Editor's Note Pulse oximeters may overestimate blood oxygen levels in critically ill patients with darker skin tones, according to a March 30 article in HCP Live. The article focuses on the EquiOx study, conducted at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital between 2022 and 2024. Presented at the American College…

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Editor's Note Aortic root cannulas from Medtronic are the subject of the latest US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) class 1 recall, the most serious category reserved for risk of injury or death. Affected products include the DLP Aortic Root Cannula, MiAR Cannula, and DLP Aortic Root Cannula with Vent…

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Editor's Note Rising tariff-related costs are expected to significantly impact hospital budgets and healthcare supply chains, according to a March 27 report in Becker’s Hospital Review. The article focuses on a recent survey conducted by Black Book Market Research in January before the US enacted 25% tariffs on Canadian and…

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Editor's Note Arthroplasty implants may release metals that accumulate in the central nervous system (CNS), potentially contributing to neurotoxic effects, according to a study published March 28 in JAMA Network Open. Researchers found that patients with large joint replacements had significantly higher levels of cobalt, chromium, titanium, niobium, and zirconium…

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Editor's Note Legislation introduced in the US House of Representatives seeks to expand access to anesthesia care for veterans by granting Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) full practice authority within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act of 2025 is sponsored by Representatives…

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Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has deemed Smiths Medical’s recall of Proport Plastic Implantable Ports a Class 1, the most severe designation indicating serious risk of injury or death. The devices are designed for repeated venous access for injections, infusions, and/or blood samples. According to the…

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Editor's Note Chief data officer (CDO) is a fast-growing C-suite role across the economy, with the notable exception of healthcare. The reasons why might be surprising: these roles have already been filled. Rather than growing, they are evolving. That’s the primary message of a March 4 report in Becker’s Hospital…

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Editor's Note A new partnership between OrganOx and ProCure On-Demand aims to increase the number of viable donor livers for transplantation by combining advanced perfusion technology with expert recovery services, Fierce Healthcare reported March 17. The collaboration seeks to reduce the number of discarded organs and improve transplant success rates…

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Editor's Note Although hospitals are already integrating artificial intelligence (AI), nurses warn that the technology may undermine their expertise and compromise patient care, The Associated Press (AP) reported March 16. The push for AI in healthcare stems from widespread nursing shortages. More than 100,000 nurses left the workforce during the…

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Editor's Note From operational efficiency and budgetary concerns to staffing issues and vendor relationships, the day-to-day concerns of perioperative professionals are fully reflected in the agenda for the 2025 OR Manager Conference, scheduled for October 28-30 in Anaheim, California. The line-up of in-depth, targeted educational sessions is divided into seven…

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