Editor's Note Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna developed a new method using the Temporal Fusion Transformer (TFT) model to predict intraoperative hypotension in patients under general anesthesia. According to findings published August 30 in eClinical Medicine, part of The Lancet, the model utilizes routine vital sign data, including…
Editor's Note A recent randomized crossover trial conducted at Johns Hopkins University reveals that improper arm positioning during blood pressure measurements can lead to significant overestimation, potentially contributing to over-diagnosis of hypertension. The findings appeared in Jama Network October 7. The study, which included 133 participants, compared readings in three…
Editor's Note MedStar Health announced the first successful all-plastic total ankle replacement surgery, performed at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. According to a September 30 announcement, the 71-year-old patient has a lifelong metal allergy and suffered from advanced joint degeneration in her right ankle, causing significant difficulty in walking. Dr. Paul…
Editor's Note Bariatric surgery significantly reduces the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity compared to those on GLP-1 diabetes medications, according to a study from Cleveland Clinic. Published in Annals of Surgery and detailed in a September 20 announcement from Cleveland Clinic,…
Editor's Note MedStar Georgetown University Hospital’s Verstandig Pavilion is now home to a moveable MRI system that enables real-time intraoperative imaging, NBC Washington reported September 18. As detailed in the article and accompanying video, MRIs are typically performed the day after surgery, sometimes revealing residual tumor tissue that could have…
Editor's Note Starting October 1, US hospitals participating in Medicare's Inpatient Quality Reporting Program will need to report adherence to 25 patient safety best practices, as mandated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). According to a September 4 report from the Association of Health Care Journalists, the…
Editor's Note Researchers at MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have developed statistical models to improve how anesthesiologists manage unconscious pain, or nociception, during surgery, according to a September 23 report in News Medical. Derived from over 18,000 minutes of surgery data across 101 abdominal procedures, the models aim to…
Editor's Note Virtual reality is making training more immersive for nurses at SSM Health St Mary’s Hospital in Janesville, Wisconsin, according to a September 11 article in GazetteXtra. Although a first for St Mary’s, virtual reality has already been adopted by other SSM Health facilities, the outlet reports. Donning googles…
Editor's Note Often exceeding federal safety limits, OR noise contributes significantly to communication breakdowns, heightened cognitive load, and increased surgical errors, according to a review of literature published September 17 in Cureus. Identified noise sources include surgical instruments, alarms, and staff conversations, which can reach up to 120 decibels (dBA)—a…
Editor's Note Aligning with a recent executive order promoting safe and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking input on what providers and others are doing with the technology. Issued September 9, the Request for Information (RFI) invites healthcare…