Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Surgery for December 2009. 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.
Precautions and Training Can Reduce Scalpel Injuries
THURSDAY, Dec. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Although less common than needle-stick injuries, cuts from scalpels also put operating room personnel at risk and can be reduced by closely following safety precautions and taking advantage of new technology, according to a study in the December issue of the AORN Journal.
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Discharge Planning Measures May Not Cut Readmissions
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Hospitals that collate and make publicly available discharge planning data do not necessarily have lower readmission rates than those that do not collate the data, according to a study in the Dec. 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Omeprazole, Surgery Found Effective for Reflux Disease
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 30 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease, more patients stayed in clinical remission after anti-reflux surgery than with long-term omeprazole, though surgery was associated with postoperative complaints, according to research published in the December issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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Prostate-Specific Antigen Velocity Usefulness Examined
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Prostate-specific antigen velocity (PSAV) may be useful in identifying men with clinically significant prostate cancer, according to research published in the January issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Operating Room Nurses Must Know Heart Failure Guidelines
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Perioperative nurses caring for patients requiring surgical treatment for heart failure need a working knowledge of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic heart failure, according to an article in the December issue of the AORN Journal.
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Low-Level Laser Therapy for Body Sculpting Assessed
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Low-level laser therapy can reduce the circumference of certain areas of the body by reducing the adipose tissue layer, according to a study in the December issue of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
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Medical Device Studies for Premarket Approval Assessed
TUESDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Premarket approval (PMA) of cardiovascular medical devices based on early-stage studies are typically not statistically powered adequately and may potentially be biased, according to a study in the Dec. 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Prostate-Specific Antigen Lower Among Statin Users
TUESDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- In men preparing to undergo radical prostatectomy for cancer, those using statins have lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA), according to research published in the January issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Therapies for CAD Patients With Kidney Disease Compared
MONDAY, Dec. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) used with medical therapy or medical therapy used singly improved angina symptoms similarly among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study in the Dec. 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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Review Discusses Anti-HIV Benefits of Male Circumcision
MONDAY, Dec. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Findings from three randomized trials in Africa lend support to the use of adult male circumcision to reduce the incidence of HIV, according to a review published in the January issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Technique Found Effective, Safe in Spinal Stabilizations
MONDAY, Dec. 28 (HealthDay News) -- In patients undergoing spinal stabilization, intraoperative computed tomography in combination with neuronavigation improves the accuracy of screw placement, according to a study in the Dec. 15 issue of Spine.
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Higher Surgery Risks in Elderly Demand Special Attention
FRIDAY, Dec. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Common and emergency surgery carries elevated risks of mortality and complications in the elderly, and clinicians should counsel patients on these risks and make every effort to mitigate them, according to a pair of studies in the December issue of the Archives of Surgery.
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Injectable Fat Reduction Therapies in the Pipeline
FRIDAY, Dec. 25 (HealthDay News) -- There are a number of novel therapies that use injectable chemicals to reduce fat, but they are not an alternative to liposuction and none have been given regulatory approval anywhere in the world, according to a study in the December issue of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
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Some Pre-Op Weight Loss Cuts Gastric Bypass Complications
THURSDAY, Dec. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Increased weight loss before gastric bypass surgery is associated with fewer complications after surgery, according to a study reported in the December issue of the Archives of Surgery.
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Study Finds Stent, Laparoscopy Superior to Open Surgery
THURSDAY, Dec. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Instead of performing emergency open surgery on a colon cancer patient with an obstructing tumor, placement of a metal stent can open a bowel pathway until the tumor is removed via less invasive laparoscopy, according to a study in the December issue of the Archives of Surgery.
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Nerve Monitoring During Thyroid Surgery Beneficial
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 23 (HealthDay News) -- A laryngeal nerve that responds to lower-intensity stimulation during thyroidectomy is associated with preserved vocal cord function, according to a study in the December issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery.
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Effects of Screw Length on Spine Reconstruction Studied
TUESDAY, Dec. 22 (HealthDay News) -- In treating spinal disorders that require spino-pelvic reconstruction, short screws have similar biomechanical strength as long screws if augmented by bone cement, according to a study in the December issue of the Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques.
