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Released: 4-Jan-2010 3:00 PM EST
New Study Finds Low Mortality Risk Following Knee and Hip Replacement
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)

Total hip and total knee replacement surgeries are highly successful and very common procedures for people experiencing pain associated with degenerative joints. With a new hip or knee, and postoperative care prescribed by their doctors, most patients are able to regain a more active lifestyle with considerably less pain.

31-Dec-2009 12:25 PM EST
Changes Needed to Ensure Quality of New Orthopedic Surgeons
Hospital for Special Surgery

Work-hour restrictions and generational differences are compromising the learning experience. Changes are needed in the programs that train orthopedic surgeons, according to a study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery.

Released: 4-Jan-2010 10:20 AM EST
FDA Clears TransOral Robotic Surgery Developed at Penn
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

A minimally invasive surgical approach developed by head and neck surgeons at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, California) has been cleared for TransOral otolaryngologic surgical procedures to treat benign tumors and select malignant tumors in adults.

Released: 30-Dec-2009 11:00 AM EST
Body’s Own Veins Provide Superior Material for Aortic Grafts
UT Southwestern Medical Center

A vascular surgical technique pioneered at UT Southwestern Medical Center and designed to replace infected aortic grafts with the body’s own veins has proved more durable and less prone to new infection than similar procedures using synthetic and cadaver grafts.

Released: 28-Dec-2009 1:30 PM EST
Rose Parade Gives Kidney Transplant Patient Chance to Honor Her Donor, Her Son
University of North Carolina Health Care System

Delores Evans of Durham, N.C., received a kidney from her own adult son at UNC Hospitals after he died in November 2008. On New Year's Day Delores will honor her son, and help promote organ sharing, as a participant in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., riding on the Donate Life float sponsored by OneLegacy, the Los Angeles-area organ and tissue donor services organization.

22-Dec-2009 12:00 PM EST
Beta Blockers May Increase Risk for Surgical Anemia Complications
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)

Routinely used to treat patients for heart attack or high blood pressure, beta blockers are known for their role in helping to protect the heart. A new study in the January issue of the journal Anesthesiology looks at the effects of beta blockers on surgical outcomes, revealing that the cardioprotective effects of the medication could be compromised by acute surgical anemia.

Released: 22-Dec-2009 1:00 PM EST
Ether Discovery Was Almost Made Earlier
International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS)

The successful use of ether to anesthetize patients was the first great milestone in the history of surgical anesthesia. But the discovery might have occurred earlier—and medical history written differently—but for a scientific error by another physician, according to an article in the January issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).

Released: 22-Dec-2009 1:00 PM EST
Single-Celled Organism Helps in Understanding How Anesthesia Works
International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS)

Experiments in one of the oldest forms of life on Earth are helping to answer basic questions about how general anesthesia works, according to a study in the January issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).

Released: 21-Dec-2009 11:00 AM EST
Patient Undergoes First Robot-Assisted Surgery for Removal of Lung Tumor
UT Southwestern Medical Center

When Craig Harrison found out he would be the first patient in North Texas to have robot-assisted lung-tumor surgery, an operation performed at UT Southwestern Medical Center, he wasn’t nervous at all.

Released: 16-Dec-2009 5:00 PM EST
Evolution of Brain Surgery to Treat Rogue Blood Vessels
UC San Diego Health

Over three decades, a world-recognized medical team at UC San Diego Medical Center has spurred the evolution of a complex surgery to destroy dangerous clusters of arteries and veins in the brain. Integrating innovative approaches in radiology, anesthesia, and surgery, the team has perfected a method to systematically starve these abnormal brain lesions, artery by artery, vein by vein.

Released: 14-Dec-2009 9:00 AM EST
Minimally Invasive Surgery Removes Sinus Tumor without Disfiguration
UT Southwestern Medical Center

With the advances in sinus endoscopy, many tumors can now be removed directly through the nose, avoiding the need for facial incisions or a craniotomy. Complications are decreased and recovery is faster.

