Surgical Remission of Cushing’s Disease Tied to New Autoimmune Conditions
Development of autoimmune disease was more common in patients with surgical remission of Cushing’s disease than in those with surgically treated nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs), according to a retrospective matched cohort study. At 3 years after surgery, 10.4% of patients with Cushing’s disease developed new-onset autoimmune disease compared with 1.6% of those with NFPAs (HR […]
Surgical Volumes Matter for Outcomes at Ambulatory Centers, Too
As seen for hospital-based procedures, ambulatory surgical outcomes were significantly better on average at centers with relatively high volumes, Medicare data indicated. Odds of hospital admission or emergency department visit within 7 days of an ambulatory surgical procedure were 21% greater in low- versus high-volume centers (95% CI 9%-36%), according to Jeffrey H. Silber, MD, […]
Reusable Surgical Head Covers Reduce Emissions, Environmental Impact
Reusable surgical head covers had a lower carbon footprint and a lower environmental impact than disposable ones, according to a life cycle assessment of three kinds of head covers in Amsterdam. In metric tons, the mean carbon-equivalent footprint for an annual supply of head covers at a hospital with 25 operating rooms was 1.9 (95% […]
Opinion | ‘Our Goal Is Not to Blame’: What We Heard This Week
“Our goal is not to blame.” — Christopher Wallis, MD, PhD, of the University of Toronto, on the differences in surgical care delivery given by female versus male surgeons. “Many of them actually value improvement in symptoms and [reducing] physical limitations as much or more as survival.” — Mikhail Kosiborod, MD, of Saint Luke’s Mid […]
Older Surgical Procedure for Pelvic Prolapse Repair Prevails in Randomized Trial
A long-time surgical standard for pelvic organ prolapse repair prevailed in a comparison against a newer technique that currently predominates in some parts of the world. Sacrospinous hysteropexy failed to meet noninferiority criteria versus the Manchester procedure for the primary composite outcome of treatment success, with the latter achieving success in 87.3% of patients compared […]
Childhood Cancer Survivors Have Increased Rates of Late, Major Surgeries
Childhood cancer survivors have increased rates of undergoing late, major surgical procedures 5 or more years after diagnosis, according to data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Among more than 25,000 survivors diagnosed with cancer from 1970 to 1999 when they were under age 21, the likelihood of having subsequent major surgery was 80% higher […]
What Makes Brazilian Butt Lifts So Deadly?
In surgical circles, the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is known as the deadliest aesthetic procedure ever performed, and despite several calls to improve outcomes, recent data suggest mortality is only getting worse — especially in South Florida. Sunny, image-conscious Miami is home to a substantial proportion of the country’s high-volume, low-cost clinics where U.S. patients […]
Surgery Bests Endovascular Therapy for Most Limb-Threatening Ischemia Patients
CHICAGO — Surgical revascularization led to fewer major adverse limb events and deaths compared with endovascular therapy in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia, according to the prospective randomized BEST-CLI trial. After a median follow-up of 2.7 years, the primary composite outcome of major adverse limb events and death from any cause occurred in 42.6% of […]
Opinion | Receiving Feedback and Critique Is a Complicated Art
In the mid-16th century, surgical education was that of a true apprenticeship. The student learned through direct observership and imitation of a skilled, elder surgeon. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 20th century that surgical education evolved into a formalized and structured program. William Osler, MD, CM, introduced the concepts of specialty clerkships and […]
Pathogens Head for Surgical Helmets During Orthopedic Surgeries
Bacterial colonization of surgical helmets, a prophylactic aspirin regimen for venous thromboembolism (VTE), and the value of virtual visits in pediatric orthopedics were examined in several studies at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons meeting. Pathogens and Surgical Helmets Nearly three-fourths of a sample of surgical helmets and surgeons’ foreheads swabbed after a day’s worth […]