Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Surgery for October 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.
Increasing Numbers of Med School Applicants, Enrollees
FRIDAY, Oct. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There has been a 25 percent increase in the number of medical school enrollees since 2002, with the number reaching an all-time high of 20,630 this year, according to a report published online Oct. 22 by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
FDA Approves Expanded Use for Melanoma Drug
THURSDAY, Oct. 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The melanoma drug Yervoy (ipilimumab) can now be used to reduce the risk of the recurrence after surgery, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.
Marital Status Appears to Affect Recovery From Cardiac Surgery
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Married people who have cardiac surgery may fare better after the operation than those who are divorced, separated, or widowed, according to new research published online Oct. 28 in JAMA Surgery.
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Nearly 15 Percent of Plans Lack In-Network Specialists
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A considerable proportion of federal marketplace plans lack at least one in-network specialist, according to a research letter published in the Oct. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Physician Emphasizes Importance of Saying Thank You
TUESDAY, Oct. 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The importance of thanking patients for coming to see you, the physician, is described in an essay published online in Medical Economics.
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Transoral Robotic Surgery Feasible for Oropharyngeal SCC
TUESDAY, Oct. 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), transoral robotic surgery is feasible, according to a study published in the November issue of Head & Neck.
AMA: Eight Reasons for Nonadherence to Medications
FRIDAY, Oct. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Eight reasons associated with patient’s intentional nonadherence to medications have been identified in a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Blanket + Warmed IV Best for Hypothermic Infants
THURSDAY, Oct. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The combination of conventional blanket rewarming and pre-warmed intravenous (IV) infusion is most effective for rewarming postoperative hypothermic infants, according to a study published in the November issue of Pediatric Anesthesia.
Pain Relief, Function Up Post Knee Replacement in Arthritis
THURSDAY, Oct. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Total knee replacement usually results in greater pain relief and better joint function after a year than nonsurgical osteoarthritis treatment, researchers report in the Oct. 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
FDA Approves Coagadex for Rare Clotting Disorder
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Coagadex (coagulation Factor X) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the first coagulation factor replacement therapy for people with a rare blood disorder known as hereditary Factor X deficiency.
Botulinum Toxin Might Control A-Fib After CABG Surgery
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Botulinum toxin injection may help prevent development of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, new research suggests. The results were published online Oct. 20 in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology.
Knee, Hip Arthroplasty Tied to Increased Short-Term MI Risk
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) for osteoarthritis, the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) is increased in the first postoperative month, according to a study published in the October issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Older Blood Appears Safe for Cardiac Surgery Patients
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cardiac surgery patients given blood stored for more than six weeks face no greater harm than those who get blood donated within two weeks, according to a research letter published in the Oct. 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Caudal Regional Anesthesia Not Linked to Fistula Formation
TUESDAY, Oct. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Caudal regional anesthesia seems not to be associated with urethrocutaneous fistula formation in pediatric patients undergoing primary hypospadias repair, according to a study published in the November issue of Pediatric Anesthesia.
Not All Large Breast Tumors Warrant Mastectomy
MONDAY, Oct. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A combination of breast conservation surgery and radiation is as effective as breast removal for some women with large, localized invasive breast tumors, according to a study published online Oct. 19 in Cancer.
FDA Approves Praxbind to Reverse Pradaxa’s Effect
MONDAY, Oct. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Praxbind (idarucizumab) has been approved for use in patients who are taking the anticoagulant Pradaxa (dabigatran) when there is an urgent need to reverse Pradaxa’s anticoagulant effects, according to a news release from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Peri-Op Experience Similar for Children With, Without Autism
FRIDAY, Oct. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a significant difference in premedication type compared with children without ASD, although in other respects, their perioperative experiences are similar, according to a study published in the November issue of Pediatric Anesthesia.
Treatment Patterns for DCIS Shift From 1991 to 2010
FRIDAY, Oct. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There were substantial shifts in treatment patterns for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) from 1991 to 2010, with more women opting for lumpectomy and radiation therapy rather than single mastectomy, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Statistical Tool Predicts Risk of Major Post-Op Complications
FRIDAY, Oct. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A statistical tool can accurately estimate an individual patient’s risk of developing a major complication after surgery for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Patterns of Pediatric Mandible Fx Vary With Age, Sex
FRIDAY, Oct. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The patterns of pediatric mandible fracture vary with age and sex, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
Safety-Net Hospitals Have Higher Costs, Worse Outcomes
THURSDAY, Oct. 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Intrinsic qualities of safety-net hospitals, rather than patient characteristics, lead to inferior surgical outcomes and increased costs across nine elective surgical procedures, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in JAMA Surgery.
Epidural-Related Complications Down for C-Sections
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Complications from epidural and spinal anesthetic procedures during cesarean deliveries dropped 25 percent over a recent 10-year period, according to a study published online Sept. 29 in Anesthesiology.
