Surgery

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Baby boomers trigger jump in knee replacement surgeries

Whether it’s music, lifestyles, or a refuse-to-age outlook, Baby Boomers think of themselves as trailblazers. Now, that generation born between 1946 and 1964 can claim credit for another “first”—a dramatic increase in knee replacement surgeries.

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January 3, 2012 | 0 Comments More
How Gastric Banding Works A surgeon places a circular silicone band around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small pouch. The narrowed opening between the pouch and the rest of the stomach controls how fast food passes to the lower part of the stomach. The band is connected with tubing to a button-like part (port) placed close to the skin above the stomach. A doctor can adjust the band, without surgery, by inserting a needle through the skin into the port to add or remove fluid in the band. This changes the size of the opening, which controls how fast food passes into the lower stomach. The band limits the amount of food that can be eaten at one time, helping people to feel full sooner and eat less.

FDA targets gastric band weight-loss claims

“I lost 90 pounds with the Lap-Band!,” read the billboards. Sounds tempting, doesn’t it? But there are serious risks with the weight-loss surgery promoted by these ads.

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December 26, 2011 | 0 Comments More
Reducing your risk of being injured by a medical error

Reducing your risk of being injured by a medical error

Errors are often the result of poor coordination within the health care system and poor communication on the part of physicians, nurses and patients. What can you to protect yourself and loved ones?

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December 16, 2011 | 1 Comment More
Swedish to live stream deep brain stimulation surgery

Swedish to live stream deep brain stimulation surgery

Seattle’s Swedish Neuroscience Insitute will live stream a deep brain stimulation surgery for essential tremor online tomorrow morning, Friday, December 16th.

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December 15, 2011 | 0 Comments More
Insurance often does not cover weight-loss surgery for teens

Insurance often does not cover weight-loss surgery for teens

As obesity among young people continues to rise, a growing number of clinicians say that weight-loss surgery may be their best chance to take off significant weight. But although health plans frequently cover bariatric surgery in adults, coverage for patients under age 18 is spotty.

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December 13, 2011 | 0 Comments More
Animal research can be humane and ethical — animal psychologist argues

Animal research can be humane and ethical — animal psychologist argues

The use of animals in medical research is justified provided that the research is worthwhile and that animals are treated humanely, noted animal psychologist Temple Grandin argues.

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December 2, 2011 | 8 Comments More
Weekend Reading: Health and Medicine Online

Weekend Reading: Health and Medicine Online

C-section boom in Boston. A virus stalks the NBA. A hospital apologizes to actor James Wood. Personhood at conception? Judge-directed malpractice settlements. GOP missing the boat on health care reform?

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November 6, 2011 | 0 Comments More
Photo by Hamma

Cutting through ICU confusion

Every year more than 5 million people in the U.S. are treated in ICUs. For patients, family and friends, the ICU experience is often emotional and confusing. Here are some tips to help you cope.

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October 21, 2011 | 0 Comments More
Helping patients to know their ‘Medical Mind’

Helping patients to know their ‘Medical Mind’

In a new book, oncologist and New Yorker writer Jerome Groopman and his wife, endocrinologist Pamela Hartzband, encourage consumers to chart their own path when looking at treatment decisions.

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October 19, 2011 | 0 Comments More
How does your hospital stack up against the competition?

How does your hospital stack up against the competition?

Medicare’s new Hospital Compare website allows you to compare hospitals side-by-side on a variety of patient safety and patient satisfaction measures. But are the comparisons fair?

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October 17, 2011 | 0 Comments More
Making up your ‘medical’ mind – Book Review

Making up your ‘medical’ mind – Book Review

Your Medical Mind offers a well-sourced, approachable account of the challenges we and our clinicians face when we are truly engaged in making medical decisions together.

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October 17, 2011 | 1 Comment More
For some surgeries, more is better — safer

For some surgeries, more is better — safer

Planning to have surgery? Well, you might want to find out just how frequently hospitals in your area are perform the operation before deciding where to go.

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September 3, 2011 | 2 Comments More