Newswise – CHICAGO: The March issue of Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS)including research presented at the Southern Surgical Association 135Th The annual meeting will feature new research on topics such as colorectal cancer and social vulnerability, the cost of operating room supplies, the rise in school shootings since 1970 and the impact of open carry laws on suicide rates, among other topics.
Read highlights from the issue below. The full edition can be found on the JACS website.
Social vulnerability index and survival after colorectal cancer resection
Researchers analyzed whether Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) data can help predict complications and survival rates for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). High SVI score was independently associated with major perioperative complications and survival rates after resection of 872 CRC patients. The results suggest that the SVI may be a useful measure to identify CRC patients who may benefit from outreach interventions.
DOI: 10.1097/XCS.0000000000000961
Health disparities in likelihood and time to kidney recovery after living kidney donation: Implications for the kidney health of Black Americans
There is a lack of studies on living kidney donation that examine health disparities in kidney recovery after donation. Researchers retrospectively analyzed 100,121 living kidney donors reported to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients between 1999 and 2021. Findings:
- Black living kidney donors, particularly young black men, were less likely to recover kidney function
- The time to kidney recovery was significantly longer for black patients than for their white counterparts
- Black living donors appear to have the greatest future risk of end-stage kidney disease
The authors point out that increased follow-up care is necessary for living kidney donors.
DOI: 10.1097/XCS.0000000000000970
Lower operating room supply costs and higher value of care following implementation of a sustained quality intervention
Operating room costs are the second most expensive part of surgical care. To reduce costs, researchers implemented a sustained quality improvement effort using automated electronic health record data to analyze operating room cost of care data with patient and case characteristics and outcomes. Results show:
- A reduction in the cost of providing operating rooms
- A decline in cases with out-of-control costs
- No difference in operative time or patient outcomes
- An increase in the value of care
DOI: 10.1097/XCS.0000000000000972
Patients with obesity and kidney failure may become new candidates for a kidney transplant A collaborative study between bariatric and transplant teams has created a viable pathway for patients with obesity who also have end-stage renal disease to become eligible for a kidney transplant through weight loss surgery. Postoperative results indicate significant improvements in BMI, hypertension, and diabetes management, leading to improvements in patients’ overall health and transplant eligibility.
Study shows impact of behavioral disorders on cancer surgery outcomes
One in 15 cancer patients in the Medicare system has at least one behavioral disorder (BHD). BHDs, which include substance abuse, eating disorders, and sleep disorders, are associated with poorer surgical outcomes and higher healthcare costs in cancer patients. Patients with BHD are less likely to require surgical resection and are more likely to have postoperative complications.
Study shows dramatic increase in school shootings and related deaths since 1970
In the 53 years ending in May 2022, the number of school shootings increased more than 12-fold annually. Children are more than four-fold more likely to be victims of school shootings, and the death rate from school shootings has increased more than six-fold. The incidents investigated involved 3,083 victims, including 2,033 children ages 5 to 17 and 1,050 adults ages 18 to 74.
Open carry laws may lead to more firearm-related suicides
Gun suicide rates rose 18% in nine years in states that began allowing gun owners to openly carry a firearm without a permit. Gun-related suicides rose in the U.S. from 21,175 in 2013 to 26,328 in 2021, an increase that may be linked to more permissive open carry gun laws.
Journalists should get in touch [email protected] to obtain a full copy of any of these studies or to schedule an interview with a researcher.
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About the American College of Surgeons
TheAmerican College of Surgeonsis a scientific and educational organization of surgeons founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The college is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and made it a major advocate for all surgical patients. The college has approximately 90,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. “FACS” means that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.