Editor's Note Researchers have released a surgical technical evidence review for colorectal surgery (published online August 7 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons) as the first step in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery, a nationwide program to…

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Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS) on August 7 announced the release of a new manual, “Optimal Resources for Surgical Quality and Safety,” to help guide surgeons in leading quality improvement and patient safety efforts in their organizations. The collaborative publication from 135 contributing authors and two surgeon…

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Editor's Note Early postoperative hyperglycemia was linked to increased readmissions after gastrointestinal surgery in insulin-dependent diabetic patients, but elevated preoperative hemoglobinA1c was not, this study finds. Higher preoperative hemoglobinA1c levels were associated with increased postoperative glucose level checks and insulin use as well as lower rates of postoperative complications. Though…

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Editor's Note A new study finds a big drop in smoking rates when surgeons get involved in helping patients quit before surgery through the "Strong for Surgery" program. The study was presented July 23 at the 2017 American College of Surgeons (ACS) Quality and Safety Conference. Strong for Surgery is…

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Editor's Note An Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) program for colorectal surgery patients shortened hospital length of stay by more than half, reduced complications by more than one-third, and cut costs by some $11,000 per procedure, finds a study presented July 23 at the American College of Surgeons 2017 Quality…

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Editor's Note The Mayo Clinic is offering a 5-day surgery fellowship program for journalists, sponsored by the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Journalists will see the surgical process from preop to recovery, including time in the operating room, and they will receive an in-depth look at the latest…

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Editor's Note Women with breast cancer who have nipple-sparing mastectomies have a low rate of cancer recurrence in the first 5 years, this study finds. Of 311 patients with nipple-sparing mastectomies analyzed, 17 developed a recurrence of their cancer at 51 months median follow-up. Estimated disease-free survival was 95.7% at…

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Editor's Note Safety-net hospitals treat a disproportionate number of patients with advanced appendicitis and use laparoscopy less often, but their rates of morbidity and costs are similar to other hospitals, this study finds. In this analysis of 349 nonfederally funded hospitals in California performing 274,405 appendectomies, safety-net (compared with non-safety-net)…

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Editor's Note The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons have jointly published new clinical practice guidelines on enhanced recovery after colon and rectal surgery. The enhanced recovery protocol is multidisciplinary, including physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and dietitians and involves all aspects of care…

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Editor's Note Development of and adherence to quality indicators by providers may improve the quality of emergency general surgery, for which current outcomes are modifiable, finds this study. Of 25 quality indicators developed and rated as valid, there were 13 for patient-level and 12 for hospital-level quality. Adherence with 18…

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