Socioeconomic deprivation linked to lower fitness before surgery, UK study finds
Editor's Note Patients from socioeconomically deprived areas are more likely to have reduced cardiorespiratory fitness before surgery, potentially contributing to poorer surgical outcomes, MedicalXpress August 12 reports from a study published by PLOS One. The research, led by PhD student Donna Shrestha of Lancaster University Medical School, analyzed preoperative fitness…
Study: Mental fatigue, missed perioperative care linked
Editor's Note A July 16 study published in BMC Research Notes found that mental fatigue among perioperative nurses is significantly associated with increased rates of missed perioperative nursing care. This cross-sectional study surveyed 385 operating room nurses working in university-affiliated hospitals in East Azerbaijan, Iran. Participants met inclusion criteria related…
Proper planning prevents OR construction, renovation cost creep
How would you describe the ideal OR? Whatever the answer, the chance to reimagine and reshape the perioperative suite can be among the most exciting projects of a perioperative leader’s career. However, OR construction and renovation also can be among the most daunting projects of a perioperative leader’s career. Just…
Blast from the past: Revised data, evolving standards for OSA care in the perioperative setting
An estimated 22 million Americans were believed to have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in 2019, according to data cited in a February 2019 article published by OR Manager. At that time, up to 80% of cases were undiagnosed, and 30% to 40% of the surgical patient population was believed to…
Study: Clean paper towels match or exceed sterile options in surgical hand antisepsis
Editor's Note A study published July 9 in the American Journal of Infection Control found that clean paper towels are as effective—and in some cases more efficient—than sterile alternatives for surgical hand antisepsis. The results support their use as a cost-saving and safe alternative to sterile hand-drying products in surgical…
Study: Pain degrades surgical team performance, increases burnout
Editor's Note Pain is common among surgeons, but new research in the American Journal of Surgery reveals the extent of the impact on the rest of the surgical team. Published July 6, the research involved surveying surgical teams and collecting self-reported data on musculoskeletal pain, comparing this data to self-reported…
Hidden head injury hazards expose cracks in OR safety culture
One of the most sobering moments in the career of anesthesiologist Cornelius Sullivan, MD, occurred not as a caretaker in the OR, but as a patient in the emergency department. Having been knocked out cold by a low-hanging monitor during a surgical procedure at Boston Children’s Hospital, he had to…
Study: OR waste training boosts recycling, but impact fades with time
Editor's Note A single training session on waste segregation significantly increased recycling rates among OR staff, but gains began to erode within two months, according to a study published May 26 in Nature: Scientific Reports. Conducted at Ankara University Cebeci Hospital, the quasi-experimental study assessed the impact of a single-session,…
Waste-reduction culture, elimination of anesthetic gases slash OR emissions at USC
Editor's Note A physician-led sustainability initiative focused on waste reduction and eliminating desflurane an nitrous oxide is paying off for Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC), according to a May 19 report in USC Trojan Family Magazine. The article, part of a series focused on waste…
Hospital support staff cuts raise risk of infection, delays in care
Editor's Note Although health system layoffs so far involve mostly non-clinical staff, the cuts nonetheless threaten both hospital operations and patient safety, according to a May 21 article in Modern Healthcare. As detailed in the article, thousands of nonclinical workers—such as those working in nutrition, janitorial, and sterile processing—have been…
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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