Released: 10-Dec-2009 8:20 PM EST
Cedars-Sinai’s Bariatric Surgery Program Recognized for High Quality of Care by American College of Surgeons
Cedars-Sinai

The Cedars-Sinai Center for Weight Loss has received re-accreditation as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence from the American College of Surgeons. This is a nationally–recognized acknowledgement of the high quality of care provided at Cedars-Sinai to patients who have bariatric surgery - such as lap-band, gastric sleeve or gastric bypass.

4-Dec-2009 9:00 AM EST
Kidney Disease Patients Benefit from Surgery to Prevent Stroke
American Society of Nephrology (ASN)

Physicians should be comfortable referring some patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) for effective stroke prevention surgery, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The findings indicate that CKD patients gain a significant benefit from the procedures without an increased risk of dying from surgical complications.

8-Dec-2009 3:20 PM EST
“Mini” Transplant May Reverse Severe Sickle Cell Disease
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Results of a preliminary study by scientists at the National Institutes of Health and Johns Hopkins show that “mini” stem cell transplantation may safely reverse severe sickle cell disease in adults.

Released: 9-Dec-2009 11:10 AM EST
During Prostate Surgery, A Little 'Sugar' Helps Avoid Low 'Salt' Levels
International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS)

In men undergoing prostate surgery, excessive fluid absorption can lead to dangerously low sodium levels. Adding a small amount of glucose to the irrigation fluid used during surgery can help anesthesiologists to prevent this rare but potentially serious complication, reports a study in the December issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).

4-Dec-2009 3:40 PM EST
Defibrotide Improves Complete Response Rate in Patients with Severe Veno-occlusive Disease of the Liver
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Defibrotide, a novel drug which modulates the response of blood vessels to injury, was markedly more effective than standard treatment in post-stem cell transplant patients with hepatic veno-occlusive disease, a life threatening toxicity of transplant caused by blockages in tiny blood vessels of the liver, according to a study led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists.

Released: 7-Dec-2009 11:15 AM EST
Geisinger One of the First Medical Centers on the East Coast to Install World’s Smallest Heart Pump
Geisinger Health System

A minimally invasive, catheter-based cardiac assist device - the Impella 2.5 - is credited with saving the life of 86-year-old Rose Lombardo of Hazleton. Grandmother to seven and great-grandmother to another 12, Rose was "at death's door" after suffering concurrent heart attacks, according to her daughter, Gabriella Norgard.

Released: 3-Dec-2009 10:00 AM EST
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Gains Ground at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center

Minimally invasive techniques have become standard for many procedures, from the removal of the gallbladder to angioplasty, but the approach is now only beginning to be available to patients with spinal conditions. The surgical team at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center's Spine Center aims to bring the benefits of minimally invasive surgery for patients with intractable back pain, stenosis, spinal deformity, even spinal cancer.

Released: 1-Dec-2009 3:05 PM EST
Saint Louis University Hospital Is One of First to Perform Total Abdominal Colectomy Via Single-incision Laparoscopic Surgery
Saint Louis University Hospital

One of the first total abdominal colectomies performed, including reconstruction of the intestinal tract by reconnection of the remaining small intestine to the rectum, via single-incision laparoscopy.

Released: 1-Dec-2009 2:30 PM EST
Timing of Surgery for Knee Injuries May Not Affect Outcomes
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)

Surgical treatment three weeks after injury showed similar results to those who receive early intervention.

Released: 1-Dec-2009 11:40 AM EST
Careful Diagnosis Helps Fracture Patients Put Best Foot Forward
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)

Early identification of foot injuries can help prevent need for surgical intervention.

Released: 25-Nov-2009 12:00 PM EST
New Device Implanted by Cardiac Surgeons Help Paralyzed Patients Breathe Easier
UT Southwestern Medical Center

Physicians at UT Southwestern Medical Center soon will begin implanting a new device designed to improve breathing in patients with upper spinal-cord injuries or other diseases that keep them from breathing independently.

Released: 24-Nov-2009 3:25 PM EST
Tulane University Surgeon Pioneers 'Scarless' Thyroid Surgery
Tulane University

Tulane University School of Medicine surgeon Dr. Emad Kandil is one of the first in the country to perform a new form of endoscopic surgery that uses a small incision under the arm to remove all or a portion of the thyroid or parathyroid glands without leaving a scar on the neck.

