A new study found that non-Hispanic white patients are disproportionately placed on liver transplant waitlists, with disparities attributed to private health insurance access and travel distance. The researchers suggest increasing awareness of these trends may promote equitable access to transplants.
A virtual telehealth platform allows patients to undergo comprehensive evaluation for kidney transplantation from the comfort of their own homes. This innovative approach has enabled the Medical University of South Carolina's transplant program to maintain access to life-saving surgeries despite pandemic restrictions, with over 282 pat...
A recent study reported a significant drop in low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite resuming full operations, new patient monthly LDCT rates remained low, and patients were more likely to miss appointments, increasing the no-show rate from 15% to 40%. This led to a rise in m...
A study published in Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that financial toxicity among breast cancer patients is independently associated with worse psychological well-being. Even small improvements in financial pressure can lead to better mental well-being and higher patient satisfaction with breast reconstruction.
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons suggests that Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act may lead to earlier diagnoses of colon cancer. Researchers found improved access to care and enhanced surgical care for patients with colon cancer in states that implemented Medicaid expansion.
Researchers found a significant increase in intentional penetrating injuries, especially firearm violence, during the pandemic. Young African-American men were disproportionately affected by these injuries, with the proportion of visits for gunshot wounds nearly doubling compared to previous years.
A new curriculum at Washington University School of Medicine equips surgical residents with technical and non-technical skills to treat victims of firearm violence. The Anatomy of Gun Violence (AGV) curriculum includes training sessions, simulations, and discussions on the social context of firearm violence.
A study by American College of Surgeons found that watch-and-wait strategy is an option for select patients with stages I to III rectal cancer. The approach, which skips operation, shows similar results in terms of local regrowth and disease-specific survival rates compared to surgical treatment.
Researchers found that minority-serving hospitals offer a strong level of evidence-based care for early-stage breast cancer, with similar rates of following recommended surgical procedures as non-minority hospitals. However, disparities exist in access to high-quality care and adherence to treatment guidelines among minority-serving ho...
Two new studies demonstrate the lifesaving impact of STOP THE BLEED training in low-to-middle income countries. In Sierra Leone, nearly all patients survived life-threatening bleeding emergencies after receiving training, and participants retained knowledge for over a year. In Connecticut, course attendees showed strong proficiency in ...
Spanish-speaking women are less likely to receive screening mammograms due to language barriers. Women with limited English proficiency had 27% lower rates of mammogram screenings, according to the study. This disparity affects approximately 450,000 eligible women in the US.
Research shows that evidence-based guidelines have successfully reduced opioid prescriptions, but a small group of surgical patients may still need more pain control. The study suggests that these patients require a combination of opioids with non-opioid pain relievers to achieve optimal pain management.
A recent study published in the American College of Surgeons found that over 80% of young women can successfully breastfeed or bottle-feed after undergoing surgery for benign breast conditions. The research aimed to address concerns among breast surgeons and pediatricians about the impact of surgery on future breastfeeding capability.
Researchers developed AI models that accurately predict treatment needs and medical interventions for motor vehicle crash victims, and identified key factors that affect survival after liver transplantation. The models achieved high accuracy rates, outperforming human manual reviews in streamlining decision-making at the point of care.
A beta test of the American College of Surgeons Geriatric Surgery Verification Program has revealed reduced rates of post-surgery delirium and shorter hospital stays among older veterans. The study involved 186 patients, with significant improvements in functional health and cognitive decline postoperatively.
Researchers found that virtual follow-up visits for surgical patients spend the same amount of time with surgeons as in-person visits, discussing post-operative recovery. Patients value convenience and flexibility, with reduced wait times and increased satisfaction rates compared to traditional in-person visits.
A study using GIS found that public transportation burden disproportionately affects minority communities, increasing travel time by nearly double for those without access to a vehicle. This can lead to increased risk of emergent surgical interventions.
A nationwide analysis suggests that pregnant women who undergo immediate surgery for ruptured or abscessed appendix have significantly better outcomes than those managed without an operation. Immediate surgery reduces the risk of serious complications, including loss of the fetus and mother's death.
The study found that non-physician team members, particularly Army reservists, spent more time treating patients in civilian centers than active duty members. The researchers highlighted the importance of integrating active duty FRST members into civilian trauma centers to provide optimal training and care before deployment.
Key findings from a comprehensive literature review highlight the importance of top-down commitment to quality, mid-level leadership, and committee structure in achieving high-quality surgical outcomes. The study supports the ACS Quality Verification Program's Optimal Resources for Surgical Quality framework.
The virtual ACS Clinical Congress 2020 features hundreds of new research findings, contemporary topics in surgery, and a digital approach with live and on-demand sessions. Journalists can apply for press credentials to cover the event from remote locations.
Researchers found that patients with low health literacy were 4.5 times more likely to experience a postoperative infection after colorectal surgical procedures. The study highlights the importance of designing interventions and tools to better support patients with limited health literacy.
A new study reveals that children with developmental and cognitive impairments are more likely to receive CT scans for appendicitis diagnosis, which increases radiation risk. These children also experience higher rates of postoperative emergency room visits and hospital readmissions compared to neurologically normal peers.
A new study finds that gun violence has increased in the US, resulting in higher costs and severity of gunshot wounds. The study, which analyzed hospital data from 2005 to 2016, shows a significant increase in the cost of operations and length of hospital stays for patients with gunshot wounds.
