Editor's Note University of California San Francisco (UCSF) became the first university to certify medical students as robotic surgery bedside assistants, giving future surgeons unprecedented hands-on training in a rapidly growing field, an August 25 UCSF news release reports. The program reportedly positions learners alongside attending surgeons, nurses, and scrub…

Read More

Editor's Note Early findings indicate the da Vinci 5 (DV5) platform’s force feedback technology can reduce the amount of force surgeons apply to tissue, potentially minimizing trauma during colorectal surgery. According to a pilot study published in the American Journal of Surgery on July 10, the feature allows surgeons to…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

Editor's Note Surgical episodes for Medicare Advantage (MA) patients cost less and used fewer resources than those for traditional Medicare (TM) beneficiaries, according to a JAMA Health Forum study published August 1. Researchers analyzed 1.18 million procedures performed on 1.11 million beneficiaries and found 30-day episode costs were 3.1% lower…

Read More

Editor's Note Pairing comfort nursing with targeted surgical care improves recovery, reduces pain, and enhances satisfaction for colorectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery, according to an American Journal of Managed Care August 18 article covering a study published in Annali Italiani di Chirurgia. As detailed in the article, the researchers…

Read More

Editor's Note Meeting with a health behavior psychologist before orthopedic surgery can help patients identify and overcome barriers to recovery, leading to better surgical outcomes, according to a University of Missouri School of Medicine July 31 news article covering a study published in the Journal of Knee Surgery. The study…

Read More

Editor's Note Standardized perioperative protocols can reduce hospital stays and costs for children undergoing surgery without affecting complication rates, JAMA Surgery August 20 reports. As detailed in this original investigation, the researchers evaluated the Minimizing Variance in Pediatric Surgery (MViPS) program, a fellow-led initiative launched in 2013 across two academic…

Read More

Editor's Note The UC Davis Department of Orthopaedic Surgery has received more than $2.2 million in Department of Defense funding for two research projects addressing bone health in prostate cancer and preventing arthritis after joint injuries, a UC Davis Health July 15 news release reports. The larger grant, $1.8 million,…

Read More

Editor's Note Artificial disc replacement (ADR) in the cervical spine can be performed safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively in outpatient/ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), Ortho Spine News July 31 reports. The article details research from Steven J. Girdler, MD, of DISC Surgery Center, who reviewed 6 years of data from 1,043 patients…

Read More