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Thromboembolism Uncommon After Sling Surgery in Women
TUESDAY, Dec. 22 (HealthDay News) -- The rate of thromboembolism following an isolated sling procedure for stress urinary incontinence in women is low, but the rate is higher when prolapse repair is also performed, according to research published in the December issue of Urology.
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Cytologic Regression Common in Some Gynecologic Patients
TUESDAY, Dec. 22 (HealthDay News) -- In women with atypical squamous cells of unknown significance and a negative human papillomavirus (HCII) test, nearly all achieve cytologic regression within two years, according to a study in the December issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Surveillance Can Reduce Treatment in Mild Hip Dysplasia
TUESDAY, Dec. 22 (HealthDay News) -- In infants with mildly dysplastic hips, active surveillance for six weeks, as opposed to immediate abduction splinting can reduce the need for treatment yet lead to similar results at 1 year of age, according to research published online Dec. 21 in Pediatrics.
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Risk of Neurologic Deficit Right After Spinal Surgery Low
MONDAY, Dec. 21 (HealthDay News) -- The likelihood of developing a major neurologic deficit immediately after spinal surgery is low, according to a study in the December issue of the Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques.
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Surgical Approach May Affect Lung Function in Scoliosis
MONDAY, Dec. 21 (HealthDay News) -- In adolescents with scoliosis who undergo surgery, thoracotomy and thoracoscopy are associated with declines in lung function, while thoracoabdominal surgery has no significant effect, according to a study in the December issue of the Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques.
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Integrated Approach Assesses Residents' Surgical Ability
MONDAY, Dec. 21 (HealthDay News) -- An integrated approach can effectively assess orthopedic residents' competence in the performance of carpal tunnel release surgery, according to a study in the Dec. 1 issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Pelvic Fracture May Increase Trauma Patients' Risk of Death
MONDAY, Dec. 21 (HealthDay News) -- In trauma patients, pelvic fracture is significantly associated with death, but its effect should be considered in relation to other variables, according to a study in the Dec. 1 issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Medical Expulsive Therapy Uncommon in Stone Disease
MONDAY, Dec. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Though the use of medical expulsive therapy (MET) increased for urinary stones in a recent period, it remained a seldom-used treatment, according to research published in the December issue of Urology.
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Smoking Status Predicts Long-Term Survival After First AMI
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who quit smoking before or after a first heart attack significantly improve their odds of long-term survival, and smokers who reduce their consumption after a heart attack also have a modest survival benefit, according to a study in the Dec. 15/22 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Glucose Marker Helps Measure Prostate Surgery Fluid Uptake
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Adding glucose to an electrolyte-containing irrigation fluid helps detect absorption in bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate, according to a study in the December issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
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Digital Radiography Rapidly Localizes Spine Level
TUESDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Digital radiography is considerably faster than conventional radiography in localizing the cervical spine level during surgery, which may reduce hospital costs, according to a study in the December issue of The Spine Journal.
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Racial Disparities Seen in Breast Cancer Radiotherapy
MONDAY, Dec. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Older Caucasian women with invasive breast cancer were more likely to receive radiotherapy following surgery than women of other races, a disparity seen nationwide, according to research published online Dec. 14 in Cancer.
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Chronic Kidney Patients Can Benefit From Carotid Surgery
MONDAY, Dec. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with chronic kidney disease and high-grade carotid stenosis are at higher risk of stroke than those with preserved renal function, and they benefit more from carotid endarterectomy, according to a study published online Dec. 10 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Delayed Surgery May Be Better for Some Knee Injuries
MONDAY, Dec. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Delaying surgery to treat multiple-ligament knee injuries may yield similar stability outcomes as acute surgery, while staged surgery yields better subjective results, according to a study in the Dec. 1 issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Post-Myocardial Infarction Bleeding Risk Examined
MONDAY, Dec. 14 (HealthDay News) -- For patients receiving antithrombotic drugs post heart attack, the risk of hospitalization for bleeding increases as the number of drugs increases, according to a study in the Dec. 12 issue of The Lancet.
