Study reveals common symptoms, diagnosis delays in early-onset colorectal cancer
Editor's Note A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis, published by JAMA Network on May 24 and encompassing 81 studies and over 24.9 million patients, shed light on the signs and symptoms associated with early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) and highlighted significant delays in diagnosis. The analysis identified the most common presenting…
Florida allows C-sections outside hospitals amid controversy over safety, cost
Editor's Note Florida became the first US state to permit doctors to perform cesarean sections (C-sections) outside hospitals, siding with a private equity-owned physicians group advocating for cost reduction and a homier birthing environment, KFF Health News and HealthLeaders May 28 reports. However, the hospital industry and the American College…
Study: Quality for nonsurgical care declined for non-COVID patients during 2020 COVID-19 surges
Editor's Note A recent analysis from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) of over 19 million hospital discharges in the US showed a significant decline in the quality of nonsurgical care for non-COVID-19 patients during the 2020 COVID-19 surges, Healthcare Purchasing News May 28 reports. Specifically, the study…
Surgery benefits transplant-ineligible HCC patients more than less invasive options
Editor's Note Liver resection provides a significant survival benefit over percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) or transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with early multinodular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to findings published May 15 in JAMA Surgery. Thus, liver resection should be considered the first therapeutic option in patients with early multinodular…
Colorado passes first state-level AI regulations
Editor's Note Colorado is the first state in naton to pass legislation regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in pivotal decision-making, including in healthcare, according to a May 22 report in Politico. The new law has sparked significant debate, according to the report, with some viewing it as a…
Florida becomes first state to allow C-sections outside of hospitals
Editor's Note Florida has become the first state to permit doctors to perform cesarean sections (C-sections) outside of hospitals, according to a May 28 report in KFF Health News. The change allows for the establishment of "advanced birth centers" where C-sections and vaginal deliveries can be conducted for low-risk pregnancies.…
Study: Infection risk unaffected by colonoscopy, joint replacement timing
Editor's Note A study published May 7 in JAMA Open found no significant risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) when colonoscopy is performed within one year of total joint arthroplasty (TJA), whether the colonoscopy was done before or after the surgery. However, certain comorbidities such as kidney and pulmonary disease,…
Nurse practitioner earnings rise
Editor's Note The average annual wage for nurse practitioners has increased by a total of more than $16,000 since 2019, according to a May 23 report in Beckerโs ASC Review. In 2019, the mean annual wage was $111,840, compared to $128,490 in 2023, according to the report, which cites data…
Study: Ozempic slows disease, reduces cardiovascular risk in CKD, diabetes patients
Editor's Note Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic diabetes treatment and Wegovy weight-loss treatment, outperformed a placebo and demonstrated capacity to reduce risk of death from kidney-related or cardiovascular causes in a recent study of patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease spearheaded by manufacturer Novo Nordisk. Published…
Colon cancer study: Robots harvest more lymph nodes than conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS)
Editor's Note Although robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RLS) and conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS) offer similar survival outcomes for sigmoid colon cancer, RLS harvests comparatively more lymph nodes, according to a study published May 10 in the Journal of Robotic Surgery. According to a May 15 report on the study in The…