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
When given the choice of what parts of their records patients wanted made available to healthcare professionals, the results showed a mixed reaction to the ability. There were also questions raised about the risks associated with only making the records available to certain people.
Having one of the oldest electronic health record systems in the country the state of Indiana has been at the forefront of the field for close to 30 years. Using those records and networks in the state a group from the Regenstrief Institute looked at how patients might want to control who can see their records.
Attack on Generics' Price Escalates
Two more US senators have signed on to sponsor a bill addressing the rising prices of some generic drugs. The measure would penalize manufacturers when prices rise faster than inflation. The office of the US Inspector General for Health and Human Services also announced last week that it will soon begin a study of those increases.
Docs Honor, Mourn Slain Surgeon
The violent death of Boston, MA cardiac surgeon Michael Davidson Jan. 20 was much on the minds of physicians at the AMA's meeting in Chicago. Davidson was honored in a memorial and the delegates resolved to lobby for ways to protect physicians from such assaults.
How Cataract Surgery Affects Costs and Outcomes for Patients
June 9th 2015This is an observational cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries of patients undergoing cataract surgery in the year 2011. Using multivariate analysis, the authors determined the relationship between preoperative testing and patient characteristics, health systems' characteristics, surgical setting, surgical care team, and the occurrence of a preoperative office visit.
Increased Risk of Left Atrial Appendage Leak with Lariat Ligation Device
A study of left atrial appendage ligations in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) found that leaks are common when doctors perform the surgery with a device called the Lariat and that those leaks can lead to neurological events.
Has the ACA Triggered a Spike in Colorectal Cancer Screenings?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) lowering certain financial barriers to care seemed to serve as a catalyst for increased colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in individuals of a lower socioeconomic status (SES), since 2010.
Medicare Millionaires: CMS Releases its Annual Doctor Payment Data
Physicians' total annual Medicare part B fee-for-service payment data for 2013 was released by CMS today. The American Medical Association fears a replay of last year's release when many physicians appeared, inaccurately, to be getting very rich from Medicare payments.
Promising Study Results for Ablation Alternatives for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Results from 2 trials presented at the recent Heart Rhythm Society meeting suggest that 2 alternative ablation technologies work about as well as those that are commonly used on patients with atrial fibrillation.
Surgeons Are Changing Their Approach to Prosthetic Joint Infection Based on New Evidence
May 27th 2015Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) occurs after approximately 2% of primary hip or knee replacements and in up to 6% of revisions surgeries, and cost more than $50,000 per episode. A recent review found that many surgeons have altered their approaches to PJI management based on recent clinical findings.