Articles tagged with Surgical Procedures
A recent survey of women undergoing gynecologic surgery found that most were not concerned about the effects on their sex lives, despite 37% expressing worries about reduced desire after sterilization. Hormone levels are not affected by these procedures.
A study found that the rate of complex spinal fusion procedures for lower back issues increased significantly among Medicare recipients between 2002-2007, resulting in higher hospital charges and life-threatening complications. Decompression and simple fusion procedures saw a decline in rates during this period.
A new study reveals that the utilization of minimally invasive aneurysm repair varies by region due to patient risk factors and physician experience. The study found a strong correlation between higher-risk patient populations and physicians more experienced in treating aneurysms.
Researchers delayed onset of type 2 diabetes in rats by relocating a portion of the small intestine, identifying biochemical changes that may contribute to this effect. The study's findings suggest bariatric surgery may improve type 2 diabetes without relying on weight loss.
A large eight-year study found that Medicare patients are 5.5 times more likely to undergo routine cataract surgery than those receiving care from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The disparity may be attributed to financial incentives, physician-driven decisions, or a lack of ophthalmologists within the VA system.
A study found that parents of children who underwent tonsillectomy or ear tube placement recalled an average of 57% of surgical risks immediately after counseling and 57% after surgery. Despite detailed data sheets and counseling, no parent was able to recall all nine intended surgical risks.
A study of 56 patients who underwent revisional bariatric surgery found a higher risk of complications compared to the initial procedure. Patients experienced significant weight loss and resolution of nutritional complications, but also faced serious issues like internal leakage and pneumonia.
A study found that racial and ethnic disparities exist in surgical care, with minority patients facing lower volumes of procedures at higher-quality facilities. White patients were more frequently treated by high-volume surgeons and at high-volume facilities than their minority counterparts.
After the implementation of a new Medicare rule, bariatric surgery procedures were centralized to high-volume centers, resulting in shorter hospital stays and lower complication rates. The shift to minimally invasive procedures also contributed to improved outcomes.
A new surgical technique using synthetic, dissolving plates has shown to effectively repair nasal septum defects with minimal long-term complications. The study found that 93.2% of patients achieved a straight nasal septum and improved nasal airway function after surgery.
University of Florida urologists have developed a robot-assisted vasectomy reversal procedure that cuts average surgery time by 20 minutes, comparable to traditional microscope methods. The robotic procedure also shows quicker return of sperm count and improved efficiency.
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons shows that a volunteer program providing low-risk outpatient surgical procedures can deliver safe and effective health care to patients in need. The program met six quality-of-care guidelines, including safety, efficiency, and patient-centered care.
A recent study published in Archives of Surgery found that older adults are at a higher risk of complications and early death after commonly performed abdominal surgical procedures. The study analyzed data from over 101,000 adults aged 65 or older who underwent common abdominal operations between 1987 and 2004.
An analysis of surgical adverse events at Veterans Health Administration Medical Centers found that communication problems are the leading cause of errors, often occurring early in procedures. The study highlights the need for earlier communication based on crew resource management to prevent surgical adverse events.
Researchers compared two surgical strategies for treating infant heart defects and found that a new shunt procedure improved survival rates at 12 months, but had more complications. However, by two years, the difference in survival rates disappeared, leaving uncertainty about which procedure is safer long-term.
New surgical instruments include a disposable multi-instrument access port, curved hand instruments, and laparoscopic videoscope. These devices help advance single-incision surgical procedures with increased maneuverability and reduced risk.
A HealthGrades study found that patients at top-rated hospitals in the US have a significantly lower risk of dying compared to those at lower-rated hospitals. The study also revealed that Joint Commission stroke-certified hospitals had an 8% lower risk-adjusted mortality rate and were more likely to receive high ratings.
Four national groups of surgeons recommend changes in resident environment, including a reduction of duty-hours standards proposed in 2003. The changes aim to balance patient care and surgical education needs.
Since 2000, there has been a dramatic increase in cosmetic and non-cosmetic surgical procedures performed by dermatologic surgeons, with a 120% growth rate between 2001 and 2007. The procedures with the greatest increases were soft tissue augmentation, botulinum toxin injections, and non-ablative skin rejuvenation.
Researchers at Rush University Medical Center are studying a new catheter-based procedure to treat mitral regurgitation, a serious heart disorder where blood leaks back into the left atrium. The eValve MitraClip device holds the flaps of the valve together, preventing leaking and improving heart function.
