Perioperative News and Research

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Endovascular procedure for abdominal aortic aneurysm may reduce mortality rate

Patients who received the less-invasive endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm had a lower risk of death in the first 30 days after the procedure compared to patients who an open repair, but both procedures had similar rates of death after two years, according to a study in the October 14 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on surgical care.

14 Oct 2009

Z-Medica launches QuikClot Trauma Pad

Z-Medica Corporation, a medical device company developing innovative hemostatic agents, today announced the availability of the QuikClot® Trauma Pad™ hemostatic dressing, on display at booth #1721 at the American College of Surgeons 95th Annual Clinical Congress. The new QuikClot Trauma Pad’s 12 x 12 inch size makes it well-suited to control bleeding from large traumatic wounds.

From Medica Corporation 12 Oct 2009

LiveData awarded a SBIR grant for integrating medical technologies

LiveData, Inc., a leader in real-time data integration and display, has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research grant from the U.S. Army Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC). LiveData will use the $730,000 grant to develop an integrated clinical environment with CIMIT’s Medical Device Plug-and-Play (MD PnP) team.

7 Oct 2009

Medline Industries launches Generation Pink powder-free synthetic exam gloves

As part of its ongoing campaign to raise breast cancer awareness, Medline Industries, Inc., the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, today announced the launch of its "Generation Pink powder-free synthetic exam glove.

15 Sep 2009

Environmental Solutions International introduces unique, alcohol-free, moisturizing hand sanitizers

With health officials nationwide already preparing for the upcoming cold and flu season, Environmental Solutions International (ESI) introduces Smart & Silky and Kids Smart & Silky Foaming Hand Sanitizers as another weapon in the illness-prevention arsenal. These unique, alcohol-free, moisturizing hand sanitizers are available at retailers nationwide (visit www.smartandsilky.com for more details).

15 Sep 2009

Sunlight Research's report analyzes Amgen EPO US patent portfolio

Sunlight Research((TM)) - The Source for Patent Analysis today announced the release of its report analyzing Amgen, Inc.'s Erythropoietin (EPO) US patent portfolio.

14 Sep 2009

Resident duty-hour reform increases medical complications in teaching hospitals

A new study finds a 2003 reform of the length of resident on-duty hours has led to an increase in the rate of perioperative (the span of all three phases of surgery: before, during and after) complications for patients treated for hip fractures.

3 Sep 2009

Patients with PFO may have increased odds of postoperative strokes

Patients who have a heart defect known as patent foramen ovale incidentally discovered and repaired during surgery for a different condition may have an increased odds of postoperative stroke, along with no clear benefit on short-term outcomes or long-term survival, according to a study in the July 15 issue of JAMA.

2 Sep 2009

Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society responds to reports on Michael Jackson's death

The Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society (CAS) represents the only trained physicians providing anesthetic services in Canada. CAS is responding to reports that Michael Jackson was given a fatal combination of drugs, including the powerful anesthetic propofol, prior to his death on June 25.

27 Aug 2009

Study finds survival rates from GIST improving among African-Americans

New research published in the July issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons reveals that African Americans with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a rare cancer that begins in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract, now have survival rates equivalent to those of Caucasians. Prior to 2000, African Americans were more likely to develop GIST and less likely to undergo surgical treatment for this type of cancer.

14 Jul 2009

Schering-Plough starts patient enrollment in phase 3 trial for Acadesine

Schering-Plough Corporation today announced the start of patient enrollment in RED-CABG, the Phase 3 Trial for acadesine, an investigational, potentially first-in-class adenosine regulating agent (ARA). Acadesine was licensed from PeriCor Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held specialty biopharmaceutical company.

12 May 2009

Hospital volume an imperfect proxy for healthcare quality

A new review finds hospital volume to be a useful, albeit imperfect, predictor of short term mortality. While studies, when combined, show a quantifiable and statistically significant inverse association between case volume and mortality, the review finds that individual studies often fail to show such an association, leading the authors to conclude volume is at best an imperfect proxy for healthcare quality.

4 May 2009

High dosage brachytherapy obtains excellent results in head and neck tumors

High-dosage perioperative brachytherapy (applied within the surgical process) obtains excellent results in the treatment of head and neck tumours, at the same time as reducing the period of radiation.

29 Mar 2009

Therapeutic hypothermia is promising strategy to minimize tissue damage

Recognition of the benefits of cooling strategies to protect the brain and spinal cord after traumatic injury has led to a wealth of cutting edge research, prime examples of which are featured in a special hypothermia issue of Journal of Neurotrauma , a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

20 Mar 2009

Set of criteria help identify candidates for combined heart and kidney transplants

Researchers have identified a set of criteria that, when combined with a measure of kidney function, could help identify patients who are likely to receive a survival benefit from a combined heart and kidney transplant, according to a report in the March issue of Archives of Surgery.

16 Mar 2009

Receipt of ventricular assist devices associated with poor outcomes, high costs

Medicare patients who receive ventricular assist devices (a type of heart pump) have high rates of death, illness, prolonged hospital stays, with resulting high costs of care, according to a study in the November 26 issue of JAMA.

25 Nov 2008

Beta-blockers raise the risk of a heart attack after surgery

A new study has found that for some patients undergoing surgery, beta-blockers before and around the time of the operation increases their risk of heart attack and death.

21 Oct 2008

Transapical aortic valve implantation

Transapical aortic valve implantation (TA-AVI) is a new therapeutic strategy, which has been implemented successfully into clinical practice in several hundred patients suffering symptomatic aortic stenosis and an increase perioperative risk during the past two years. The Edwards SAPIEN prosthesis has been used.

1 Sep 2008

Fluvastatin XL use is associated with improved cardiac outcome after major vascular surgery

The DECREASE III Study which took place in the Netherlands between June 2004 and April 2008, showed that patients treated with Fluvastatin showed an improved cardiac outcome after surgery.

1 Sep 2008

Medical professionals worldwide endorse WHO checklist for safer surgery

A new safety checklist for surgical procedures developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) won the endorsements of nearly 250 health organizations from over 40 countries at a launching event yesterday at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Washington, D.C

26 Jun 2008