Study: Nearly 1 in 3 patients used no opioids after surgery
Editor's Note Nearly a third of patients used none of the opioids prescribed to them after surgery, finds this study presented by Mayo Clinic researchers April 19 at the American Surgical Association annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. This survey of 1,907 patients who had 25 common surgical procedures at three…
ECRI Institute announces healthcare supply chain award winners
Editor's Note The ECRI Institute on April 23 announced the winners of its seventh annual Healthcare Supply Chain Achievement Award, which recognizes hospitals and healthcare systems for their comprehensive and effective use of ECRI Institute’s PriceGuide™ and SELECTplus® supply and capital procurement advisory programs. Eleven winners were selected from nearly…
Neuropsychological, behavioral outcomes after exposure of young children to general anesthesia
Editor's Note This study from the Mayo Clinic of children undergoing general anesthesia before age 3 supports earlier findings of no significant impact on intelligence. However, multiple exposures may be tied to behavioral or learning difficulties. In this analysis of 997 children (411 unexposed, 380 singly exposed, 206 multiply exposed)…
ACS advocates for a consensus strategy on preventing firearm violence
Editor's Note In an effort to bridge political differences and provide a constructive path forward, leaders of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma on April 19 released a set of strategies to reduce firearm-related injury, disability, and death by making ownership of firearms as safe as possible.…
Study: Residual moisture, waterborne pathogens found inside flexible endoscopes
Editor's Note Inadequate reprocessing and insufficient drying contributed to retained fluid and contamination found inside flexible endoscopes in this study led by noted epidemiologist Cori L. Ofstead. Of 45 endoscopes analyzed at 3 hospitals, fluid was detected in 49%, and the prevalence of moisture varied significantly by site (5%, 83%,…
FDA issues letter to healthcare providers on risks of endoscope connectors
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on April 18 alerted healthcare providers and facilities about the risk of cross-contamination with 24-hour, multipatient use connectors used in gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. Endoscope connectors are small accessories used to connect the auxiliary water channel to a water source and irrigation tubing.…
Report predicts growth for spinal fusion devices
Editor's Note A Coherent Market Insights report predicts the global market for spinal fusion devices is set to grow at a 4.6% compound annual growth rate through 2025, after hitting $7.5 billion in 2016, according to the April 17 Becker’s Spine Review. The increasing incidence of spinal deformities will boost…
Parents’ vs surgeons’ expectations during concurrent pediatric surgery
Editor's Note In this study, a significant mismatch was found between parents’ and pediatric surgeons’ expectations on the role of the surgeon on the day of surgery, with parents expecting more direct involvement by the attending surgeon. A total of 110 parents and 84 pediatric surgeons and surgical residents completed…
Joint Commission issues new Sentinel Event Alert on violence against healthcare workers
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on April 17 announced that it had issued a new Sentinel Event Alert 59: Physical and verbal violence against healthcare workers. The Joint Commission issued the alert during Workplace Violence Awareness Month to help healthcare workers in hospitals and other healthcare settings recognize violence from…
FDA approves firmware update for Abbott ICDs, CRT-Ds
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on April 17 announced that it had approved a firmware update that is now available for certain Abbott (formerly St Jude Medical) implantable cardiac devices (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds). The update is a corrective action (recall) to reduce the…