A study examined stroke risk among patients undergoing cardiac surgery, finding that post-operative stroke occurred in approximately 2 percent. Patients with combined cardiac and carotid procedures had a significantly higher incidence of postoperative stroke, suggesting that these procedures should be avoided.
The guidelines focus on non-cardiac surgery, with an emphasis on assessing clinical risk factors and testing for ischaemic heart disease. Recommended medications include beta-blockers, statins, aspirin, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.
A UT Southwestern study found that minorities have worse clinical outcomes and higher rates of complications from carotid endartectomy, a procedure to prevent stroke. Higher rates of poor outcomes were due to elevated patient risk and the individual skill experience of surgeons.
The HealthGrades study found that bariatric surgery patients at five-star hospitals have a significantly lower risk of complications and shorter hospital stays compared to those at poorly rated hospitals. Higher-volume programs also showed better outcomes.
Glaucoma surgical procedures have been increasing, but Medicare payments for the procedures have been decreasing. The analysis found that average payments for trabeculoplasties decreased over time, while annual payments for cyclodestructive procedures and shunt-related procedures increased.
A new study published in JAMA found that tubular diskectomy, a minimally invasive procedure for treating sciatica, does not provide a significant difference in improvement of functional disability compared to conventional microdiskectomy. Patients who underwent tubular diskectomy fared worse with regard to leg and back pain.
The HealthGrades study identifies hospitals with significantly better maternity care outcomes, including a 76% lower C-section complication rate. The best-performing hospitals also showed a 33% improvement in mortality and morbidity for women's health procedures.
A large-scale analysis of nearly 60,000 patients found bariatric surgery to be relatively safe with complication rates around 10% and a total mortality rate under 1%. The study's findings indicate improved safety measures in modern weight-loss surgery.
Studies found that glove perforation increased surgical site infection rates by 10%, with no association when antibiotics were used. Implementing measures like double gloving and glove replacement can decrease perforation risk.
The study reveals an average waiting time of 5 years for bariatric surgery in Canada, a significantly longer timeframe compared to other surgical procedures. Bariatric surgery has been shown to reduce the risk of death by up to 85% and can save lives.
A Mayo Clinic study found that short preoperative team briefings can improve communication and reduce errors in cardiac surgery. The briefings were conducted prior to the first procedure of the day and resulted in a 53% reduction in miscommunication events.
The Olympus platform enables surgeons to perform gallbladder removal, hernia repair, appendectomy, and urological or gynecological surgery through a single incision in the belly button. The TriPort access system and EndoEYE technology provide high-quality images and flexibility for minimal trauma.
A study analyzing 19,363 patients found no significant difference in mortality rates or complications between bariatric surgery centers of excellence and other hospitals. However, these centers performed more procedures annually, resulting in higher costs per patient.
The American College of Surgeons has recognized Mayo Clinic's two Minnesota hospitals, Rochester Methodist and Saint Marys, for achieving exemplary outcomes in five clinical areas. These hospitals demonstrated high quality of surgical care through tracking patient outcomes and implementing safety improvements.
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that a warm-up of 15-20 minutes with simple surgical exercises improves proficiency and alertness in surgeons. The research shows that warm-up exercises can benefit even fatigued surgeons, leading to better performance during operations.
According to the HealthGrades Seventh Annual Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence study, patients treated at top-rated hospitals experience a 27% lower risk of death compared to those at other hospitals. These high-performing institutions also have an eight percent lower risk of complications during their stay.
A recent study by UT Southwestern Medical Center found that managed-care plans did not improve the quality or outcome of care for patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. The study examined data from over 11,400 cases and found no difference in rates of inappropriate surgery between managed-care and fee-for-service plans.
A study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center suggests that decompressive surgery without fusion for spinal stenosis offers good value and that fusion surgery for spondylolithesis offers less value. The study analyzed over 3,900 patients and found that laminectomy costs $77,000 per QALY gained, while spinal fusion surgery co...
A study published in the Academy of General Dentistry reveals that stopping antiplatelet medications before dental procedures increases the risk of permanent disability or death. Dentists can help patients by discussing treatment risks and benefits with their physicians.
Researchers found that episodes of dizziness in patients with Ménière's disease decrease over time. Surgery to drain fluid from the inner ear also appears to reduce vertigo in three-fourths of patients, according to a new study.
