Editor's Note Odin Medical, a subsidiary of Olympus Corporation, received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for its cloud-based AI technology, the CADDIE™ computer-aided detection device, PRNewswire September 5 reports. Designed to assist gastroenterologists in detecting colorectal polyps during colonoscopy, the AI-powered system analyzes real-time video footage and alerts…

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Editor's Note Every August,  ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) promote awareness of how they "have  transformed the outpatient experience by offering a convenient and personalized alternative to the hospital outpatient surgical setting," notes the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA). This year, ASCA and other organizations are using the month to educate…

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Some 800,000 knee replacements and 550,000 hip replacements are performed in the US each year. Factoring in the ever-expanding aging population, projections show the figure for knee replacements alone will explode to 3.5 million procedures being done annually by 2030—and that is just one type of procedure within a single…

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Editor's Note Research presented at this year’s Digestive Disease Week in May highlights the potential health risks posed by smoke generated during tissue-cutting ablations in gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News May 18 reports. Unlike surgeons in ORs, who follow specific regulations to mitigate smoke exposure, GI endoscopy procedures…

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Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is one of the most common procedures in the US. Performed more than 17.1 million times per year in inpatient and outpatient hospital settings as well as ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), GI procedures account for 68% of all endoscopies, according to a May 2022 article in Digestive…

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Inspecting surgical devices is a time-consuming process. However, diligently checking every instrument prior to sterilization is essential to ensuring safe, proper functioning. As the last people to see devices before they are used for patient care, sterile processing technicians must be thorough. Exterior surfaces should be inspected for flaws such…

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Editor's Note With the goal of helping patients choose if outpatient care is right for them and identify the right ambulatory surgery center (ASC) for their needs, US News & World Report unveiled on May 14 its inaugural ranking of the best ASCs in the US. Reportedly, “fewer than 15%…

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Editor's Note A new guidance document covering the entire process for the selection, labeling, and sterile processing of dilators and ultrasound probes is available from The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). Released April 17, AAMI TIR99:2024; Processing Of Dilators, Transesophageal And Ultrasound Probes In Health Care Facilities…

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Editor's Note A 64-year-old patient sought a second opinion with Kern Singh, MD, an orthopedic surgeon, when told he needed a second spine surgery to address complications from a previous procedure. Dr Singh, director of spine surgery at Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH in Chicago, performs endoscopic spine surgery in the…

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Editor's Note Gastrointestinal endoscopy could increase the risk of aspirational pneumonia in patients using GLP-1 receptor agonists (RAs) to manage weight or treat diabetes, according to an April 1 report from MedPage today. Citing research published in the journal Gastroenterology by a team led by Kevin Sheng-Kai Ma, DDS, of…

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