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Results for search "Surgery: Misc.".

26 Oct

Pot Users Experience More Pain After Surgery: New Study

Post-operative pain is worse for pot users who often need more opioid drugs during recovery, researchers find.

Health News Results - 392

Shorter Course of Radiation May Be Safe for Women Undergoing Breast Reconstruction

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 4, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Breast cancer patients who undergo a mastectomy can probably benefit from a shorter course of more intense radiation therapy, a new study indicates.

Hypofractionated radiation therapy — which provides a higher dose each session over three weeks — provides the same protection against breast cancer recurrence and post-surgica...

Surgeons Seeing More 'Mutilating' Hand Injuries With New Utility Terrain Vehicles

A popular type of off-road vehicle known as a “side-by-side” has been linked to high rates of severe hand injuries, according to a new study.

Side-by-sides are utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) designed to carry more than one passenger and heavy loads. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are usually made for one driver going off-road.

"

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 3, 2023
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  • Surgeons Perform Transplant of Gene-Tweaked Pig Heart Into Second Patient

    A second human patient has received a genetically altered pig heart as he battles the ravages of end-stage heart disease.

    The 58-year-old man, Lawrence Faucette, received the pig organ at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.

    The medical team was the same one that performed the first pig transplant with another patient in January 2022.

    “We are once again o...

    Surgery Soon? Use These 3 Tips to Manage Post-Surgical Pain

    When someone has surgery, pain may be top of mind.

    An expert in managing post-op pain offers three tips for keeping it under control, safely.

    “Pain can inhibit recovery, but good pain control can be an accelerator of a patient’s recovery,” said Dr. Jonah Stulberg, a member ...

    More American Men Now Opting for Vasectomy

    Vasectomies are becoming more common in the United States, with rates surging by more than one-quarter during the past decade, a recent study reveals.

    The U.S. vasectomy rate increased by 26% between 2014 and 2021, according to an analysis of commercial health claims data.

    “All areas in the United States except the Northeast showed increased vasectomy rates,” said senior researc...

    Female Surgeons Bring Better Outcomes for Patients, Two Studies Show

    The field of surgery has long been dominated by men, and still is today.

    But two new studies show that if patients want safe, effective long-term results, picking a female surgeon might be key.

    In one study involving more than 1 million Canadian surgical patients whose outcomes were followed for a year, “those treated by a female surgeon were less likely to experience death, hospi...

    Should Folks Get Hip Replacements in Their 90s?

    If you are in your 90s, is hip replacement surgery too dangerous for you?

    That depends, new research shows: While elderly patients have more complications and higher death rates after such a procedure, the surgery can be “appropriately considered."

    That's because the risks for total hip replacement depend not just on patients’ age, but also on their overall health and fitness. <...

    Opening All Arteries Best When Heart Attack Strikes in Old Age: Study

    After a heart attack, elderly adults have better odds for improved health and survival if all major heart vessels are cleared, not just the one that caused the heart attack.

    Because these patients often have other medical conditions and may be frail, doctors frequently opt to open only the "culprit" blood vessel and leave other partially blocked vessels alone.

    But new research...

    U.S. Gender-Affirming Surgeries Nearly Tripled in 3 Years

    The number of Americans undergoing gender-affirming surgery is on the rise, new research reveals, almost tripling between 2016 and 2019 alone.

    During that period, more than 48,000 patients -- about half of them between 19 and 30 years of age -- underwent some form of gender-affirming (GAS) surgery, researchers found.

    About 4,500 of those procedures were performed in 2016. By 2019, t...

    Skipping Radiation May Be Safe for Some With Early Breast Cancer

    Many women with early breast cancer undergo breast-conserving surgery along with radiation to kill any errant cancer cells, but some may be able to safely skip radiation, new research suggests.

    “If the tumors are low-risk, as defined in part by being caught early/small and in part by having favorable molecular features, the risk of recurrence is minimal even if you skip out on what has ...

    Study Finds Good Long-Term Outcomes for Appendicitis Treated Without Surgery

    Most people with appendicitis who are given antibiotics — instead of having their appendix removed — fare well over the long haul, new research indicates.

    The conclusion follows roughly two decades spent tracking patient outcomes in Sweden.

    The study found that among those initially treated solely with antibiotics, rather than surgery, less than half ended up experiencing anothe...

    Surgeons Are Finding Microplastics in Human Hearts

    Microplastics appear to be everywhere, including within the tissues of the human heart.

    A new Chinese report describes doctors finding microplastics in heart tissue both before and after heart surgery. The researchers also noted there is evidence suggesting that microplastics may have been unexpectedly introduced during the heart procedures.

