Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Surgery for December 2018. 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.
Low-Priced Generic Drugs Most Likely to Have Shortages
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The lowest-priced generic drugs are more likely to experience shortages, according to a study published in the November issue of Value in Health.
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Targeted Muscle Reinnervation Can Reduce Phantom Limb Pain
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Use of primary targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) can prevent or reduce pain in below-the-knee amputees, according to a report published online Dec. 27 in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
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Elevated Risk for Lung CA in Lung Transplant Recipients Explored
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Recipients of a lung transplant, especially a single lung transplant, have an elevated risk for lung cancer, particularly in the native lung, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in the American Journal of Transplantation.
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ASH Develops Practice Guidelines for Venous Thromboembolism
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Society of Hematology (ASH) has developed new guidelines for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE); the clinical practice guidelines were recently published in Blood Advances.
Prophylaxis for Hospitalized and Nonhospitalized Medical Patients
Diagnosis of Venous Thromboembolism
Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia
Treatment of Pediatric Venous Thromboembolism
Venous Thromboembolism in the Context of Pregnancy
Optimal Management of Anticoagulation Therapy
Complications, Costs Up With Cardiac Sx in Opioid Use Disorder
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) undergoing cardiac surgery have increased complications and costs, according to a study published online Dec. 5 in JAMA Surgery.
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Initiative Can Cut Gender Gap in Medical School Faculty Salaries
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An institutional gender equity initiative (GEI) can reduce gender-based salary gaps among medical school faculty, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in JAMA Network Open.
New AAP Guideline Available for Infantile Hemangioma Treatment
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Academy of Pediatrics has developed its first guideline for the management of infantile hemangiomas (IHs); the clinical practice guideline was published online Dec. 24 in Pediatrics.
Most Nurses Unsatisfied With Hospitals’ End-of-Life Care
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The majority of nurses have an unfavorable opinion of their hospital’s end-of-life care, according to a study published online Dec. 2 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Fecal Occult Blood Test May Improve CRC Outcomes in Some
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with several improved outcomes in men but not women, according to a study recently published in the British Journal of Surgery.
Drug Use-Associated Infective Endocarditis Up 2007 to 2017
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2007 to 2017 there was an increase in drug-use associated infective endocarditis (DUA-IE) hospitalizations and valve surgeries, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Malnutrition Ups Risk of Postop Issues in Pediatric Crohn Disease
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For children with Crohn disease (CD), malnutrition is associated with increased risk of complications after bowel surgery, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Pediatric Surgery.
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Costs, Expected Weight Loss Impact Bariatric Surgery Choice
MONDAY, Dec. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients considering bariatric surgery, costs, expected weight loss, and resolution of medical conditions are the most important characteristics driving surgery decisions, according to a study published online Nov. 28 in JAMA Surgery.
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Growth in Use of Telemedicine Seen From 2005 to 2017
THURSDAY, Dec. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2005 to 2017, there was a substantial increase in telemedicine use, although use was still uncommon in 2017, according to a research letter published online Nov. 27 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Affordable Care Act Sign-Ups Higher Than Expected
THURSDAY, Dec. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Despite numerous difficulties, early figures show that sign-ups for health coverage next year under the Affordable Care Act are higher than expected.
OCT Imaging Needle Can Detect Blood Vessels in Neurosurgery
THURSDAY, Dec. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A miniaturized optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging needle can detect blood vessels intraoperatively in the human brain in vivo, according to a study published online Dec. 19 in Science Advances.
Overlapping Orthopedic Surgery Noninferior for Patient Safety
THURSDAY, Dec. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Overlapping inpatient orthopedic surgery is noninferior to nonoverlapping surgery with respect to perioperative complications, according to a study published in the Nov. 21 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Modified-FOLFIRINOX Beneficial in Resected Pancreatic Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with resected pancreatic cancer, adjuvant therapy with a modified regimen of chemotherapy with fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX), compared with gemcitabine, results in significantly longer survival, according to a study published in the Dec. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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FDA Advisory Panels: Prescribe Naloxone With Opioid Painkillers
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The labels of prescription opioid painkillers should advise doctors to consider simultaneously prescribing the opioid overdose antidote naloxone, two U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panels recommend.
