Home Anesthesiology December 2017 Briefing – Anesthesiology

December 2017 Briefing – Anesthesiology

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Anesthesiology for December 2017. 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.

Tips Offered for Patient-Provider Opioid Tapering Talks

THURSDAY, Dec. 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Helping patients understand individualized reasons for opioid tapering and encouraging them to provide input into the process are key for patient-provider communications, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Pain.

Gene Polymorphisms Linked to Risk of Chronic Post-Op Pain

TUESDAY, Dec. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Genetics may be a factor in the experience of chronic pain post surgery, according to a study published online Dec. 14 in Anesthesiology.

Pre-Op Liraglutide Cuts Post-Op Plasma Glucose in T2DM

TUESDAY, Dec. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus undergoing non-cardiac surgery, premedication with liraglutide is associated with reduced median plasma glucose one hour postoperatively, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in Anaesthesia.

Male U.S. Doctors Receive Higher Values of Industry Payments

MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Male physicians in the United States received higher values of general payments from industry than females in 2015, according to a research letter published online Dec. 18 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Year One Results Out for Value-Based Payment Modifier Program

MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Almost 30 percent of eligible practices failed to register and report data in the first year of the Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier program, according to a report published in the December issue of Health Affairs.

Doctors Must Report on at Least 1 Patient, 1 Measure for MACRA

FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In order to meet the 2017 Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) participation reporting deadline and avoid a Medicare payment penalty in 2019, physicians must report on at least one patient and one measure by Dec. 31, and submit to Medicare no later than Feb. 28, 2018, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).

Making Insurers Participate in Marketplace Could Cut Volatility

THURSDAY, Dec. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Requiring insurers that participate in Medicare or Medicaid to also participate in Marketplaces in the same geographic area could improve access to insurance, according to a study published in the December issue of Health Affairs.

Gabapentin Doesn’t Cut Time to Pain Cessation After Surgery

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing surgery, gabapentin does not reduce the time to pain cessation, but can increase the rate of opioid cessation, according to a study published online Dec. 13 in JAMA Surgery.

Amount of Opioids Prescribed After Hospital Discharge Varies

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For postoperative patients there is considerable variation in the amount of opioids prescribed at hospital discharge, according to research published online Dec. 13 in JAMA Surgery.

No Link Between Pre-Op Cholesterol, Post-Op Pain

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Preoperative levels of serum total cholesterol (TC) do not correlate with postoperative pain following laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer, according to research published online Nov. 23 in PAIN Practice.

Pediatric Oncologists Willing to Consider Medical Marijuana

TUESDAY, Dec. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The absence of standards is an important barrier to pediatric oncologists recommending medical marijuana (MM), despite their willingness to do so, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in Pediatrics.

Deceleration in Health Care Spending Growth in 2016

MONDAY, Dec. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Health care spending growth slowed in 2016 following faster growth in 2014 and 2015, according to research published online Dec. 6 in Health Affairs.

Evidence-Based Guidelines Cut Postoperative Opioid Use

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of evidence-based guidelines can reduce opioid prescribing after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, according to a research letter published online Dec. 6 in JAMA Surgery.

Thyroidectomy-Specific Quality Improvement Measures ID’d

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing thyroidectomy, hypocalcemia and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury may be useful quality improvement measures, according to a study published online Nov. 29 in JAMA Surgery.

Antithrombotics Deemed Safe in Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery

TUESDAY, Dec. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing wide-awake carpal tunnel release (CTR) surgery, antithrombotic (AT) agents may be safely continued, according to a research letter published online Nov. 29 in JAMA Surgery.

CVS-Aetna Merger Has Implications for Doctors’ Offices

TUESDAY, Dec. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — CVS Health’s planned purchase of insurance giant Aetna, a $69 billion deal, was announced Sunday.

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Risk of Surgical Complications Up for Overlapping Hip Surgery

MONDAY, Dec. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing surgery for hip fracture or total hip arthroplasty (THA), overlapping surgery is associated with increased risk of surgical complications, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Risk of Persistent Opioid Use a Concern for Youth After Surgery

MONDAY, Dec. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Adolescents and young adults are at risk for persistent opioid use after surgery, and this represents an important pathway to consider in the epidemic of prescription opioid misuse, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in Pediatrics.

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