Surgery Not Linked to Memory Problems in Older Patients

For years, it has been widely assumed that older adults may experience memory loss and other cognitive problems following surgery. But a new study from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis questions those assumptions. In fact, the researchers were not able to detect any long-term cognitive declines attributable to surgery in a group of 575 patients they studied.

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Need for Emergency Airway Surgery for Hard-to-Intubate Patients Reduced

Be prepared, that old Boy Scout motto, is being applied with great success to operating room patients whose anatomy may make it difficult for physicians to help them breathe during surgery, Johns Hopkins researchers report in a new study.

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Physician Teaches Miami Plastic Surgeons via Tele-Surgery

Alexander P. Moya, M.D., director, Center for Weight Loss Body Contouring at Geisinger Medical Center (GMC), performed his newly developed corset trunkplasty surgery for board-certified plastic surgeons at the University of Miami School of Medicine live via televised feed as he worked at an operating room at GMC in Danville on Nov 13.

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Last-Resort Lower-Body Amputation Effective in Extreme Cases of Bone Infection

A landmark, 25-year review of cases in which surgeons had to remove the lower portion of the body from the waist down for severe pelvic bone infections shows the therapy can add years and quality of life to survivors, say researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

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Telephone-Delivered Care for Treating Depression After CABG Surgery Appears to Improve Outcomes

Patients who received telephone-delivered collaborative care for treatment of depression after coronary artery bypass graft surgery reported greater improvement in measures of quality of life, physical functioning and mood than patients who received usual care, according to a study in the November 18 issue of JAMA. The study is being released early online because of its presentation at an American Heart Association scientific conference.

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Half of Eligible Patients Do Not Get Aortic Valve Replacement

Earlier this year, former First Lady Barbara Bush and comedian Robin Williams underwent aortic valve replacement surgery, but many patients may be missing out on the life-saving surgery, according to a study by the University of Michigan.

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New Study Identifies Sources for Surgical Complications in Older Patients

A team of investigators using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) suggest that one way to improve surgical results in the elderly is to have hospitals expand their quality control guidelines to include more types of surgery-related complications.

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Minimally Invasive Laser Surgery Improves Odds for Serious Complication of Identical Twin Pregnancy

As the number of women having twins has increased, so has the odds of developing a serious pregnancy complication called twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). This disorder affects as many as 15 percent of identical twin pregnancies, and results in uneven blood flow between the fetuses. Until recently the outcome was usually death or disabilities for the surviving babies.

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Long-Term Statin Use Associated With Decreased Risk of Gallstones Requiring Surgery

Use of the cholesterol-lowering drugs statins for more than a year is associated with a reduced risk of having gallstones requiring surgery, according to a study in the November 11 issue of JAMA.

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