A study of 130 children with suspected musculoskeletal infections found that pre-treatment MRI can avoid unnecessary diagnostic or surgical procedures. Early MRI evaluation can reduce the need for procedures, even if there's a delay in diagnosis or sedation required.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports a decline in cosmetic surgical procedures due to the economic downturn, with regions like Northeast and Southeast being most affected. In contrast, minimally invasive procedures like Botox, chemical peels, and hyaluronic fillers have seen an increased demand.
The HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study found that top-rated hospitals have a significantly lower mortality rate, with an average of 14.17% improvement from 2005 to 2007. If all hospitals performed at the level of five-star rated hospitals, 237,420 Medicare deaths could potentially be prevented.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons shows that unsponsored web sites have significantly higher quality information compared to commercially sponsored ones. The researchers suggest that surgeons can help patients find reliable information by providing them with technical search terms.
A retrospective study of 103 carotid endarterectomies in 95 patients aged 80-94 found a low incidence of neurologic complications. The combined stroke and death rate was 2.91 percent, indicating that age alone should not disqualify patients from this surgery.
Surgeons at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center combined three innovative minimally invasive spine surgery procedures to correct spinal curvature in adults. The procedures involved accessing damaged disc material, replacing it with spacers filled with bone and a protein that promotes fusion.
A study conducted by researchers at Emory University and Johns Hopkins University found that chronic infection is the primary cause of tonsillectomy in adults. Over 50% of adult patients who underwent the procedure had chronic infection as a contributing factor, while no trends in complications emerged.
Researchers at the University of Maryland Medical Center developed a minimally invasive procedure to bypass narrowed aortic valves in high-risk elderly patients. The study showed that this procedure can be performed safely without stopping the heart and offers effective treatment for those who were previously considered too frail for s...
A study found that smoking is associated with a higher rate of bleeding in patients undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and tonsillectomy. Smokers experienced a 10.9% post-operative hemorrhage rate, compared to 3.3% for non-smokers.
A team of urologists has successfully used robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery to repair abnormal openings between the bladder and vagina, known as fistulas. The procedure resulted in less blood loss and faster recovery times compared to traditional abdominal surgery, offering a promising alternative for women with this condition.
Top-rated hospitals have significantly higher volumes and lower complication rates for bariatric surgeries. The study found that patients treated at five-star rated hospitals have a 41% lower chance of experiencing one or more inhospital complications compared to three-star rated facilities.
A study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found that office-based plastic surgery is as safe as hospital-based surgery, with a mortality rate of 0.002 percent. The study reviewed over 1.1 million procedures performed in accredited outpatient facilities.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons predicts over 55 million cosmetic surgery procedures will be performed in 2015, a quadruple increase from 2005. Non-surgical procedures are expected to drive growth, with 88% of ASPS Member Surgeon procedures being non-surgical.
The study found that implementing endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair reduces overall mortality in patients. Older patients and those who are hemodynamically stable experience the largest improvements in survival, shifting high-risk patients to this treatment option.
Researchers found that total hip replacements improve physical functioning and increase ability to care for oneself in seniors with osteoarthritis. The study also showed cost savings for the healthcare system due to reduced long-term disability costs.
A study by Rush University Medical Center found that the Z-plasty technique significantly improves nasal airflow and reduces recovery time compared to traditional open rhinoplasty. The minimally invasive procedure shows promise as an effective treatment option for patients with internal nasal valve collapse.
Researchers presented preliminary results of a prospective randomized controlled trial showing NOTES to be equally successful as traditional laparoscopic surgery, but taking longer. The study also demonstrated complex surgeries can be performed via the mouth using flexible endoscopes.
The study found that in-hospital death rates following CABG decreased from 5.4% in 1988 to 3.3% in 2003, with hospitals performing the fewest procedures experiencing the largest decreases. This suggests that quality care practices have improved everywhere, regardless of hospital volume.
A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine has found that carotid stenting with embolic protection is as safe and effective as surgery for patients at high risk for endarterectomy. The SAPPHIRE study showed equivalent stroke and repeat procedure outcomes between the two groups.
A study of 703 burn patients found that younger age, neck or arm burns, and surgical procedures increased the risk of abnormal scarring. Females and those with multiple surgeries had a higher risk of pathologic scarring.