Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Surgery for July 2015. 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.
AMA Wants Doctor Input on EHRs, Meaningful Use
FRIDAY, July 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) is encouraging clinicians to share their perspectives on electronic heath records (EHRs) and the meaningful use program.
Accuracy, Timing of Pre-Op Lung CA Evaluation Can Be Improved
FRIDAY, July 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For suspected lung cancer patients, the thoroughness, accuracy, and timeliness of preoperative evaluation could be improved, according to research published online July 30 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Total Knee Arthroplasty Effective Option for Rheumatoid Arthritis
FRIDAY, July 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Total knee arthroplasty can temporarily return the joint to an earlier, better level of function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, new research suggests. The study was published online July 20 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
U.S. Health Spending Projected to Rise 5.8 Percent By 2024
FRIDAY, July 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — From 2014 to 2024, U.S. health spending growth is projected to increase by about 6 percent, according to a report published online July 28 in Health Affairs.
Mild Hypothermia May Boost Kidney Function After Transplant
THURSDAY, July 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Mild hypothermia could improve the functioning of kidneys in transplants from deceased donors, according to findings reported in the July 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Cranberry Juice Capsules Cut UTI Risk After Gynecological Surgery
THURSDAY, July 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cranberry juice capsules reduce the rate of urinary tract infection (UTI) in women undergoing elective benign gynecological surgery involving urinary catheterization, according to a study published in the August issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
U.S. Medical Groups Fighting Prescription Opioid Abuse
THURSDAY, July 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Led by the American Medical Association (AMA), a group of 27 major U.S. medical organizations are banding together to tackle the continuing epidemic of opioid abuse.
More Information – AMA
More Information – ACOG
More Information – AAFP
Early Surgery Tied to Increased Mortality in Polytraumatized
WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For polytraumatized patients, surgery for thoracic spine trauma within 72 hours of trauma is associated with increased mortality, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
Early Invasive Strategy No Benefit 10 Years After NSTE-ACS
WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS), routine early invasive strategy (coronary arteriography and myocardial revascularization, as clinically indicated) is not associated with improved outcomes at 10 years over a selective invasive strategy (coronary arteriography for recurrent ischemia only). The findings were published in the Aug. 4 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Doctors Perform First Double Hand Transplant in a Child
WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A young Baltimore boy has two new transplanted hands to replace ones he lost to amputation five years ago, his doctors announced Tuesday.
Patients Report Improved Care Access, Better Health With ACA
TUESDAY, July 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Millions more Americans have affordable health insurance, access to a personal doctor, and feel they are in better health following the first two open-enrollment periods of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a new analysis shows. The results are published in the July 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
No Lasting Value for Minimally Invasive Lumbar Laminotomy
TUESDAY, July 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with neural foraminal or lateral recess stenosis with unilateral leg neurogenic symptoms (NS), a minimally invasive surgical (MIS) approach offers no advantage over an open lumbar laminotomy approach in the longer term, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
2008 Initiative Had Minimal Impact on Pressure Ulcer Charges
TUESDAY, July 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The 2008 Hospital-Acquired Conditions Initiative (HACI) payment changes for pressure ulcers have had a minimal effect, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Not Resecting Ideal Candidates Ups Mortality in Liver Cancer
TUESDAY, July 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), not resecting ideal candidates for resection is associated with increased mortality, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of Hepatology.
Delays Noted in the Reporting of Serious Patient Harms to FDA
MONDAY, July 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — About 10 percent of cases where a drug does serious harm are not reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration within the required 15-day period, according to a new analysis published online July 27 as a research letter in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Risk of Death Up With Lower Extremity Amputation in Diabetes
MONDAY, July 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with diabetes and a lower extremity amputation (LEA) are more likely to die, with some of the increased risk due to diabetes-related complications, according to a study published online July 22 in Diabetes Care.
Improved Care Transitions Needed Post Ambulatory Surgery
MONDAY, July 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients age 70 or older are at greater risk of unanticipated hospital admission within 30 days of ambulatory surgery, even after adjusting for comorbidities, according to a study published online July 22 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Mouse Model of Head Transplantation Is Promising
FRIDAY, July 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The mouse model of allo-head and body reconstruction (AHBR) is feasible for avoiding brain ischemia during transplantation, according to a study published in the August issue of CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics.
Expansion of High-Deductible Plans to Impact Physician Care
FRIDAY, July 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — As a result of the increasing popularity of high-deductible health care plans, patients now have more financial responsibility for medical services, which is impacting physician practices, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Nodal Radiation Doesn’t Impact Early Breast Cancer Survival
THURSDAY, July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Some women who have surgery for early-stage breast cancer may benefit from additional radiation to nearby lymph nodes, although there is no clear advantage in overall survival, two new clinical trials suggest. The studies were published in the July 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Minimally-Invasive AAA Repair May Up Survival in Short Term
THURSDAY, July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Minimally-invasive surgery to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm appears to boost survival in the short term more than traditional surgery does, but that advantage diminishes over time, researchers report in the July 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Review Highlights Surgical Options for Gallbladder Disease
THURSDAY, July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In a new review, experts compare the pros and cons of several surgical methods for the management of gallbladder disease. The report was published in the July 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Improved Metabolic Profile After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
THURSDAY, July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is associated with attenuated markers of oxidative stress in subcutaneous adipose tissue, according to a study published recently in Diabetes.
