Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Surgery for March 2020. 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.
Doctors, Hospitals, Pharmacies Warned Not to Stockpile Meds
TUESDAY, March 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- In a joint statement released by the American Medical Association, American Pharmacists Association, and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the professional groups "strongly oppose" physicians, pharmacies, and hospitals prophylactically prescribing medications or purchasing excessive amounts or stockpiles of potential treatments for COVID-19.
Joint Statement
U.S. Army Opens Field Hospital in New York City
MONDAY, March 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The first U.S. Army field hospital for civilian patients opened in New York City Monday and could be the first of many across the nation as it struggles with the coronavirus pandemic.
CBS News Article
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Higher Risk for Bone Fractures Seen After Bariatric Surgery
MONDAY, March 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The risk for bone fracture is increased after gastric bypass surgery, according to a study published online March 3 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
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PPE Negative for SARS-CoV-2 After Patient Contact
FRIDAY, March 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Samples collected from personal protective equipment (PPE) from health care workers (HCWs) caring for patients positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were negative for SARS-CoV-2, according to research published online March 26 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
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Workers at Risk for COVID-19 Exposure Can Access Online Training
THURSDAY, March 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The National Institutes of Health has launched a new website with educational resources for hospital employees, emergency first responders, and other workers at risk for exposure to COVID-19.
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Prospective, Randomized Studies of AI Lacking in Medical Imaging
THURSDAY, March 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- In the field of medical imaging, there are few prospective studies and randomized trials of deep learning, according to a review published online March 25 in The BMJ.
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National Health Spending Expected to Increase Through 2028
WEDNESDAY, March 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- National health expenditures are projected to increase at an average annual rate of 5.4 percent for 2019 to 2028, representing almost 20 percent of U.S. gross domestic product by 2028, according to a study published online March 24 in Health Affairs.
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Distance to Kidney Transplant Center Does Not Affect Referral
WEDNESDAY, March 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The distance from a patient residence to transplant center seems not to impact transplant referral and evaluation initiation among those with end-stage kidney disease, according to a study published online March 24 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Editorial
Guidance Issued for Perioperative Management of COVID-19 Patients
WEDNESDAY, March 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- In a guideline issued by the Joint Task Force of the Chinese Society of Anesthesiology and the Chinese Association of Anesthesiologists, published online March 19 in Anesthesiology, recommendations are presented for the perioperative management of patients infected with the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
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Recommendations Issued for Pediatric Abuse-Related Head Trauma
TUESDAY, March 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- In an American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement, published online March 23 in Pediatrics, recommendations are presented for pediatricians to manage abusive head trauma (AHT) in infants and children.
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Anesthesia Procedure Outlined for Emergency Surgery in COVID-19 Patients
TUESDAY, March 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- In a letter to the editor published online Feb. 25 in Surgical Infections, recommendations are presented regarding anesthesia procedures for emergency operations in patients with suspected or confirmed coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).
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Frailty Predicts Adverse Outcomes After Mitral Valve Replacement
MONDAY, March 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing mitral valve replacement (MVR), frailty is an independent predictor of morbidity, death, and increased hospitalization costs, according to a study published online March 18 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
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Article Addresses Management of Cancer Care During COVID-19
MONDAY, March 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Management of cancer care during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is addressed in a special feature article published online March 20 in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
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Management of Elective Surgery Reviewed in Setting of COVID-19
MONDAY, March 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Management of elective surgical procedures in the setting of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is addressed in two sets of recommendations published by the American College of Surgeons.
Recommendations for Management of Elective Surgical Procedures
Guidance for Triage of Non-Emergent Surgical Procedures
Patients Underestimate Length of Mohs Surgery Scars
FRIDAY, March 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Scars from Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) for facial skin cancers are often longer than patients expect, according to a study published online March 11 in JAMA Network Open.
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Serial Interval of COVID-19 Estimated at 3.96 Days
FRIDAY, March 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The serial interval of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), defined as the time between a primary case and secondary case developing symptoms, is 3.96 days, according to a study published online March 19 in Emerging Infectious Diseases, a publication of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Bariatric Surgery Tied to Lower Long-Term Risk for Major CV Events
THURSDAY, March 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with obesity, bariatric surgery is associated with a lower long-term risk for major cardiovascular events and incident heart failure, according to a study published online March 18 in the European Heart Journal.
