Frequent simulation-based training improves CPR proficiency
Editor's Note A new training model at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospitals improved cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in emergency room nurses, finds this study presented November 15 at the American Heart Associationโs Scientific Sessions 2016. Quarterly training sessions using mobile simulation stations for 1 year led to improved…
Same-day discharge for appendectomy patients
Editor's Note Patients who have a laparoscopic appendectomy can go home the same day of surgery with similar outcomes to patients who spent a night in the hospital, this study finds. In this analysis of 12,703 patients, those who were discharged the same day of surgery had an overall readmission…
Impact of disability and social determinants on readmissions
Editor's Note Disability and social determinants of health influence readmission risk differently when added to the Medicare risk adjustment models for the three conditions Medicare focuses on for hospital payment, finds this study. Pneumonia patients who already had difficulties with activities of daily living (ADL) before admission were more likely…
FDA issues final rule on adverse event reporting for manufacturers
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on November 8 published its final rule on the requirements for reporting adverse events by medical device companies, the November 14 Medical Design & Outsourcing reports. The final rule walks back much of the burden for contract manufacturers that was in the…
Effect of intraop adverse events on outcomes
Editor's Note Intraoperative adverse events are independently associated with substantial increases in 30-day postoperative mortality, morbidity, and prolonged length of stay in abdominal surgery patients, this study finds. Postoperative complications associated with intraoperative adverse events included deep/organ-space surgical site infections, sepsis, pneumonia, and failure to wean from ventilator. Of 9,288…
Surgical residents prefer flexible work hours
Editor's Note This study finds that general surgery residents strongly prefer work hour policies that allow them the flexibility to work longer hours when needed to provide patient care over the standard, more restrictive work schedules required by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The preference for flexibility becomes…
New RBC treatment may reduce transfusion side effects
Editor's Note Pretreating red blood cells (RBCs) with nitric oxide may reduce the risk of pulmonary hypertension, a dangerous side effect of transfusions, finds this study. The Food and Drug Administration allows transfusion of RBCs that have been stored for 42 days. However, recent studies suggest that transfusion of RBCs…
Heater-cooler devices linked to Mycobacterium chimaera outbreak
Editor's Note A global outbreak of Mycobacterium chimaera has been linked to heater-cooler devices used in cardiac surgery, this study finds. Investigators found M chimaera in heater-cooler device water circuits and air samples while the devices were running, suggesting airborne transmission from the device to the surgical site. New heater-cooler…
Study: Total hip outcomes are gender specific
Editor's Note Total hip outcomes such as pain, function, range of motion, and strength are different for men and women, which could lead to gender-specific rehabilitation programs, finds this study presented November 9 at the 2016 ACR/ARHP [American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals] Annual Meeting. Researchers from the…
Use of 3D printing increasing in radiology
Editor's Note Though the use of 3D printing is not new in radiology, its adoption has increased as the technology has matured, the November 9 Health Data Management reports. The value of the printer is the ability to create a model of a body part before a surgical procedureโto hold…