A new study from the American College of Surgeons found that longer time to surgical treatment does not lower overall survival for women with early-stage breast cancer who underwent delayed operations before the pandemic. Patients who received neoadjuvant endocrine therapy also showed no decreased survival, according to the research.
Despite low representation in academia, female surgeon-scientists are securing a greater percentage of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. Women researchers are more likely to be first-time grant recipients and have higher success rates when awarded NIH funding.
A recent study found that female faculty members scored slightly better than their male peers on teaching evaluations performed by surgeons-in-training. The results were unexpected, as previous studies had shown a negative bias against female faculty in academic medicine.
The NETOIMS method effectively alleviates postoperative pain by inserting a needle in the muscle and electrically eliciting twitch responses, targeting strained muscle fibers. This technique results in improved circulation, relaxing the muscle and reducing postoperative complications after open abdominal surgery.
The region's successful response was attributed to six key factors: early communication and coordination, regional coordination and situational awareness, rapid testing development, proactive management of long-term care facilities, effective physical distancing in the community, and partnership with local organizations. This coordinat...
A new study finds that elastomeric masks can reduce the need for N95 masks by nearly 95% in healthcare settings. The reusable masks are found to be as effective as N95 masks in providing protection from airborne infectious substances.
A new pediatric-specific scoring system, pMeNTS, is presented to help surgeons prioritize non-emergency operations during the pandemic. The tool evaluates medical necessity, time-sensitivity, and COVID-19 factors to determine a higher priority for procedures.
Researchers found critically ill COVID-19 patients with severe blood clotting who were at high risk of developing complications like renal failure, venous blood clots, and stroke. The study linked blood clotting measurements with patient outcomes, suggesting early testing may help identify and treat dangerous complications.
A new toolkit has been developed to help medical organizations rapidly adopt telemedicine as an alternative option. The guide uses a common electronic medical record system and widely available video portals to overcome social distancing edicts, allowing for successful adoption in three days.
A new disinfection process developed by surgeons allows N95 masks to be reused up to 20 cycles, increasing employee acceptance and ensuring proper fit. This approach has improved the safety of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic by conserving personal protective equipment.
A new scoring system, Medically Necessary Time-Sensitive (MeNTS) Prioritization, helps surgeons prioritize medically necessary operations. The system assesses the risk of viral transmission to healthcare professionals and utilization of scarce hospital resources. It guides decision-making for surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A rural health care system has developed a preparedness response plan that expands use of telehealth and streamlines systemwide staff communication. The plan includes a rapid expansion of telehealth, prioritizing nonessential staff work-from-home, conserving PPE, and postponing elective procedures.
A remote military surgical team transformed into a pandemic response team to provide care in an isolated population, adapting innovative solutions. Their recommendations emphasize the importance of evaluating everyone's skillsets and experience, including non-medical labor to provide medical interventions.
UCSF Health implemented a comprehensive rapid response plan to manage the healthcare system's available resources. The plan included reducing operating room volume by 80% and prioritizing urgent operations based on expected results and resource usage.
A new algorithm aims to protect operating room team members from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and conserve personal protective equipment. The guideline assumes patients could be infected unless proven otherwise by a negative RT-PCR test.
A critical care surgery team has developed a tiered approach to triage surgical cases and manage hospital resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan includes reassigning surgeons, deferring non-emergency operations, and considering 'battlefield promotion' for senior residents.
A study of 30,180 patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma found that nearly 20% had pathological signs of aggressive disease, increasing the risk of distant metastasis. The research emphasizes the need for new preoperative tests to identify high-risk tumors and thorough patient counseling on all treatment options.
A new pain management program implemented in a Texas healthcare system reduced longer-term opioid prescriptions by two-thirds, from over five days to fewer than five days. The program used physician education, monitoring, and incentives to shift prescribing patterns.
A new study finds that common malnutrition definitions do not apply equally to all cancers, highlighting the need for cancer-type specific definitions for preoperative risk assessment. The study's findings suggest that using one-size-fits-all definitions could result in overestimating or underestimating a patient's risk of complication...
A new study reveals that colon cancer is different in children, adolescents, and young adults, with younger patients more likely to have metastases outside the colon. The findings call for more intensive surveillance and treatment in those who have symptoms.
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons has identified four geriatric-specific characteristics that increase the risk of elderly surgical patients experiencing an unplanned hospital readmission within a month of discharge. These characteristics include cognitive impairment, use of a mobility aid, risk o...
The technique reduces waiting time for compatibility testing, improving transplant surgery scheduling and alleviating patient stress. Virtual crossmatching resulted in a 2.4-hour decrease in cold ischemia time and a 26% decline in delayed graft function.
Hemodialysis patients who used an online patient portal were more likely to receive a donor kidney transplant and reduce wait times compared to non-users. The study found that active users logged into the portal at least once every two months had shorter wait times for transplantation.
A peer support program for surgeons has been shown to improve well-being, enhance patient safety, and decrease burnout. The program provides a safe space for surgeons to share their experiences and receive emotional support from fellow surgeons who understand their challenges.
A new study found that older adults who participate in preoperative rehabilitation programs have shorter hospital stays and lower total insurance payments. The program, which includes physical exercise, healthy eating, and stress reduction techniques, was associated with improved outcomes for patients, providers, and payers.
A study of pediatric major trauma cases found that nearly 3% of U.S. children who survive major trauma experience another sudden injury in the same year, with violence being a significant risk factor. Repeated injuries are more common among children from lower-income families and those with mental health issues.