Tag: Preoperative Care

Factors linked to, lessons learned from reduced mortality during military conflicts

Editor's Note The increased use of tourniquets, blood transfusions, and reduced time to surgical treatment (ie, within 1 hour) were the main factors that reduced mortality 44.2% during military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, this study finds. From October 2001 through December 2017, survival increase three-fold among the most critically…

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By: Judy Mathias
April 1, 2019
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Long-term opioid use in family members linked to persistent postop use in adolescents, young adults

Editor's Note Long-term opioid use among family members was associated with persistent postoperative opioid use in opioid-naïve adolescents and young adults and should be screened for preoperatively, this study finds. Of 346,251 opioid-naïve patients aged 13 to 21 years having common surgical and dental procedures, persistent opioid use occurred in…

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By: Judy Mathias
March 4, 2019
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Surgical transfer unit allows patients to bypass ED

There are few things more disheartening for patients than having to board in the emergency department (ED) for long periods while waiting for a bed. ED boarding can also delay treatment and adds to overcrowding and backups. Erlanger Health System, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, decided to tackle this problem head…

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By: Catherine Spader, RN
February 20, 2019
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Effect of routine preop urine screening on postop outcomes

Editor's Note Antimicrobial treatment of asymptomatic organisms identified in preoperative urine cultures was not associated with reductions in the risk for postoperative infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs) and surgical site infections (SSIs), this study finds. In this analysis of 68,265 patients in 109 Veterans Affairs hospitals who had cardiac,…

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By: Judy Mathias
January 2, 2019
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Effect of prehabilitation program on abdominal surgery patients

Editor's Note Colectomy patients participating in a preoperative prehabilitation program had positive physiologic effects and experienced fewer complications, this study finds. The prehabilitation program−Michigan Surgical and Health Optimization Program (MSHOP)−engages patients in four activities before surgery: Physical activity, pulmonary rehabilitation, nutritional optimization, and stress reduction. For the study, patients were…

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By: Judy Mathias
October 30, 2018
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AHRQ offers free webinars on implementing enhanced surgical recovery program

Editor's Note The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announced October 23 that free informational webinars will start October 29 for hospitals interested in implementing the AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery for gynecology, colorectal, hip fracture, or joint replacement procedures. The Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute…

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By: Judy Mathias
October 24, 2018
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Patients having major surgery without opioids have shorter LOS

Editor's Note A treatment protocol that sends patients home after colorectal surgery without any opioids, resulted in shorter hospital length of stay (LOS) in this study presented October 22 at the American College of Surgeons 2018 Clinical Congress in Boston. The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol included: patient education about…

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By: Judy Mathias
October 23, 2018
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Effect of preop patient-centered surgical wellness program

Editor's Note In this study, a preoperative, patient-centered wellness program significantly reduced hospital acquired infections in surgical patients at an academic medical center. A total of 12,396 surgical patients were given a wellness bundle in a roller bag during preoperative screening. The bundle included chlorhexidine bath solution, immuno-nutrition supplements, an…

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By: Judy Mathias
October 11, 2018
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Timing of preop blood testing not linked to postop morbidity, mortality

Editor's Note In patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II, the risk of 30-day morbidity and mortality was similar for those who had blood testing shortly before surgery and those whose testing was done up to 2 months before surgery, this study finds. Of 235,010 patients…

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By: Judy Mathias
October 8, 2018
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Increase in health problems up to 2 years after arthroscopic hip surgery

Editor's Note Major clinical comorbidities increased substantially in patients after elective arthroscopic hip surgery in this study by Duke researchers. These comorbidities have been overlooked in the past by major studies evaluating the procedure’s benefits and risks, the researchers say. In this analysis of 1,870 patients (mean age 32) in…

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By: Judy Mathias
October 1, 2018
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