    The researchers, who included

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • August 10, 2023
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  • Few Regret Undergoing Gender-Affirming Mastectomies

    For people who are transmasculine or nonbinary, getting a gender-affirming mastectomy can be life-changing.

    Now, a new study finds there are high levels of satisfaction and low levels of regret for patients years after the procedure is performed.

    Researchers from the University of Michigan found an overwhelmingly positive response after the surgery. The median satisfaction score wa...

    'Walking Miracles': Born With Lungs Reversed, They Suffered Until Getting Double-Organ Transplants

    Dennis Deer woke from surgery in utter disbelief that he was breathing normally.

    He'd been on supplemental oxygen for two years, and “I didn't know what it was like not to have something on my face,” said Deer, 51, a Chicago-area politician and psychologist.

    “I immediately said, 'Where is my oxygen?' And my wife said to me, ‘Well, you don't need the oxygen anymore,'" Deer re...

    Spotting Heart Defects While Baby Still in Womb Is Crucial, Study Shows

    Diagnosis of congenital heart defects while a baby is still in the womb offers opportunities for earlier corrective surgery. And that can mean better outcomes for an infant's neurodevelopmental and physical health, new research shows.

    “For infants with critical disease especially, getting surge...

    Surgery May Help Advanced Cancer Patients With Obstructed Bowel

    Malignant bowel blockages are common in patients who have advanced abdominal tumors, especially cancers of the ovaries or colon, and a new clinical trial suggests surgery should be offered to them sooner rather than later.

    “We knew enrolling patients in the hospital with this acute issue and advanced cancer would be difficult, but the questions are of great importance to clinicians, pat...

    Hip Replacements No Riskier for Folks Living With HIV

    Hip replacement surgery is safe for HIV patients, a new study shows.

    Some surgeons are reluctant to perform total hip replacement surgery on patients with HIV or AIDS, because of concerns about complications, including higher risk of infection, need for repeated surgery and longer hospital stay.

    "Patients living with HIV are at a higher risk for orthopedic-related diseases such as o...

    Could Metformin Help Seniors Bounce Back After Surgery?

    The diabetes drug metformin might also benefit older patients after an injury or illness, a small study suggests.

    Researchers found that metformin -- a drug that has been around for more than a half-century to regulate blood sugar -- may have a different ability: It can target senescent cells that affect muscle function. These "zombie-like" cells release chemicals linked with inflammation...

    AI Tool 'Reads' Brain Tumors During Surgery to Help Guide Decisions

    Scientists have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool capable of deciphering a brain tumor's genetic code in real time, during surgery — an advance they say could speed diagnosis and personalize patients' treatment.

    The researchers trained the AI tool to recognize the different genetic features of gliomas, a group of tumors that constitute the most common form of brain cancer a...

    Strong Marijuana Habit Could Raise Odds for Complications During Surgery

    Using marijuana regularly might increase the risk for complications during and after surgery, and doctors should address this when planning operations, a new study suggests.

    People with a cannabis use disorder are 20% more likely to have serious complications, such as stroke or blood clots, after a major operation than patients who aren't dependent on marijuana, researchers say.

    "...

    Frailty Greatly Lowers Survival in a Surgical Crisis

    When frail patients go into cardiac arrest and need cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during surgery, they're more likely to die than those who are stronger, a new study shows.

    Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston studied the impact of frailty on survival in these cases where previously frailty was not considered as a factor.

    “CPR should not be considered fut...

    Taking Ozempic, Wegovy? Stop Before Surgery, Anesthesiologists Say

    The trendy weight-loss drug Ozempic could be dangerous for a patient undergoing anesthesia for an operation, according to a new warning from the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

    Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and other drugs of their class known as GLP-1 receptor agonists cause digestion to slow down, which decreases hunger and reduces how much people eat.

    That food left in the...

    Sarah Ferguson Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Mastectomy

    Sarah Ferguson has undergone treatment for breast cancer, she announced on her podcast.

    The Duchess of York, 63, had a mastectomy after the diagnosis and the surgery was successful, her rep confirmed Sunday, People magazine reported.

    "The Duchess is receiving the best medical care and her doctors have told her that the prognosis is good. She is now recuperating with her f...

    When Your Child Has Scoliosis: Symptoms & Treatments

    The future for a child diagnosed with scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine that typically occurs just before puberty, can feel uncertain.

    As a parent, you want answers to your questions about scoliosis and how it can affect your child's development. Here's what you need to know.

    What is scoliosis?

    Scoliosis is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine. In some cases...

