Perioperative News and Research

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In-hospital opioid prescribing may increase post-discharge opioid use, shows study

Patients who receive an opioid for most of their hospital stay and patients who are still taking an opioid within 12 hours of being discharged from the hospital appear more likely to fill a prescription for opioids within 90 days of leaving the hospital, according to new research presented at the ATS 2018 International Conference.

21 May 2018

Safety program successfully reduces SSIs in patients undergoing colorectal operations

Surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients undergoing colorectal operations were reduced by 61 percent in less than two years in Hawaiian hospitals participating in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Safety Program for Surgery, according to new study findings published as an "article in press" on the website of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons ahead of print.

18 May 2018

Scientists reveal active role of IgG antibodies in severity of anaphylaxis

The most severe allergic reaction, anaphylaxis, is the result of an inappropriate immune reaction following the introduction of a usually harmless antigen into the body.

16 May 2018

UCLA researchers identify receptor that plays key role in repairing damage caused by heart conditions

Studies have shown that a simple treatment called lipid emulsion therapy -; fatty acids administered intravenously -; can heal damage to the heart after a heart attack or cardiac arrest. But researchers haven't understood exactly how the treatment works or whether there are more effective ways to repair the heart.

14 May 2018

Cancer scientists confirm oligometastasis hypothesis

In 1995, two University of Chicago-based cancer specialists suggested there was an intermediate state -; somewhere between curable localized cancers and lethal widespread disease -; for patients with metastatic cancer.

7 May 2018

Mayo Clinic study provides valuable information about impact of pediatric anesthesia

A Mayo Clinic study of children who received one or more exposures to anesthesia before the age of 3 has provided valuable information about the potential neurological and behavioral impact of general anesthesia on very young children, according to the International Anesthesia Research Society and the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia.

20 Apr 2018

Perioperative beta blockers could increase deaths and strokes one year after surgery

During the 12 months after undergoing noncardiac surgery, patients with or at risk for heart disease who were treated with the beta blocker metoprolol for 30 days were less likely than patients who received a placebo to have a heart attack, but more likely to die or have a stroke, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 67th Annual Scientific Session.

13 Mar 2018

Six tips for seniors to help limit confusion after surgery

The longer you live the more likely you will develop a medical condition that requires surgery or a procedure. In fact, half of all people 65 and older will have at least one surgical procedure in their lifetime.

13 Mar 2018

Blood-thinning drug mitigates risk of complications, death after non-cardiac surgery

Researchers in Hamilton have discovered that a blood-thinning drug, dabigatran, significantly reduces the risk of death, heart attack, stroke, and other heart or blood-vessel complications in patients who have a heart injury following major, non-cardiac surgery.

12 Mar 2018

Research finds correlation between perioperative air travel and high risk of venous thromboembolism

New research presented at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons found a correlation between flying following hip or knee arthroplasty and an increased risk of venous thromboembolism.

6 Mar 2018

Study finds brain network weakening in many older adults after knee replacement surgery

A new University of Florida study finds that 23 percent of adults age 60 and older who underwent a total knee replacement experienced a decline in activity in at least one region of the brain responsible for specific cognitive functions.

6 Feb 2018

Research highlights benefits from enhanced recovery after surgery program

Colorectal and bariatric surgery patients benefited from an enhanced recovery after surgery program, leaving the hospital sooner and requiring fewer opioids to control pain, according to new research presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists PRACTICE MANAGEMENT 2018 meeting.

27 Jan 2018

A push to get older adults in better shape for surgery

Surgery can be hard on older adults, resulting in serious complications and death far more often than in younger patients. But many seniors aren't adequately prepared for the risks they might face.

25 Jan 2018

New clinical practice guideline provides recommendations for use of anticoagulants during heart surgery

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, and the American Society of ExtraCorporeal Technology released a new clinical practice guideline that includes major recommendations for the use of blood thinning medication (anticoagulants) during heart surgery.

22 Jan 2018

New program improves outcomes for older people undergoing elective surgery

Compared to younger adults, older people have higher rates of complications from surgery. But many problems can be avoided by intervening with assessments and risk-reduction strategies before, during and after procedures.

5 Jan 2018

Outpatient total knee replacement surgery linked to higher rates of complications

Some complications are more common when total knee replacement surgery is done as an outpatient or same-day procedure, reports a study in the December 6, 2017 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. The journal is published in partnership with Wolters Kluwer.

14 Dec 2017

Clearance of cancer cell debris via pro-resolving mediators can prevent tumor recurrence

Cancer therapies are designed to kill tumor cells, but produce tumor cell debris in the process. In a study published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and colleagues show that leftover debris can stimulate inflammation and tumor growth, but that molecules called resolvins can block that unwanted inflammatory response.

5 Dec 2017

New tool can offer accurate estimates of cardiac risks for older surgery patients

A tool designed to more accurately predict the risk of heart attack in older patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery works significantly better than traditional risk assessment tools.

16 Nov 2017

Many patients with knee, hip and spine osteoarthritis use opioids to manage chronic pain

A large percentage of patients with end-stage knee, hip and spine osteoarthritis use opioids to manage their chronic pain, especially those who are younger or have symptoms of depression, according to new research findings presented this week at the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in San Diego.

6 Nov 2017

CRFA better than steroid injection for managing pain from knee osteoarthritis

For patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, a minimally invasive procedure called cooled radiofrequency ablation provides better pain reduction and functional improvement compared to steroid injection of the knee, concludes a study in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, published by Wolters Kluwer.

2 Nov 2017