Articles
Best To Add Chemo After Breast Cancer Surgery
December 11, 2012 11:30 am | by Ed Susman | CommentsLong-term results suggest that after resection of locally recurrent breast cancer, patients should also undergo adjuvant chemotherapy, researchers found. After 5 years, 69% of 85 women who had chemotherapy achieved disease-free survival compared with 57% of 77 women who did not have chemotherapy
Pre-Surgery MRI May Harm Breast Cancer Patients
December 10, 2012 9:50 am | by Andrew M. Seaman | CommentsMRI produces a much clearer image than X-rays and ultrasound, and is recommended for detecting early tumors in women at increased risk for breast cancer. But routinely using the technology once any woman is diagnosed with a tumor may lead to more radical surgery without any benefits.
Examining A Case Of Wrong Surgery Performed On A 6-Year-Old
December 7, 2012 9:15 am | by Patient Safety Blog | CommentsA California hospital has been fined $50,000 – its fifth administrative penalty from the State since 2009 – for performing the wrong procedure on a 6-year-old boy. The boy was supposed to receive a tongue lesion resection, but instead a tongue tie release was performed.
Laser Surgery An Option For Severe Epilepsy
December 5, 2012 9:29 am | by John Gever | CommentsDrug-refractory epilepsy patients who are poor candidates for conventional surgical therapies may benefit from new laser-based approaches, researchers said. Several case series presented at the American Epilepsy Society's annual meeting indicated that MRI-guided laser surgeries effectively decreased seizure frequencies, with shorter recovery periods and possibly less cost than would be expected with standard craniotomy.
Recent Hospital Generator Failures Raise Questions
December 4, 2012 9:46 am | by Charles Ornstein | CommentsAs Hurricane Sandy headed toward the East Coast, New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg said Sunday, he was assured that hospitals were ready. "The teams from the City Health Department are at these facilities making sure that the emergency generators are working and that they have back-up fuel supplies," he said at a news conference before the storm. In spite of this confidence, the generators at some hospitals did not work as expected.
'Ad Hoc' Stenting Controversial
December 3, 2012 9:14 am | by Chris Kaiser | CommentsAfter a diagnostic catheterization reveals a coronary blockage, many physicians and patients prefer immediate stenting, and a new consensus document outlines protocols for this controversial "ad hoc" procedure.
Fear Often Drives Prophylactic Mastectomy
November 30, 2012 10:22 am | by Charles Bankhead | CommentsMost breast cancer patients who undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy based the decision on fear, not science, according to a survey of more than 2,000 patients. Approximately 80% of women who underwent the preventive surgery did not have clinical indications that would classify them as high risk for recurrence.
Hospitals Face Pressure To Avert Readmissions
November 28, 2012 9:51 am | by Jordan Rau | CommentsAfter years of gently prodding hospitals to make sure discharged patients do not need to return, the federal government is now using its financial muscle to discourage readmissions. Spurred by new financial penalties that Medicare started imposing on places with too many readmissions, hospitals are doing more outreach to make sure patients are following their discharge program.
Obesity Adds To OR Time For Lung Surgery
November 27, 2012 10:02 am | by Crystal Phend | CommentsHeftier patients take a little longer in the operating room for lung cancer resection, although with an effect that appears limited to costs rather than outcomes, researchers found. Duration of the procedure from room entry to exit rose by 7.2 minutes with every 10 kg/m2 higher body mass index (BMI, P<0.0001).
Two AAA Repair Methods Prove Equal Over Time
November 26, 2012 9:09 am | by Crystal Phend | CommentsDespite early advantages, endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) doesn't reduce mortality compared with open surgery long term, a randomized trial showed. The lower perioperative mortality risk seen with the less invasive method persisted at 3 years, with a 28% reduced risk of all-cause mortality.
Product Q&A: Cardinal Health's Hydrogel Surgical Glove
November 20, 2012 10:01 am | by Cardinal Health | Cardinal Health | CommentsProtexis Latex Hydrogel surgical gloves feature Cardinal Health's exclusive hydrogel coating that makes them easy to don, while enhancing the second-skin comfort of latex. The gloves are powder-free which protects the wearer against powder-related skin irritation and the patent against post-operative complications associated with granulomas.
Uninsured Die At Higher Rates After Brain Surgery
November 20, 2012 9:37 am | by Alvin Tran | CommentsYour chances of surviving brain surgery might be affected by whether you have health insurance. According to the findings of a new study by Johns Hopkins University researchers, uninsured patients died at a higher rate after receiving brain surgery to remove cancerous tumors than those with private insurance.
When Robotic Surgery Leaves Just A Scratch
November 19, 2012 9:41 am | by Anne Eisenberg | CommentsEven minimally invasive surgery usually requires multiple incisions: one for the camera system showing the way to the surgeon at the console, and others for each of the robotic arms that do the cutting and stitching. Now there are robotic systems — one on the market, others in development — that are even less intrusive. They require only a single, small incision through which the robotic arms and camera enter.
Mitral Valve Fix During CABG May Help
November 16, 2012 10:48 am | by Todd Neale | CommentsIn patients with moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation who were scheduled to undergo bypass surgery, repairing the mitral valve during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) had some benefits, a randomized RIME trial showed.
AHA: Pacing Two Sides of Heart Better Than One
November 14, 2012 11:18 am | by Chris Kaiser | CommentsHeart failure patients with an electrical problem that requires a single-lead pacemaker do better when both ventricles are paced, a randomized trial found. Patients who underwent biventricular pacing had a 26% reduction in the combined endpoint of mortality, heart failure-related urgent care, and worsening heart function.
