Editor's Note Preoperative use of GLP-1 receptor agonists was not significantly associated with an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia or acute respiratory failure after surgery, according to a March 4 report in MedPage Today. The article focuses on a retrospective cohort study of over 366,000 surgical patients found no meaningful…
Editor's Note An Australian man lived for 100 days with an artificial titanium heart, the longest duration recorded for a patient using the device, according to a March 12 report from CNN. The breakthrough marks a significant step toward using total artificial hearts as a long-term solution for patients with…
Editor's Note A systematic review found no strong evidence that compliance with the CMS Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Management Bundle (SEP-1) reduces mortality, raising questions about its inclusion in hospital performance measures, according to a February 19 report from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and…
Editor's Note Machine learning (ML) is enhancing OR efficiency by optimizing scheduling, predicting surgical durations, and reducing delays, according to a systematic review published February 21 in Cureus. However, privacy concerns, data access limitations, and the need for further validation remain barriers to widespread implementation. The review analyzed 21 studies…
Editor's Note Baxter Healthcare Corporation has issued a letter to affected customers recommending certain Spectrum infusion pumps be removed from where they are used or sold, according to a March 5 early alert from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA notice concerns the Sigma Spectrum Infusion System…
Editor's Note A novel stem cell transplant treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) led to disease-free outcomes for most participants in a clinical trial at a lower cost than gene therapy, according to a February 27 report in Sickle Cell Disease News. The approach, which relies on a less intensive…
Editor's Note A novel stem cell treatment for unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD)—a type of corneal disease caused by injury—restored corneal function in half of study participants within three months, according to a March 5 report in Medical News Today. According to the article, the experimental therapy, cultivated autologous…
Takeaways • HR dashboards facilitate tracking key performance indicators related to recruitment, retention, and staffing needs. • HR dashboard data facilitate planning for current operations as well as new endeavors. • Elements of a successful HR dashboard include capability to determine users’ needs, to filter data in multiple ways, and…
Takeaways • The prevalence of needlesticks and other sharp object injuries to OR team members is 42.8%, an increase of 16% over the past decade. • New research and perspectives are shaping the discourse around sharps safety, such as new and expanded evidence-based practices presented in AORN’s 2025 update to…
Health systems are fundamentally capital intensive. They are regulated; depend on highly educated, high-cost employees; and operate under complex reimbursement structures. Investing in new technologies and infrastructure upgrades is imperative to keeping up with the latest medical advances. But what happens when capital funds are insufficient or no longer available?…