Released: 24-Nov-2009 2:00 PM EST
Baby Boomers Getting More Hip Injuries
Loyola Medicine

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Stover is seeing more hip and pelvic fractures in older patients injured in activities such as bicycling. "Our aging population is more active than it was before," Stover said.

18-Nov-2009 8:30 PM EST
New Tool for Helping Pediatric Heart Surgery
American Institute of Physics (AIP)

A team of researchers at the University of California, San Diego and Stanford University has developed a way to simulate blood flow on the computer to optimize surgical designs. It is the basis of a new tool that may help surgeons plan for a life-saving operation called the "Fontan" surgery, which is performed on babies born with severe congenital heart defects.

   
Released: 23-Nov-2009 9:00 PM EST
Diabetes Surgery Summit Consensus Lays Foundation for New Field of Medicine
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center/Weill Cornell Medical College

A first-of-its-kind consensus statement on diabetes surgery is published online today in the Annals of Surgery. The report illustrates the findings of the first international consensus conference -- Diabetes Surgery Summit (DSS) -- where an international group of more than 50 scientific and medical experts agreed on a set of evidence-based guidelines and definitions that are meant to guide the use and study of gastrointestinal surgery to treat type 2 diabetes.

Released: 23-Nov-2009 6:45 PM EST
Minimally Invasive Surgery Corrects Scoliosis And Relieves Retired Teacher’s Chronic Pain
Cedars-Sinai

Relief from decades of low back pain gives Carole Riggs even more to celebrate during the holidays – Riggs, a retired teacher and school principal, points to her work during one Christmas vacation – bending, twisting and sitting on the floor to create games and teaching aids – as the primary culprit behind many years of back pain.

Released: 19-Nov-2009 11:30 AM EST
Surgery Not Linked to Memory Problems in Older Patients
Washington University in St. Louis

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.

Released: 17-Nov-2009 2:45 PM EST
Need for Emergency Airway Surgery for Hard-to-Intubate Patients Reduced
Johns Hopkins Medicine

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.

Released: 17-Nov-2009 12:20 PM EST
Physician Teaches Miami Plastic Surgeons via Tele-Surgery
Geisinger Health System

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.

Released: 17-Nov-2009 10:25 AM EST
Last-Resort Lower-Body Amputation Effective in Extreme Cases of Bone Infection
UT Southwestern Medical Center

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.

12-Nov-2009 3:00 PM EST
Telephone-Delivered Care for Treating Depression After CABG Surgery Appears to Improve Outcomes
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

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.

Released: 16-Nov-2009 12:05 PM EST
Half of Eligible Patients Do Not Get Aortic Valve Replacement
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

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.

Released: 16-Nov-2009 11:00 AM EST
New Study Identifies Sources for Surgical Complications in Older Patients
American College of Surgeons (ACS)

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.

Released: 12-Nov-2009 1:35 PM EST
Minimally Invasive Laser Surgery Improves Odds for Serious Complication of Identical Twin Pregnancy
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center

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.

5-Nov-2009 8:00 PM EST
Long-Term Statin Use Associated With Decreased Risk of Gallstones Requiring Surgery
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

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.

Released: 10-Nov-2009 4:00 PM EST
Open Wide: Incisionless Surgery to Treat GERD
UC San Diego Health

To find a long-term, permanent solution for GERD, the Center for the Future of Surgery at UC San Diego Medical Center is leading a multicenter clinical trial to test the safety and effectiveness of a new incisionless treatment.

Released: 9-Nov-2009 8:00 AM EST
Kicking the Smoking Habit Improves Surgical Outcomes
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)

With the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout Challenge just a week away, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is giving smokers yet another reason to quit. The scientific evidence is clear -- smoking has a direct negative impact on postoperative outcomes. Quitting smoking is one of the best things people can do to improve their chances of recovering from surgery without complications.

