• An Updated Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Comparing the Analgesic Efficacy of Intercostal Nerve Block Versus Erector Spinae Plane Block in Thoracic Surgery.

  Meta-analysis of randomized trials

  RESEARCHAnesthesiol Res Pract·Nov 3, 2026Evidence update
• Efficacy of Stellate Ganglion Block for Preventing Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

  Single-center randomized trial; primary endpoint negative

  RESEARCHJ Am Heart Assoc·Oct 30, 2026Clinical trial
• Synthetic Platelets Aim for Human Testing in 2027

  Perspective; preclinical technology, not established human benefit

  ARTICLEAmerican College of Surgeons·Nov 4, 2026Practice relevanceWorth a read
• What Aviation Taught Me About Becoming a Better Surgeon

  Personal viewpoint

  ARTICLEAmerican College of Surgeons·Nov 4, 2026Practice relevanceWorth a read
• Direct Oral Anticoagulants Versus Vitamin K Antagonists for Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

  Evidence synthesis

  RESEARCHCardiol Rev·Oct 29, 2026Evidence update
  Journal article

  Al-Harrasi A, Almutairi A, Alghazali RA, Alrefaei N, Rusheidi RSA, Zuhair SA, Alfailakawi AKEAEA, Zamzamy DA, Mousa HA, Elkasaby MH, Frishman WH, Aronow WS.

  Abstract / publisher access may vary
• Challenging the Status Quo Can Help Protect Patients

  ACS report of a surgeon’s perspective

  NEWSAmerican College of Surgeons·Oct 27, 2026Worth a read
• Request for Information: Nationwide Implementation of Prehospital Blood Transfusion

  Request for information; comments due November 5, 2026

  POLICY & LAWFederal Register·Oct 6, 2026· Notice · United StatesPolicy watch
• Medical Devices; Ear, Nose, and Throat Devices; Classification of the Cooperative Powered Surgical Assist Device for ENT Surgery

  Final device-classification order

  POLICY & LAWFederal Register·Sep 10, 2026· Rule · United StatesPolicy watch
• Advocacy Training Prepares Surgeons to Influence Policy and Health

  Viewpoint; program description

  ARTICLEAmerican College of Surgeons·Nov 4, 2026Worth a read
• PROlonged posterior PERicardial chest tube treatment to reduce rates of postoperative atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery (PROPER trial): Rationale and design of a prospective, multinational, randomized clinical trial.

  Randomized trial

  RESEARCHAm Heart J·Oct 28, 2026Clinical trial
• Coexistent tracheal bronchus and azygos lobe: surgical planning and operative technique for robotic-assisted right upper lobectomy.

  Research · assess methods and limitations

  RESEARCHGen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg·Nov 2, 2026New technology
• A real-time machine learning framework for improved intraoperative risk predictions in cardiac surgery patients.

  Observational · association, not causation

  RESEARCHJ Am Med Inform Assoc·Nov 1, 2026New technology
• Learning curve of da vinci robotic lobectomy: a single-surgeon CUSUM analysis of operative time and perioperative outcomes.

  Research · assess methods and limitations

  RESEARCHJ Robot Surg·Oct 31, 2026New technology
• Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2027 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; and Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program

  Proposed rule, not final policy

  POLICY & LAWFederal Register·Jul 16, 2026· Proposed rule · United StatesPolicy watch
• Medicare Program: Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems; and Quality Reporting Programs; Including the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Program; Request for Information on Strengthening the Standardization and Comparability of Hospital Price Transparency (HPT) Data; Prior Authorization; Accrediting Organization (AO) Deeming for Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA); and Notices of Closure of Teaching Hospitals and Opportunities To Apply for Available Slots

  Proposed rule, not final policy

  POLICY & LAWFederal Register·Jul 7, 2026· Proposed rule · United StatesPolicy watch
• Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Organ Procurement Organizations Conditions for Coverage: Revisions to the Conditions for Coverage

  Proposed rule, not final policy

  POLICY & LAWFederal Register·Jan 30, 2026· Proposed rule · United StatesPolicy watch
• Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals (IPPS) and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; Other Policy Changes; and Adoption of Updated Versions of Certain Health Information Technology Standards

  Rule · check effective date

  POLICY & LAWFederal Register·Aug 4, 2026· Rule · United StatesPractice relevancePolicy watch
  Rule · United States

  Health and Human Services Department, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,

  Official US document. Check its status and effective date.
• Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals (IPPS) and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes

  Proposed rule · not final law

  POLICY & LAWFederal Register·Apr 14, 2026· Proposed rule · United StatesPractice relevancePolicy watch
• Medicare Program; Implementation of Sections 6219, 6220, and 6224 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026

  Proposed rule · not final law

  POLICY & LAWFederal Register·Oct 20, 2026· Proposed rule · United StatesPolicy watch
• Standard anterior temporal lobectomy using a retractorless technique in patients with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: long-term seizure outcomes and predictors of postoperative seizure freedom.

  Research · assess methods and limitations

  RESEARCHNeurosurg Rev·Nov 3, 2026Practice relevance
• Preoperative lipid concentrations and 28-day mortality after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass: a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained registry.

  Observational · association, not causation

  RESEARCHClinics (Sao Paulo)·Nov 3, 2026Practice relevance
• Medicare Program; CY 2027 Changes to the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System, Acute Kidney Injury Dialysis (AKI) Payment, and ESRD Quality Incentive Program

  Proposed rule · not final law

  POLICY & LAWFederal Register·Jun 26, 2026· Proposed rule · United StatesPolicy watch
• Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program

  Proposed rule · not final law

  POLICY & LAWFederal Register·Jun 16, 2026· Proposed rule · United StatesPolicy watch
• Medicare Program; Strengthening Oversight of Accrediting Organizations (AOs) and Preventing AO Conflicts of Interest, and Related Provisions

  Rule · check effective date

  POLICY & LAWFederal Register·Jun 16, 2026· Rule · United StatesPolicy watch
• Medicare Program; Contract Year 2027 and Certain Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, and Medicare Cost Plan Program

  Rule · check effective date

  POLICY & LAWFederal Register·Apr 6, 2026· Rule · United StatesPolicy watch

Selected for clinical relevance, new technology, guidelines, and interesting perspectives. Preliminary work is labeled; interest is not a quality rating. Eight headlines have reviewed AI-assisted rewrites; other titles appear as published.