Editor's Note Surgical site infections (SSIs) after pediatric outpatient surgery occur at an appreciable rate and convey morbidity, this study finds. Of more than 15,000 pediatric outpatient surgical cases analyzed, the SSI rate was 2.9 per 1,000 procedures. Otolaryngology procedures had significantly lower SSI rates, compared with endocrine, integumentary, male…

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Editor's Note Despite “superbug” outbreaks and alerts issued in Europe, Japanese device manufacturer Olympus Corp told US executives in early 2013 not to issue a broad warning to American hospitals about potentially deadly infections from tainted duodenoscopes, the July 24 Los Angeles Times reports. At the time, Olympus was aware…

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Editor's Note These guidelines were developed to provide a more efficient and cost-effective preoperative workup of patients with diagnosed or suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). They examine the existing evidence-base for preoperative screening and preparation of patients with OSA, as well as the perioperative use of CPAP in patients with…

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Editor's Note Starting blood thinners within 72 hours of hospital arrival significantly lowers the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in traumatic brain injury patients and does not increase risk of intracranial hemorrhage, this study finds. A total of 2,468 patients were divided into two groups: early prophylaxis (started within 72…

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Editor's Note Children who have surgery before primary school age are at increased risk of early developmental vulnerability, but the difference between exposed and unexposed children is small, finds this study. The analysis included 28,366 children (age 5-6 years) who had surgery and 55,910 children who did not have surgery…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 22 categorized the recall of Stryker Sustainability Solutions' (Tempe, Arizona) Angiodynamics Soft Vu Omni Flush Angiographic Catheters as Class I, the most serious. The recall was issued because of reports of separation of the catheter tip from the main body.…

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Editor's Note Surgeons who were less likely to follow national guidelines for disclosure of adverse events to patients were more likely to be negatively affected by the events, this study finds. A survey of 67 surgeons at Veterans Affairs medical centers found that most used five of eight recommended disclosure…

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Editor's Note A program for analyzing processes associated with catheter placement and removal for surgical patients decreased urinary tract infections (UTIs) for all hospitalized patients in this study presented at the 2016 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Conference in San Diego. The STOP UTI quality assessment…

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Editor's Note The number of new cases of men with metastatic prostate cancer in the US has increased 72% in the past decade, this study finds. The largest jump was in men aged 55 to 69 years (92% increase), the age group who benefits the most from prostate cancer screening…

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Editor's Note An automated text and voice messaging system improved communication about preventive steps orthopedic patients should take a week before surgery and the postoperative signs of infection to report in the 2 weeks after surgery. The system reminds patients to fill their prescriptions for antibiotic ointment and body wash…

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