Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Surgery for April 2017. 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.
Meeting Organizers Overlooking Qualified Female Scientists
FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Invited speakers at medical conferences tend to be disproportionately male, a disparity that can be addressed by actively preparing lists of potential speakers, according to a study published online April 18 in Nature Immunology.
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AMA Urges Doctors to Talk About Safe Opioid Storage, Disposal
FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians should take three essential steps to reduce the amount of unwanted, unused, and expired medications in an effort to avoid non-medical uses of the drugs, according to a new recommendation from the American Medical Association (AMA) Task Force to Reduce Opioid Abuse.
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Hospital-Acquired Complications Especially Dangerous in CKD
FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Preventable hospital-acquired complications (HACs) are associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes, especially among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published online April 27 in Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Race, Sex Impact Risk of ESRD for Living Kidney Donors
FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) varies among living kidney donors, with black race and male sex being associated with higher risk, according to a study published online April 27 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Plasma Catecholamines Predict Post-Op A-Fib After Cardiac Sx
FRIDAY, April 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Assessment of plasma catecholamines on the morning of surgery can predict the likelihood of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) for patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery, according to a study published online April 26 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Single-Payer Health System Bill Moves Forward in California
THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- A proposal to replace private insurance with government-funded health care for all moved forward in California on Wednesday as Democrats on the Senate Health Committee voted to advance the measure.
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Risk Factors in Six Areas Tied to Physician Burnout
THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Physician burnout factors include control, whether there is time to deliver excellent care, and whether the workplace is fair, according to a presentation at the Medical Group Management Association/American Medical Association 2017 Collaborate in Practice Conference, held April 9 to 11 in Chicago.
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EHR Documentation May Help in Harm Reduction Initiatives
THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Electronic health record (EHR) documentation can be used to reduce preventable harm in hospitals, according to a study published online April 27 in Pediatrics.
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Fatal Case of Suspected Propofol-Induced Pancreatitis Described
WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- A fatal case of propofol-induced acute necrotizing pancreatitis has been described in a case report published online April 10 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
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Post-Op hsTnT Linked to 30-Day Mortality After Noncardiac Sx
TUESDAY, April 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Peak postoperative high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) is associated with increased risk of 30-day mortality among patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, according to a study published online April 25 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction May Ease Back Pain
TUESDAY, April 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with low back pain, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) may be associated with short-term improvements in pain intensity and physical functioning, according to a review published online April 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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PSA Screening Rates Have Leveled Off in U.S.
TUESDAY, April 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Rates of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening have leveled off after declining for a number of years in the United States, according to a research letter published online April 24 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Surgeon Volume Impacts Parathyroidectomy Outcomes
FRIDAY, April 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Patients undergoing parathyroidectomy by high-volume surgeons have a lower rate of vocal cord paralysis compared to patients of low-volume surgeons, according to a study published online April 20 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
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Study Looks at ER Visits for Patients Injured by Police in U.S.
WEDNESDAY, April 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- More than 50,000 Americans are treated each year for injuries inflicted by police, according to a research letter published online April 19 in JAMA Surgery.
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Iliac Artery Balloon Catheter Little Benefit in Placenta Accreta
WEDNESDAY, April 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Prophylactic placement of internal iliac artery balloon catheters does not impact outcomes for women with placenta accreta, according to a study published online April 12 in Anaesthesia.
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Hypnosis Doesn't Improve Post-Op Anxiety, Pain in Children
TUESDAY, April 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- A short hypnosis session performed in the operating room prior to major surgery does not improve postoperative anxiety and pain levels among pediatric patients, according to a study published online April 12 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
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Pre-Pregnancy Bariatric Surgery Ups Risk of Abdominal Surgery
TUESDAY, April 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Bariatric surgery is associated with an increased risk of abdominal surgery during subsequent pregnancy, according to a study published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Increase in Prostate Needle Biopsy-Linked Infection in N.Y.
TUESDAY, April 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Infectious complications after prostate needle biopsy increased from 2011 to 2014 across New York State, according to a study published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Pre-Op Training Program Improves Outcomes
TUESDAY, April 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- A home-based, preoperative training program can decrease hospital duration of stay and costs of care, while being well accepted by patients, according to a study published recently in Surgery.
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Doctors Need to Be Mindful of What They Post on Social Media
MONDAY, April 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Young doctors often have unprofessional or offensive content on their Facebook profiles, according to a study published online April 9 in BJU International.
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One in Five Post-Op Patients Need Unscheduled Help
MONDAY, April 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- A sizable minority of patients need to make contact with health services after outpatient surgery, most often due to inadequate pain management, according to a study published online April 10 in Anesthesiology.
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ASCO Updates Recs on Potentially Curable Pancreatic Cancer
MONDAY, April 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Guidelines relating to the appropriate adjuvant regimen for patients with pancreatic cancer have been updated in light of new evidence, according to a special article published online April 11 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Treatment Plan From Massage Therapist Alleviates Chronic LBP
FRIDAY, April 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Massage therapy may provide some relief in chronic low back pain, according to a study published online recently in Pain Medicine.
