The HCPLive surgery page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on invasive medicine. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for surgery, and more.
November 17th 2024
An IV infusion of exenatide during cardiac surgeries involving bypass did not significantly benefit mortality or organ injury compared with placebo.
September 27th 2024
Roux-Y Gastric Bypass Increases Risk of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Several prior studies have noted that Roux-Y gastric bypass surgery often leaves patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, but new research from Switzerland indicates that different flavors of the procedure expose patients to greatly different risks.
Who Gets a Liver? Transplant Centers Differ on Substance Abuse Abstinence Rules
Donor livers are scarce, donated organs are precious, and transplant surgeons make the final call on whether to transplant. When the question of whether to give a liver to a patient who uses marijuana, drinks too much alcohol, or even smokes tobacco comes up, the issue gets tricky.
Symptom Severity Decreases in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis who Undergo Weight-Loss Surgery
A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent bariatric surgery suggests that significant weight loss significantly lessens the symptoms of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
Post-Ablation Recurrence Risk Increases with BMI in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Analyses of patient records indicate that obesity increases the risk of recurrence among patients who undergo ablation for atrial fibrillation but suggest that sustained weight loss can reduce the risk.
Pancreatic Volume Predicts Postoperative Risk of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
New research into the relationship between partial pancreatectomy and the subsequent incidence of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency finds a strong positive correlation between the volume of tissue removed and subsequent complications.
Study Identifies Characteristics of Pain Improvement for Bariatric Surgery Patients
In preliminary results presented at ObesityWeek, University of Pittsburgh researchers revealed that 3 years after bariatric surgery, the majority of patients experience an improvement in pain and walking ability.
Distractions in the Operating Room Are a Big Problem
November 5th 2015The Institute of Medicine reported that almost half of surgical suite managers have seen healthcare providers distracted by electronic devices, and more than 5% are aware of an adverse event (including wrong-site surgery) linked to personal use of a mobile device.
10 Steps to Improve Efficiency in the Operating Room
November 4th 2015Many surgeons complain about operating room efficiency. Hospitals can benefit from improving OR efficiency, because most ORs top their list of the most costly divisions. Here are several successful low-cost, low-technology measures to improve efficiency that were implemented at a tertiary-care academic medical center/Level I trauma center.
Updated Malignant Hyperthermia Guidelines
November 4th 2015Malignant hyperthermia is a potentially fatal disorder usually associated with administration of certain general anesthetics and/or succinylcholine. Until 30 years ago, its etiology was unknown. Then, researchers found that people who carry an autosomal dominant calcium channel mutation are at elevated susceptibility.
Multidisciplinary Feedback Improves Surgeons' Performance
November 3rd 2015Certain healthcare provider behaviors can threaten team performance and patient safety. As task complexity increases, so do the team's interdisciplinary responsibilities. Medical organizations that take steps to identify troublesome behaviors can help employees correct the problem, thereby fostering teamwork and a culture of safety.
Simultaneous Bariatric Surgery and Hiatal Hernia Repair Appears Safe
November 3rd 2015Some experts contend that hiatal hernia-related symptoms improve after weight-loss surgery, making repair of the hiatus unnecessary. Yet, simultaneous repair during bariatric surgery may be more efficient than undergoing separate procedures. A study published in the journal Surgery suggests repair of hiatal hernia during bariatric surgery appears safe and feasible.
Good Results with Early Resective Surgery for Epilepsy
November 3rd 2015Surgeons are more likely than ever to consider resective procedures in infants and young children who have refractory seizure disorders. Many reports describe good outcomes in infants and young children undergoing resective surgery, but longitudinal data have been published only rarely.
Predicting Spinal Surgery Patient Satisfaction
Researchers recently studied a cohort of patients who had undergone surgery for back pain to determine if they could identify patient-related factors or patient-reported outcomes could accurately predict dissatisfaction after spinal surgery.
Heart Surgery Patients Die of Bacterial Infection in Pennsylvania
A Pennsylvania hospital has set up a dedicated website and toll-free phone line to quell patients' fears after announcing four heart surgery patients were discovered to have died apparently from bacterially contaminated medical devices.