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Electrotherapy without surgery is possible

Researchers at Lund University have successfully developed temporary, organic electrodes that can be seamlessly integrated into biological systems. This breakthrough enables the possibility of bioelectronics being implanted in and removed from the body without surgery.

SourceLund University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 21, 2023

Breast size affects women's attitudes to exercise

A new study published in JPRAS Open found that breast size affects women's attitudes towards exercise, with larger breasts leading to less frequent exercise. However, after breast reduction surgery, women reported increased overall frequency, enjoyment and willingness to exercise in a group.

SourceFlinders University·JournalJPRAS Open·TypeSurvey·DateAug 17, 2023

Opioids, methadone and babies

A new study published in JAMA Network Open shows that methadone use following surgery in infants can increase hospital stay and delay recovery. Babies who required methadone needed to stay in the hospital an average of 21 days longer after surgery, as well as more days on ventilators and IV nutrition.

SourceChildren's Hospital Los Angeles·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateAug 8, 2023

Octapharma's prothrombin complex concentrate, Balfaxar®, receives FDA approval for warfarin reversal in urgent surgery & invasive procedures

Octapharma's Balfaxar, a prothrombin complex concentrate, has received FDA approval for the urgent reversal of acquired coagulation factor deficiency induced by vitamin K antagonist therapy. The product demonstrated effective hemostasis in 94.6% of patients and was non-inferior to comparator Kcentra.

SourceYankee Public Relations·TypeObservational study·DateJul 26, 2023

Cardiac rehabilitation reduces risk of death years after heart surgery, still underutilized

A Michigan Medicine study finds that patients who participate in cardiac rehabilitation have a decreased risk of death years after surgery. The greatest reduction in mortality was found in patients who completed 36 or more sessions, highlighting the need for targeted efforts to improve participation and adherence.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 19, 2023

New study offers hope for sensory recovery in patients with lower lip numbness

A new study published in International Journal of Oral Science reveals that 75% of patients experience nearly complete pain sensation sensory recovery within 12 months after surgery. Younger patients and those with malignant tumors show faster recovery times, highlighting potential for improved quality of life.

SourceWest China Hospital of Sichuan University·JournalInternational Journal of Oral Science·DateJul 12, 2023

Cannabis use associated with increased risk of surgical complications, according to UTHealth Houston study

A UTHealth Houston study found that regular cannabis users are more likely to experience complications before, during, and after surgery. Patients with a cannabis use disorder (CUD) were approximately 20% more likely to suffer significant postoperative complications than those without CUD.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalJAMA Surgery·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 5, 2023

State medical cannabis laws not associated with reduced use of opioid or nonopioid pain treatments

A study of commercially insured adults with chronic noncancer pain found that state medical cannabis laws did not lead to a reduction in the use of opioid or nonopioid pain treatments. The researchers also suggested slow implementation and reluctance among healthcare leaders may have contributed to these findings.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 3, 2023

Researchers discover new opportunities for preventing kidney injury following cardiac surgery

A study published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery found that lower oxygen delivery thresholds are associated with reduced risk of kidney injury. Researchers recommend reevaluating current guidelines for oxygen delivery during cardiopulmonary bypass to minimize unnecessary blood transfusions and improve patient outcomes.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalThe Annals of Thoracic Surgery·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 29, 2023

Staging pancreatic cancer early with minimally invasive surgery shows positive results in patient prognosis, Mayo Clinic study finds

A Mayo Clinic study reveals that minimally invasive surgical procedure staging laparoscopy can identify cancer spread early and determine the stage of pancreatic cancer. The research found a higher risk of cancer spread in patients with certain factors, such as age and tumor markers.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateJun 29, 2023

BMI cutoffs for total shoulder arthroplasty increase health disparities by preventing those in need from undergoing surgery

Researchers at MUSC suggest re-evaluating patients as a whole, considering factors beyond BMI when determining eligibility for total shoulder arthroplasty. This approach could help address health disparities and ensure that those in greatest need receive life-changing procedures.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalJournal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery·DateJun 28, 2023

A Chinese Neurosurgical Journal study presents consensus on the management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage-related hydrocephalus

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage-related hydrocephalus is a complex syndrome that can lead to cognitive impairment and neurological damage. The new consensus guideline recommends standard-of-care approaches, including history review, head CT scans, and medications or surgical interventions to manage excessive intracranial pressure.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalChinese Neurosurgical Journal·TypeLiterature review·DateJun 12, 2023

Study shows partial meniscus removal using needle arthroscopy offers significantly less pain and improved patient outcomes two weeks following surgery

A recent study published in The Journal of Orthopaedics found that patients who underwent partial meniscectomy using a needle arthroscopic technique experienced significantly less pain and improved patient-reported outcomes at two weeks after surgery. However, differences were not sustained at six weeks.

SourceMarshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Orthopaedics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 7, 2023

HKU Oral and Maxillofacial study shows internal fixation surgery linked with improvement in long jaw patients’ quality of life

A study led by Dr Mike YY Leung found that internal fixation surgery using titanium plates and screws (SSRO) improves patients' oral health-related quality of life faster than traditional IVRO. Patients who underwent SSRO had better physical and mental health-related QoL, with improvements starting as early as 2 weeks after surgery.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalClinical Oral Investigations·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 23, 2023

Researchers show that a machine learning model can improve mortality risk prediction for cardiac surgery patients

A new machine learning-based model predicts individual cardiac surgery patient mortality risk with improved performance over current population-derived models. The model uses electronic health records to provide personalized risk assessments, offering a significant advantage over existing benchmarks.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 17, 2023

Lack of belief in body’s ability to function through pain linked to daily pre-surgery prescribed opioid use among candidates for elective spine surgery

A new Johns Hopkins Medicine study found that patients with low pain self-efficacy are more likely to use daily prescribed opioids before surgery. Surgeons can use pain self-efficacy scores to identify high-risk patients and provide education and counseling to improve post-surgery outcomes.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalThe Spine Journal·DateMay 9, 2023

Study finds fluorescent guide can help detect tumor left behind after breast cancer surgery

A clinical trial of 406 patients found that a fluorescent agent allowed surgeons to identify and remove residual tumor tissue with favorable results. The technique showed promising results in detecting tumor tissue missed by standard lumpectomy procedures, potentially avoiding second surgeries for positive margins.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalNEJM Evidence·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 3, 2023

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary vascular disease and left heart disease are not mutually exclusive

A long-term analysis reveals that approximately one-third of CTEPH patients also have left heart disease, which can worsen breathing symptoms and requires more comprehensive diagnostic approaches. The study suggests that treatment options for both conditions may overlap, necessitating further research to find effective therapies.

SourceMedical University of Vienna·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateApr 27, 2023

Black and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients with vascular disease have worse symptoms, bypass outcomes

A study of over 7,000 patients found that Black and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients with vascular disease have more severe symptoms before bypass surgery and are at greater risk for amputation and other complications after the procedure. Advanced disease accounted for up to half the effect of race on odds for amputation after ...

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalAnnals of Surgery·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 19, 2023

New study identifies key risk factors for surgical site infection following commonly performed surgery

A new study has identified key risk factors for surgical site infections (SSIs) following abdominal hysterectomies. The analysis of over 66,000 procedures found that patients with open surgery, obesity, diabetes, and younger age were more likely to experience an SSI.

SourceAssociation for Professionals in Infection Control·JournalAmerican Journal of Infection Control·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 30, 2023

Study indicates that proactive patient education and recruitment can help improve lung cancer screening rates in the primary care setting

A proactive patient education/recruitment program, administered with a nurse navigator, identified 37.3% more eligible patients for low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screenings for lung cancer. The program led to a 42% increase in LDCT prescriptions among willing and eligible patients.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateMar 28, 2023

Analysis of 3.6 million patient surgeries in England suggests it is safe to operate on patients 2 weeks after a positive COVID diagnosis, as long as they have recovered

A new UK study of 3.6 million surgeries found that operating within 2 weeks of a positive COVID test is safe for recovered patients, with lower mortality rates compared to current guidelines. The study suggests that delaying surgery might cause more harm than good, particularly in patients who have already waited longer for surgery.

SourceAAGBI·JournalAnaesthesia·DateMar 23, 2023

Hitchhiker plants inspire improved techniques for reattaching tendon to bone

Researchers developed a new approach to suturing based on the mechanics and spacing of a hitchhiker plant's attachment system, promising to balance forces across sutures and reduce failure rates in surgical procedures. The findings were published in Proceedings of the Royal Society A.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences·DateMar 14, 2023

Hospitals face challenges when implementing enhanced recovery programs for surgery

The study analyzed data from 151 hospitals that participated in an ISCR protocol for colorectal surgery to determine if they improved or worsened in complying with ERP process measures over an 18-month period. Key findings suggest a significant opportunity to improve compliance and patient outcomes, but inadequate resources and limited...

SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateMar 8, 2023

Will you let a robot assist in surgery on you? The role of advertising in high-tech medical procedures

Researchers analyzed 140,000 patient records and TV ads from Florida to investigate the effectiveness of DTCA for robotics surgery. The study found that patients exposed to robotic surgery advertising were more likely to choose it over conventional laparoscopic and open surgeries. Additionally, hospital marketers can use DTCA to sway p...

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateMar 1, 2023

Older Black men are likelier to die after surgery than others, particularly following elective procedures, new UCLA research suggests

Researchers found that Black men have a higher mortality rate after surgery compared to other groups, with a 50% higher risk of death after elective procedures. The study suggests that structural racism, poor pre-operative care, and exposure to toxins may contribute to these disparities.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalThe BMJ·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 1, 2023

Study shows one in 25 patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiography-guided transcatheter structural cardiac intervention suffered a major complication

A study analyzing over 12,000 patients found that transesophageal echocardiography-guided transcatheter structural cardiac interventions were associated with a major complication rate of 3.6%. The most frequently reported complication was gastrointestinal bleeding.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalJournal of the American Society of Echocardiography·DateFeb 27, 2023

First-of-its-kind study examines the impact of cannabis use on surgical patients' post-procedure healthcare needs

A recent study published in eClinical Medicine analyzed data from over 210,000 adult patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery in Boston between 2008 and 2020. The researchers found that cannabis users had a higher complexity of co-existing conditions, including mood disorders and substance use disorders, compared to non-users. Patients ...