The OR’s Leading Source of Cutting Edge Surgical Technology
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.
Former Semi-Pro Arena Football Player Bridged To Heart Transplant With Artificial Heart
May 31, 2013 11:03 am | News | CommentsWhen Justin Ryder, 35, was discharged from University of Arizona Medical Center in Tucson on May 20, he had a new donor heart beating in his chest and a new baby boy waiting for him at home in Las Vegas, his heart transplant made possible by 83 days of life with a temporary total artificial heart.
SDC3 All-In-One Data Management Solution
May 31, 2013 10:39 am | by Stryker Endoscopy | Stryker Endoscopy | Product Releases | Comments(2013 ESP Award Nominee) Stryker Endoscopy’s SDC3 is an all-in-one data management solution to increase OR workflows and efficiencies. The SDC3 features device and voice control capabilities, allowing both surgeon and staff to control devices such as the light source, arthroscopy pump, insufflator, camera, capture device, lights, and more from anywhere in the OR.
HD 3D Video Laparoscope
May 31, 2013 10:26 am | by Olympus | Olympus | Product Releases | Comments(2013 ESP Award Nominee) The ENDOEYE FLEX 3D from Olympus is the world’s only articulating HD 3D video laparoscope that delivers value to surgeons and patients by reducing surgical errors and improving the speed, accuracy, and precision of surgical tasks such as dissection, grasping, and suturing (compared with traditional 2D surgical systems).
C3 LED Portable Headlight System
May 31, 2013 10:16 am | by QED Medical | Product Releases | Comments(2013 ESP Award Nominee) QED Medical offers the C3 LED Portable Headlight System. The C3 features an even, defined, brilliant field of intensity; an adjustable spot size; variable intensity control; and 7.5 hours of continuous use on high intensity from a lightweight, Li-ion battery pack.
For New Doctors, Eight Minutes Per Patient
May 31, 2013 9:50 am | by Pauline Chen, M.D. | Blogs | CommentsMost people I knew became doctors because they wanted to interact with patients. Now a new study confirms the opposite: doctors-in-training are spending less time with patients than ever before. There is just no substitute for time in doctor-patient relationships. Efficiency is important but it isn’t the end of the story.
Study: To Stop MRSA's Spread, Decontaminate All ICU Patients
May 31, 2013 9:36 am | Articles | CommentsHospitals have tried to combat the spread of the infections and drug-resistant "superbugs" by implementing prevention programs, developing germ-resistant hospital equipment, or even turning to robots with ultraviolet sensors for cleaning. A large study suggests an effective approach to stop the spread of potentially deadly hospital infections like MRSA is decontaminating every patient in intensive care.
