Editor's Note A meta-analysis reveals that cataract surgery often leads to temporary tear film instability, with symptoms potentially lasting up to three months, according to a January 16 article in Medscape. However, the impact on other dry eye measures remains unclear due to inconsistent findings across studies. Researchers analyzed 20…

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Editor's Note A new international study reports low rates of local recurrence, radionecrosis, and leptomeningeal disease in patients receiving neoadjuvant stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) before brain metastases resection, Medscape Medical News reported January 6. Published in Radiotherapy and Oncology, the analysis included 179 patients with 189 brain metastases treated at nine…

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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 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 Adverse events (AEs) remain widespread in perioperative care, affecting nearly one in three patients and resulting in substantial and often preventable patient harm, according to a retrospective cohort study published November 13 in The BMJ. The study analyzed 1,009 weighted admissions from a sample of 64,121 surgical patients…

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Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has recognized 77 US hospitals for “exceptional surgical outcomes” in 2023 based on performance metrics tracked as part of the ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). According to an October 30 ACS announcement, these hospitals were selected from among 609 eligible…

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Editor's Note When it comes to the 2024 presidential election, “Neither candidate addresses a return to the fundamental tenet of healthcare: the patient-physician relationship,” reads the closing line of an “election guide” from Richard Menger MD MPA. In the preceding paragraph, Menger also argues that both candidates also neglect issues…

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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 A system-wide preoperative nutrition program resulted in shorter hospital stays and fewer postoperative complications across the Allegheny Health Network, according to a study presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2024. Medical Xpress reported the news October 18. According to the article, researchers analyzed data from…

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Editor's Note Research shows repeated fasting for multiple surgeries during a single hospital stay significantly raises the risk of protein-calorie malnutrition, leading to longer recovery times, increased healthcare costs, and a higher likelihood of death. HealthDay covered the news October 21. Presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists annual meeting,…

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