Lidocaine Patches Don’t Cut Pain After Robotic Cardiac Valve Sx
WEDNESDAY, July 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing robotic cardiac valve surgery, lidocaine 5 percent patches do not reduce acute or persistent pain, according to a study published online July 14 in Pain Medicine.
ASCO Guidelines: Biomarker Use in Metastatic Breast CA Treatment
TUESDAY, July 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Biomarkers can be used to guide decisions on systemic therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline published online July 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
BMI Doesn’t Affect Kidney Transplant Survival
MONDAY, July 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing kidney transplantation, survival is unaffected by body mass index (BMI), according to a study published online July 3 in the American Journal of Transplantation.
Clinicians May Harbor Biases About Sexual Orientation
FRIDAY, July 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Clinicians may be biased when it comes to the sexual orientation of patients, new research suggests. The study was published online July 16 in the American Journal of Public Health.
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Antibiotic Stewardship Program Improves Antibiotic Use in China
FRIDAY, July 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An antibiotic stewardship program with pharmacist participation can promote improved antibiotic use and decrease costs in clean urological procedures, according to a study published in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
Many Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Cases Upgraded at Prostatectomy
FRIDAY, July 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Many clinically low-risk prostate cancer patients are upgraded at prostatectomy, according to a study published in the August issue of The Journal of Urology.
FDA Approves Novel Leg Prosthesis for AKAs
THURSDAY, July 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A prosthesis for people with above-the-knee amputations who cannot use a conventional device has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Standing Work May Have Long-Term Health Consequences
THURSDAY, July 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Standing work is associated with increased muscle fatigue, according to a study published online June 5 in Human Factors.
Choosing Wisely: How to Implement in Clinical Practice
THURSDAY, July 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Strategies should be adopted to help with implementation of the Choosing Wisely program, which was designed to address the problem of medical overuse, according to an article published in the July/August issue of Family Practice Management.
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Hospital Volume Impacts Peds Post-Urologic Op Complications
WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For pediatric patients hospitalized for urological procedures, the risk of postoperative complications is increased at non-high volume hospitals, according to research published in the August issue of The Journal of Urology.
Colectomy May Beat Medical Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis
TUESDAY, July 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Colectomy may extend the lives of older adults with ulcerative colitis, new research suggests. The study was published online July 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Arts Observation Curriculum May Be Beneficial for Medical Students
TUESDAY, July 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Use of an arts observation curriculum can help students learn to observe objectively and articulate their observations, which are important traits for clinical practice, according to an article published online July 3 in Academic Medicine.
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Progress in Reporting Conflict of Interest Among IRB Members
TUESDAY, July 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Among institutional review board (IRB) members, there has been positive progress in the reporting and management of conflicts of interest, according to a study published online July 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
ASCO Endorses ASTRO Guidelines for Endometrial Cancer
WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has endorsed postoperative radiation therapy guidelines for endometrial cancer, according to a report published online July 6 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
No ‘Downside’ With Residents Assisting During Surgery
TUESDAY, July 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients undergoing brain or spine surgery are at no greater risk if residents assist during the operation, a new study indicates. The findings were published recently in the Journal of Neurosurgery.
Court Upholds Medical Liability Damages Cap
TUESDAY, July 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The non-economic damages cap under the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) has been upheld again in a California court of appeal, according to a report published by the American Medical Association.
Despite Risk to Patients, Health Providers Often Work While Sick
MONDAY, July 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Many health care professionals work when they are sick, putting their patients at risk for serious illness or even death, according to a study published online July 6 in JAMA Pediatrics.
New Evidence Can Help Informed Choice in Incontinence Surgery
MONDAY, July 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An intervention review indicates that mid-urethral sling (MUS) operations are a highly effective treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women; however, complication rates and long-term need for repeat surgery are factors for patients to consider when choosing a procedure, according to the authors. The review was published online July 1 in The Cochrane Library.
Disorganized Documentation Ups Peri-Op Communication Failures
MONDAY, July 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Communication failures in the perioperative setting often result from inaccurate or inaccessible documentation, as well as document overload, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
Bariatric Surgery Beats Lifestyle Change for T2DM Remission
WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Three-year outcomes indicate that bariatric surgery is superior to lifestyle intervention alone for inducing remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in obese patients, according to research published online July 1 in JAMA Surgery.
Public Opinion Sought on New Licensure for Assistant Physicians
WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New classification of licensure for assistant physicians has been created, and public opinion is being sought by the Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts prior to filing these rules with the Secretary of State’s Office and the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.
Meta-Analysis: Gum Chewing Beneficial After Cesarean Delivery
WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Gum chewing seems to be effective for reducing post-cesarean delivery gastrointestinal (GI) complications, according to a meta-analysis published in the July issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
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