Articles tagged with Surgical Procedures
A study found that women are three times more likely to have severe arthritis but less likely to discuss joint replacement surgery with their doctors. Women experience worse symptoms and greater disability due to arthritis, yet they receive fewer replacements.
The National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) is enrolling patients with severe emphysema to compare the outcomes of those receiving maximum medical therapy versus those undergoing lung volume reduction surgery. The study aims to assess factors such as exercise ability, longevity, and related issues in both groups.
A new therapy, using a CPAP device, reduces hypernasal speech in people with repaired cleft palates by strengthening the muscles of the soft palate. The study, conducted on 43 subjects aged under 19, shows significant improvement after eight weeks of treatment.
A Duke study found that physicians' personal beliefs about treating patients with diabetes didn't change despite being informed of an evidence-based treatment guideline. The study suggests a widespread problem in medicine where doctors rely on their own experience rather than new data.
Researchers present study showing implanted chemotherapy pump significantly increases survival rates for patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer. The pump distributes chemotherapy directly to the liver, resulting in reduced recurrence and improved outcomes.
A recent study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology found that 92% of women experienced a decrease in symptoms after hysterectomy, leading to improved quality of life. The surgery provided significant relief from painful symptoms such as pelvic pain, urinary incontinence, and fatigue.
A study published in Urology found that men with prostate cancer are more likely to remain continent and potent after surgery performed by highly experienced surgeons. The study's potency and continency rates were the highest ever reported, with up to 93% of patients reporting continency and 65% reporting potency.
A new study by Johns Hopkins Medicine shows that minimally invasive surgery to remove parathyroid tumors is safe and effective, with a significantly shorter hospital stay and reduced hospital charges compared to traditional open surgery. The procedure also reduces the risk of complications, such as vocal nerve injury.
A Yale study reveals that postmenopausal women's ovaries are often removed during hysterectomy due to geographical location and surgeon experience, sparking concerns about informed consent. The research highlights significant variation in oophorectomy rates across different areas of the state and among surgeons with varying caseloads.
A study of 339 patients found that laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery is effective and safe for elderly patients, with functional outcomes comparable to younger patients. Elderly patients may tolerate the procedure better and have fewer complications than previously thought.
Researchers have developed a new robotic technique for performing coronary artery bypass surgery, which appears to be safe and effective. The procedure uses a small tubelike instrument and robotic arms to minimize scarring and promote faster recovery times.
Researchers found that patients who received the gene therapy had less than half of the failures of those without the treatment, with improved vein wall adaptation and reduced blockage rates. The study suggests a new treatment approach to vastly improve bypass surgery success rates.
A study published in Circulation found that a timed-release capsule of basic fibroblast growth factor improved blood supply and heart function in heart bypass patients. The treatment, which promotes angiogenesis, showed no serious adverse effects in a small but promising clinical trial.
The fourth annual Skull Base Surgery Symposium will take place at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from November 4-6, 1999. Renowned experts in the field of skull base surgery will share their knowledge on advanced technologies and procedures.
Researchers identified a critical two-week window for surgical decompression to improve facial function in patients at risk of permanent damage. Electrical testing and EMG analysis helped pinpoint the optimal patient population, revealing a 91% recovery rate through surgery within this timeframe.
The new guidelines chart the rapid evolution of bypass surgery techniques and provide a framework for physicians to evaluate risks and benefits with their patients. The report categorizes heart patients into groups that predict how well bypass will work for them based on various factors.
Researchers found that transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMR) improves angina by at least 2 classes in 72% of patients, while also increasing myocardial perfusion by 20%. TMR safely and effectively improved heart function over a 12-month period, driving its use with difficult bypass and angioplasty procedures.
A study funded by the NHLBI found that emergency revascularization with balloon angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery improves survival at 6 months for heart attack patients with cardiogenic shock. Patients under 75 years old experience a 57% improvement in survival.
Physicians at Oregon Health Sciences University's Doernbecher Children's Hospital are pioneering the use of bone morphogenic protein (BMP) to grow new bone structures. Emily Lang, a 12-year-old girl with congenital deformities, is the first child to receive BMP treatment on existing bone, showing promising results.
A Mayo Clinic study reveals that centenarians who undergo surgery have a comparable survival rate to the general population, contrary to popular opinions. The researchers found that older individuals can recover quickly and do well after surgery with advancements in drugs and surgical techniques.
