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GUS Disinfection Soak Stations
June 4, 2013 9:36 am | by PCI Medical | PCI Medical | Product Releases | Comments(2013 ESP Award Nominee) PCI Medical announces two new fully enclosed GUS Disinfection Soak Stations with longer disinfection containers. The new, long design allows for a more thorough disinfection of endocavity probes. The G10VPL is designed to disinfect and rinse one endocavity probe, while the G14KAL disinfects two probes at once. The new longer containers also can fit into existing G10VP and G14KA models.
Anesthesia May Boost Dementia Risk
June 4, 2013 9:27 am | by Kathleen Struck | Articles | CommentsIn a prospective population-based cohort study, older adults with at with at least one exposure to general anesthesia over eight years had an increased risk of developing dementia compared with age-matched adults who were not exposed to anesthesia over the same period.
Winning The MRSA Battle In Hospitals
June 4, 2013 9:10 am | by Anahad O'Connor | Blogs | CommentsTreating every single patient who enters an intensive care unit with special disinfectant soaps and ointments drastically reduces the spread of the drug-resistant bacteria MRSA and cuts the rate of bloodstream infections in hospitals, a new study shows. By adopting a universal strategy of disinfecting the most vulnerable patients, hospitals could make substantially more progress against serious infections.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Help Heal A 'Broken' Heart
June 3, 2013 12:04 pm | News | CommentsProcedures like angioplasty, stenting and bypass surgery may save lives, but they also cause excessive inflammation and scarring, which ultimately can lead to permanent disability and even death. A new research report shows that naturally derived compounds from polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3s) may reduce the inflammation associated with these procedures to help arteries more fully and completely heal.
Temporary Blood Clot Filters May Do More Harm Than Good For Bariatric Surgery Patients
June 3, 2013 12:01 pm | News | CommentsThe temporary placement of umbrella-like, metal mesh filters in abdominal veins to stop potentially lethal blood clots from traveling to the lungs during and after weight loss surgery may actually increase the risk of death in morbidly obese patients, according to new Johns Hopkins research.
New Technology Makes Breast Cancer Surgery More Precise
June 3, 2013 11:46 am | News | CommentsSurgeons at UC Irvine Medical Center are the first in the country to use a device that reduces by half the need to reoperate and cut out breast cancer cells missed during an initial lumpectomy. The MarginProbe System lets the surgeon immediately assess whether cancer cells remain on the margins of excised tissue. Currently, patients have to wait days for a pathologist to determine this.
The $2.7 Trillion Medical Bill
June 3, 2013 11:41 am | by Elisabeth Rosenthal | News | CommentsColonoscopies offer a compelling case study. They are the most expensive screening test that healthy Americans routinely undergo — and often cost more than childbirth or an appendectomy in most other developed countries. Their numbers have increased manyfold over the last 15 years, with data from the CDC suggesting that more than 10 million people get them each year, adding up to more than $10 billion in annual costs.
SurgiClear
June 3, 2013 11:02 am | by Covalon Technologies | Covalon Technologies Ltd. | Product Releases | Comments(2013 ESP Award Nominee) SurgiClear from Covalon Technologies integrates two well-known antimicrobials (chlorhexidine and silver) into the film dressing’s soft silicone adhesive. The dual antimicrobial silicone adhesive kills 99.99 percent of bacteria and suppresses re-growth of microbes on the patient’s skin, maintaining a preferred environment for wound healing.
Tri-Pull Secure Shoulder Solution
June 3, 2013 10:44 am | by Innovative Medical Products | Innovative Medical Products, Inc. | Product Releases | Comments(2013 ESP Award Nominee) IMP’s Tri-Pull Secure Shoulder Solution employs three proven systems (Phase4 Gel Splint, Reznik Universal Shoulder Positioner, De Mayo RoTractor) to distract and control precise rotation of the shoulder during arthroscopic surgery. The RoTractor delivers incremental amounts of arm rotation while maintaining shoulder distraction at the same time.
GAMMEX Non-Latex Sensitive Surgical Glove
June 3, 2013 10:30 am | by Ansell | Ansell | Product Releases | Comments(2013 ESP Award Nominee) GAMMEX Non-Latex Sensitive is a major innovation in non-latex, chemical accelerator-free glove technology. The SENSOPRENE formulation allows for superior sensitivity while maintaining glove strength, offering unprecedented comfort and tactility with advanced allergy protection (against both latex and chemical allergies) for healthcare workers and patients.
HHS Secretary Calls For Review Of Child Organ Transplant Rules
June 3, 2013 9:39 am | by Sydney Lupkin and Alexis Shaw | Articles | CommentsHealth and Human Services' Secretary Katheen Sebelius has called for a review of policies affecting children awaiting lung transplants, as the parents of a 10-year-old Pennsylvania girl fight for their daughter to be granted the care they said she has been denied because of her age.
What I Look For In An EMR
June 3, 2013 9:30 am | by Rob Lamberts, M.D | Blogs | CommentsPerhaps the problem is that I still use the term “medical record,” or (worse) “EMR” to describe what I am looking for. While computers have been an important part in the corruption of the system, they have not been the cause of the screwing up, they have simply made the screwing happen at a much faster rate.
Safe For Stroke Patients To Continue Blood Thinners Before Minor Surgical Procedures
May 31, 2013 11:57 am | News | CommentsMany patients who have experienced strokes or mini strokes take blood thinners to reduce the risk of blood clots that can cause strokes. This can pose a dilemma when a patient needs to undergo a surgical procedure, because blood thinners can increase the risk of bleeding. But a new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology advises that it is likely safe to continue taking blood thinners before minor procedures.
VTE Not Easy To Prevent During Bariatric Surgery
May 31, 2013 11:16 am | by Chris Kaiser | News | CommentsNeither higher doses of anti-clotting drugs nor filters inserted in the vena cava are guaranteed to help prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) during bariatric surgery, a review of the literature suggests. A systematic review and meta-analysis was unable to show that an increased dosage of these medications can prevent VTE in bariatric surgery patients.
Transfusions With Heart Surgery Might Raise Infection Risk
May 31, 2013 11:10 am | News | CommentsPatients who receive a red blood cell transfusion during or after heart surgery may be at greater risk for infection, according to a new study. However, the use of platelets during transfusions does not appear to carry a similar risk. Limiting red blood cell use could result in fewer major postoperative infections, the researchers suggested.
