News
Bacteria Research Leads To More Effective Treatment Of Complex Infections
May 14, 2013 11:01 am | Comments"We have now established what decides whether (bacteria) swim or not - and that determines whether they form biofilms or not," explains Mikkel Girke Jørgensen and continues: "Prospects for the pharmaceutical industry are huge. This increased understanding of biofilm formation may be the first step in creating new ways to treat complicated infections in the future. "
Post-Mastectomy Pain Persists For Many Women
May 14, 2013 10:45 am | by Ed Susman | CommentsA sizable percentage of women who undergo mastectomies for breast cancer continue to suffer bothersome pain from the surgery for at least 10 years, researchers said. Of the 369 patients who were followed for as long as 10 years, 19.5 percent reported post-mastectomy neuropathic pain.
Angelina Jolie Says She Had Double Mastectomy
May 14, 2013 10:35 am | CommentsAngelina Jolie says that she has had a preventive double mastectomy after learning she carried a gene that made it extremely likely she would get breast cancer. The Oscar-winning actress and partner to Brad Pitt made the announcement in the form of an op-ed she authored for Tuesday's New York Times.
Wrong Kidney Removed At Mount Sinai Medical Center
May 14, 2013 10:30 am | by Ryan Jaslow | CommentsA 76-year-old man had the wrong kidney removed by a surgeon at a prominent New York City Hospital, officials confirmed Friday. A surgeon at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City has been relieved of his duties at the hospital after removing the wrong kidney from the man who had been on dialysis because of two diseased kidneys.
New UV-C-Reflective Wall Coating Dramatically Reduces Disinfection Times For TRU-D Device
May 13, 2013 3:09 pm | CommentsA recent study published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (William A. Rutala, Ph.D., MPH, et al., 2013) confirms the ability of a new UV-C-reflective wall coating to dramatically reduce the time necessary to decontaminate a room using the UV-C-emitting device TRU-D SmartUVC.
Use Of TYRX Antibacterial Envelope Associated With Extremely Low 90-Day Cardiac Device Infection Rates
May 13, 2013 2:54 pm | CommentsUse of TYRX, Inc.’s AIGISRx Antibacterial Envelope reduced major infection rates by more than 90 percent in patients undergoing Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device (CIED) replacement procedures compared to similar high-risk cohorts, according to a recent clinical study.
Healthmark Industries Announces The 2013 Decontaminator Of The Year Award
May 13, 2013 2:47 pm | CommentsHealthmark Industries has announced that Jhosue Vasquez is the winner of the 2013 Decontaminator of the Year Award. Vasquez is a CSSD Technician at the Mount Auburn Hospital located in Cambridge, MA. He has 10 years of experience in the Sterile Processing field.
After Countless Surgeries, Still-Hospitalized Boston Bomb Victim Upbeat
May 13, 2013 11:03 am | by Bob Salsberg, Associated Press | CommentsMarc Fucarile lost his right leg above the knee in the Boston Marathon bombing, and doctors are still fighting to save his shattered left one. He has second- and third-degree burns and a piece of shrapnel lodged in his heart. He's lost track of how many surgeries he's had, with more still ahead. But he won't allow the pain or the uncertainty of his future shake his spirit or destroy his faith in humanity.
Zapping Renal Artery Reaps Future Rewards
May 13, 2013 10:54 am | by Chris Kaiser | CommentsThe reduction in blood pressure following renal artery denervation is projected to significantly decrease long-term cardiovascular events, a modeling study found. The 10-year relative risk (RR) reduction for cardiovascular events was highest in 40-year-olds and lowest in 70-year-olds, while the absolute event reduction was highest in 70-year-olds and lowest in 40-year-olds.
Scientists Define A New Mechanism Leading To Tumor Hypoxia
May 13, 2013 10:45 am | CommentsGrowing evidence from experimental studies and clinical trials suggests a fundamental role of hypoxia in solid tumors. The mechanisms leading to hypoxia include the rapid rate of tumor growth, poor tumor perfusion, or transiently disrupted tumor blood flow. Now, scientists have discovered a previously uncharacterized mechanism that contributes to – and may influence - the temporal and spatial distribution of tumor hypoxia.
OR Noise Can Have Disruptive Effect On Surgeon's Auditory Processing Abilities
May 13, 2013 10:38 am | CommentsAmbient background noise-whether it is the sound of loud surgical equipment, talkative team members, or music-is a patient and surgical safety factor that can affect auditory processing among surgeons and the members of their team in the operating room (OR), according to a new study.
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.