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Cannabis Not Recommended to Prevent Post-op Nausea
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cannabis should not be used to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) because of unacceptable side effects and low effectiveness, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Racial Disparity Seen in Childbirth-Related Readmission
TUESDAY, Oct. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Black and Hispanic women have significantly higher readmission rates than white women after childbirth, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Advanced-Stage Breast CA More Likely in Certain Racial Groups
TUESDAY, Oct. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Women in certain racial/ethnic groups are more likely to be diagnosed with more advanced breast cancer, according to a study published online Oct. 13 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy May Be Underused
MONDAY, Oct. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In 2012, minimally invasive hysterectomy was underused for gynecologic cancers, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Six-Minute Walk Distance Predicts Lung Transplant Survival
MONDAY, Oct. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Preoperative six-minute walk distance (6MWD) is significantly associated with post-lung transplant survival, according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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Hospital Factors Can Overcome ‘Weekend Effect’
MONDAY, Oct. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More nurses and electronic medical records can help hospitals overcome the “weekend effect” (WE) associated with urgent general surgery procedures performed on weekends, according to a study published in the October issue of the Annals of Surgery.
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Americans Spend More on Health Care, but Fare Worse
MONDAY, Oct. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — When compared to 12 other industrialized nations, Americans spend more on health care services, but they fare worst in terms of life expectancy, according to recent findings from The Commonwealth Fund.
Two Decision Instruments ID Major Injuries in Blunt Trauma
FRIDAY, Oct. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Two decision instruments (DIs) have high sensitivity for identifying blunt trauma patients with clinically significant thoracic injuries, according to a study published online Oct. 6 in PLOS Medicine.
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Most Cancer Patients Believe Surgery Will Be Curative
THURSDAY, Oct. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Most patients undergoing surgery for lung or colorectal cancer believe that the surgery is likely to be curative, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of Cancer.
Early Detection Still Key to Breast Cancer Survival
THURSDAY, Oct. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Even with recent strides in breast cancer treatment, a woman’s chances of surviving the disease still partly depend on early detection, according to research published online Oct. 6 in The BMJ.
Bariatric Surgery Can Lead to Increased Suicide Risk
THURSDAY, Oct. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Some patients who have bariatric surgery may be more likely to attempt suicide following the procedure, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in JAMA Surgery.
Lasting Outcomes Similar for Carpal Tunnel Release Surgeries
THURSDAY, Oct. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), long-term outcomes are similar for open and endoscopic release surgery, according to a research letter published in the Oct. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Substantial Proportion of Revisits Post Ambulatory Sx Occur in ER
THURSDAY, Oct. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Acute care revisits occur with considerable frequency among low-risk patients undergoing ambulatory operations, with a substantial proportion of revisits occurring in emergency departments, according to a research letter published in the Oct. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Outcomes Favor Colon Resection in Perforated Diverticulitis
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Laparoscopic lavage leads to worse outcomes than primary resection in patients with perforated diverticulitis, according to a study published in the Oct. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
H. Pylori Resistance to Antibiotics Increasing
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Resistance to the antibiotics clarithromycin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin is high among patients with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, according to a study published in the September issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Laparoscopic Surgery May Not Be Best Option for Rectal Cancer
TUESDAY, Oct. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Minimally invasive surgery does not match standard surgery for the treatment of rectal cancer, according to two studies published in the Oct. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract 1
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Abstract 2
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Guidelines Developed for Managing Conflicts of Interest
TUESDAY, Oct. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The Guidelines International Network has developed principles for disclosure and management of conflicts of interest (COIs) during the clinical practice guideline development process, according to a report published in the Oct. 6 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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β-Blockers May Up Risk of Surgical Complications for Some
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients taking β-blockers may face heightened risks of cardiovascular complications during non-cardiac surgeries, according to a large study published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
New Guidelines Developed for Peri-Op Management of Diabetes
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — New guidelines have been developed for the perioperative management of surgical patients with diabetes. The guidelines were published online Sept. 29 in Anesthesia.
Reduced-Dose Tacrolimus, Everolimus Cuts CMV Infection
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection/disease is reduced in de novo kidney transplant recipients receiving reduced dose tacrolimus and everolimus, according to a study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Transplantation.
Modified SOAP Ups Student Awareness of Health Care Costs
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Modification of the traditional Subjective-Objective-Assessment-Plan (SOAP) presentation to consider value (SOAP-V) can help medical students learn to practice high-value, cost-conscious care, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Prevention Bundle Can Cut Rate of Pediatric SSIs
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Adoption of a recommended bundle of prevention behaviors is associated with a reduction in the pediatric surgical site infection (SSI) rate, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in Pediatrics.
Providers Must Understand Legal Limits of Telemedicine
FRIDAY, Oct. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In order to minimize risk when practicing telemedicine, providers should ensure they hold the proper medical licenses, have medical liability insurance coverage, and communicate with patients regarding the potential risks of telemedicine, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Strategies Provided for Improving EHR Efficiency
THURSDAY, Oct. 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Several strategies can be implemented in order to better use electronic health records (EHRs) for patient care and efficiency, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Probiotics Reduce Rate of Infection After Liver Transplant
THURSDAY, Oct. 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Liver transplant recipients have a lower rate of infection with receipt of prebiotics and probiotics before surgery, according to a meta-analysis published in the September issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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