    Tough-to-Diagnose Hip Condition Caused Her 'Excruciating Pain' Until She Got a New Type of Surgery

    New York-based physical therapist Brittany Garrett, now 33, was sidelined by excruciating hip pain for close to eight years before she got an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

    She tried physical therapy to improve her flexibility, among other treatments, but nothing seemed to help. The former volleyball player's pain was so intense that it was getting in the way of her career an...

    Cutbacks on Opioids Around Surgery May Do More Harm Than Good

    Many doctors have stopped giving opioids for pain, even during surgery, because of the opioid addiction crisis in the United States. But a new study questions the wisdom of this approach.

    Restricting the drugs during surgery may do more harm than good, researchers report.

    “The opioid crisis is a major motivator for mitigating the risks of opioid usage,” said study co-author

    Pope Francis Leaves Hospital 9 Days After Surgery

    Pope Francis is now “better than before” after his release from a Rome hospital Friday following surgery on June 7 to repair a hernia and remove scarring.

    The 86-year-old pope joked that he was “still alive," as he was met by reporters while leaving the Gemelli Polyclinic nine days after surgery to reduce pain and prevent a future intestinal blockage, the Associated Press r...

    Many Hospitals Ignore Directives of Organ Transplant Waiting Lists: Study

    Many transplant centers routinely practice “list-diving,” when the top candidate among potential organ recipients is skipped in favor of someone further down the list, new research shows.

    The top candidate is ranked that way based on an objective algorithm using age, waiting time and other factors, while choosing someone else happens with little oversight or transparency. And that may...

    New Approach to Transplants Could Boost Supply of Donor Hearts

    A new transplant method that "reanimates" donor hearts appears safe and effective, a new clinical trial has found — in an advance that could substantially expand the supply of donor hearts available in the United States.

    The trial tested an approach that allows doctors to transplant hearts from donors who have succumbed to "circulatory death" — meaning the heart has stopped beating. T...

    CDC Raises Alarm About Meningitis Threat to Patients Visiting Mexican Surgical Clinics

    U.S. health officials are urgently trying to reach people who've recently had medical procedures at clinics in Matamoros, Mexico, because they may be at risk of potentially fatal fungal meningitis.

    Those at risk had procedures done under epidural anesthesia between Jan. 1 and May 13 at River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3 in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, the U.S. Centers for Disease Contr...

    Pope to Have Hernia Surgery, Stay in Rome Hospital for Several Days

    Pope Francis will be hospitalized for several days after a planned surgery to repair a hernia that is causing him “recurrent, painful and worsening” symptoms.

    The Vatican

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • June 7, 2023
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  • Patients With Bladder Cancer May Avoid Removal of Extra Lymph Nodes, Study Finds

    For years, doctors have thought that a more extensive surgery that removes a wider swath of lymph nodes was the best option for certain patients with bladder cancer. Now, a new clinical trial is upending that belief.

    Researchers found that the strategy — known as extended lymphadenectomy — was no better than standard surgery at prolonging patients' lives or the amount of time they li...

    No Need to Avoid Exercise After Prolapse Surgery, Study Finds

    It may not be necessary for people who have prolapse surgery for pelvic floor disorders to wait to get started exercising again.

    A new study challenges standard restrictions, finding that those who resume exercising soon after the procedure do just as well as those who wait several weeks.

    “This study is a paradigm shift for urogynecologists — it is practice changing,” said sen...

    More 'Height-Challenged' Men Are Getting Leg-Lengthening Surgeries

    Some short men really struggle with their lack of height, feeling that they are both literally and figuratively looked down upon by others.

    That's why an increasing number of height-challenged men are turning to limb-lengthening surgery -- an expensive, potentially painful, months-long procedure that will add a few extra inches to their frame.

    Limb-lengthening procedures have been a...

    Minimally Invasive Surgery May Be Good Option for People With Pancreatic Cancer

    Minimally invasive surgery works just as well as full-scale open surgery in removing early-stage pancreatic cancers, allowing patients a faster recovery with less infection risk, a new clinical trial has found.

    The ability to remove all the cancer and the rate of cancer recurrence was essentially the same between the two groups, said lead researcher

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • May 26, 2023
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  • Large Study Supports Less Invasive Way to Treat 'Leaky' Heart Valves

    When one of the heart's valves springs a big leak, that can spell big trouble.

    The good news: The condition, known as degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR), is treatable using a minimally invasive intervention known as TEER (transcatheter edge-to-edge repair), a procedure that involves the insertion of a small clip to enable proper valve closure and blood flow.

    The better news? A ...

    VA Hospitals Offer Quality Surgical Care: Review

    While the U.S. Veterans Affairs health system has been criticized for long appointment wait times and limited access to specialists, the quality of care and access to a range of surgical services is as good as or better than at non-VA health centers on several measures, new research reveals.

