Anesthesia
Cryo nerve ablation cuts pain, narcotic use after heart surgery
Editor's Note A freezing technique applied during heart surgery is reducing pain, shortening recovery times, and minimizing the need for narcotics, News 9/CBS News August 13 reports. The procedure, called cryo nerve ablation, involves freezing nerves around the ribs to block pain signals for about 60 days. The nerves eventually…
Study finds no link between long-standing preprocedural fasting and aspiration pneumonia risk
Editor's Note Loosening fasting policies before surgery does not increase the risk of post-surgical aspiration, also known as aspiration pneumonia, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal Surgery in August 2025. The researchers analyzed 17 studies published between 2016 and 2023, including randomized clinical trials and…
Mind the gap: Why Medicare pays ASCs less than HOPDs—and what that means
For decades, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) have shown their ability to deliver high-quality surgical care at substantially lower cost than hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). ASCs achieve these savings through leaner operations, streamlined staffing models, and specialty-focused efficiencies, not by compromising safety or outcomes. Studies consistently highlight procedures performed in ASCs…
Large-scale studies link preoperative cognition to delirium risk, reveal its deadly toll after surgery
Editor's Note Older surgical patients with preoperative cognitive impairment face significantly higher odds of developing postoperative delirium (POD), and POD itself is tied to markedly worse surgical outcomes, according to two major studies published July 2025. Together, the findings point to delirium as both a high-impact and potentially modifiable target…
Perioperative medication decisions need individualized risk-benefit approach
Editor's Note Medication management in the perioperative period is often made without robust evidence, requiring clinicians to balance surgical safety with the risks of interrupting treatment, according to expert guidance presented at the annual Perioperative Medicine Summit. Paul Grant, MD, of the University of Michigan Medical School, noted most medications…
FDA: National IV saline shortage over after years of strained supply
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially declared the nationwide shortage of sodium chloride 0.9% injection products over, saying a critical supply line for hospitals and surgical teams is restored. According to an August 8 statement from FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, MD, MPH, the resolution marks a…
Major study clarifies risks, severity of perioperative pulmonary aspiration
Editor's Note Preliminary results from a nearly million-case review reveal that perioperative pulmonary aspiration, while feared, is rare but potentially deadly. According to a February 4 Anesthesiology News report, researchers found an overall incidence of 1 in 5,572 anesthesia cases, with aspiration-related mortality at about 1 in 67,000. As detailed…
Psychological therapy results vary by intervention in acute pain care, review shows
Editor's Note Psychological interventions such as hypnosis, music therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may reduce acute pain in clinical settings, though statistically significant effects were found only in some studies, according to a July 16 scoping review published in The Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing. Hypnosis was the most adaptable…
Anesthesia costs squeeze ASCs as staffing shortages, reimbursement gaps widen
Editor's Note Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) continue to face a mounting anesthesia crisis: costs are rising, staffing is tightening, and reimbursement is failing to keep pace. Anesthesia payments have dropped 8.2% over the past decade, while provider salaries have risen by as much as 40%, creating a growing financial burden…
Blast from the past: Revised data, evolving standards for OSA care in the perioperative setting
An estimated 22 million Americans were believed to have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in 2019, according to data cited in a February 2019 article published by OR Manager. At that time, up to 80% of cases were undiagnosed, and 30% to 40% of the surgical patient population was believed to…
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- New planning tool aims to boost success of surgical quality improvement projects
- Charlotte surgical institute launches as US hub for robotic, minimally invasive training
- Senator pushes for national nurse-to-patient ratios, sounds alarm on patient safety
- Save the date: OR Manager Conference celebrates leadership, innovation, community
- Closing keynote: The Trick to Making Difficult Behaviors Disappear
- Session: Creating transparent paths to career growth to retain staff and boost morale
- Session: Advocacy in action—Empowering your teams toward successful legislative integration, safety excellence
- Session: Helping leaders uphold accountability, cultivate a positive culture to boost nurse retention
- Afternoon keynote: Reclaiming Balance, Joy, and Purpose in Your Career
- Session: Keep calm and recover—Essential service recovery tools for new OR leaders