Obese patients showed less respiratory insufficiency (RI) than their nonobese counterparts during endoscopic surgery, according to a new study. The result was counterintuitive. Because of their higher rates of obstructive sleep apnea, pulmonary hypertension and other cardiopulmonary disorders, obese patients generally are thought to be at increased risk for sedation-related complications, such as RI. Consequently, […]
Read MoreScientists have observed that standard timing for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), between seven and 14 days after the injury, is best for minimizing related mortality. However, further study is needed. PEG placement, a frequently performed procedure providing patients with nutrients via enteral feeding, comes with risks. Short-term […]
Read MoreA new initiative to identify preoperative patients who may be predisposed to developing dependence on opioid analgesics could facilitate treatment plans that reduce their exposure to opioids and mitigate that risk. The joint endeavor by specialty pharmaceutical manufacturer Pacira Pharmaceuticals and therapeutic management firm GeneAlign has incorporated behavioral histories and pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic testing into […]
Read MoreThe benefits of robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) have been clouded by doubts about its effect on blood pressure and fluid management, but a new study has found that RALP reduced the volume of fluids and alleviated the need for blood transfusion compared with open radical prostatectomy. According to Hidehisa Saito, MD, a resident at the […]
Read MoreSurgery is on the move: With enhanced recovery protocols, procedures that once required several days of in-hospital recovery are shifting to the outpatient setting without compromising patient care. However, there are still major barriers to consider. At the Interdisciplinary Conference on Orthopedic Value-Based Care, Tong Joo (T.J.) Gan, MD, FRCA, MHS, assessed the feasibility of […]
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