New Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Problems After Joint Surgery Identified
In addition to confirming previously identified risk factors for cardiovascular complications after total joint replacement (TJR) surgery, researchers have shown that bilateral and revision operations are associated with increased risk. “Revision joint replacement and bilateral surgery are much more prolonged operations than primary unilateral joint replacement,” Dr. Jeffrey N. Katz, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital […]
Chewing Gum May Enhance Recovery After Colon Surgery
Several small clinical trials have suggested that chewing gum after surgery to remove a part of the colon can enhance intestinal recovery, and some have suggested that this can result in a shortened hospital stay for the patient. Now, a meta-analysis of 5 clinical trials, involving a total of 158 patients, has found that the […]
Capillary Blood Gas Sampling for Neonatal and Pediatric Patients
In the critical care of neonates and pediatric patients, ensuring proper oxygenation and acid-base balance is paramount. This is where blood gas analysis comes into play, providing vital information for informed treatment decisions. While arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling is the gold standard, there are situations where obtaining an arterial sample may be impractical. Capillary […]
High HBV Viral Load at Surgery Tied to Liver Cancer Return
In patients undergoing liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma related to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, viral load at the time of surgery is predictive of hepatoma recurrence, according to Chinese researchers.“High hepatitis B viral load,” senior investigator Dr. Man-Fung Yuen told Reuters Health, “is associated with a higher chance of HCC recurrence after surgical resection. […]
More Women Needed, Says American Association of Neurological Surgeons Report
More than half of medical school students are women, and yet they account for only 10% of neurosurgical residents, a new report shows. That number drops to 6% when researchers factor in how many women go on to become practicing neurosurgeons. The board of directors for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) requested a […]
Recurrence Rare After Prostatectomy of Organ-Confined, Lower Grade Cancer
Men with organ-confined prostate cancer and a Gleason score of 6 or less very rarely have local or biochemical recurrence of disease 5 years after prostatectomy, according to study findings appearing in the July issue of Urology. Among 2,526 such patients, there were 13 cases (0.5%) of biochemical recurrence and five cases (0.2%) of local […]
Statins Help With Obesity-Related Plaque Progression After Heart Surgery
As body mass index (BMI) increases, the likelihood that atherosclerosis will progress after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) also rises, US researchers report. However, aggressive statin therapy may eliminate this association.Prior research has established obesity as a clear and major risk factor for heart disease, but whether it also affects disease progression post-CABG was unclear, […]
Medical Errors in US Surgical Patients Cost Nearly $1.5 Billion Annually: Report
An analysis by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) indicates that employers pay out $1.47 billion each year to cover the costs incurred from potentially preventable adverse medical events in surgical patients. As reported in the July 28th issue of Health Services Research, the AHRQ’s Dr. William E. Encinosa and Dr. Fred […]
Attrition Rate Higher Among Older Surgery Residents
Nonacademic factors more strongly predict attrition than do than academic variables among surgery residents, according to findings reported in the July issue of the Archives of Surgery. Factors linked to attrition are age older than 29 years and non-participation in team sports, Dr. Rebekah A. Naylor and colleagues at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical […]
Factor VII Curbs Bleeding in Non-Hemophiliac Trauma, Surgical Patients
Use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) reduces the need for blood transfusion in patients without hemophilia and may also reduce mortality, according to pooled data from randomized placebo-controlled trials involving more than 3000 participants, Canadian researchers report. “I had found it to be effective in some combat situations in Afghanistan,” senior investigator Dr. Vivian […]