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…

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Editor's Note Providing tailored feedback to surgical prescribers significantly increased adherence to opioid prescribing guidelines without affecting patients’ ability to manage postoperative pain, according to research published June 11 in JAMA Surgery.  The study tested whether monthly reports that included peer prescribing comparisons and patient-reported outcomes could influence opioid prescribing…

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Editor's Note Using 3D-printed anatomical models during preoperative consultations significantly improved shared decision-making (SDM) and modestly reduced anxiety in colorectal surgery patients, according to a June 3 study published in JAMA Network Open.  The single-center, cluster randomized clinical trial enrolled 51 adult patients scheduled for colon or rectal resection due…

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Editor's Note States that grant full practice authority to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) rank significantly higher in health system performance than those that impose physician supervision requirements, according to a July 3 report from the University of Missouri. The article focuses on a study led by researchers at the…

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Editor's Note Mayo Clinic researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system that detects surgical site infections (SSIs) from patient-submitted wound photos. According to the July 7 announcement, the model achieved 94% accuracy in detecting surgical incisions and an 81% area under the curve (AUC) in identifying infections. According to…

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Editor's Note Black and Hispanic patients remain significantly less likely than White patients to receive buprenorphine after an opioid-related health care event, according research published June 26 in JAMA Network Open. Patients with Medicaid or Medicare Advantage also had higher odds of receiving buprenorphine than those with commercial insurance. The…

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Editor's Note Microsoft’s MAI Diagnostic Orchestrator (MAI-DxO)artificial intelligence (AI) system outperformed physicians on diagnostic accuracy, achieving an 80% score compared to only 20% for a panel of human doctors. Wired reported the news June 30, quoting an official calling the system “a genuine step toward medical superintelligence” and noting that…

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Editor's Note A new international consensus offers the first multidisciplinary definition and set of recommendations for group-based preoperative education programs, sometimes referred to as “surgery schools.” Published June 21 in the British journal Anaesthesia, the expert-driven guidance aims to improve patient preparation, experience, and recovery for those undergoing major elective…

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Editor's Note Low-dose dexmedetomidine effectively stabilizes blood pressure and heart rate during key perioperative stages in gastrointestinal tumor patients with moderate to severe anxiety, according to a July 1 study published in BMC Psychiatry.   Researchers enrolled 100 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic gastrointestinal tumor resection. Anxiety levels were measured using…

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Editor's Note Women who work night shifts are around 50% more likely to have moderate or severe asthma compared to women who work only during the day, according to findings published in ERJ Open Research. As detailed in a June 15 announcement from the European Respiratory Society, the study analyzed…

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