News
Robotic Surgery: Safe But Costly
May 10, 2013 11:51 am | by Charlene Laino | CommentsLaparoscopy for treatment of pelvic lesions was equally safe whether performed conventionally or with robotic assistance, but cost favors conventional minimally-invasive surgery. Overall, there was a 7 percent major postoperative complication rate among patients who received conventional video-assisted laparoscopy and a 10 percent rate among patients who underwent minimally invasive robotic surgery.
Cryoablation May Not Need Full Anesthesia
May 10, 2013 11:47 am | CommentsGeneral anesthesia may not be necessary during cryoablation procedures for atrial fibrillation, a small study suggested. Conscious sedation with dexmedetomidine (Precedex) plus some fentanyl and midazolam (Versed) was enough to keep patients comfortable through the procedure without any recollection afterward of the painful phrenic nerve pacing involved.
Operating Without Interrupting Warfarin Reduces Risk Of Bleeding After Cardiac Device Surgery
May 10, 2013 11:42 am | CommentsA new Canadian study shows that operating without interrupting warfarin treatment at the time of cardiac device surgery is safe and markedly reduces the incidence of clinically significant hematomas compared to the current standard of care.
Improved Material For 'Laser Welding' Of Tissue In Intestinal Surgery
May 10, 2013 11:40 am | CommentsA new "solder" for laser welding of tissue during surgical operations has great potential to produce stronger seals and expand use of this alternative to conventional sutures and stapling in intestinal surgery, scientists are reporting.
Health Care Providers Beta Testing New URAC Accreditation For Clinical Integration
May 9, 2013 11:38 am | CommentsSeveral organized physician groups are beta testing URAC’s new clinical integration accreditation program standards. URAC, an independent accreditation organization advancing quality and value throughout health care, created the new program to serve as a roadmap for health providers to achieve clinical integration and accountable care.
Newest Free CEU Game Released on Crazy4clean.com: Maestra Tempa’s Temperature Challenge
May 8, 2013 12:45 pm | CommentsHealthmark Industries announces the launch of their newest game on Crazy4Clean.com, “Maestra Tempa’s Temperature Challenge." This new game takes you on an adventure of learning the importance of temperature monitoring. Maestra Tempa will help you choose the correct temperature settings for rooms and equipment.
Biosensor Detects Antibiotic Resistance And Helps Fight Superbugs
May 8, 2013 10:47 am | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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.
Certain Bladder-Cancer Patients May Be At Risk Of Recurrence Despite Bladder Removal
May 7, 2013 10:46 am | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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.
Robotic Angioplasty Achieves 97.6 Percent Clinical Success Rate
May 6, 2013 1:51 pm | CommentsCorindus Vascular Robotics announced that the Journal of American College of Cardiology published the results from its CorPath PRECISE (Percutaneous Robotic-Enhanced Coronary Intervention) study in the April 2013 issue. Results of the trial demonstrate the CorPath System is safe and feasible for patients, with significantly lower harmful radiation exposure to the operator.
