Research A cost efficiency analysis of outpatient ophthalmic procedures has been published in American Journal of Ophthalmology. The purpose of the study, state the researchers, was to “evaluate the financial feasibility” of nine common ophthalmic procedures performed at ASCs and HOPDs relative to Medicare facility reimbursement in 2025. The study proposes…
Much of the discussion and research on opioid-sparing postoperative pain management has centered on orthopedics and spine procedures, where opioid prescriptions have in many cases been successfully reduced or even eliminated in favor of nerve blocks and multimodal pain relief strategies. Now a major Canadian research project has examined the…
A possible risk from total hip or knee replacement procedures is periprosthetic joint infection, which can result in joint replacement failures that require additional surgeries, prolonged hospital stays, and a poor patient experience. The risk rises in patients with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or a history of tobacco use. Yale…
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago announced that is has achieved “more than a 13-fold improvement in surgical safety” after implementing a series of interventions based on high reliability principles across its ORs. The hospital said it has been experiencing a serious safety event approximately every 2,977…
A new study published in Annals of Surgery concludes that “a profound evidence gap” exists between ASC surgical volume and ASC-focused artificial intelligence (AI) research. The study, led by William M. Zhao, MD, and Gabriel A. Brat, MD, MPH, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School and Benjamin J.…
A new international study published in JMIR Perioperative Medicine calls for more rigorous monitoring of patients for the risk of postoperative complications after orthopedic surgeries, particularly myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS), major bleeding, and sepsis. “Association Between Complications and Death Within 30 Days After Orthopedic Surgery: Vascular Events in…
A new systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons finds that exercise or nutrition-based prehabilitation reduces length of stay and complications across various surgical contexts. It notes, however, that subgroup analysis revealed that each intervention “differentially impacted the primary outcomes.” It states that…
Frost & Sullivan has released its latest analysis on ASCs, calling them “one of the most significant growth opportunities reshaping healthcare delivery worldwide.” It projects that the global ASC market will grow by more than 30% between 2024 and 2029, driven by “rising demand for efficient, cost-effective, and patient-centric care.”…
The American Heart Association has issued a scientific statement in its journal Circulation on the topic of perioperative anemia and patient blood management in cardiac surgery. Calling perioperative anemia and red blood cell transfusions important risk factors for morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgery, it notes that up to 50%…
A Cleveland Clinic pediatric hospitalist sees much room for improvement in the perioperative management of pediatric patients with medical complexities characterized by rare multisystem disease. Moises Auron, MD, says that while such patients are frequently candidates for life-sustaining surgeries—often multiple surgeries—their risk for increased morbidity and mortality remains high. Cleveland…