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Geographic Variation in Costs Associated With Hysterectomy
FRIDAY, April 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- There is considerable geographic variation in the cost of hysterectomy, according to a study published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Web-Based Platform Better for Delivering Pre-Op Information
FRIDAY, April 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Attaining preoperative information from an interactive web-based platform is better than conventional brochure material for children aged 3 to 12 years and their parents, according to a research report published online April 10 in Pediatric Anesthesia.
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High Readmission Rates for Critical Limb Ischemia
FRIDAY, April 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) have a high risk of readmission, with most of the readmissions unplanned, according to a study published in the April 18 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Cancer Occurrence Differs Among African-Born, U.S.-Born Blacks
THURSDAY, April 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Cancer rates differ between African- and U.S.-born black Americans, with cancer rates varying by region of birth in Africa, according to a study published online April 13 in Cancer.
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Surgery Often the Starting Point for Opioid Addiction
THURSDAY, April 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Certain surgery patients prescribed opioids for postoperative pain relief may face a higher risk for developing a persistent opioid addiction, according to research published online April 12 in JAMA Surgery.
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Mortality Up With Depression Just Before Breast Cancer Diagnosis
THURSDAY, April 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Women with newly-developed depression before a breast cancer diagnosis have a modestly, but significantly, increased risk for death, according to a study published online April 7 in Cancer.
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$16 Billion Spent on Cosmetic Surgery by Americans in 2016
WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Americans spent $16 billion on cosmetic plastic surgery and minimally invasive procedures in 2016, according to a new report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
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Expectations, Concerns Vary With Age for Adults at Pain Clinic
WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Patient expectations and concerns vary by age among adults attending a chronic pain clinic, according to a study published online March 30 in Pain Practice.
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Doctor Communication Style Key During Bad-News Encounters
TUESDAY, April 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Enhanced patient-centered communication (E-PCC) positively impacts patients' psychological state during bad-news encounters, according to a study published online April 5 in Cancer.
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Integrated E-Prescribing Can Cut Prescribing, Dispensing Errors
MONDAY, April 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- An integrated electronic medication prescribing (e-prescribing) and dispensing system can reduce prescribing and dispensing errors, according to a study published online March 30 in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research.
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Survival Similar With Debulking by Laparotomy, Laparoscopy
MONDAY, April 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For women with epithelial ovarian cancer, three-year survival rates are similar for women undergoing debulking by laparotomy or laparoscopy, according to a study published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Music Therapy Relieves Post-Op Pain in Spinal Surgery Patients
MONDAY, April 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Music therapy interventions can favorably affect pain perceptions in patients recovering from spine surgery, according to a study published recently in the American Journal of Orthopedics.
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Surgery May Not Be Necessary in Acute Biliary Pancreatitis
MONDAY, April 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Immediate cholecystectomy may not always be necessary for patients with acute biliary pancreatitis, according to research published in the March issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
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U.S. Blood Banks Can Protect Blood Supply From Zika Virus
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. blood banks are confident they have the tools to protect America's blood supply from possible new Zika virus outbreaks during the upcoming mosquito season, according to research published in the March issue of Transfusion, a theme issue on Zika and other transfusion transmitted viruses.
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MACRA Changes Government Approach to Doctor Payment
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Implementation of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) has made fundamental changes to the government's approach to physician payment, according to a March 27 policy brief published in Health Affairs.
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Thyroidectomy for Thyroid CA Up Post 2006 Mass. Health Reform
FRIDAY, April 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Implementation of the 2006 Massachusetts health reform, which is a model for the Affordable Care Act, correlated with an increased rate of thyroidectomy for treating thyroid cancer, according to a study published online April 5 in JAMA Surgery.
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Risk Adjustment, Reinsurance Transfer Offer Financial Benefit
THURSDAY, April 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Risk adjustment and reinsurance transfer programs seem to have been effective for increasing revenues at the expense of claims costs, according to research published in the March issue of Health Affairs.
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Survival Up With Surgery for Abdominal Melanoma Metastases
THURSDAY, April 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with melanoma that has spread to the abdomen who get drug therapy and surgery to remove their cancer live twice as long -- 18 months on average -- as those who only get medication, according to a study published online April 5 in JAMA Surgery.
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Rates of Colorectal CA Screening Lower for Adults With Disabilities
THURSDAY, April 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- American adults with disabilities have lower colorectal cancer screening rates than other adults, according to a study published recently in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
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Increased Cancer Risk for Childhood Kidney Recipients
WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Childhood kidney recipients have increased cancer risk, according to a study published online March 29 in the American Journal of Transplantation.
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Red Cell Distribution Width Predicts Surgical Complications
WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- In children undergoing adenotonsillectomy for sleep-disordered breathing, preoperative elevated red cell distribution width is associated with an increased risk of respiratory adverse events, according to research published online March 27 in Pediatric Anesthesia.
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Doctors Must Be Wary of HIPAA Violations With Online Reviews
TUESDAY, April 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians should be aware that responding to a negative health care review could potentially expose personal medical information, resulting in a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) violation, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
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Use of Health Literacy Tools Can Promote Shared Decision Making
MONDAY, April 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Use of health literacy tools is encouraged for facilitating shared decision making (SDM), according to an article published in the March issue of the AMA Journal of Ethics.
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