FDA grants Stryker premarket approval for intracranial aneurysm stent
Editor's Note Stryker announced on May 20 that the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) granted premarket approval for its Neuroform Atlas stent system for intracranial aneurysms, the May 20 MassDevice reports. The self-expanding nitinol stent can now be used with neurovascular embolization coils to treat patients with saccular wide-necked…
Lower ED triage scores linked to delayed antibiotics for sepsis patients
Editor's Note Antibiotic delivery is significantly faster for sepsis patients treated in an emergency department (ED) if they are assigned a higher score on an acuity scale used for patient triage, finds this study presented May 22 at ATS 2019, the annual international conference of the American Thoracic Society in…
FDA letter updates mortality risk in patients receiving Abiomed Impella RP System
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 21 released a letter to healthcare professionals about the most recent, interim post-approval study (PAS) results for the Abiomed Impella RP System, a percutaneous heart pump for right heart support. The latest interim results show a lower survival rate…
Effect of regional anesthesia on readmission rates, costs after TKA
Editor's Note Regional anesthesia was not associated with decreased readmission rates and costs after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in this study. In this analysis of 138,362 privately insured TKA patients 18-64 years of age, the adjusted 90-day readmission rate was 1.8% for those who did not receive regional anesthesia compared…
DHS releases action guide for healthcare facilities on active shooter incidents
Editor's Note The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued an action guide for active shooter incidents specifically for hospitals and healthcare facilities. The action guide includes potential indicators of an individual who may become an active shooter. It also gives recommendations for staff on what they should do if…
IV bags of normal saline, D5W do not support bacterial growth 24 hours after spiking
Editor's Note No bacterial growth was found in any of 257 samples of normal saline and dextrose 5% in water (D5W) 24 hours after using standard sterile techniques to spike them in the perioperative area. Two 1000 mL bags of IV normal saline and D5W were spiked and hung in…
FDA issues warning on use of unauthorized devices for diabetes management
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on May 17 issued a warning to patients and healthcare professionals on the risks associated with the use of unapproved or unauthorized devices for diabetes management, including continuous glucose monitoring systems, insulin pumps, and automated insulin dosing systems. The use of these…
How will artificial intelligence impact surgical patient care? Part 2
As part of a special series on artificial intelligence (AI), OR Manager is taking a deep dive into the many facets of this new technology and its impact on patient care. Part 1 of this introduction to the series (OR Manager, May 2019, 1, 7-11) defined several different types of…
OR leaders see benefits of briefer NPO period
Though long fasting before a surgical procedure is tied to increased patient risks, the outdated guideline of NPO after midnight continues to be practiced by many healthcare organizations. In 1999, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) revised their fasting guidelines to clear liquids up to 2 hours before surgery and…
Editorial
Nearly 40 “awareness” or prevention and education wellness initiatives are listed for the month of May—among them, National Nurses Week, World Hand Hygiene Day, and Mental Health Month. Mental health caught my eye because it was a featured topic at the World Healthcare Congress in Washington, DC, where a panel…