Study: Preop epidural injections increase SSI risk after spinal fusion
Editor's Note Lumbar spinal fusion performed within 3 months after lumbar epidural steroid injections was associated with a statistically significant increase in postoperative infections in this study. The association was not found when surgery was performed more than 3 months after steroid injections. Of 88,540 patients analyzed, infection rates were:…
Effect of home-based vs inpatient rehab on mobility after total knee
Editor's Note The use of inpatient rehabilitation compared with a monitored home-based program did not improve mobility at 26 weeks after total knee surgery, this study finds. In the study, 81 patients received 10 days of hospital inpatient rehabilitation followed by an 8-week home-based program, and 87 patients received only…
ECRI Institute releases top 10 patient safety concerns
Editor's Note The ECRI Institute on March 13 released its 2017 Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for Healthcare Organizations. This yearโs list includes: Information management in electronic health records Unrecognized patient deterioration Implementation and use of clinical decision support Test result reporting and follow-up Antimicrobial stewardship Patient identification Opioid administration…
Standards developed to improve surgical care in elderly
Editor's Note The Coalition for Quality in Geriatric Surgery (CQGS) developed high-quality, valid standards to improve surgical care in the older adult, this study finds. A total of 306 of 308 standards developed were rated as valid to improve quality of geriatric surgery, 290 were rated as feasible, and 18…
FDA issues alert on use of angioplasty devices in TVAM
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 8 issued a Safety Alert about the use of balloon angioplasty devices to perform an experimental procedure, called transvascular autonomic modulation (TVAM). TVAM consists of threading a catheter into a patientโs venous system, such as the jugular vein, where a…
Certified Nurses Day is March 19
Editor's Note The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) on March 8 announced it is joining with hospitals and other healthcare groups across the country to celebrate and recognize the work of certified nurses as part of Certified Nurses Day, March 19. Certified Nurses Day is an annual worldwide event…
Joint Commission evaluating use of non-powdered gloves
Editor's Note As a result of the Food and Drug Administrationโs ban on powdered gloves that went into effect January 18, the Joint Commission is now evaluating organizations on the implementation of non-powdered glove use during accreditation surveys, the Joint Commission announced March 7. Instances of noncompliance are being cited…
Preop opioid use linked to increased costs, worse outcomes
Editor's Note Opioid use before major abdominal surgery was independently associated with increased postoperative healthcare utilization and morbidity in this study. Of 2,413 patients analyzed, 502 used opioids preoperatively. After covariate adjustment, opioid users, compared with non-opioid users had: higher costs ($26,604 vs $24,263) longer lengths of stay (5.9 vs…
App helps surgical patients recover faster
Editor's Note To help surgical patients recover faster, Rush University Medical Center in Chicago has started providing them with a computer app that prompts, monitors, and encourages activities that promote healing. The app, called โSeamlessMD,โ can be downloaded to a patientโs smartphone, tablet, or computer and is part of Rushโs…
Incidence, predictors of in-hospital postop opioid overdose
Editor's Note Opioid overdose is a rare but potentially lethal complication after elective inpatient surgical procedures, and the incidence is increasing, this study finds. Of 11,317,958 patients analyzed, 9,458 (0.1%) had a postoperative opioid overdose, and the frequency doubled during the study period (2001 to 2011) from 0.6 to 1.1…