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Surgery Superior to Nonoperative Care for Persistent Sciatica
WEDNESDAY, March 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Microdiscectomy is superior to nonsurgical care with respect to pain intensity in patients with sciatica lasting more than four months and caused by lumbar disc herniation, according to a study published in the March 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Most Mass Shooting Events Occur Close to Nontrauma Centers
WEDNESDAY, March 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- In 2019, there were 187 mass shooting events, most of which occurred closest to a nontrauma center, according to a research letter published online March 18 in JAMA Surgery.
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Sociodemographic Disparities Seen for Outpatient Orthopedic Care
WEDNESDAY, March 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- There are substantial sociodemographic disparities in the use of office-based orthopedic care and emergency department care for common, nonemergent musculoskeletal conditions, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research.
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Opioid Use Prior to Discharge After C-Section Tied to Later Use
WEDNESDAY, March 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Women who take less opioid pain medication in the 24-hour period before being discharged from the hospital after a cesarean delivery also use less opioid medication during the four weeks following discharge, according to a study published in the March/April issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
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Per-Capita Medical Radiation Exposure Down in United States
TUESDAY, March 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- From 2006 to 2016, there was a decrease in per-capita exposure to medical radiation in the United States, according to a study published online March 17 in Radiology.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Chemo Ups Disease-Free Survival in Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer
TUESDAY, March 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with locally advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), gemcitabine-platinum combination chemotherapy improves disease-free survival, according to a study published online March 5 in The Lancet.
Abstract/Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Few Anesthesiologists Screen Elderly for Frailty, Dementia
TUESDAY, March 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Few U.S. anesthesiologists report preoperative screening for frailty or dementia or postoperative screening for delirium among older adults, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in Perioperative Medicine.
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Race, Insurance Status Linked to Lower Cancer Survival
MONDAY, March 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Nonwhite, uninsured patients with clinically favorable human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) have higher mortality than their white peers, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
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Guidance Issued for Interventional Radiologists Treating Frostbite
MONDAY, March 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For interventional radiologists, intraarterial (IA) administration and intravenous (IV) administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) are both useful strategies for treating severe frostbite injuries, according to a review and meta-analysis recently published in the American Journal of Roentgenology.
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CD8+ T Cell Composition Tied to Risk for Kidney Transplant Failure
FRIDAY, March 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The composition of CD8+ T cells one year after kidney transplantation is associated with the risk for subsequent transplant failure, according to a study published online March 12 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Function, Cognition, Psych Well-Being Linked to Postop Death
FRIDAY, March 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Poor function, cognition, and psychological well-being are associated with mortality among older adults undergoing major surgery, according to a study published online March 11 in JAMA Surgery.
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Recommendations Updated for Postcolonoscopy Management
FRIDAY, March 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- In two guideline updates from the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, published in the March issue of Gastroenterology, recommendations are presented for postcolonoscopy management and endoscopic removal of colorectal lesions.
Abstract/Full Text - Gupta
Abstract/Full Text - Kaltenbach
Decreases Seen in Cancer Incidence, Death Rates
THURSDAY, March 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Cancer incidence and death rates have decreased in recent years, according to two studies published online March 12 in Cancer.
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Abstract/Full Text 2
Editorial
CRC Risks Similar to General Population After Bariatric Surgery
THURSDAY, March 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery have the same risk for colorectal cancer (CRC) as the general population, according to a study published online March 11 in JAMA Surgery.
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Acute Appendicitis Incidence Not Randomly Distributed
TUESDAY, March 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Socioeconomic status and other geographically defined factors are associated with incidence of acute appendicitis (AA), according to a study published online March 4 in JAMA Surgery.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Advanced Features Seen in Some Adults With Small Thyroid Tumors
WEDNESDAY, March 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Almost 19 percent of adult patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) present with advanced features, according to a study published online March 6 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
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Diabetes-Related Lower-Extremity Complications Increasing
TUESDAY, March 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Diabetes-related lower-extremity complications (DRLECs) are a large and increasing contributor to the global burden of disability, according to a study published online March 5 in Diabetes Care.