Several Factors Tied to Early Readmission After Hip Fracture Sx
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Several comorbidities are associated with an increased risk for early readmission after hip fracture surgery, according to a study recently published in Injury.
Exclusion of Doctors From Public Health Insurance Up 2007 to 2017
TUESDAY, Dec. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2007 to 2017, the number of physicians excluded from Medicare and state public insurance programs increased, according to a study published online Dec. 14 in JAMA Network Open.
Liver Proton Density Fat Fraction Drops After Bariatric Surgery
TUESDAY, Dec. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The average liver proton density fat fraction (PDFF) normalizes by a mean of 22.5 weeks after bariatric surgery, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Radiology.
Appropriate Use Criteria Released for Peripheral Artery Intervention
TUESDAY, Dec. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Appropriate use criteria have been developed for peripheral artery intervention (PAI) in peripheral artery disease, according to a report published online Dec. 17 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Cognitive Decline Similar After Cardiac Surgery, Catheterization
TUESDAY, Dec. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For older adults, declines in memory after heart surgery and cardiac catheterization are similar, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
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Persistent Discrimination ID’d Among Physician Mothers
FRIDAY, Dec. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Physician mothers experience discrimination in a range of ways, which can impact the medical profession, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in The BMJ.
Risk Factors Identified for Late Recurrence of Liver Cancer
THURSDAY, Dec. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Late recurrence after hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resection is associated with sex, cirrhosis, and several aggressive tumor characteristics of the initial HCC, according to a study recently published in JAMA Surgery.
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Eligibility Criteria Limit Access to Arthroplasty for Minorities
THURSDAY, Dec. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Eligibility criteria for lower-extremity arthroplasty may result in reduced odds of eligibility among minorities, according to a study published in the December issue of Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research.
Radical Prostatectomy Has Lasting Benefit for Localized Cancer
THURSDAY, Dec. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Men with localized prostate cancer benefit from radical prostatectomy, with a mean of 2.9 years gained, according to a study published in the Dec. 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Negative Attitudes Reported Toward Weight-Loss Surgery
THURSDAY, Dec. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A large proportion of the U.S. population seems to have negative attitudes toward weight-loss surgery, according to a research letter published online Dec. 12 in JAMA Surgery.
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Medication Errors Resulting in Death Most Common in Elderly
THURSDAY, Dec. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medication errors in acute care that result in death occur most often in patients older than 75 years, with the most common error category being omitted medicine or ingredient, according to a study published online Nov. 22 in Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.
Novel Breast Imaging Technique Might Cut Unnecessary Biopsies
THURSDAY, Dec. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A novel technique, quantitative three-compartment breast (3CB) image analysis of dual-energy mammography combined with mammography radiomics, could reduce unnecessary breast biopsies, according to a study published online Dec. 11 in Radiology.
Enrollment Under the Affordable Care Act Down From Last Year
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act is down with just days left to sign up, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Guidance Offered for Infection Control in Anesthesia Work Area
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Recommendations have been developed for promotion of infection prevention policies in operating room (OR) anesthesia work areas; the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America guidance document was published online Dec. 11 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
2017 Saw Slowing in National Health Care Spending
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — National health care spending slowed in 2017, according to a report published online Dec. 6 in Health Affairs.
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Considerable Morbidity, Mortality Due to Animal Encounters
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Morbidity, mortality, and health care costs due to animal encounters are considerable in the United States, according to a study published in the January issue of Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open.