A new study reveals that gastric bypass surgery significantly improves health perception outcomes in severely obese patients, surpassing non-obese control groups in four categories. Patients report improved social functioning, emotional well-being, pain relief, and vitality after weight loss.
A University of Toronto study found the chance of needing a second operation following primary knee replacement surgery was between four and eight percent, half the rate expected by family doctors and rheumatologists. Younger patients with active lifestyles and those living in urban centers had slightly higher risks of follow-up surgery.
A new study found that cardiac surgery patients with serum potassium levels below 3.5 mmol/L are twice as likely to experience arrhythmias and a doubled need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Investigators recommend screening and replenishing potassium on a case-by-case basis.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have developed a new endoscopic procedure to remove pituitary gland tumors, reducing trauma and complications. The technique has been refined after an initial animal study identified potential 'glitches' that were later addressed, resulting in improved outcomes for patients.
Women are less sensitive to anesthetic drugs, waking up almost twice as fast as men when general anesthesia is discontinued after surgery. This may lead to a need for more anesthesia during procedures, impacting patient care and recovery time.
A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that early surgery can reduce death rates from aortic aneurysms by 90% compared to emergency repairs. The study involved 675 Marfan syndrome patients and showed that mortality rates were significantly lower when treatment was initiated earlier.
Research suggests that physical stress and surgery can suppress natural killer cell activity, leading to increased tumor development. Protective measures, such as analgesia, may help prevent this suppression.
A seven-year national study found that white patients with chronic renal failure were three times more likely to receive cardiac catheterization and surgeries than their black counterparts. However, once blacks developed end-stage renal disease and became eligible for Medicare, the disparity narrowed greatly.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center found that simultaneous bone marrow infusions at lung transplantation significantly reduced obliterative bronchiolitis, a marker for chronic rejection. The study showed a 25% reduction in chronic rejection incidence among recipients who received bone marrow infusions.
A study by University of Pittsburgh surgeons found that organs from marginal donors can be just as effective as ideal donor organs in pancreas transplants. The researchers accepted organs from donors over 45 years old, resulting in a high graft survival rate and improved quality of life for patients with diabetes.
Researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center found that hospitals with high volume of surgery for selected procedures had substantially lower surgical mortality rate. Mortality rates were 40-80% lower in these hospitals compared to those with limited experience.
A recent study found that almost three in five smokers who undergo heart surgery continue to smoke after their procedure. Researchers examined 1,829 individuals who had bypass surgery or angioplasty and found that younger patients, African Americans, and those with a prior history of heart attack were more likely to be 'die-hard' smokers.
A new surgical procedure that repairs the mitral valve may help extend and improve lives of people with severe CHF, offering an alternative to heart transplantation. The operation has shown promising results, with one-year survival rates reaching 80% and two-year survival rates at 70%.
The Southwestern Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery has launched two state-of-the-art endosuites at Zale Lipshy University Hospital, enabling surgeons to perform complex procedures with minimal incision and bleeding. The suites are designed to teach practicing surgeons and students, offering enhanced care and educational opportunities.
A University of Chicago study found that 15-40% of outpatient surgery patients using short-acting anesthetics can bypass the recovery room, with annual savings ranging from $50,000 to $158,000 per site. This trend is expected to shift from academic centers to community hospitals and private offices.
A new clinical trial by the NHLBI reveals that women who undergo CABG or angioplasty procedures survive at a rate nearly identical to men. The study found that being female was an independent predictor of higher survival, with women having 60% of the risk of death compared to men.
A new study found no significant differences between men and women in terms of in-hospital deaths and five-year survival rates after cardiac bypass surgery or angioplasty. The results suggest that the outcome for women undergoing revascularization is improving, despite previous studies showing poor outcomes.
Patients with complete blockage of the carotid artery and hemodynamic failure face a six to seven times higher stroke risk. Oxygen metabolism in the brain is crucial to stroke risk, and available treatments offer little alteration to risk.
A study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that medical regionalization in Maryland decreased the death rates for patients undergoing a complex pancreaticoduodenectomy operation for pancreatic cancer. The study showed that regionalization resulted in a significant reduction in mortality rates, with an estimated 57 patient lives saved.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have successfully transplanted lab-grown brain cells into a patient with paralysis and speech loss after a stroke, marking a significant breakthrough in stroke medicine. The study uses tissue grown in the lab to avoid ethical concerns surrounding fetal tissue use.
