Editor's Note Diabetes is an independent risk factor for surgical site infections (SSIs) for multiple surgical procedures, this study finds. A meta-analysis of 94 studies found that diabetic patients having surgery were 50% more likely to develop SSIs compared to patients without diabetes. Diabetes has been a recognized risk factor…

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Editor's Note Wider adoption of “dropless” cataract surgery could save Medicare more than $7.1 billion over the next 10 years, a new study finds. In addition, patients could save an additional $1.4 billion for out-of-pocket costs for pharmaceutical co-payments, and states could save $124 million in Medicaid payments. The dropless…

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Editor's Note One in 20 perioperative medication administrations included a medication error and/or adverse drug event in this prospective study. Of 277 surgical procedures with 3,671 medication administrations evaluated, 193 involved a medication error and/or adverse drug event. A total of 32 (20.9%) of the errors had little potential for…

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Editor's Note Downing Labs, LLC (Farmers Branch, Texas) is recalling all lots of compounded and packaged sterile products because of concerns of sterility assurance. The products were distributed between April 20 and September 15, 2015.    Posted 10/21/2015] AUDIENCE: Consumer, Pharmacy ISSUE: Downing Labs, LLC is voluntarily recalling all lots…

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Editor's Note Informational brochures help patients discuss anesthesia options with their anesthesia providers, finds a study presented at the Anesthesiology 2015 annual meeting in San Diego. In the study, 67 patients were given brochures during a preoperative clinic visit that explained the different types of anesthesia, risks, and benefits, and…

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Editor's Note Concerns have been raised about the safety of anesthesia on the developing brains of young children, but new research presented at the Anesthesiology 2015 annual meeting found brief exposure to general anesthesia did not impair neurological development. Researchers examined 700 infants, up to 60 weeks old, who were…

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Editor's Note When the anesthesiologist sheaths the laryngoscope immediately after endotracheal intubation, contamination of the IV hub, patient, and intraoperative environment is significantly reduced, this study finds. In a simulated study using ultraviolet light to detect contamination of seven sites on a patient, contamination was found on an average of…

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Editor's Note An anesthesiology-based service can meet the challenge of providing efficient and high-level care for surgical patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices, including pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), this study finds. Such a service, however, requires specialized provider training and strong support from the electrophysiology/cardiology service, and will…

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Editor's Note An enhanced recovery pathway (ERP) allowed liver surgery patients to return to normal function sooner than a traditional pathway in this study. Patients on the ERP reported lower immediate postoperative pain scores, fewer complications, and decreased length of stay than those on the traditional pathway. ERP patients also…

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Editor's Note Total knee replacement followed by nonsurgical treatment is more effective than nonsurgical treatment alone in providing pain relief and improving function and quality of life, this study finds. However, clinically relevant improvements were seen in both groups, and the surgical patients had a higher number of serious adverse…

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