Study: Implicit bias linked to low-value vascular procedures, worse outcomes for Black patients
Editor's Note Reducing the negative influence of implicit bias requires system-level interventions to ensure procedures align with best practices for all patients, according to results of new research on outcomes for vascular surgery patients. Published February 26 in JAMA Surgery, the study showed that implicit racial bias among vascular specialists…
Study: Predictive model improves nosocomial infection risk assessment after colon cancer surgery
Editor's Note A newly developed predictive model offers healthcare professionals a dynamic tool to assess the risk of nosocomial infections (NIs) in patients following colon cancer surgery, potentially improving early intervention strategies. Published February 27 in Frontiers in Oncology, the study introduces a nomogram—a statistical model that visualizes key risk…
Study: Weekend effect raises risk of surgical patient mortality, complications
Editor's Note A March 4 study in JAMA Network Open underscores the persistence of the “weekend effect,” a surgical care phenomenon in which the risk of postoperative complications, readmissions and mortality rises immediately before the weekend. The research suggests variations in staffing, resource availability, and care coordination may contribute to…
Stem cell researchers tout potential for sickle cell disease cure
Editor's Note A novel stem cell transplant treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) led to disease-free outcomes for most participants in a clinical trial at a lower cost than gene therapy, according to a February 27 report in Sickle Cell Disease News. The approach, which relies on a less intensive…
Study: Stem cell therapy restores vision in LSCD patients
Editor's Note A novel stem cell treatment for unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD)—a type of corneal disease caused by injury—restored corneal function in half of study participants within three months, according to a March 5 report in Medical News Today. According to the article, the experimental therapy, cultivated autologous…
Fresh tools, talking points drive sharps safety culture shift
Takeaways • The prevalence of needlesticks and other sharp object injuries to OR team members is 42.8%, an increase of 16% over the past decade. • New research and perspectives are shaping the discourse around sharps safety, such as new and expanded evidence-based practices presented in AORN’s 2025 update to…
Hospital’s anesthesia reforms slash carbon footprint, expenses
Editor's Note Universitätsmedizin Berlin reduced anesthesia-related carbon emissions by more than 80% since 2018 by eliminating high-impact anesthetic gases, implementing education initiatives, and revising clinical guidelines, according to a February 27 report in Medical Xpress. The hospital’s efforts targeted desflurane, an anesthetic gas with an extreme climate impact—nearly 8,000 times…
Study: Shifting imaging to outpatient centers could save billions
Editor's Note Moving radiology services from hospitals to outpatient centers could slash healthcare costs by billions annually while improving patient care, according to a March 3 Radiology Business News report on a study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR). The study found that shifting just 10% of hospital-based…
Study: Cataract surgery increases diabetic retinopathy progression
Editor's Note Cataract surgery raises the risk of worsening diabetic retinopathy in adults with type 2 diabetes, according to a February 24 article in MedPage Today. The article focused on a a retrospective analysis published in the journal Ophthalmology. The study involved a large dataset from the TriNetX research network,…
Study: Prolonged general anesthesia linked to long-term cognitive decline
Editor's Note Prolonged exposure to general anesthesia during surgery contributes to long-term cognitive decline, affecting executive functioning, selective attention, mental speed, and information processing, according to a February 18 study published in the European Journal of Anaesthesiology. This prospective longitudinal cohort study followed 1,823 adults aged 25–84 in the Netherlands…
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- Commentary: Technology no substitute for cadaver-based medical education
- Study: Early-stage breast cancer surgery may not be necessary after chemo, radiation
- Experimental brain implant translates thoughts to speech
- Nurses deem flexible, transparent scheduling key to satisfaction, retention
- OR Manager 2025 Career/Salary Survey offers opportunities to learn, give back
- The Joint Commission revises volume criteria for cardiac, stroke certifications
- Pulse oximetry monitoring at home found to save lives of high-risk opioid surgery patients