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Biosensor Detects Antibiotic Resistance And Helps Fight Superbugs
May 8, 2013 10:47 am | News | CommentsA biosensor can detect antibiotic resistance in bacteria. This new technology is a preliminary step in identifying and fighting superbugs, a major public health concern that has led to more deaths than AIDS in the United States in recent years.
Thoracic Endografts Used To Remove Tumors Invading The Aorta
May 8, 2013 10:39 am | News | CommentsTumors have the potential to grow locally and invade neighboring organs. Some chest tumors may invade one of the great vessels of the body, the aorta. Surgical removal of these tumors is very challenging and necessitates the support of a heart-lung machine. Therefore there is an increased risk of complication and death.
Spinal 'Spacer' Procedure Has Fewer Complications, But Higher Risk Of Repeat Surgery
May 8, 2013 10:36 am | News | CommentsInterspinous spacer implantation—a less-invasive alternative surgical option for spinal stenosis—has a lower complication rate than spinal fusion, reports a study. However, patients receiving interspinous spacers are more likely to require repeated back surgery.
Surgeons Implant Magnetic Growing Rods In Treatment For Scoliosis
May 8, 2013 10:29 am | News | CommentsIn a revolutionary treatment for early-onset scoliosis (EOS), a team of surgeons implanted adjustable growing rods in two children from California. The pioneering surgeries — the first ever in the United States — were performed on May 7th at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.
Embolization Coil
May 8, 2013 10:14 am | by Cook Medical | Cook Medical, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsCook Medical has launched a new fully-retractable .035 inch embolization coil, intended for peripheral arterial and venous embolization. Embolization is a nonsurgical, minimally-invasive procedure performed by a physician to block or reduce blood flow in arteries and veins.
BF-190 Bronchoscopes
May 8, 2013 9:56 am | by Olympus | Olympus | Product Releases | CommentsOlympus announced the commercial availability of its 510(k) cleared BF-190 bronchoscopes. The new BF-190 bronchoscopes offer unparalleled maneuverability and flexibility through the combination of their unique Rotary Function and wider tip angulation, which will potentially allow physicians to access areas of the lung that may not be easily reached with current generation bronchoscopes.
SnapIT Lite
May 8, 2013 9:46 am | by Cincinnati Surgical | Cincinnati Surgical Co. | Product Releases | CommentsCincinnati Surgical introduces SnapIT Lite, a revolutionary new product that eliminates sharps injuries from opening glass ampoules. The SnapIT Lite opens and stores the severed ampoule lid until it can be ejected into a proper waste receptacle, protecting medical staff against the risk of painful lacerations.
Hospital Billing Varies Wildly, Government Data Shows
May 8, 2013 9:31 am | by Barry Meier, Jo Craven McGinty, and Julie Creswell | Articles | CommentsData being released for the first time by the government on Wednesday shows that hospitals charge Medicare wildly differing amounts — sometimes 10 to 20 times what Medicare typically reimburses — for the same procedure, raising questions about how hospitals determine prices and why they differ so widely.
Beneath The Surface
May 8, 2013 9:19 am | by Bruce Campbell, M.D. | Blogs | CommentsIt is almost 7:00 a.m. and I carry my briefcase and lunch bag from the car to my office. I nod to some of the night shift employees heading home. Another day has begun. I type my password and check the computer, reminding myself of the twenty patients I am scheduled to see today in the cancer clinic. A few new consults with untreated or recurrent cancers occupy the longer appointment slots.
Certain Bladder-Cancer Patients May Be At Risk Of Recurrence Despite Bladder Removal
May 7, 2013 10:46 am | News | CommentsThe five-year international study led by researchers at UT Southwestern validates the use of a marker panel to predict which patients are more likely to have a recurrence of cancer after bladder removal, thereby identifying those patients as good candidates for follow-up chemotherapy.
Gov. Chris Christie Had Secret Weight-Loss Surgery
May 7, 2013 10:35 am | by Marc Santora | News | CommentsGov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, who has long struggled with obesity, underwent secret weight-loss surgery three months ago, according to a statement from his office. The surgery, which took place on Feb. 16, involved the placement of a silicone band around his stomach to reduce its size, limiting the amount of food he can take in but not altering his digestive process.
Surgeon Attitudes Shifting About Joint Replacement In Younger Patients
May 7, 2013 10:29 am | by Candace Nelson | News | CommentsIt's no secret that obesity remains a problem nationwide. Among the myriad risks associated with being overweight is wear and tear on joints. Extreme sports also have seen an increase in popularity, leading to more sports-related injuries.
Prostate Cancer: No Cost-Effective Way to Save Lives
May 7, 2013 10:24 am | by Charles Bankhead | News | CommentsAll of the current treatment strategies for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) exceed the generally accepted criteria for cost-effectiveness, according to an analysis. The least costly of the regimens exceeded the $100,000 threshold by about $60,000, and the most costly approached three times the threshold for willingness to pay per life-year saved.
Medical Grade Polyurethane
May 7, 2013 9:57 am | by Parker Hannifin | Parker Hannifin Corp. Seal Group | Product Releases | CommentsParker Hannifin Corporation has created a medical grade polyurethane that not only displays characteristic polycarbonate resistance to oxidation and alcohol swelling, but also demonstrates expanded resistance to environmental stress cracking.
LifeVest
May 7, 2013 9:41 am | by Zoll Medical Corporation | Product Releases | CommentsZoll Medical Corporation offers the LifeVest, which is designed to protect patients at risk for sudden cardiac death. It is used to protect a wide range of patients, including recent myocardial infarction, or following coronary revascularization.