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2018 Health Care Spending Up Due to Higher Prices
MONDAY, March 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Average employer-sponsored insurance spending rose to $5,892 per person in 2018, according to the Health Care Cost Institute annual Health Care Cost and Utilization Report.
Health Care Cost and Utilization Report
Family Hx of Early MI Modifies Ovary Removal, CVD Link
MONDAY, March 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Postmenopausal women with both bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) and a family history of premature myocardial infarction (FHPMI) have an increased risk for heart disease (HD) mortality, especially those who underwent BSO at an earlier age, according to a study published online March 2 in Menopause.
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Multipronged Postoperative Opioid Program Cuts Rx Length
MONDAY, March 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- A systemwide, multipronged pain management and opioid reduction program can significantly reduce opioid discharge prescriptions written for more than five days, according to a study published online March 2 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
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Increase Seen in Melatonin Secretion After Cataract Surgery
FRIDAY, March 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Cataract surgery seems to increase melatonin secretion in adults aged 60 years or older, according to a study published online March 5 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
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CRC Incidence, Mortality Declining for Adults Aged ≥65
FRIDAY, March 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality are continuing to decline among adults aged 65 years and older but are increasing among younger adults, according to a study published online March 5 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
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Genetic Testing Proposed for All Women ≤65 With Breast Cancer
FRIDAY, March 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Expansion of National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) hereditary cancer testing criteria to include all women diagnosed with breast cancer at ≤65 years would improve the sensitivity of detection of germline pathogenic variants, according to a study published online March 3 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Bariatric Surgery Outcomes Similar Regardless of Obesity Onset
FRIDAY, March 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The treatment benefits of bariatric surgery in adults are similar regardless of early- or adult-onset obesity, according to a study recently published in Diabetes Care.
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CDC: Rates of VBAC Increasing, Reached 13.3 Percent in 2018
THURSDAY, March 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- From 2016 to 2018, there were increases in the rates of vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC), reaching 13.3 percent in 2018, according to a March data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
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Female Clinical Chairs Paid Significantly Less Than Men
THURSDAY, March 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- There are significant sex differences in salaries of clinical department chairs in public medical schools in the United States, according to a research letter published online March 2 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Combined Biopsy Method Better for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Combined biopsy, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-targeted and systematic biopsy, leads to more detection of prostate cancers among patients with MRI-visible lesions, according to a study published in the March 5 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Molecularly Matched Therapy Promising in Pancreatic Cancer
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Receipt of molecularly matched therapy is associated with improved outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer, according to a study published online March 2 in The Lancet Oncology.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Racial/Ethnic Insurance Coverage Disparity Down Since ACA
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Since the implementation of coverage expansions associated with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the disparities in insurance coverage related to race and ethnicity have decreased, according to a study published in the March issue of Health Affairs.
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T2DM Remission Rates Higher With RYGB Versus Sleeve Gastrectomy
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Most patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) undergoing bariatric surgery experience T2DM remission during five years of follow-up, but outcomes are superior with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) compared with sleeve gastrectomy (SG), according to a study published online March 4 in JAMA Surgery.
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Shift in Birth Timing Tied to Decline in Birth Weights
WEDNESDAY, March 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- If rates of obstetric practices had not changed between 1990 and 2013 to include more cesarean deliveries and inductions, then the average U.S. birth weight likely would have increased over this time, according to research published online Jan. 29 in Demography.
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1996 to 2016 Saw Increases in U.S. Spending on Health Care
TUESDAY, March 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- From 1996 to 2016, there were considerable increases in U.S. spending on health care, according to a study published in the March 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Health Insurers Cutting Anesthesiologists' Contracts
TUESDAY, March 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Insurers may be forcing more anesthesiologists to be out of network, according to survey results released by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).
Press Release
Surgical Approach Not Tied to Decision Regret After Prostatectomy
TUESDAY, March 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Surgical approach is not associated with intermediate-term decision regret following radical prostatectomy, according to a study published in the March issue of The Journal of Urology.
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2003 to 2016 Saw Changes in Characteristics of PCI, CABG Patients
MONDAY, March 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Between 2003 and 2016, there were decreases in in-hospital mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) but not after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a study published online Feb. 14 in JAMA Network Open.
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