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Lower Speed Limit Reduces Casualties in London
FRIDAY, Dec. 11 (HealthDay News) -- In London, the introduction of 20 mph speed zones has significantly reduced road injuries and deaths, according to a study published online Dec. 10 in BMJ.
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Factors Affecting Back-Pain Sick Leave in Chile Identified
FRIDAY, Dec. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Chileans are more likely to take longer sick leave for low back pain if they have a history of sick leave for low back pain, do manual labor, or were seen by an orthopedic surgeon, similar to other Western populations, according to a study in the December issue of The Spine Journal.
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Spinal Surgeries May Improve Back Pain and Sexual Function
FRIDAY, Dec. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Total disc replacement and posterior fusion both lead to improvements in not only lower back pain but also sexual function, according to a study in the December issue of The Spine Journal.
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Treatment After Stenting Affects Thrombosis Risk
FRIDAY, Dec. 11 (HealthDay News) -- In patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents, 24 months of treatment with aspirin and clopidogrel is associated with a lower risk of very late thrombosis than a shorter treatment regimen, according to a study in the Nov. 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
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Patients Often Lack Knowledge of Their Own Medications
THURSDAY, Dec. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Patients routinely under-report, or even over-report, their outpatient and inpatient medications, and should be included in hospital medication management to improve safety, according to a study published online Dec. 10 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
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Algorithm Developed for Metal-on-Metal Hip Resurfacing
THURSDAY, Dec. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Ideal candidates for metal-on-metal hip resurfacing may be identified with a new algorithm, according to a study in the November supplement of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Transplantation Technique Feasible for Spinal Cord Injury
THURSDAY, Dec. 10 (HealthDay News) -- In the treatment of spinal cord injury, transplantation of readily available mono-nuclear bone marrow cells may be an alternative to the use of bone marrow stromal cells, according to an animal study published in the Nov. 15 issue of Spine.
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New Technique Effective in L5 Radicular Syndrome
THURSDAY, Dec. 10 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with L5 radicular syndrome, an ultrasound-guided L5 nerve root block using electrical nerve stimulation is safe and effective, according to a study in the Nov. 15 issue of Spine.
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Treatment May Reverse Sickle Cell Disease in Adults
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 9 (HealthDay News) -- A treatment regimen that includes stem cell transplantation can lead to stable grafts and reversal of disease in adults with sickle cell disease, according to a study in the Dec. 10 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Celecoxib Benefits Not Seen in Acute Renal Colic Patients
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 9 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with ureteral stones and acute renal colic, the use of celecoxib was not associated with time until stone passage or decreased pain, according to research published in the November issue of Urology.
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Team Approach Best for Safe Handling of Cytotoxic Agents
TUESDAY, Dec. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Cytotoxic agents used in the treatment of bladder tumors present a threat to perioperative nurses' safety, and a team approach is the best way to develop safe handling policies and procedures, according to a study in the December issue of the AORN Journal.
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Study Finds Vasectomy Use Differs Between Races
TUESDAY, Dec. 8 (HealthDay News) African-American and Hispanic men appear less likely to undergo vasectomy than Caucasian men, according to research published in the November issue of Urology.
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FDA Issues Recommendations to Prevent Excess CT Radiation
TUESDAY, Dec. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Following news that 206 patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles were overexposed to radiation during computed tomography (CT) perfusion imaging over an 18-month period, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued interim recommendations to help prevent similar incidents.
Press Release
Initial Notification
Issue a Voluntary Report to the FDA's MedWatch
Oxytocin Not Found to Aid Removal of Retained Placenta
TUESDAY, Dec. 8 (HealthDay News) -- A high-dose injection of oxytocin into the placenta of women with a retained placenta does not reduce the need for manual removal, according to a study published online Dec. 8 in The Lancet.
