Research on surgical treatment and outcomes. Covers fat-disorder surgery, survival after hip fracture, prostate-cancer care, and bariatric surgery.
Researchers at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center found that lung transplant patients who received lungs preserved for more than six hours had similar survival rates compared to those stored for less than four hours. The study, which examined over 350 cases, suggests that the current organ allocation policy may need to be revised.
Researchers at UPMC found PET scanning to be 84% accurate in detecting distant metastases, compared to CT's 63% accuracy. The study highlights the potential benefits of PET scanning in improving treatment decisions for patients with esophageal cancer.
A study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that surgical experience is a crucial factor in achieving better clinical outcomes for patients undergoing thyroidectomy. The results showed that surgeons performing the most thyroid operations had lower complication rates, shorter hospital stays, and lower average hospital charges. This study...
A recent study published in Pediatric Emergency Care found that air gun injuries accounted for 87 of the 162 injuries caused by guns during a seven-year period. The research revealed that air gun wounds can be serious and even permanent, with 13 children suffering from visual disabilities.
A study by NIEHS found that variations in two genes (NAT1 and NAT2) interact with environmental exposure to tobacco smoke, increasing the risk of bladder cancer. Individuals carrying both at-risk copies of these genes have a tenfold higher risk of developing bladder cancer.
A new study finds that positron emission tomography (PET) can detect additional tumors in patients with warning signs of colorectal cancer. PET imaging confirmed disease in 15 out of 17 patients with tumors, while those with negative results remained cancer-free for at least nine months.
A new study by NYU Langone Health researcher Susan Harlap found that breast cancer surgery timing has no impact on survival rates since the mid-1980s. Changes in medical practice, including improved anesthesia and post-operative care, may have contributed to this shift.
A new study from the University of Washington found that generalists are more likely to provide primary care to elderly Medicare patients, suggesting an approach at the center of most managed-care plans. Specialists tend to restrict themselves to medical problems specific to their specialty and rarely immunize their patients.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that delivering pain medication to patients before surgery reduces post-operative pain long after. The study, which involved 90 men undergoing radical prostatectomies, showed significant pain reduction in patients who received preemptive analgesia.
The article discusses psychiatric genetics research funded by Nazi Germany, raising concerns about the separation of science from the scientist. Dr. Miron Baron examines the history of this research and its implications for contemporary investigators.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a technique to help surgeons determine the extent of tumor spread in pancreatic cancer patients. This method uses an antibody labeled with radioactivity to detect cancer cells, potentially improving treatment outcomes and reducing harm from extensive surgery.
Researchers from 95 medical centers found that finasteride significantly reduced prostate surgery and urinary retention risk. Over four years, patients treated with Proscar experienced a 20% prostate size reduction and lower risks of complications.
A study conducted at the University of Michigan Health System found that administering amiodarone prior to elective heart surgery reduced atrial fibrillation by approximately 50%. Patients who received amiodarone experienced less discomfort, shorter hospital stays, and lower hospital costs compared to those who received a placebo.
A new study by Thomas Jefferson University finds that traditional criteria for stroke-preventing surgery may overestimate men's risk and underestimate women's risk due to smaller carotid arteries. The 70% blockage threshold may need to be adjusted to account for these differences.
Studies of over 25,000 Emory angioplasty and coronary bypass patients reveal significant improvements in patient outcomes, including shorter hospital stays and decreased mortality rates. Hospital costs also decreased by 30% between 1988 and 1996, with a notable reduction in the last two years.
A new study of over 1,000 prostate cancer patients found that those who underwent surgery had remarkably good outcomes, with few reporting dissatisfaction or problems with urinary or sexual function. Despite fears about complications, most men felt healthier and satisfied with their treatment after surgery.
The FDA has cleared Cook's low-profile GR II Coronary Stent, allowing cardiologists to treat blockages in hard-to-reach blood vessels without bypass surgery. This new stent could benefit thousands of U.S. heart disease patients who previously required heart bypass surgery.
The newly revised nomograms combine clinical stage, Gleason score, and PSA level information to identify men who can be cured by surgery alone. The use of these nomograms should improve our ability to predict surgical curability and help patients make informed treatment decisions.
Maintaining a surgical patient's normal body temperature has been shown to reduce infections, speed healing and shorten hospital stays. Results of a clinical trial suggest a 55% risk reduction in cardiac complications when near-normal body temperatures are maintained.
Research shows music can decrease cardiovascular stress and improve coping abilities for patients undergoing ambulatory surgery. Music-listening patients reported lower stress levels and better coping mechanisms than those who did not listen to music.
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that blacks are less likely to undergo heart bypass surgery compared to whites. The research suggests that patient preferences and cultural factors contribute to this disparity in treatment.
A study by Harvard Medical School researchers found that publicly released performance reports on quality have a neutral impact on referrals, but may discourage cardiac surgeons from taking on high-risk cases. The report's authors argue that closing the credibility gap between clinicians and public data is vital for improving quality.
A multi-institutional study found that surgery is effective for localized prostate cancer, with tumor grade being the best predictor of long-term survival. Ten years after surgery, men with grade 1 tumors had a 6% mortality rate, while those with grade 2 and 3 tumors had 20% and 23% mortality rates, respectively.
A study by Ohio State University researchers found that overweight and severely overweight patients are six to nine times more likely to develop post-operative infections than normal weight patients. These infections can be serious, but obesity does not increase mortality rates in this context.