Paid Childbearing Policies Lacking for Residents
TUESDAY, Dec. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Policies for paid childbearing or family leave for residents are lacking at top-ranking medical schools and may be exacerbated by lack of direction from specialty boards, according to two research letters published in the Dec. 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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U.S. Medical Schools See Increase in Diversity
TUESDAY, Dec. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — After implementation of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) diversity accreditation standards, U.S. medical schools saw increasing percentages of female, black, and Hispanic matriculants, according to a research letter published in the Dec. 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Prophylactic Mesh Implantation Reduces Hernia Formation
TUESDAY, Dec. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prophylactic mesh implantation reduces the incidence of hernia formation among patients undergoing elective open abdominal surgery but increases early postoperative pain and leads to prolonged wound healing of surgical site infection, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in JAMA Surgery.
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Free Flap Breast Reconstruction Safe in Elderly Patients
TUESDAY, Dec. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Free flap breast reconstruction is a viable and safe procedure in elderly patients, according to a study published in the December issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
HIT-Related Stress Linked to Burnout Among Physicians
MONDAY, Dec. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Stress related to use of health information technology (HIT) is common and predictive of burnout among physicians, according to a study published online Dec. 5 in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.
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Veterans Health Administration Hospitals Outperform Non-VHAs
MONDAY, Dec. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals outperform non-VHA hospitals for 14 of 15 outcome measures in 121 regions, according to a research letter published online Dec. 11 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Survival Similar With Donor Hearts From Hepatitis C+ Donors
MONDAY, Dec. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Transplant patients with hearts from donors with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and obese donors have similar survival rates as patients with other donor hearts, according to two studies published in the December issue and online Dec. 4 in Circulation: Heart Failure and the Journal of the American Heart Association, respectively.
Abstract/Full Text – Moayedi
Abstract/Full Text – Shudo
Editorial
Cemented Metal-on-Polyethylene Implants Best for Seniors
MONDAY, Dec. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For older patients, small-head cemented metal-on-polyethylene implants are the cost-effective choice for total hip replacements, according to a study recently published in Value in Health.
Ultrarestrictive Opioid Rx Protocol Cuts Postoperative Opioid Use
FRIDAY, Dec. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An ultrarestrictive opioid prescription protocol (UROPP) can reduce the number of opioids prescribed to patients after gynecologic and abdominal surgery without negative health consequences, according to a study published online Dec. 7 in JAMA Network Open.
Most Insured Patients Not Using Online Portals
FRIDAY, Dec. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Nearly two-thirds of insured adults with a previous health care visit did not use an online patient portal in 2017, according to a study published in the December issue of Health Affairs.
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Minimally Invasive Surgery Works Well for Detached Retina
FRIDAY, Dec. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A minimally invasive treatment for retinal detachment leads to favorable outcomes, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in Ophthalmology.
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Botox Injections Explored to Cut Postop A-Fib in Cardiac Surgery
FRIDAY, Dec. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Intraoperative botulinum toxin (BTX) injections show promise as a way to reduce the risk for postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) following cardiac surgery, according to two studies recently published in Heart Rhythm.
Abstract/Full Text – Romanov (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract/Full Text – Waldron (subscription or payment may be required)
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Opioids Overprescribed After Arthroscopic Meniscectomy
THURSDAY, Dec. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prescription opioid medications are overprescribed after simple arthroscopic meniscectomy, according to a study recently published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Imaging, Biopsy Often Still Needed After Mastectomy
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Subsequent imaging is required for 10 to 15.5 percent of women who undergo mastectomy, according to a study published in the December issue of the Annals of Surgical Oncology.
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Few Physicians Work in Practices That Use Telemedicine
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Only 15.4 percent of physicians work in practices that use telemedicine for a wide spectrum of patient interactions, with larger practice size being an important correlate of telemedicine use, according to a study published in the December issue of Health Affairs.
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HHS Issues Draft Strategy for Reducing Health IT Burden
TUESDAY, Dec. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has developed a draft strategy to reduce the health information technology (IT) burden, and the strategy is open for public comment through Jan. 28, 2019.
Many Patients Withhold Information From Clinicians
TUESDAY, Dec. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many patients intentionally withhold information from clinicians, according to a study published online Nov. 30 in JAMA Network Open.
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