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Liver Transplant Patient and Graft Survival Studied
MONDAY, Dec. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Patient survival and graft survival after liver transplantation are similar for patients whose transplant results from either nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or alcoholic cirrhosis (ETOH), according to a study in the December issue of Liver Transplantation.
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Depression Linked to Poorer Spinal Surgery Outcomes
MONDAY, Dec. 7 (HealthDay News) Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patients who undergo decompressive surgery are more likely to report poorer outcomes from surgery if they were suffering from depression prior to surgery or in the early stages of recovery, according to a study in the Nov. 1 issue of Spine.
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Deaths Linked to Undiagnosed Infection in Young Women
MONDAY, Dec. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Undiagnosed Clostridium infection is associated with toxic shock deaths in women of childbearing age who have undergone various obstetrical or gynecological procedures, according to a study in the November issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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New Cervical Spine Surgery Protocol May Reduce Delirium
FRIDAY, Dec. 4 (HealthDay News) -- A modified perioperative protocol for elderly patients undergoing cervical spine surgery that involves early commencement of mobilization, resumption of normal circadian rhythm, and reduction or avoidance of methylprednisolone may reduce postoperative delirium risk, according to a Japanese study published in the Nov. 1 issue of Spine.
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Guidance for Platelet Therapy Before Surgery Provided
FRIDAY, Dec. 4 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with coronary artery disease who need an elective endoscopic gastrointestinal procedure with a high risk of bleeding, cessation of antiplatelet treatment should be avoided for at least six months after undergoing revascularization and stent placement, according to a review in the Dec. 8 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Hysterectomy Linked to Better Cervical Cancer Survival
FRIDAY, Dec. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Radical hysterectomy may provide better survival outcomes compared with radiation in women with early-stage cervical cancer whose tumors are less than 6 cm in diameter, according to a study in the November issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Post-Op Thromboembolism Risk Persists in Women
FRIDAY, Dec. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Middle-aged women who undergo inpatient surgery have a greatly elevated risk of venous thromboembolism in the weeks and months after surgery compared to women who have not had surgery, according to a study published Dec. 3 in BMJ.
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Community-Associated Superbug Poses Threat
THURSDAY, Dec. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections have nearly doubled in the last decade and are adding to the problem of hospital-associated MRSA, according to a study in the December issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
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Metabolic Syndrome Prevalent After Liver Transplant
THURSDAY, Dec. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who receive liver transplants are at high risk for developing metabolic syndrome and resulting cardiovascular complications, but the impact on mortality and long-term survival are inconclusive, according to a review in the December Liver Transplantation.
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Cetuximab Linked to Resection of Liver Metastases
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 2 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with colorectal liver metastases, chemotherapy with cetuximab was associated with high rates of tumor response and resection of metastases, according to research published online Nov. 25 in The Lancet Oncology.
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Rural Residents More Likely to Have Total Joint Replacement
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Medicare beneficiaries living in rural areas may be more likely to have total knee or hip replacement surgery than urban beneficiaries, contrary to factors that would suggest the opposite relationship, according to research published in the December issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
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Hospital Report Cards Seldom Lead to Improved Cardiac Care
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Issuing public report cards on hospitals did not result in significant improvements in cardiac care, according to a Canadian study in the Dec. 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study was released early online to coincide with its presentation at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, held from Nov. 14 to 18 in Orlando, Fla.
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Morphologic Changes Gauge Liver Cancer Therapy Response
TUESDAY, Dec. 1 (HealthDay News) -- A method to assess the effect of chemotherapy on liver tumors based on morphologic changes observed on computed tomography (CT) was found to be significantly associated with pathologic response as well as with patient survival, according to a study in the Dec. 2 Journal of the American Medical Association.
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High-Dose Statins Found to Improve Cardio Outcomes
TUESDAY, Dec. 1 (HealthDay News) -- High-dose statin treatment reduces the incidence of serious cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndromes who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a study in the Dec. 8 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Women Researchers Lag Behind Men in Grant Awards
TUESDAY, Dec. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Female physicians with a proven interest in research are less likely to receive prestigious research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) than are male physicians, according to a study in the Dec. 1 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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