Eye Surgery
Surgical resident diversity remains largely stagnant
Editor's Note This study led by researchers at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, finds that underrepresentation of minorities persists across all surgical specialties, while representation of females improves. The cross-sectional study examined race, ethnicity and attrition data of 112,205 surgical residents across 18 years (2001-2018) in 10 surgical specialties.…
Study: Routine use of anesthesia personnel in cataract surgery questioned
Editor's Note This study led by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, finds that it may be reasonable to consider performing cataract surgery without routine anesthesia support. Medicare claims for 36,652 patients who had cataract surgery were analyzed. Among the findings: 89.8% had an anesthesia provider, compared to…
Survey: Concerns older adults have when considering elective surgery
Editor's Note New findings from the University of Michigan's "National Poll on Healthy Aging" show that while most adults between the ages of 50 and 80 express concerns when opting to have elective surgery, 2 in 3 are “very satisfied with the outcome” post-procedure, according to a March 9 American…
Change in volume of surgical procedures during COVID-19 pandemic
Editor's Note In this study, researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine find that the initial COVID-19 shutdown from March through April 2020 resulted in a decrease in surgical volume to nearly half of baseline rates. After the reopening, surgical volume rebounded to 2019 levels, and the trend was maintained.…
COVID-19 as possible cause of orbital cellulitis
Editor's Note In this case study, craniofacial surgeons from Brazil describe their experience with a 28-year-old COVID-19-positive man who developed orbital cellulitis, requiring surgical intervention. A few weeks before, the man had a mild illness with fatigue and loss of smell and taste. He didn’t seek medical care until he…
Frequency of urgent, emergent vitreoretinal surgical procedures during COVID-19
Editor's Note This multi-center study finds that critical vitreoretinal surgical procedures deemed as urgent or emergency decreased nationwide from March until May 2020, even though the American Academy of Ophthalmology said these procedures should continue during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from 17 institutions throughout the US. Compared to…
ACS opposes proposed Medicare physician fee schedule
Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS) on August 4 announced that it is strongly opposed to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule for CY 2021. In the fee schedule, which is set to take place January 1, 2021, Medicare payments will…
Joint Commission issues Quick Safety on disinfection of tonometers, other ophthalmology devices
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on May 21 issued Quick Safety 49: Disinfection of tonometers and other ophthalmology devices. The Joint Commission noted that the American Academy of Ophthalmology has reported that transmission of adenovirus and herpes simplex virus HIV, hepatitis C virus, enterovirus 70, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus,…
Intervention to reduce low-value preop tests before cataract surgery
Editor's Note Reducing low-value testing before cataract surgery was associated with cost savings for financially capitated healthcare systems, but it was also associated with losses for fee-for-service healthcare systems, which could be a barrier to eliminating low-value care, this study finds. Of 1,054 patients (469 intervention, 585 controls) included in…
FDA: Class I recall of RVO 2.0 Raindrop near vision inlay
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on March 5 identified the recall by RVO 2.0, Inc (Aliso Viejo, California) of its Raindrop near vision inlay as Class I, the most serious. All lots of the inlay are being recalled because data from the post-approval study showed an increased…
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- Neurosurgery trial: Early evacuation improves long-term hemorrhage outcomes
- Drug shortages higher than ever
- FDA announces class 1 recalls for premixed embolic, infusion pump software
- Academic medical centers identify performance-improvement priorities
- Propofol anesthesia for colonoscopy could help find polyps, prevent cancer
- FDA Class 1 recall renews concern about historically problematic heart pumps
- New physician compensation report reveals modest pay gains but growing discontent with the profession
- Surge in corporate ownership of medical practices raises concerns over physician autonomy, care quality
- How Minneapolis healthcare real estate remained strong amid challenges, shifts in patient care preferences: Lessons for other states
- Artificial intelligence (AI) captures uncertainty in medical scans