Released: 6-Nov-2009 4:30 PM EST
25th Anniversary of Pediatric Heart Transplantation Celebrated at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center

NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital is celebrating the 25th anniversary of pediatric heart transplantation. In 1984, the Hospital's surgeons performed the world's first successful heart transplant, giving the gift of life to a 4-year-old boy. In the intervening quarter century, more than 350 children have received new hearts at the Hospital, which today has among the country's top three largest pediatric heart transplant programs.

Released: 5-Nov-2009 12:00 PM EST
Plastic Surgeons Offer Microsurgery Technique for Breast Reconstruction, Tummy Tuck After Mastectomy
UT Southwestern Medical Center

Since her teens, Jennifer Jablon had watched family members deal with breast cancer during their 40s, 50s, and 60s. She wondered whether it would be her fate too.

Released: 4-Nov-2009 8:15 PM EST
Is Surgery the Best Answer for Children with Sleep Apnea?
Saint Louis University Medical Center

Researchers at Saint Louis University say further research is needed to determine if surgery is the best option for children with obstructive sleep apnea.

Released: 28-Oct-2009 10:45 AM EDT
New Technique for Injectable Facial Fillers Improves Comfort and Recovery
UT Southwestern Medical Center

Less pain during injections for wrinkle-fighting facial fillers. Less swelling afterward. Less time in the office waiting for anesthesia to take effect.

Released: 27-Oct-2009 8:30 PM EDT
Liver Removed and Re-Implanted for Cancer Treatment
UC San Diego Health

Distinguished transplant and cancer surgeon, Alan Hemming, MD, has been recruited to the University of California, School of Medicine to launch a multidisciplinary center for the treatment of advanced liver disease at the UC San Diego Medical Center and Moores UCSD Cancer Center.

Released: 27-Oct-2009 4:00 PM EDT
Vascular Surgeons Perform Most Peripheral Arterial Interventions
Society for Vascular Surgery

Vascular surgeons have the highest market share and the lowest overall mortality and morbidity rates for peripheral arterial interventions, when compared to interventional cardiologists and interventional radiologists who also perform this procedure. These findings were reported in the Nov. 2009 issue of the Journal of Vascular Surgery.

Released: 27-Oct-2009 12:00 AM EDT
Patient First in North Texas to Receive Newest-generation Heart Failure Device
UT Southwestern Medical Center

UT Southwestern Medical Center patient Michael LeBlanc, 40, is the first in North Texas to receive the newest generation of a mechanical device designed to improve heart function. It will be his lifeline while he awaits a heart transplant.

Released: 26-Oct-2009 5:15 PM EDT
Nationally Recognized Expert in Trauma Surgery Joins Robert Wood Johnson
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

A leading expert in trauma and critical care surgery has joined UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) to head a newly assembled team of highly-skilled acute care surgeons. Vicente H. Gracias, MD, professor of surgery and chief of Trauma/Surgical Critical Care at the medical school, and director of the Level I Trauma Center at RWJUH, will lead a group that includes surgeons, nurses, case managers and staff specializing in trauma and critical care surgery.

Released: 26-Oct-2009 11:30 AM EDT
Jefferson First Hospital in Pennsylvania to Offer New Device Allowing Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries to Breathe Without a Ventilator
Thomas Jefferson University

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (TJUH) in Philadelphia is the first hospital in Pennsylvania to offer a FDA-approved device that helps individuals with certain types of spinal cord injuries breathe on their own again.

Released: 26-Oct-2009 11:05 AM EDT
Surgery, Illness Do Not Increase Cognitive Decline for Older Patients
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)

In this study published in the November journal Anesthesiology, researchers examine a concern common among Seniors and their caregivers – the occurrence of long-term cognitive decline following surgery or illness. Results are encouraging for Seniors headed to surgery.

Released: 23-Oct-2009 11:20 AM EDT
Progress Report on Cleft Palate Surgery in Developing Countries
Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott

Craniofacial surgeons around the world are striving to make high-quality cleft palate and craniofacial reconstructive surgical services available to children in developing countries. An update on the state of cleft and craniofacial care is published in a special supplement to The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.



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