News
Incisionless Option For Stomach Ulcer Bleeding
April 7, 2010 5:39 am | CommentsAccording to early clinical evidence from a safety study, a new endoscopic spray from Cook Medical may offer a new surgery-free procedure for treating acute bleeding of peptic ulcers. The early results, collected at the Chinese University of Hong Kong by lead investigators Dr. Joseph Sung of the Chinese University and Dr.
$35 Million From Pfizer To Doctors
April 7, 2010 5:11 am | CommentsLinda A. Johnson, AP Pfizer, Inc. paid doctors and teaching hospitals a total of $35 million in the last half of 2009 for services ranging from speaking to other doctors about the company's products to running studies of its experimental drugs. The world's biggest drugmaker by revenue disclosed details of its payments to about 4,500 doctors and other health professionals.
More Risk Means Higher Costs For Back Surgeries
April 7, 2010 4:57 am | CommentsCarla K. Johnson, AP A study of Medicare patients shows that costlier, more complex spinal fusion surgeries are on the rise. Findings also suggest these more challenging operations are riskier, leading to more complications and even deaths. “This is exactly what the health care debate has been dancing around,” said Dr.
FDA Approves Biodegradable Surgery Patch
April 6, 2010 6:49 am | CommentsThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved TachoSil, a patch that's used to stop bleeding during heart surgery, and can be absorbed by the body. The protein-coated patch is made from horse tendons and can be used when traditional surgical procedures can’t stop mild-to-moderate bleeding.
Conjoined Twins Exit Gaza For Surgery
April 6, 2010 6:41 am | Comments(AP) A spokesman for Gaza's border authority says a pair of conjoined twins born in Gaza last month have crossed into Egypt on their way to Saudi Arabia for separation surgery. Adel Zourab says Gaza's Rafah crossing was opened briefly Tuesday to allow the twins, their parents and a medical team to cross.
Compression Device Changes Post-Op Blood Clot Care
April 6, 2010 6:34 am | CommentsA mobile compression device is as effective as medication at preventing the formation of blood clots after hip replacement surgery but provides greater patient safety, according to a study in the March issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery . “This device is as useful as blood thinners for the reduction of blood clots after hip replacement and it’s superior in safety,” said Douglas E.
Reprocessing Key For Greening The OR
April 6, 2010 6:17 am | CommentsAscent recently announced its sponsorship of a new initiative from Practice Greenhealth – The Symposium For Greening The OR, which will take place on April 27 in Scottsdale, AZ. It’s the first phase of an initiative that hopes to gather a select group of thought leaders from throughout the healthcare industry to discuss strategies for waste reduction and cost savings in operating rooms.
Justice Department: Incompetence Killed One Patient, Injured Others
April 6, 2010 5:58 am | CommentsThe United States Justice Department has intervened in a False Claims Act lawsuit alleging that Satilla Health Services, Inc., dba Satilla Regional Medical Center, and Dr. Najam Azmat submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid for medically substandard and unnecessary services. Among other things, the complaint alleges that the defendants submitted claims for medical procedures performed by Dr.
Opening Day's All Surgical Team
April 5, 2010 7:10 am | CommentsWith today signifying the start of the baseball season for most around the country, here’s a look at the All-Stars lighting up post-op. While none are on their team’s active roster for opening day due to their injuries, it’s a team many wouldn’t mind having once their surgeries mend.
3-D Takes Another Step Towards The OR
April 5, 2010 6:45 am | CommentsYuri Kageyama, AP Sharp's latest 3-D displays deliver bright, clear imagery without the cumbersome glasses usually required for such technology. Now the bad news: They only work on a 3” screen held 1’ from the viewer's face. Sharp recently demonstrated liquid crystal screens for mobile devices that showed 3-D animation, touch-panel screens that switched from one 3-D photo to another and a display connected to a 3-D video camera.
Organ Donation Increases, But Still Not Enough
April 5, 2010 6:31 am | CommentsAccording to a new survey by Donate Life America, 43 percent of people are undecided, reluctant or do not wish to have their organs and tissue donated after their deaths. While an improvement over findings from a similar survey last year in which 50 percent reported the same, the statistic illustrates a need to continue to increase the level of support for organ donation.
General, Pelvic Endoscopic Procedures On The Rise
April 5, 2010 6:05 am | CommentsAccording to a recent report from Medtech Insight, general and pelvic endoscopic/laparoscopic surgeries such as gastric bypass, endometrial ablation, laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH), appendectomy and prostatectomy were performed more than 2.8 million times in 2008. This translates to the U.
Expanding Stent Surgery
April 5, 2010 5:51 am | CommentsAfter Louis Prestes suffered a mini-stroke, his doctor told him the artery in his neck was 70 percent blocked with fatty plaque deposits and the likelihood of another, more serious stroke was high. Mr. Prestes, 76, was presented with two options to prevent another stroke. He could undergo conventional surgery performed on his carotid artery, a procedure performed 100,000 times a year in the U.
Patient Safety Incidents At U.S. Hospitals Show No Decline
April 2, 2010 8:19 am | CommentsA recent study finds nearly one million incidents among medicare patients in years 2006 to 2008. The incidences were associated with $8.9 billion in costs. April 2, 2010 Nearly one million patient-safety incidents occurred among Medicare patients over the years 2006, 2007, 2008, a figure virtually unchanged since last year’s annual study of patient safety by HealthGrades, an independent healthcare ratings organization.
Woman Has Twins ... A Week Apart
April 2, 2010 7:04 am | CommentsAn Ohio couple can look forward to an annual birthday season, because their new twins were born a week apart. Jennifer Renz of North Canton went into labor while at her doctor's office on March 22. She wasn't due for another 12 weeks but gave birth at a Cleveland hospital to a 1-pound, 13-ounce girl, named Grace.
