February 14, 2013
An international investigation has found that cumulative smoking history appears to be an independent risk factor for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer recurrence and progression. When compared with current smoking, cessation of more than 10 years before treatment was shown to decrease the risk of disease recurrence.…
February 6, 2013
Using an after-hours clinic (AHC) that was off-site from a children’s hospital ED appears to significantly reduce length of stay (LOS) and charges. In a retrospective analysis, researchers found that the average LOS was 81.2 minutes shorter and average charges were $236.20 less for AHC-treated patients when compared with patients treated in a pediatric ED.…
Private practice anesthesiology training appears to be preferred over academic rotations by emergency medicine residents, according to a University of Utah analysis. For those trained in private practice, the average number of intubations was 4.6 per day, compared with 1.5 per day for residents trained in academic settings.…
Acute genitourinary (GU) injuries appear to be frequently associated with the use of common consumer items, according to a review of data from 2002 to 2010. Most GU injuries (69%) occurred in men, and the majority involved external genitalia. Patients aged 18 to 28 had the highest prevalence of GU injuries (37.5%).…
February 4, 2013
Percutaneous therapy for treating patients with bony malignancy and vertebral fractures appears to significantly reduce costs and lengths of stay when compared with surgery. A retrospective review demonstrated that overall costs were $13,565 less and inpatient stays were 4.1 days shorter with percutaneous therapy when compared with surgery.…
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have found that partial nephrectomy appears to have a statistically significant survival benefit when compared with radical nephrectomy for patients older than 66 with renal cell carcinomas that are 4 cm or smaller. However, the authors noted that this benefit decreased with time, and little benefit was seen at 5 and 10 years after the procedure.…
January 31, 2013
Adherence to the 2009 Schizophrenia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) pharmacologic guidelines appears to help reduce mortality among patients with schizophrenia, according to a study from Johns Hopkins University. The authors recommend that clinicians consider adopting outcomes-monitoring systems and innovative service delivery programs to improve adherence to the PORT guidelines.…
Among patients hospitalized with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), overall rates of atrial fibrillation (AF) and mortality from it decreased between 2000 and 2007, according to a study from Massachusetts. Â Despite the findings, investigators noted that AF still exerts a significant adverse effect on survival among patients hospitalized with an ACS.…
Rates of surgical site infection (SSI) appear to be similar between cesarean deliveries using chlorhexidine-alcohol and those using povidone-iodine. A retrospective cohort review found that the duration of cesarean delivery was the only significant predictor of SSI.
Abstract: Obstetrics & Gynecology, November 2012.…
January 29, 2013
Duke University research suggests that patients with non-STEMI who spend more than 2 days in the hospital after their event appear to have more comorbidities and in-hospital complications than those with shorter lengths of stay (LOS). Patients with longer LOS were also less likely to receive evidence-based medications or PCI.…
