Editor's Note In a recent study, black children undergoing emergency appendectomy had a four times greater risk of postoperative complications than white children, independent of socioeconomic status or type of appendicitis. Anaesthesia, the journal of the Association of Anaesthetists, published the findings February 22. Researchers note that this is the…

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There is movement happening in the world of surgical gowns. It is driven in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought new focus to the need for adequate stockpiles of personal protective equipment (PPE)—and for PPE that works as intended. Staff need to know their gowns incorporate the latest technology…

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Editor's Note The impact of body mass index (BMI) on hernia recurrence is likely overstated, and symptomatic patients should not be denied abdominal wall reconstruction procedures due to an arbitrary BMI cutoff of 35 kg/m2. This is the conclusion of a study published February 1 in the journal Surgery by…

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Editor's Note A recent study shows show skin antisepsis with iodine povacrylex in alcohol could result in fewer surgical-site infections among patients with closed extremity fractures than antisepsis with chlorhexidine gluconate in alcohol. Published February 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study shows similar results between the…

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Editor's Note Benefits to mood and sleep should be considered in preoperative consultations with patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, according to a study published February 12 in the journal Surgery. The researchers’ recommendation reportedly departs from the latest recommendations published according to the primary hyperparathyroidism surgical consensus, which exclude these neuropsychological…

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Editor's Note After three days of education and networking last week at the 2024 OR Business Management Conference (ORMBC) last week, we’ve already got our sights set on next year. Mark your calendar for February 9-12, 2025, for another chance to hone in on OR profitability at the 13th iteration…

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Editor's Note The FDA has announced a recall of the Atrium Express Dry Suction Dry Seal Chest Drain, a disposable device used to remove air and/or fluid from the chest cavity or mediastinum and to aid in lung expansion and breathing. The drain is being recalled by maker Maquet Cardiovascular,…

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Editor's Note Robotic surgery can improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and improve efficiencies and turnover time, but only if it’s done right. In a conference session yesterday,  Michelle Toder, MD offered insights, best practices, and lessons learned during two decades of experience in pioneering robotic applications in weight loss and…

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Editor's Note Understanding the impact of value-based care on the surgical suite (VBC) will be essential for hospitals to understand as payers begin to seek partners in new payment models. In a conference session yesterday, Lauren Cricchi, associate principal, financial services at Avalere Healthcare and Katie Sullivan, senior vice president,…

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Editor's Note For Northwell Health University System, a large hospital system in New York state, saving millions in OR expenses in just a few years’ time was possible not just through meticulous analytics, but also cultural transformation. This was among the chief conclusions of a session led by Adam Becker,…

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