Study: No significant link between GLP-1 drugs, postoperative aspiration pneumonia
Editor's Note Preoperative use of GLP-1 receptor agonists was not significantly associated with an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia or acute respiratory failure after surgery, according to a March 4 report in MedPage Today. The article focuses on a retrospective cohort study of over 366,000 surgical patients found no meaningful…
Study: Implicit bias linked to low-value vascular procedures, worse outcomes for Black patients
Editor's Note Reducing the negative influence of implicit bias requires system-level interventions to ensure procedures align with best practices for all patients, according to results of new research on outcomes for vascular surgery patients. Published February 26 in JAMA Surgery, the study showed that implicit racial bias among vascular specialists…
Medical gaslighting tops ECRI’s 2025 patient safety threat list
Editor's Note Misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, and a breakdown of trust in healthcare can all result from time and resource constraints preventing proper engagement with patients—a concern that tops ECRI’s list of the most significant patient safety risks for 2025. As detailed in the global healthcare safety nonprofit’s March 10 announcement,…
AI models improve prediction of surgical complications using preoperative clinical notes
Editor’s Note Large language models (LLMs) outperformed traditional methods in predicting postoperative complications, according to a study on artificial intelligence (AI) in perioperative risk assessment published February 11 in the journal Nature. Results indicate AI-driven models could enhance patient safety and streamline clinical workflows by detecting complications earlier. Researchers analyzed…
FDA announces Class 1 recall for ventilator system
Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated Baxter Healthcare Corporation’s recall of the Life2000 ventilator system as a Class 1, the most severe category indicating serious risk of injury or death. According to the agency’s February 5 announcement, a failed operation during manufacturing compromised the operation…
Study highlights nurse staffing disparity in hospitals serving black populations
Editor's Note Nurse staffing rates in hospitals serving a high percentage of Black patients are worse than in hospitals serving fewer Black patients, a disparity that has significant implications for patient outcomes, according to a study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Published in the journal Nursing Research…
Study: Advanced recovery room care could reduce long-term postoperative mortality
Editor's Note Findings from The ARRC II study show using advanced recovery room care (ARRC) for medium-risk surgical patients significantly reduces 18-month postoperative mortality compared to standard ward care. As detailed in a December 11 research letter in JAMA Surgery, this benefit appears linked to minimizing early postoperative complications, which…
FDA designates Class 1 recalls for balloon catheters, radiographic markers
Editor's Note Balloon catheters for atrial fibrillation patients and implantable radiographic markers were the subjects of separate US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Class 1 recalls—the most severe category indicating risk of serious injury or death—announced on December 18. The first recall involves Boston Scientific’s POLARx Cryoablation devices. Higher-than-anticipated reports…
Study: Geriatric surgery program improves outcomes, independence
Editor's Note Older cancer patients undergoing major abdominal procedures at Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence, Rhode Island, significantly benefitted from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) program, Medical Xpress reported December 10. Citing a study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons,…
Demand for skin removal surgeries surges amid weight loss drug boom
Editor's Note Demand for skin removal surgeries has risen sharply in the US, fueled by the popularity of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, CNN reported December 9. The trend reflects a growing need for procedures that address loose, sagging skin following significant weight loss, particularly as the…
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