Elective Surgery

Results showed disruptions to elective surgery and postoperative care due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020 did not adversely affect patient-reported outcomes or complications after elective total knee arthroplasty.

Despite high postoperative satisfaction rates, most older adults reported concerns about potential pain and discomfort in deciding whether to have elective surgery, according to the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging.

The American College of Surgeons has issued comments on elective surgery during the recent surge in COVID-19 cases stating, “Elective surgery is essential surgery.”

Procedural time of day appeared to have no influence on 2-year outcomes among intermediate-to-high-risk patients who underwent elective surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement, researchers reported.

Delirium and severe delirium after major elective surgery led to significantly higher health care costs, with most costs attributed to the first 90 days of care, according to published results.

Morbidity and mortality among patients who underwent elective total hip and knee arthroplasty was significantly greater during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the same time period the year before the pandemic, study results showed.

In the United States, almost a third of deliveries in 2018 — 31.9% — were completed via cesarean section, according to the CDC.

As 2020 comes to an end, many people will reflect on this year as one filled with unique challenges.

Shift in appropriate site of service

MemorialCare health system recently shifted its attention to renewal after its initial safety-focused response to COVID-19, one of its vice presidents said at Octane’s virtual MedTech Innovation Forum.