Editor's Note Robotic-assisted cardiac surgery had significantly reduced length of stay, complications, and mortality compared with nonrobotic surgery in this study. Robotic-assisted had a higher median cost than nonrobotic surgery ($39,030 vs $36,340). The results show that robotic-assisted is as safe as nonrobotic cardiac surgery and offers surgeons an additional…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration on August 5 categorized the recall of 6,912 units of Medtronic Cardiovascular Surgery’s EnVeo R loading system as Class I, the most serious. The loading system is used with the CoreValve Evolut R replacement heart valve. The recall was issued over concerns about…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration on August 5 issued a Safety Communication on serious adverse events linked to left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Two implantable LVADs are approved by the FDA (HeartMate II by Thoratec Corporation and HeartWare HVAD by HeartWare Inc), and serious events have been associated…

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Editor's Note Patients exposed to radiation during cardiac computed tomographic angiography had evidence of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage that was associated with cell death, DNA damage in cells, and activation of genes involved in DNA repair, in this study. Most cells damaged by the CT scan were repaired, but a…

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Editor's Note The use of hybrid coronary revascularization is safe and effective, with faster recovery and similar outcomes compared to conventional coronary artery bypass grafting, this study finds. The 30-day composite of mortality, myocardial infarction, or stroke was similar for both procedures, as was mortality during a 3-year follow-up period.…

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Editor's Note This study found that current and former smoking by surgical patients negatively influenced outcomes following major cardiovascular and oncology procedures. Current smokers had higher odds of overall, pulmonary, wound, and septic/shock complications compared with nonsmokers. The odds of having adverse outcomes were significantly lower in former smokers, but…

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Our Take The University of Cincinnati Medical Center invested $6 million to upgrade an OR into a hybrid OR for heart and vascular procedures. The cost was about three times the cost of a non-hybrid OR. The 854 sq ft room includes $2.6 million in equipment and advanced medical imaging devices.…

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Hybrid ORs are proliferating in response to market, surgeon, and even patient demands, but building the business case for this technology can be challenging. “It’s a very expensive proposition,” says Lynne Ingle, MHA, BS, RN, CNOR, project manager for Gene Burton & Associates, a healthcare technology consulting company in Franklin,…

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The expanded volume of interventional cardiology in recent years has played a major role in the growing prevalence of hybrid ORs. As a result, many perioperative services leaders have had to develop systems for managing hybrid ORs along with traditional ORs. “Management of hybrid ORs is really a collision of…

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Everything from washers to cars comes with a warranty, so why not health care? Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pennsylvania, introduced health care warranties with an innovative program called ProvenCare. Under the 90-day warranty, one cost covers the surgery and 90 days of follow-up treatment. Geisinger absorbs any additional costs…

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