Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Surgery for November 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.
Mortality Rate Increases With Age in Emergency Abdominal Surgery
MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Emergency major abdominal surgical procedures are associated with high mortality in older adults, with the odds of death increasing with age, according to a review published online Nov. 23 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Shorter Duration of Dysphagia Symptoms Without Stent
MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing laryngotracheoplasty, posterior cricoid split laryngoplasty, tracheal resection, and cricotracheal resection, dysphagia duration is shorter for those without versus those with stents, according to a study published online Nov. 19 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
AAP Provides Guidance on Pediatric Peri-Op Anesthesia
MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Guidance is offered for the pediatric perioperative anesthesia environment in a policy statement published online Nov. 30 in Pediatrics.
Full Text
C. Difficile Infection Tied to Higher Risk of Post-Op Mortality
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients at VA hospitals who contracted Clostridium difficile following surgery were five times more likely to die and 12 times more likely to suffer postoperative morbidity, according to findings published online Nov. 25 in JAMA Surgery.
Music Can Help Doctors Develop Relationships With Patients
TUESDAY, Nov. 24 2015 (HealthDay News) — For one physician, writing songs has improved her self-awareness and strengthened her relationships with patients, according to an article published by the American Medical Association.
ACP: Physicians Should Prescribe Generic Meds If Possible
TUESDAY, Nov. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physicians should prescribe generic medications whenever possible, keeping in mind that generics have comparable effectiveness to brand name medications and are associated with reduced costs and increased adherence, according to new guidelines published online Nov. 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Full Text
Liposuction Offers Long-Lasting Benefits for Lipoedema
FRIDAY, Nov. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with lipoedema, liposuction offers lasting benefits, with similar benefits seen at four and eight years after surgery, according to a study published online Nov. 17 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
Patients Lack Understanding of Spinal Surgeon Compensation
FRIDAY, Nov. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients have a lack of understanding about spine surgeons’ compensation, according to a study published in the Nov. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
E-Portfolio Developed to Assess Millennial Med Students
THURSDAY, Nov. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Electronic portfolios are being used to transform medical students’ assessments and track progress as students advance through medical training, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Diabetes Predicts Worse Survival in Renal Cell Carcinoma
THURSDAY, Nov. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Diabetes mellitus is associated with worse prognosis in terms of progression-free, overall, and cancer-specific survival in patients with renal cell carcinoma treated surgically, according to a study published in the December issue of The Journal of Urology.
Burnout Reduces Readiness to Change Teaching Approaches
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Occupational burnout appears to reduce clinical faculty members’ readiness to change teaching approaches, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
AAFP: Expected 0.5 Percent Pay Increase Reduced to Zero
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A small but promised Medicare pay increase has effectively been reduced to zero for all physician specialties, according to the final 2016 Medicare physician fee schedule and a report published by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Robotic Surgery May Be Superior to Laparoscopic for Uterine CA
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For women with uterine cancer, robotic surgery is more costly but is associated with decreased length of hospital stay and higher rate of lymph node dissection, according to a study published in the November issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Accessory Breast Described in Left Inframammary Fold
MONDAY, Nov. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A case of a woman with an accessory breast in the inframammary fold is described online Nov. 5 in BMJ Case Reports.
Pre-Op Blood Tests May Predict Post-Op Morbidity in Ovarian CA
MONDAY, Nov. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with ovarian cancer, preoperative thrombocytosis and leukocytosis are associated with increased postoperative morbidity, according to a study published online Nov. 5 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Case of Bobby Pin Piercing Kidney Reported in 4-Year-Old
FRIDAY, Nov. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A swallowed bobby pin can be cause for concern, capable of piercing through the kidney, according to a case report published online Nov. 5 in BMJ Case Reports.
Risk Prediction Equations Created for Diabetes Complications
THURSDAY, Nov. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New risk prediction equations have been developed and validated to estimate the risk of blindness and lower limb amputation in patients with diabetes, according to a study published online Nov. 11 in The BMJ.
Reduction in Dizziness, Not Falls, After Routine Cataract Surgery
THURSDAY, Nov. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cataract surgery is associated with a reduction in the number of patients with dizziness, but not with a decrease in falls, according to a study published online Nov. 9 in Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics.
Emergency Sx Patients Often Readmitted to Different Hospital
THURSDAY, Nov. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Nearly 17 percent of patients are readmitted to a hospital after having emergency surgery, with one in five of these patients admitted to a hospital other than where the surgery was done, according to a study published online Nov. 11 in JAMA Surgery.
