News
Robot-Assisted Option Offers Advantages For Kidney Surgery
February 22, 2010 5:47 am | CommentsA comparison of two types of minimally invasive surgery to repair kidney blockages that prevent urine from draining normally to the bladder found that robot-assisted surgery was faster and resulted in less blood loss and shorter hospital stays. Reporting in the Canadian Journal of Urology, Ashok Hemal, M.
Endoscopic Treatment Could Enhance Esophagus Surgical Approach
February 22, 2010 4:02 am | CommentsEarly tumor formation in Barrett's esophagus (BE) can be effectively and safely treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), in combination with prior endoscopic removal of visible lesions, according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology , the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.
J&J Settles Tumor Detection Systems Dispute
February 22, 2010 3:51 am | CommentsJohnson & Johnson’s Ethicon Endo-Surgery unit will get $12.5 million from medical imaging equipment maker Hologic, Inc. to end disputes over tumor detection systems used to test for breast cancer. Each will pay the other royalties on future sales of their respective breast biopsy devices, the companies said in statements.
CDC: MRIs, Other Medical Scans In ER quadruple
February 19, 2010 6:58 am | CommentsMike Stobbe, AP Medical Writer ATLANTA (AP) — The use of high-tech diagnostic imaging in emergency rooms has quadrupled since the mid-1990s, according to a new government report released Wednesday. MRI, CT or PET scans were done or ordered in 14 percent of ER visits in 2007, the report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.
New Drugs Offer Hope Against Superbugs, HAIs
February 19, 2010 4:45 am | Comments(Reuters) Swiss scientists have found a new class of antibiotics, offering drug developers a fresh weapon in the fight against multi-drug resistant bacteria, or “superbugs”. Researchers from Swiss biotech company Polyphor and the University of Zurich said the potential medicines are effective against a type of bacteria known as “gram-negative,” and offer hope for new treatments for serious and often life-threatening infections, including hospital-acquired infections that can emanate from intensive care units.
Mind Over Matter - Matters
February 19, 2010 4:33 am | by by Maria Cheng, AP | CommentsWhen it comes to the placebo effect, it really may be mind over matter, a new analysis suggests. In a review of recent research, international experts say there is increasing evidence that fake treatments, or placebos, have an actual biological effect in the body. The doctor-patient relationship, plus the expectation of recovery, may sometimes be enough to change a patient's brain, body and behavior, experts write.
Stimulation May Not Help After Spinal Surgery
February 19, 2010 4:23 am | Comments(Reuters) A commonly used treatment for patients who still suffer chronic back and leg pain after having back surgery is essentially no better than specialized pain treatment or standard medical treatment, a study shows. But the findings do not mean that the procedure – spinal cord stimulation – will not help some people, Dr.
Drugs Could Help Lessen Tumor Removal Risks
February 19, 2010 4:10 am | CommentsMore than 57,000 Americans face a diagnosis of kidney cancer each year, but now patients with soon have another treatment option. A pilot study at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center found that therapy before surgery with the drug Sorafenib can reduce the size of large tumors and could be safely administered without adding significantly to the risks of surgery.
Canada Targets Shorter Surgical Waiting Lists
February 19, 2010 3:51 am | CommentsAlberta Health Services will spend $8 million over the next six weeks to reduce surgical waiting times, especially those on hold for urgent cancer surgeries and hip and knee replacements. Although health services also announced plans to increase the number of surgeries, MRIs, CT scans and cataract procedures by 10 percent over the next year, health critics said the plan is a short-term fix that moves the province towards more private delivery of health care.
Fetal Surgery Continues to Advance
February 17, 2010 5:14 am | CommentsRepairing birth defects in the womb. Inserting a tiny laser into the mother's uterus to seal off an abnormal blood flow and save fetal twins. Advancing the science that may allow doctors to deliver cells or DNA to treat sickle cell anemia and other genetic diseases before birth. These are examples of the still-emerging field of fetal surgery.
Building A Heart Care Partnership
February 17, 2010 4:59 am | CommentsRetailer Lowe’s will offer its employees heart surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, under an alliance between the hospital and the home improvement chain. Mooresville, N.C.-based Lowe’s says the new benefit will provide full-time workers and their covered dependents with the “best of the best&rdquo in cardiac care, with lower out-of-pocket expenses than at other facilities.
Simple Test For Athletic Concussions
February 17, 2010 4:46 am | Comments(Reuters) A simple, inexpensive test of reaction time may help determine on the sidelines whether an athlete has suffered a concussion, according to research from the American Academy of Neurology. Research has shown that reaction time is slower after a concussion – even as long as several days after other symptoms have resolved.
Tweeting Matters Of The Heart ... Surgery
February 17, 2010 4:36 am | CommentsRobert Peacock is no celebrity, but his heart may be on its way to becoming one. He allowed St. Vincent's Medical Center in Jacksonville to tweet his heart procedure, with a hospital representative giving a snip-by-snip account of the procedure live on Twitter. For the occasion, he insisted on star treatment.
Forgotten Instrument Plagues Woman For 5 Months
February 17, 2010 4:24 am | CommentsIt took five months for a Czech woman to discover the reason for her abdominal pain – surgeons had left a medical tool inside her abdomen. Doctors at a clinic in the southeastern town of Ivancice discovered their colleagues had forgotten to remove a spatula-like surgical instrument from the woman following gynecological surgery in September.
Revisional Bariatrics Pose Greater Patient Risks
February 16, 2010 5:22 am | CommentsRevisional bariatric surgery appears to be associated with a higher risk of complications than the initial procedure, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Surgery . Surgical treatment is currently the only effective approach for long-term weight loss in the severely obese, according to background information in the article.
