Editor's Note A study presented at the ASH Annual Meeting 2024 found that the current Caprini score, a widely used model for assessing perioperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk, underestimates risk in Black patients while overestimating it in Latino patients. Hematology Advisor reported the news January 6. According to the article,…

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What happens when a surgeon uses the monopolar instrument set on 30-W coagulation mode to create an upper midline incision in a patient with a pacemaker? Pacemaker function is interrupted, causing a heart block that results in hemodynamic instability—or at least, this is what could happen without taking the necessary…

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Editor's Note Older cancer patients undergoing major abdominal procedures at Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence, Rhode Island, significantly benefitted from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) program, Medical Xpress reported December 10. Citing a study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons,…

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Editor's Note Skipping sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with clinically node-negative early breast cancer provides noninferior outcomes compared to undergoing the procedure, MedPage Today reported December 13. Presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the INSEMA trial found…

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Editor's Note Research reveals combining non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with blood thinners heightened bleeding risk across multiple organ systems, HealthDay reported November 18. The study analyzed nearly 52,000 Danish patients prescribed blood thinners between 2012 and 2022, examining NSAID interactions with multiple anticoagulants including rivaroxaban, apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, and warfarin.…

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Editor's Note Older adults face a significantly higher risk of complications including stroke and recurrent heart attacks if they undergo elective noncardiac surgeries soon after myocardial infarction, according to a University of Rochester study published October 30 in JAMA Surgery.  According to a University announcement, current guidelines from the American…

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Editor's Note Joint guidance from key US medical associations advises that most patients on GLP-1 weight-loss medications, such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro), may safely continue these drugs before surgery, HealthDay News reported October 31. Concerns had emerged about potential risks associated with these medications due to their…

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Editor's Note Research presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) annual meeting has found that beta-blocker use is associated with an increased risk of postoperative stroke, particularly among Black and Hispanic patients undergoing noncardiac surgeries, Medpage Today reported October 20. According to the article, the retrospective study analyzed the…

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Editor's Note A study presented at the 2024 American Society of Anesthesiologists annual meeting suggests that non-salicylate NSAIDs may significantly reduce the risk of postoperative delirium, a serious complication affecting up to 15% of surgical patients, Anesthesiology News reported October 20. Delirium is especially prevalent in older adults and those…

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Editor's Note Individuals with preoperative depression are at significantly higher risk of developing postoperative delirium, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of 42 studies involving a total of 4.6 million patients. Published September 4 in Anaesthesia, the study is first review to quantify the incidence and risk of postoperative…

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