High-Intensity Ultrasound Destroys Esophageal Tumors
Intraluminal high-intensity ultrasound appears to be an effective treatment for esophageal tumors, which are usually not amenable to curative resection, and can even achieve complete tumor necrosis, according to French researchers who are the first to use this approach in a small pilot study. Their findings are published online on June 5 by the Journal […]
Increasing Global Surgery Volume Mandates Improved Safety, Availability
Surgery now occurs at a tremendous volume worldwide, resulting in a great need for public health efforts to improve the safety and availability of surgical services, according to the results of a study reported in The Lancet, published online June 25. "Little is known about the amount and availability of surgical care globally," write Thomas […]
New Bariatric Technique Using Gastric Tube Retains Duodenal Function, Avoids Dumping
A new surgical procedure for the treatment of morbid obesity produces better results than sleeve gastrectomy alone, and resolves many comorbidities. The new technique, called sleeve gastrectomy with enteral bypass (SGEBP), was described here at the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery 25th Annual Meeting.
Survey Assesses Bariatric Surgeons’ Expectations and Risk Tolerance for Endoluminal Procedures
Bariatric surgeons might be willing to accept less weight loss and more risk in revisional than in primary endoluminal procedures, according to a survey distributed here at the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 25th Annual Meeting. The results indicate the levels of weight loss and risk considered acceptable for currently developing bariatric […]
Gastric Bypass Can Improve Renal Function in Patients With Morbid Obesity
Patients with morbid obesity who also have chronic renal disease (CRD) may improve or stabilize renal function after gastric bypass, according to a study presented here at the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery 25th Annual Meeting. CRD is common in obese patients, and chronic renal failure is more than 7 times higher in […]
Outcomes Similar With Resective or Drainage Procedures in Pancreatitis
Long-term follow-up of chronic pancreatitis patients who underwent the pylorus-preserving variant of the Whipple resection procedure shows that results are ultimately comparable to those achieved using the more recent Frey organ-sparing extended drainage approach, according to German researchers.
Evaluation of an Internet-Based Psychological Intervention for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunctio
AbstractRecent research on the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) has focused on medical interventions, in particular oral medications. The current study examined the effectiveness of an internet-based psychological intervention for this condition. In total, 31 men (12 in treatment group, 19 in control group) completed the program. The results demonstrated that men who completed the […]
World Health Organization Issues Safety Checklist for Surgical Teams
To improve surgical safety worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new safety checklist for surgical teams to use in operating rooms, according to a report regarding the Safe Surgery Saves Lives initiative, published online June 25 in The Lancet and also available on the WHO Web site. These WHO guidelines and checklist […]
Intensive Interventions Increase Walking Behavior
Intensive interventions can increase walking behavior, according to the results of a review reported in the July issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. "Walking is the most prevalent and preferred method of physical activity for both work and leisure purposes, thus making it a prime target for physical activity promotion interventions," write […]
Coronary Calcium Better Than Carotid IMT for Predicting CVD Risk, MESA Analysis Shows
Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores are better than carotid intima media thickness (IMT) at predicting risk of subsequent cardiovascular disease events, a new analysis from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) suggests [1]. While CAC was best at predicting risk of all cardiovascular disease or coronary heart disease specifically, carotid IMT was modestly better than […]
