A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons reports that surgical resection improves survival among metastatic melanoma patients with limited liver disease. The five-year survival rate for surgical patients was 30%, compared to 6.6% for nonsurgical patients.
A standardized prevention program implemented in a hospital department of surgery significantly reduced the rate of deep venous thromboses (DVT) and pulmonary emboli among patients. The program, which scored individual risk factors and provided risk-based prophylaxis, led to an 84% drop in DVT rates and a 55% decrease in pulmonary emboli.
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons reveals that noncombat-related injuries, such as accidents and burns, are the leading cause of pediatric admissions to U.S. military combat hospitals in both countries. The study analyzed data from over 6,000 children under 14 years old treated at Army support hos...
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that Florida's participation in the ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program resulted in broad improvement across hospitals. The program reduced complications by 14.5% and saved an estimated 89 lives, avoiding $6.6 million in healthcare expenses.
The American College of Surgeons publishes guidelines defining resources needed for effective and safe surgical care in infants and children. The recommendations are based on personnel, medical resources, and equipment, with three levels of care: Level I (highest), Level II, and Level III.
The Hartford Consensus aims to educate law enforcement on the importance of controlling hemorrhage in active shooter incidents. The initiative, led by the American College of Surgeons, provides training and equipment for police officers to respond to mass casualty events.
A new iPad application has been developed to collect and analyze trauma patient data at a South African hospital, improving injury surveillance and patient outcomes. The eTHR system has been successfully implemented at Groote Schuur Hospital, capturing key information on past medical history, demographics, and injury severity scores.
A new risk-scoring tool helps surgeons counsel patients before breast reconstruction surgery. Smoking and obesity are associated with a higher risk of early implant loss, while a state of progressive obesity increases the risk even further.
A study by American College of Surgeons found that patients' choice of bariatric surgery is influenced by type 2 diabetes status, desired weight loss, and tolerance for risk, rather than BMI. Patients with uncontrolled eating patterns were more likely to opt for a reversible procedure like gastric banding.
A study found that elderly patients with severe injuries, such as falls or motor vehicle accidents, are often undertriaged and sent to non-trauma centers despite having a higher risk of mortality. Trauma centers provide specialized care, resulting in lower mortality rates and shorter hospital stays.
A laboratory study at the University of Michigan has shown promising results in regenerating cardiac birth defects using amniotic stem cells. The researchers believe this approach could one day help thousands of babies born each year with congenital heart defects.
Researchers have identified a protein called Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) that may predict which patients with thyroid cancer are most likely to experience recurrence. High levels of PD-L1 were associated with a higher likelihood of cancer spreading and recurrence.
A study found that older patients who underwent laparoscopic colon cancer resection were less likely to be discharged to a nursing facility than those with open surgical procedures. Patients between 70-75 years old had the lowest risk of discharge, while those over 85 were eight times more likely.
Researchers have found that applying ice packs after major abdominal operations reduces postoperative pain and opioid use, with patients experiencing 50% less pain on the first and third days. An experimental prolonged drug delivery system using lidocaine also showed superior results in animal studies.
A new study suggests that using same-hospital readmission rates as a benchmark for surgical quality outcomes is misleading. The researchers found that nearly half of hospitals reclassify when switching to all-hospital readmissions rankings, highlighting the need for access to real-time data.
A new study by American College of Surgeons found that appendectomy patients who undergo surgery on weekends do not experience more postoperative complications compared to weekday patients. However, they pay $419 more in hospital charges on average. The study analyzed nearly 826,000 appendectomies performed between 2006 and 2009.
A new study by the University of North Carolina School of Medicine has identified low preoperative albumin levels as an independent risk factor for surgical-related health problems after radical cystectomy. Patients with a low albumin level before surgery are 2.1 times more likely to experience complications within 30 days.
Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) may not significantly increase life expectancy for women with early-stage breast cancer in one breast. A new decision-making model helps women weigh the benefits of CPM against its risks and potential impact on survival.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that adding a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block to surgical care reduced hospital stays by less than one day and postoperative narcotics use. The TAP block procedure, which poses no significant risks to patients, allows for quicker recovery and lower healt...
The new calculator uses detailed ACS NSQIP data to estimate patient-specific postoperative complication risks for over 1,500 unique surgical procedures. It also includes a Surgeon Adjustment Score to allow surgeons to counsel patients based on their experience and evaluation.
A new online interactive simulation platform has been shown to effectively train and assess surgical residents in various patient care scenarios. The study found significant gaps in performance between interns, junior and senior residents, and attendings, highlighting the need for improved training.
A new study found ACS NSQIP hospitals have consistently lower mortality rates for complex surgical procedures compared to non-ACS NSQIP hospitals. The difference in one-year mortality rates was 16%, indicating faster improvement in outcomes at ACS NSQIP hospitals.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that melanoma recurrence 10 or more years after initial treatment occurs in over 6% of patients. Patients who experience late recurrences tend to live longer and have better survival rates compared to those whose cancer recurs within the first three years.
A new study found that the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) is more accurate than administrative data for tracking 30-day hospital readmissions. The study analyzed colorectal surgical patients and found that 30% of readmissions could be prevented with accurate tracking, potentially ...
A novel graduate medical education initiative at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine enhances surgical residents' skills in quality improvement. The program, which began in 2008, teaches residents the fundamentals of QI theory and pairs them with process improvement mentors for hands-on projects.
