Currently, scientific literature on outcomes after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is focused heavily on the technical outcomes of surgery like rates of death, complications and reinterventions. Samir K. Shah, M.D., assistant professor in the division of vascular surgery and endovascular therapy at the University of Florida, would like to add…
As of July 2023, the UF Health liver transplant program and kidney transplant patient outcomes have reached No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation, respectively, as evaluated by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, or SRTR. Thanks to the leadership of Thiago Beduschi, M.D.; Georgios Vrakas, M.D., Ph.D.; and…
When it comes to quality initiatives, even the smallest standardization can result in an improvement in patient care. Standardizing operating room notes, for example, is one of the ways surgeons can increase ease of collaboration and leave less room for errors in reporting. “My service often collaborates with other departments,…
Although national guidelines support the use of genetic testing in select populations, a study published in 2019 laid the foundation for the implementation of universal genetic testing, allowing physicians to offer testing for patients who would be otherwise missed. Of the thousand who enrolled in the study and did not…
In a new study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, researchers from the UF Department of Surgery examined the safety of outpatient plastic surgery, providing a more holistic comparative evaluation of outcomes and safety. “Even as a state, Florida often tends to see some publicity around serious complications or fatalities…
Currently, the American College of Surgeons possesses a number of different verification processes to recognize exceptional patient care. The trauma category contains both adult and pediatric categories — each with its own stringent standards programs must meet in order to be considered, let alone approved.
For patients with severe obesity and related health issues, like diabetes and advanced cardiovascular disease, bariatric surgery is an increasingly popular option. Now, new guidelines are recommending the procedures become available to more patients who may need them. “An important misconception — and consideration — is that bariatric surgery is…
For the past several decades, the standard of care for patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis included early elective surgery with the goal of averting the need for an emergency procedure and potential colostomy. Now, with the goal of improving patients’ quality of life, the COSMID (Comparison of Surgery and Medicine on…
Among the possible complications for most cardiac surgical procedures, dysphagia, or trouble swallowing, is one of the most common. The condition can affect patient nutrition, lead to dehydration, and even cause aspiration pneumonia. And, though the latter is a major cause of mortality, it is preventative — with the right…
A patient’s postoperative length of stay is dependent on many factors — treatment complexity, resources, patient characteristics and more. Now, Melinda Phillips, APRN, and team are turning towards multimedia education mediums to help cardiovascular surgery patients feel confident in their postoperative recovery — and go home sooner. Part of the…
