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Second opinion from another obstetrician could reduce the frequency of caesarean births in Latin America

Latin America has the highest rate of caesarian sections-around a quarter of all deliveries-than any other part of the world. Fernando Althabe from the Centro Latinoamericano de Perinatologia, Montevideo, Uruguay, and colleagues assessed whether a compulsory second opinion from another obstetrician could reduce the frequency of caesarean births.

11 Jun 2004

First robotic heart operations in the southern hemisphere

Monash University Department of Surgery staff have made history by performing the first robotic heart operations in the southern hemisphere.

11 Jun 2004

Knee replacement operations have more than doubled in a decade

The findings are based on an analysis of hospital treatment statistics in England between 1991 and 2000. The number of first time hip replacements increased by 18% during this period, while the need to revise the procedure more than doubled.

10 Jun 2004

Surgery in addition to compression treatment could reduce the risk of recurrent leg ulcers

A UK study in this week's issue of THE LANCET highlights how surgery in addition to compression treatment could substantially reduce the risk of recurrent leg ulcers.

5 Jun 2004

Cervical cerclage, stitching to close cervix called into question

A common surgical procedure to prevent the cervix opening during pregnancy-thought to reduce the risk of preterm delivery-is called into question by results of a study in this week's issue of THE LANCET.

5 Jun 2004

Umbilical cord blood and bone marrow transplants slow the progression of many cancers

Umbilical cord blood and bone marrow transplants at Loyola University Health System, Maywood, Ill., are curing or slowing the progression of many cancers originating in the bone marrow (i.e., leukemia, myeloma) or lymphatic system (lymphoma).

3 Jun 2004

ABIOMED has announced the 14th implantation of replacement heart

ABIOMED, Inc. today announced the 14th implantation of the AbioCor® Implantable Replacement Heart. The implant was performed on May 24 in Louisville, KY by a Jewish Hospital/University of Louisville medical team led by surgeons Laman Gray, M.D. and Rob Dowling, M.D. The procedure went well and without complication. The patient is recovering, and is in critical but stable condition.

27 May 2004

Combination radiation treatment for brain cancer leads to better life

People with cancer that has spread to the brain – about 40 percent of all cancer cases – live longer and enjoy a better quality of life if they are treated with a combination of radiation techniques, according to research conducted, in part, at the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

21 May 2004

Pulsed-dye laser surgery for voice disorders better all round

The newly developed pulsed-dye laser surgery for voice disorders has been found to be faster, cheaper, better tolerated, and less complicated than standard surgery that requires general anesthesia, more time and a longer recovery, surgeons reported here today at an international conference on problems associated with laryngopharyngeal reflux.

21 May 2004

Higher volume may not guarantee higher quality angioplasty and stenting

"Practice makes perfect" seems logical, but how much practice remains uncertain, and current health care quality guidelines may be set too high. It may be time to reexamine the standard recommending hospitals perform at least 400 angioplasty and stent procedures per year, according to a new study in the May 19, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

19 May 2004

Matching method allows surgeons to successfully transplant kidneys that would otherwise be discarded

By carefully matching the estimated function of kidneys from deceased donors with the needs of potential recipients, surgeons can successfully transplant kidneys that would otherwise be discarded, according to a report from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. The center was able to double its transplant volume within a year.

18 May 2004

Interventional radiologists now are able to treat using minimally invasive procedures

Interventional radiologists at Temple University Hospital now are able to treat many patients with minimally invasive procedures not available only a few years ago. “Conditions that used to require extensive surgery now take an hour or less, and patients leave with a bandaid and walk home,” says Gary Cohen, M.D., Section Chief of Interventional Radiology and Vice Chairman of Radiology. “How can you beat that?”

17 May 2004

Regional review boards improve liver transplant allocation

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) currently utilizes scores based on the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) or Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease (PELD) to prioritize patients waiting for liver transplants.

17 May 2004

Key hole colon surgery effective

When performed by experienced surgeons, minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery is a safe and effective alternative to standard open surgery for most patients with cancer that is confined to the colon.

13 May 2004

10 years of IVF procedures show frozen sperm as good as fresh

A review of the past ten years of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedures at the Mayo Clinic revealed equivalent outcomes between frozen and fresh sperm for oocyte insemination, according to a new study unveiled today at the AUA’s Annual Scientific Meeting.

12 May 2004

A strengthened cement has been devised specifically for facial reconstructive surgery

A strengthened cement has been devised specifically for facial reconstructive surgery. Materials Scientists at the University of Birmingham's School of Dentistry have discovered that by adding sodium citrate to the liquid phase, calcium phosphate cement is more than three times stronger.

12 May 2004

Aortic screening programme in the UK could save lives at reasonable cost

Every year in England and Wales about 6,000 men die from a ruptured aortic aneurysm (caused by ballooning of the artery wall) yet aortic aneurysms can be detected with a simple ultrasound scan.

6 May 2004

Cervical Dysplasia treatment linked to water breaking too early

Two treatments for removing precancerous tissue from the cervix are associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery (delivery before 37 weeks gestation) caused by the pregnancy complication known as preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM).

5 May 2004

Radiologists use CT-Scans to inject gene therapy into tumors

Using CT-scan images to steer gene-therapy injections directly into the tumor offers a safe delivery method for treating patients with metastatic kidney cancer, report UCLA radiologists in the May issue of Radiology. Their findings could enhance the treatment of the disease, which resists traditional intravenous chemotherapy in 85 percent of cases.

4 May 2004

$FDA approves INFUSE® bone graft which improves fracture healing$

FDA approves INFUSE® bone graft which improves fracture healing

Medtronic, Inc. has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of INFUSE® Bone Graft in the treatment of acute, open fractures of the tibial shaft, a long bone in the lower leg. The approval broadens the indications for INFUSE Bone Graft, a product that has been used since 2002 in spinal surgery with metallic cages to treat tens of thousands of patients.

4 May 2004