A new study found that high levels of OR noise can have a disruptive effect on a surgeon's auditory processing abilities and cause a decrease in speech comprehension. The researchers tested 15 surgeons with varying years of experience under different listening conditions, including quiet, filtered noise, background noise, and music.
Researchers at Medstar Health and Georgetown University School of Medicine found that implementing a value-based analysis approach to preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in surgical patients resulted in significant cost savings, with an estimated overall system-wide savings opportunity of $4 million. The study identified limiting the...
Researchers found that children and adults with genetic liver disorders have good chances of survival five years after a liver transplant. High survival rates also imply that liver transplantation is the best available treatment for these patients.
A new study found that 75% of women who had arm node removal surgery worried about getting lymphedema, despite only 19% developing it. Most patients adopted multiple risk-reducing behaviors, which were not supported by data.
A panel of surgical experts identified 10 symptoms that may indicate complications in colorectal surgical patients, including wound drainage issues, lack of bowel movement, and abdominal swelling. The study aims to provide a standardized warning system for hospital discharge instructions.
Researchers found racial disparities in pediatric appendicitis treatment tied to hospital type, with Hispanic and Asian children more likely to experience perforation at community hospitals. The study highlights the need for further research on prevention interventions to address these disparities.
Researchers found that communications training and a standardized surgical checklist can significantly reduce postoperative complications, including infections and blood clots. The study suggests that these simple cost-effective methods can help teams agree on priorities and ensure accountability, leading to better patient outcomes.
Researchers have made progress in tackling C. difficile infections using mouse models and human patients, with potential treatments including an oral medication and genetic mutation detection. The studies found that administering an oral supplement can prevent CDI, while detecting a specific gene mutation may predict recurrent infections.
A military trauma study found higher mortality rates from chest injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan, but better triage and transport may have led to more survivors. The study's authors suggest that advances in prehospital care and medical facilities may have contributed to improved survival rates.
New studies report that robotic-assisted bladder procedures and minimally invasive colorectal operations can improve outcomes in older patients. Robotic-assisted bladder surgery, which was previously not offered to patients over 80, showed a seven-day hospital stay and only three complications within 90 days.
New research findings show that rural colon cancer patients are more likely to receive late-stage diagnosis and inferior treatment, leading to poorer outcomes. Rural residents also have higher odds of dying from colon cancer than urban patients.
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have made a breakthrough in helping infertile, premenopausal women produce enough eggs to become pregnant. By stimulating ovarian cell production using an in vitro rat model, they were able to generate early-stage eggs that could be fertilized.
Researchers have discovered a new vaccinia virus that targets triple-negative breast cancer cells, achieving over 90% cell kill and extensive tumor destruction. The virus also inhibits tumor blood vessel growth, offering a potential targeted therapy for this deadly form of breast cancer.
Researchers developed a five-pronged assessment tool called the FACES score to measure patients' postsurgical, clinical, and social outcomes. The score predicts who will be successful candidates for facial transplants, highlighting the need for better reporting and follow-up care.
A new study found that preoperative falls in older surgical patients are a powerful predictor of complications, prolonged hospital stays, and higher rates of disability. Researchers found that adverse outcomes occurred more frequently in patients who had reported one or more falls in the six months prior to their operation.
A new study published in the Journal of American College of Surgeons found that needle biopsies can lead to improved treatment outcomes for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Patients who underwent needle biopsies were more likely to have adequate tumor excision and lymph node assessment compared to those who received open biopsies.
The new guidelines, published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, apply to every patient 65 years and older as defined by Medicare regulations. The guidelines cover 13 key issues of preoperative care for the elderly, including cognitive impairment, decision-making capacity, and medication management.
Researchers found that postoperative gastrointestinal complications, infections, and sepsis carry the highest risk of hospital readmission. Patients with multiple complications are four times more likely to be readmitted than those with none. A reduction in these complications can significantly decrease readmission rates and financial ...
A surgical patient safety program combining accurate outcome measurement, leadership support, and engaged frontline providers reduces SSI rates in patients undergoing colorectal procedures by 33 percent. The program led to a notable reduction in wound infections, resulting in cost savings of up to $280,000 at the institution.
Obese appendectomy patients who undergo minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures experience fewer complications, longer hospital stays, and higher rates of infectious complications compared to open appendectomy. This study suggests that minimally invasive operations may be less risky for obese patients, reducing morbidity by up to 57%.
A new treatment protocol that includes accurate CT scan analysis and complex surgical technique has significantly increased long-term survival for patients with previously inoperable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. On average, patients lived about 30 months after tumor removal, nearly three times longer than those who never underwent surgery.
Researchers found that smoking contributes to higher hospital costs for surgical patients, with an estimated $900 added cost per patient. The study suggests the need for preoperative behavioral interventions targeting smoking cessation to improve surgical outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
A study found that lung procedure patients who watched a 30-minute preparation video reported less anxiety, physical pain, and higher satisfaction with their operative experience. The video also helped patients prepare for post-operative care and quit smoking.
A national cohort of recent medical school graduates revealed significant disparities in general surgery board certification among women and minority groups. The study found that these groups were more likely to leave the surgery workforce or not complete the certification process, impacting patient care and healthcare outcomes.
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that early surgical intervention for children with perforated appendicitis reduces hospital charges and clinical complications. Early appendectomy patients had better outcomes and fewer adverse events compared to those who underwent the procedure later.