Editor’s Note Large language models (LLMs) outperformed traditional methods in predicting postoperative complications, according to a study on artificial intelligence (AI) in perioperative risk assessment published February 11 in the journal Nature. Results indicate AI-driven models could enhance patient safety and streamline clinical workflows by detecting complications earlier. Researchers analyzed…

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Editor's Note Patients aged 50 to 70 undergoing heart valve replacement may benefit from mechanical valves over biological ones, according to a new study from the University of Bristol. Healthcare-in-Europe.com reported the news February 13. As detailed in the article, short-term outcomes between the two options were similar. However, mechanical…

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Editor's Note A large international clinical trial found that incisional negative pressure wound therapy (iNPWT) does not reduce surgical site infections (SSIs) following emergency laparotomy. The SUNRRISE trial, conducted across 34 hospitals in the UK and Australia and published January 27 in Jama Network, randomized 821 patients to receive either…

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Editor's Note Patients who engage in prehabilitation—exercise, diet changes, and social support—before surgery significantly reduce their risk of complications, shorten hospital stays, and improve recovery, according to a new evidence review in The BMJ. As reported January 24 by HealthDay, the analysis of 186 clinical trials involving more than 15,500…

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Editor's Note Sleep surgery outperforms continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in reducing of motor vehicle accidents (MVA) risk among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), particularly those with poor CPAP adherence or severe disease, according to research published January 21 by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.…

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Editor's Note An EHR-integrated closed-loop clinical decision support system (CDSS) significantly reduced unnecessary preoperative testing, improved patient safety, and significantly reduced costs across two hospitals in Madrid, Spain. As detailed in a study published January 3 in npj digital medicine, this system demonstrates the potential of automated guidelines to optimize…

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Editor's Note Optimizing surgeon stress could enhance surgical performance and patient outcomes, according to a large cohort study published January 15 in JAMA Surgery. Researchers focused particularly on physiological markers of surgeon stress during the first 5 minutes of a procedure, revealing a significant inverse relationship with major patient complications.…

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Editor's Note Postoperative thirst, affecting up to 89.6% of surgical patients, is a significant yet often overlooked source of discomfort, according to a recent study of ward and OR nurses in Japan. Published December 30 in Cureus, the study of how nurses recognized and address postoperative thirst revealed gaps in…

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Editor's Note A study published in JAMA Surgery revealed that hospitals owned by private equity firms had significantly worse outcomes for esophagectomy patients compared to non-acquired hospitals. As detailed in a January 2 report on the findings in MedPage Today, the analysis of over 9,000 cases highlights disparities in 30-day…

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Editor's Note Findings from The ARRC II study show using advanced recovery room care (ARRC) for medium-risk surgical patients significantly reduces 18-month postoperative mortality compared to standard ward care. As detailed in a December 11 research letter in JAMA Surgery, this benefit appears linked to minimizing early postoperative complications, which…

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