Large-scale studies link preoperative cognition to delirium risk, reveal its deadly toll after surgery
Editor's Note Older surgical patients with preoperative cognitive impairment face significantly higher odds of developing postoperative delirium (POD), and POD itself is tied to markedly worse surgical outcomes, according to two major studies published July 2025. Together, the findings point to delirium as both a high-impact and potentially modifiable target…
Robotic surgery shows better outcomes in select emergency colorectal cases, poised for wider use
Editor's Note Robotic-assisted surgery is proving to be a strong option for emergency colorectal procedures, offering lower complication rates, shorter hospital stays, and fewer conversions to open surgery than conventional approaches. According to a July 23 article from the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, this approach—long established in…
Study: Language barriers raise sepsis death risk despite faster treatment
Editor's Note Patients hospitalized with sepsis who have limited English proficiency (LEP) face significantly higher odds of dying in the hospital even after accounting for multiple demographic and clinical factors, according to research presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference by researchers from UC San Diego. Healio reported the…
How gender norms shape perioperative nurse career paths
Before Florence Nightingale revolutionized nursing in the mid-19th century, men played the crucial role of nurses on the battlefield. However, as time passed, nursing became a female-dominated profession. Men and women received the same level of training and worked together during World War I, but the men were called orderlies…
Medicaid data shared with DHS to aid immigration enforcement
Editor's Note The Trump administration ordered federal health officials this week to share personal data from Medicaid enrollees with deportation authorities, the Associated Press (AP) reported June 14. According to the report, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) was given just 54 minutes on Tuesday to transfer enrollee…
New collaboration links National Trauma Awareness Month, Stop the Bleed Month
Editor's Note America’s Blood Centers (ABC) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Stop the Bleed program have launched a national collaboration to strengthen trauma response and emergency preparedness, according to a May 30 announcement. The initiative connects public education in bleeding control with efforts to maintain a stable national…
Commentary: Overlooking, underfunding perioperative mental health threatens patients
Editor's Note Amid a lack of focus and lack of resources on perioperative mental health, alleviating patient anxiety and preventing poor surgical outcomes requires creative solutions. This is the central argument of a May 12 commentary in The Conversation by Renée El-Gabalawy, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at the…
Preadmission clinics drive better surgical outcomes, lower costs, fewer cancellations
Editor's Note Preadmission clinics (PACs) are supporting perioperative care by reducing complications, shortening hospital stays, and improving surgical outcomes—particularly for high-risk patients. As detailed in the April 2025 edition of ASA Monitor from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), PACs operate as multidisciplinary outpatient hubs where medical optimization, risk assessment,…
Nursing workforce faces high turnover despite signs of recovery
Editor's Note Nearly 140,000 nurses have left the workforce since 2022, and 40% of the remaining workforce plans to exit by 2029, according to the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Study from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). According to an April 17 announcement from NCSBN, the survey…
Study: Pulse oximeters may misestimate oxygen saturation in darker skin tones
Editor's Note Pulse oximeters may overestimate blood oxygen levels in critically ill patients with darker skin tones, according to a March 30 article in HCP Live. The article focuses on the EquiOx study, conducted at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital between 2022 and 2024. Presented at the American College…
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- Large-scale studies link preoperative cognition to delirium risk, reveal its deadly toll after surgery
- Socioeconomic deprivation linked to lower fitness before surgery, UK study finds
- Perioperative medication decisions need individualized risk-benefit approach
- FDA: National IV saline shortage over after years of strained supply
- FDA announces Class 1 recall for Draeger breathing filters
- Hospital CEO departures surge, boards turn to interim leadership
- Study: Attire shapes patient trust, perceptions
- ASC drill success hinges on preparation, adaptability, clear roles
- Robotic surgery shows better outcomes in select emergency colorectal cases, poised for wider use
- 5 costly mistakes to avoid when building an ASC