Tag: Patient mortality

Major study clarifies risks, severity of perioperative pulmonary aspiration

Editor's Note Preliminary results from a nearly million-case review reveal that perioperative pulmonary aspiration, while feared, is rare but potentially deadly. According to a February 4 Anesthesiology News report, researchers found an overall incidence of 1 in 5,572 anesthesia cases, with aspiration-related mortality at about 1 in 67,000. As detailed…

Read More

By: Tarsilla Moura
August 11, 2025
Share

Study: Medicare Advantage surgical episodes cost less, achieve similar quality as traditional Medicare

Editor's Note Medicare Advantage (MA) patients undergoing elective surgery incurred lower costs than comparable patients in traditional Medicare (TM) without higher readmission rates and with no significant difference in mortality rates, according to a study published August 1 in JAMA Health Forum. The findings suggest that MA plans reduce surgical…

Read More

By: Matt Danford
August 6, 2025
Share

FDA safety alerts flag cardiac devices

Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued early alerts August 6 for three medical devices due to safety concerns: Medline ReNewal’s reprocessed St. Jude Medical electrophysiology catheters, Boston Scientific’s ENDOTAK RELIANCE defibrillation leads with ePTFE-coated coils, and Boston Scientific's WATCHMAN Access Systems. The Medline alert involves specific lots…

Read More

By: Matt Danford
August 6, 2025
Share

FDA issues Class I recall for Philips BiPAP ventilators

Editor's Note Philips Respironics BiPAP A30, A40, and V30 Auto ventilators are subject to a Class 1 recall—the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) most severe category indicating risk of serious injury or death—due to the risk for a failure in the Ventilator Inoperative alarm, which can cause therapy interruption…

Read More

By: Matt Danford
August 5, 2025
Share

FDA designates Class I recall for disposable surgical stapler cartridge correction

Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated the recall of Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC’s Endopath Echelon Vascular White Reload for Advanced Placement Tip a Class I, the most severe category indicating risk of serious injury or death. As detailed in the agency’s July 25 announcement,  the recall…

Read More

By: Matt Danford
July 28, 2025
Share

FDA designates Class 1 recalls for closed suction systems, infant heated wire circuits, pediatric emergency tape

Editor's Note Recent recalls of the Ballard Closed Suction Systems from Avanos Medical Inc., Infant Heated Wire Circuits from AirLife/Vyaire, and Broselow Pediatric Emergency Rainbow Tape from AirLife have been designated as Class 1, the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) most severe category indicating risk of serious injury or…

Read More

By: Matt Danford
July 10, 2025
Share

Recent FDA Class 1 recall designations include anesthesia systems, aortic root cannula

Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated recent medical device recalls involving GE Healthcare’s Carestation anesthesia system, Medtronic aortic root cannula systems, Zoll Circulation’s AutoPulse NXT Resuscitation System, and Medtronic’s Bravo CF Capsule Delivery Devices as Class 1, the most severe category indicating serious risk of…

Read More

By: Matt Danford
June 25, 2025
Share

Post-pandemic surge in excess US deaths exposes public health decline

Editor's Note The United States recorded more than 1.5 million excess deaths in 2022 and 2023 alone—avoidable fatalities that would not have occurred if US death rates matched those of other wealthy nations, according to a May 23 article in CIDRAP reporting on a Boston University–led study published in JAMA…

Read More

By: Matt Danford
May 28, 2025
Share

Study: Inadequate RN staffing raises patient mortality, costs

Editor's Note Short-staffed hospital wards face higher patient mortality, readmissions, and lengthier stays—especially when they rely on temporary staff instead of permanent registered nurses, according to research published in BMJ Quality & Safety.  As detailed in a summary from Medscape News UK, the large-scale, longitudinal observational study was led by…

Read More

By: Matt Danford
May 7, 2025
Share

Pembrolizumab sets new standard in advanced head and neck cancer surgery, trial shows

Editor's Note According to results from a randomized trial, titled KEYNOTE-689, adding pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to surgery and standard adjuvant therapy significantly prolongs event-free survival (EFS) in patients with resectable, locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), MedPage Today April 28 reports. Experts are calling the findings a major…

Read More

By: Tarsilla Moura
April 29, 2025
Share

Join our community

Learn More
Video Spotlight
Live chat by BoldChat