ACP Issues Guidance on ‘Concierge’ Practices
TUESDAY, Nov. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Direct patient contracting practices (DPCPs), in which patients pay out of pocket for some or all services provided by the practice, are growing in popularity, according to a position paper published online Nov. 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Full Text
Surgery Can Benefit ‘Ineligible’ High-Risk Lung Cancer Patients
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — One in five patients with early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer are deemed high-risk or ineligible for lung surgery, but these patients may benefit from the procedure, according to research published online Nov. 9 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Insufficient Evidence on Silicone Breast Implant Safety
TUESDAY, Nov. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — After years of study, a new analysis finds there is still insufficient evidence on whether silicone breast implants are linked to any long-term health effects. The report, published online Nov. 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, is the latest round in the long debate over silicone breast implant safety.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial 1 (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial 2 (subscription or payment may be required)
Expanding Rooming, Discharge Office Protocols Can Save Time
MONDAY, Nov. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Expanding protocols for rooming and discharge can allow physicians to free up an hour or more of time per day, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
Study Explores Comfort With Non In-Person Test Results
MONDAY, Nov. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients have different preferences for non in-person receipt of test results, with preferences varying by test, according to a study published in the November-December issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.
Web-Based CBT Program Cuts Suicidal Ideation in Interns
MONDAY, Nov. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A web-based cognitive behavioral therapy (wCBT) program is effective for preventing suicidal ideation among medical interns, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Updated Checklist for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy Studies
FRIDAY, Nov. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An updated list of 30 essential items should be included in every report of a diagnostic accuracy study, according to the Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (STARD) 2015. These new guidelines have been published in several journals, including Radiology, Clinical Chemistry, and The BMJ.
In Plastic Surgery, Complications Highest for Abdominoplasty
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Abdominoplasty is linked with more major complications than other types of cosmetic surgery, researchers report in the November issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Full Text
Doctors Who Order More Tests Have Fewer Malpractice Claims
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) –The more tests and treatments U.S. doctors order for patients, the less likely they are to be sued for malpractice, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in The BMJ.
Poll: Americans Want Health Care Costs Kept in Check
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Most Americans now support aggressive regulation to keep health care costs in check — including price caps on drugs, medical devices, and payments to doctors and hospitals, a new HealthDay/Harris Poll has found.
Significant Variation in Tx Costs for Low-Risk Prostate Cancer
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There is significant cost variation between competing treatments for low-risk prostate cancer, according to a study published online Nov. 2 in Cancer.
ACP Joins Amicus Curiae Brief to Supreme Court
THURSDAY, Nov. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The American College of Physicians (ACP) has joined other organizations in an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court, urging the court to uphold considerations of race and ethnicity in the medical school admissions process.
AMA: 6 Steps to Help Ensure Patients Get Preventive Care
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Panel management, or population health management, can help physicians provide necessary preventive and chronic care to all patients regardless of their visit frequency, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Doctors Should Consider Financial Factors Before Career Change
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Financial and other factors should be considered before physicians change career direction, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Endovascular Tx Beats tPA Alone for Stroke Patients
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Endovascular therapy with mechanical thrombectomy in ischemic stroke is superior to standard treatment with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) for preserving brain function, according to research published in the Nov. 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Prescription Medication Use on the Rise in the United States
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More Americans than ever are taking prescription drugs, as well as using more of them, according to research published in the Nov. 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
HIV Does Not Worsen Outcomes of Liver Transplant in HCC
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — HIV infection has no impact on prognosis of liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to a study published online Oct. 30 in Hepatology.
No Evidence for Stopping Antidepressants Before Plastic Sx
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There is no evidence to support antidepressant medication cessation in patients undergoing plastic surgery, according to a meta-analysis published in the November issue of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.
Full Text
New Electronic Health Record Regulations Released
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New electronic health record (EHR) regulations modify Stage 2 of the meaningful use program and finalize requirements for Stage 3, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Bemiparin Deemed Effective After Gynecological Operations
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Bemiparin is effective for preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) after benign gynecological surgery, according to a study published online Oct. 31 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
Negligible Impact of Anesthetists on Post-Cardiac Surgery Mortality
TUESDAY, Nov. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Anesthetists make a negligible contribution to post-cardiac surgery mortality, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in Anaesthesia.
Competition for Fellowships Broke Records in 2015
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — According to the American Medical Association (AMA), 2015 was a record-breaking year for fellowship applications.
Displaying Prices to Providers Seems to Reduce Order Costs
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Displaying order prices to physicians seems to reduce order costs, according to a review published online Oct. 23 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Copyright © 2015 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