A new study found that clot-busting drugs can save legs as effectively as invasive surgery, reducing the need for open surgical procedures by over 30%. The experimental drug, recombinant urokinase, showed no significant difference in death or amputation rates between surgical and non-surgical patients.
A new virtual tape measure (VTM) prototype enhances microsurgical precision by providing accurate measurements in real-time, overcoming the limitations of traditional operating microscopes. The VTM uses stereo-video images and computer graphics to enable surgeons to make precise calculations throughout operations.
A national trial is underway to determine the effectiveness of removing portions of lungs in patients with severe emphysema. The study aims to find out if the procedure improves long-term outcomes and reduces complications for patients with this debilitating disease.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed technology to measure forces and torques in surgical procedures, enabling the creation of more realistic simulators. These enhanced simulators could drastically reduce training time and costs while improving performance.
A new laser-based procedure called transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) has been shown to improve symptoms of severe chest pain in patients with heart disease. After three months, 86% of TMR patients experienced improvement, while only 12% of those treated with medication alone saw results.
A study by UPMC found that minimally invasive heart bypass surgery greatly reduces the number of deaths and complications in very high-risk cardiac patients. The procedure resulted in a mean hospital stay of just 3.9 days, with no patient mortality or strokes after five months.
Researchers are testing a robotic port-access technique to assist in bypass surgery, aiming to reduce scarring and hospital stays. The technique uses miniature instruments inserted through small incisions, allowing for precise movements and real-time monitoring.
A recent study found that patients who received the anti-clotting drug ReoPro before angioplasty had a 19% lower risk of needing coronary artery bypass graft surgery within six months. The study, which involved 5,641 patients, also showed significant cost savings in treating heart patients.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that heart surgery patients who experience a stroke have significantly higher mortality rates and longer hospital stays compared to those without a stroke. The average hospital bill for these patients is $45,052, highlighting the need for improved stroke prevention and management.
A new form of gene therapy has been tested to prevent blockages that occur after bypass surgery, with four patients showing successful results. The treatment aims to reduce cell growth and atherosclerosis in grafted vessels, which can fail due to up to 50% of cardiac and leg bypass surgeries.
Researchers found stents lower risk of death, heart attack, and repeat surgery compared to angioplasty for patients with obstructed vein grafts. The study's results suggest a new standard of care for hundreds of thousands of post-bypass patients.
Pediatric heart surgeons are using ultrasound to monitor patients for potential brain damage during and after open-heart surgery. The non-invasive method, Transcranial Doppler, can detect air in the brain circulation when it is ejected from the heart, providing valuable feedback for surgeons.
A mathematical model explains the scientific basis of radical heart surgery, potentially selecting suitable candidates for therapeutic removal of large heart muscle portions. The Batista procedure aims to improve cardiac function by reducing heart size and stress.
Research shows that patient choice significantly impacts surgical rates, with significant variation among geographic units. Shared decision-making strategies can reduce demand for discretionary care by up to 40%, according to studies.
A study in Canada found that waiting times for cataract surgery varied between public and private clinics, with patients perceiving longer waits in the public sector. The majority of physicians practice within the public sector, but some offer faster service due to better resource allocation.
A new laparoscopic technique for kidney removal has been shown to reduce pain, hospital stays, and recovery time compared to traditional methods. The study found that kidneys removed with this technique function as well as those taken out with a large incision.
A Duke neurologist advocates for mandatory reporting of complication rates for carotid endarterectomy to help doctors make informed decisions. Low complication rates are crucial for the procedure's effectiveness in preventing strokes.
Duke University Medical Center is testing a new laser system to pierce blood-carrying channels in ailing heart muscle, showing promising results for eight treated patients. The procedure, known as transmyocardial revascularization (TMR), creates new passageways that increase oxygenation and functional heart muscle.
Mohs surgery has shown promise in preventing melanoma recurrence, particularly in patients with lentigo-maligna tumors. The technique's precision and ability to check surgical margins may provide a better chance of getting rid of tumors and preventing recurrences while conserving tissue.
The new technique allows doctors to find the sentinel lymph node, reducing swelling and side effects. In over 90% of cases, the sentinel lymph node is found, offering women more effective treatment with fewer complications.