similar for Kidneys From Dead Donors With, Without AKI
MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Recipient graft survival is similar for deceased donor kidneys with acute kidney injury (AKI) and kidneys without AKI, according to a study published online Jan. 8 in JAMA Network Open.
Burnout in Med Students Tied to Perceived Stress, Phone Behavior
MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Higher levels of perceived stress, poorer sleep quality, and smartphone addiction contribute to burnout in osteopathic medical students, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
California May Start Producing Its Own Medicines
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A proposal for California to contract generic drug companies to make medications would make the state the first in the country to produce its own medications.
AP News Article
Bariatric Surgery May Aid T2DM-Related Outcomes at Five Years
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Bariatric surgery is associated with weight loss and remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and dyslipidemia at five years postsurgery, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in Diabetes, Metabolism Research and Reviews.
Recruitment Satisfactory for Foreign-Educated Health Providers
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Foreign-educated health professionals (FEHPs) in the United States are overall satisfied with their recruitment experience, according to a study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Nursing.
Neighborhood Disadvantage Impacts Hospital Quality Ratings
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Hospitals caring for neighborhoods with high levels of disadvantage may have lower hospital ratings due to social risk factors (SRFs) in the community, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in Medical Care.
Second U.S. Baby Born From Transplanted Uterus From Deceased Donor
THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The second U.S. baby born from a transplanted uterus from a deceased donor was delivered by cesarean section in November, it was announced Thursday.
CNN Article
Large Gap Found in Health Administrative Spending for U.S., Canada
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is a large and widening gap in health administrative spending between the United States and Canada, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Heart Transplants From Hep C Virus-Positive Donors Seem Safe
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Adult heart transplants from hepatitis C virus-positive (HCV+) donors appear safe, with no increased risk for adverse effects on one-year survival, according to a study published online Jan. 8 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Decision Aids May Not Reduce Odds of Hip, Knee Arthroplasty
TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Use of decision aids developed for shared decision-making does not appear to reduce the odds of hip and knee arthroplasty in patients with osteoarthritis, according to a study published in the January issue of Health Affairs.
Laser-Based Imaging + AI May Diagnose Brain Tumors in OR
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A novel workflow that combines advanced optical imaging with an artificial intelligence algorithm may accurately diagnose brain tumors in real time in the operating room, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in Nature Medicine.
2014 to 2016 Saw Decline in U.S. Adults Prescribed Opioids
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2014 to 2016, there was a decrease in the proportion of U.S. adults who were prescribed opioids, with a larger decrease seen for those who reported moderate or more severe pain versus less-than-moderate pain, according to a report published in the January issue of Health Affairs.
Poll: Older Adults Frequently Use Online Physician Ratings
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Older adults commonly use online ratings to choose a doctor, according to a report published online Jan. 6 based on the results of the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.
National Poll on Healthy Aging
Donor Heart Acceptance Practices Vary Across Transplant Centers
FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is great variability in donor heart acceptance decisions among U.S. transplant centers, according to a study published online Dec. 27 in the American Journal of Transplantation.
Routine HPV Testing May Be Warranted for Sinonasal Cancers
FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Only one in four patients with sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) is tested for human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a study published online Dec. 30 in Cancer.
Mediterranean Diet May Preserve Function After Kidney Transplant
FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with better kidney function outcomes among kidney transplant recipients, according to a study published online Jan. 2 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
3-D Tattoo Device Aids With Nipple Reconstruction
FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A new device allows plastic surgeons to perform three-dimensional nipple tattoos as part of breast reconstruction, according to a study published in the January issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Individualized PT Can Reduce Incontinence After Prostatectomy
FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For men with postprostatectomy stress urinary incontinence (SUI), an individualized pelvic physical therapy (PT) program aimed at normalizing pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is associated with a decrease in SUI and pelvic pain, according to a study published online Dec. 5 in International Urology and Nephrology.
Patient Experiences Modestly Worse After Hospital Acquisition
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Modestly worse patient experiences are seen following hospital acquisition by another hospital, according to a study published in the Jan. 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Mentholated Popsicle Can Help Reduce Preoperative Thirst
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Use of mentholated popsicles can reduce the intensity and discomfort from thirst during preoperative fasting, according to a study published online Dec. 9 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
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