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Emergency diverticulitis surgery victim of the ‘weekend effect’

Patients who have emergency surgery at weekends for acute diverticulitis have worse outcomes than those admitted on weekdays, the results of a US study show.

2 Aug 2012

Investigational drug shows promise against most severe form of congenital hyperinsulinism

A pilot study in adolescents and adults has found that an investigational drug shows promise as the first potential medical treatment for children with the severest type of congenital hyperinsulinism, a rare but potentially devastating disease in which gene mutations cause insulin levels to become dangerously high.

2 Aug 2012

Researchers report one-third cut in the rate of lethal SSIs after colorectal operations

A patient safety team including researchers in the Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality reported a one-third cut in the rate of costly and potentially lethal surgical site infections (SSIs) following colorectal operations after requiring use of a simple safety checklist and urging caregivers to speak up if they see potentially unsafe practices.

2 Aug 2012

$Cataract surgery reduces rate of fractures in older patients with vision loss$

Cataract surgery reduces rate of fractures in older patients with vision loss

A major study of Medicare beneficiaries shows that the risk of hip fractures was significantly reduced in patients who had had cataract surgery, compared to patients who did not undergo the procedure. Published in the August edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) the researchers believe their study is the first to demonstrate that cataract surgery reduces the rate of fractures in older patients with vision loss.

2 Aug 2012

Endoscopic vein-graft harvesting technique safe for CABG surgery

Although there have been questions regarding the safety and durability of endoscopic vein graft harvest for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, an analysis of data of more than 200,000 patients who underwent CABG surgery found no evidence of a long-term increased risk of death with endoscopic vein graft harvesting compared to open vein-graft harvesting, according to a study in the August 1 issue of JAMA.

1 Aug 2012

Study explains why patients with sinusitis sneeze more often than others

Who would have thought that our noses and Microsoft Windows' infamous blue screen of death could have something in common? But that's the case being made by a new research report appearing online in The FASEB Journal.

1 Aug 2012

Miami Project to Cure Paralysis receives FDA permission to begin Phase 1 trial

The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, a Center of Excellence at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has received permission from the Food and Drug Administration to begin a revolutionary Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety of transplanting human Schwann cells to treat patients with recent spinal cord injuries.

1 Aug 2012

First Edition: August 1, 2012

WBUR's Martha Bebinger, working in partnership with Kaiser Health News and NPR, reports: "The Massachusetts Legislature Tuesday passed the next phase of its ongoing attempt to reform the health care system: sweeping cost control legislation. Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, hailed the lawmakers' work saying, 'This is more than a good bill, a great bill.'"

1 Aug 2012

Surgery avoidable for some with persistent incontinence after prostatectomy

Researchers have identified factors that could help determine whether patients who have not recovered urinary continence more than 1 year after undergoing radical prostatectomy should undergo further surgery.

1 Aug 2012

EEA stapler offers hemostasis advantage over PPH

The EEA stapler may have benefits over the PPH stapler for circular stapled hemorrhoidopexy, the results of the first head-to-head study of the devices show.

1 Aug 2012

Postoperative QT prolongation common

Most patients have QT interval prolongation immediately after undergoing noncardiac surgery, say researchers.

1 Aug 2012

$Older Medicare patients have reduced risk of hip fracture following cataract surgery$

Older Medicare patients have reduced risk of hip fracture following cataract surgery

Medicare patients 65 years and older who underwent cataract surgery had a lower odds of hip fracture 1 year after the procedure when compared with patients with cataract who did not have cataract surgery, according to a study in the August 1 issue of JAMA.

1 Aug 2012

Minimally invasive approach during coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is safe and effective

New research shows that a minimally invasive approach used during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery is safe and effective, despite previous studies that linked endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) to a higher mortality rate.

1 Aug 2012

Study aims to raise awareness of nerve transfer surgery among health care providers

A study in the August issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS) by Hospital for Special Surgery researchers aims to raise awareness of this type of surgery among health care providers.

1 Aug 2012

InSite Vision commences enrollment in BromSite Phase 3 clinical trial

InSite Vision Incorporated today announced that patient enrollment has begun in the first Phase 3 clinical trial of BromSite (ISV-303) for the reduction of pain and inflammation after cataract surgery.

31 Jul 2012

Tracheotomy opens up concerns over thyroid hormones

Patients who undergo tracheotomy should be carefully monitored for a while after surgery, say Turkish researchers.

31 Jul 2012

Flap design affects recovery from wisdom tooth surgery

The design of the mucoperiosteal flap created during surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars can affect patient recovery, show study findings.

31 Jul 2012

MEDNAX acquires Loudoun Anesthesia Associates

MEDNAX, Inc., today announced the acquisition of Loudoun Anesthesia Associates, a physician group practice that provides anesthesia services at Inova Loudoun Hospital and Inova Loudoun Ambulatory Surgery Center in Leesburg, Va.

31 Jul 2012

Kids with congenital heart defect should receive early evaluation for developmental disorders

Children born with a congenital heart defect should receive early evaluation, prompt treatment and ongoing follow-up for related developmental disorders affecting brain function, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published in Circulation.

31 Jul 2012

Researchers identify link between complete kidney removal and erectile dysfunction

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a link between patients who undergo total nephrectomy - complete kidney removal - and erectile dysfunction.

31 Jul 2012