Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Anesthesiology for July 2010. 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.
Specialties See Modest Compensation Increases in '09
FRIDAY, July 30 (HealthDay News) -- Most medical specialties saw modest compensation increases in 2009, but many provider organizations are still operating at a substantial loss, according to the findings of the American Medical Group Association's (AMGA) 2010 Medical Group Compensation and Financial Survey.
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General Anesthesia May Up Surgical Site Infection Risk
THURSDAY, July 29 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who undergo a primary total hip or knee replacement procedure with general anesthesia have a higher risk of surgical site infection (SSI) than those who undergo the procedure with epidural/spinal anesthesia, according to a study published in the August issue of Anesthesiology.
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Raising Hysterectomy Volume Can Lower Surgery Time
MONDAY, July 26 (HealthDay News) -- Increasing surgical volume may reduce the operating time for laparoscopic hysterectomy and also lower the risk for conversion to laparotomy, but high- and low-volume surgeons have similar rates of serious complications, according to a study in the July issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Back Pain Diagnostic Blocks Delay Pain Relief, Add Cost
MONDAY, July 26 (HealthDay News) -- Performing one or more temporary diagnostic nerve blocks to establish arthritis as the cause of back pain before treatment with radiofrequency denervation results in unnecessary tests, delayed pain relief, and added cost, according to a study in the August issue of Anesthesiology.
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5.2 Percent of Residency Applicant Essays Plagiarized
TUESDAY, July 20 (HealthDay News) -- About 5 percent of the application essays to residency programs -- often referred to as the personal statement -- contain plagiarized material, according to research published in the July 20 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Surgical Residents' Fellowship Decisions Are Gender-Neutral
MONDAY, July 19 (HealthDay News) -- A surgery resident's decision to pursue fellowship training is largely due to a desire for clinical mastery and specialty activities regardless of gender, with lifestyle factors of only midrange importance and program size appearing more influential than gender, according to research published in the July issue of the Archives of Surgery.
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FDA Issues Requirements for Baxter Infusion Pump Recall
THURSDAY, July 15 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued conditions for Baxter Healthcare Corporation to follow in performing its April 2010 recall of Colleague Volumetric Infusion Pumps (CVIPs), and the agency is requiring the company to provide refunds or replacement pumps for customers or terminate their leases.
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Many Physicians Don't Report Incompetent Colleagues
TUESDAY, July 13 (HealthDay News) -- While physicians generally acknowledge their responsibility to report an impaired or incompetent colleague to authorities, many do not actually report incompetent colleagues when faced with this situation, according to the results of a survey published in the July 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Improper Anesthesia Practice Causes Hepatitis Outbreak
FRIDAY, July 9 (HealthDay News) -- An anesthesiologist who reused a contaminated single-use propofol vial on multiple endoscopy patients caused an outbreak of hepatitis infection affecting 13 patients at two clinics, according to a report published in the July issue of Gastroenterology.
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Many Doctors in Specialties Other Than Their Early Choices
WEDNESDAY, July 7 (HealthDay News) -- Ten years after graduation, approximately one-fourth of doctors work in a specialty other than the one they chose in their third year post-graduation, according to research published online July 6 in BMJ.
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Lung Transplantation Survival Varies Among Centers
TUESDAY, July 6 (HealthDay News) -- Survival following lung transplantation varies between transplantation centers, and the variation is only partially associated with volume of procedures, according to research published in the July 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Report Addresses Physician Financial Conflicts in Care
THURSDAY, July 1 (HealthDay News) -- In a new report, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) urges U.S. teaching hospitals to establish policies that ensure financial relationships between physicians and industry do not result in conflicts of interest that influence patient care.
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2.2 Billion People Worldwide Lack Access to Surgical Services
THURSDAY, July 1 (HealthDay News) -- More than 2 billion people worldwide do not have adequate access to surgical services, and low-income countries in particular have low levels of surgical care, according to a study published online July 1 in The Lancet.
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