    “Surgery involves many steps of care,” said lead study author

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • May 11, 2023
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  • Obesity Can Raise Odds for Post-Surgical Complications

    Here's one more reason to watch your weight: Obesity can increase your odds for serious complications after surgery.

    Compared with patients of normal weight, those who are obese are at greater risk for developing blood clots, infections and kidney failure after surgery, a new study reports. Pa...

    Doctors Perform First In Utero Brain Surgery

    For the first time, doctors have successfully performed fetal brain surgery to treat a rare blood vessel abnormality that can be fatal to newborns.

    Experts said the accomplishment, for a condition known as a vein of Galen malformation (VOGM), is "exciting." But they also cautioned that this is one case, and more research is needed to know whether the prenatal brain procedure is a good str...

    How to Ease Back Into Exercise After Surgery

    Patients who've had surgery should ease back into movement and exercise.

    These efforts may be small, but they're better than nothing, according to one surgeon who emphasized the importance of listening to your body.

    “The most important thing is patient comfort. After surgery, there is often this apprehension of, ‘If I move or do something, I will hurt or damage the area where I...

    Lymph Node Removal During Breast Cancer Mastectomy: Is It Overdone?

    Women having a mastectomy for earlier-stage breast cancer may be overtreated if doctors evaluate their lymph nodes while they are still on the operating table, a preliminary study suggests.

    Researchers found those patients were much more likely to receive aggressive treatment — surgical removal of their underarm lymph nodes, often with radiation — versus women whose surgeons took more...

    New Treatment Could Be Safer Way to Fight Brain Tumors in Kids

    Each year, about 140 kids in the United States are diagnosed with a craniopharyngioma, a typically non-cancerous brain tumor that develops near the pituitary gland at the base of the brain.

    Doctors treat craniopharyngiomas with surgery to remove the entire tumor or a less aggressive surgery followed by radiation to kill any remaining cells.

    Now, a

  • Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
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  • April 25, 2023
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  • Cool Storage Could Keep Lungs Ready for Transplant Longer

    Storing donor lungs at cool — but not near freezing — temperatures can markedly increase the length of time the organs can live outside the human body, a new study suggests.

    Lungs stored at 50 degrees Fahrenheit remain healthy and viable for transplant up to four times longer than those stored at the current standard temperature of 39 degrees, according to new clinical trial results.<...

    Is Surgery for Sciatica Really Worth It?

    Sciatica can send searing, unrelenting pain down your legs, and surgery is often recommended if other less invasive measures fail to bring relief.

    Unfortunately, a new study review suggests that such operations likely only provide temporary results, with pain typically returning within a year.

    Sciatica is “characterized by pain going down the back of the leg, most often due to pre...

    What Arthritis Surgeries Help With Pain and Other Symptoms?

    Surgery may help you manage pain and other symptoms if you have certain types of arthritis or your arthritis is severe.

    To help you decide if surgery is right for you, here's a breakdown of five of the most common arthritis surgeries, including what they involve, how they're performed, who the best candidates are and what recovery may look like.

    Arthroscopy surgery<...

    Even With Multiple Breast Tumors, Mastectomy Isn't Always Necessary: Study

    Some women with multiple breast tumors can safely be spared breast removal surgery, choosing less invasive treatment instead, new research suggests.

    Under certain conditions, women with two or three breast tumors in one breast can avoid mastectomy without increasing the chances that their breast cancer will come back.

    “For these patients, breast-conserving therapy is a reason...

    Knee Replacement More Challenging in People With Sickle Cell

    While joint reconstruction surgeries are fairly common, they may be anything but routine for people with sickle cell disease.

    Patients with the blood disorder who undergo total knee replacement are at a higher risk for complications than other patients, according to a new large-scale study.

    “SCD patients undergoing total knee replacement need a multidisciplinary approach and ...

    Blood Donors' Gender Doesn't Affect Outcomes for Recipients

    Whether the gender of a blood donor could affect the recipient's survival was an unanswered question in medicine. Until now.

    “Some observational studies had suggested female donor blood might be linked with a higher risk of death among recipients compared to male donor blood, but our clinical trial found that isn't the case,” co-lead author

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • April 13, 2023
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  • Men With Testicular Cancer May Have New Treatment Option

    Some patients with early testicular cancer may not need chemotherapy and radiation, researchers report.

    Instead, surgery to remove lymph nodes in an area behind the abdomen lining called the retroperitoneum may be enough, according to their new study.

    “We found that the majority of participants in the study were cured with surgery alone, avoiding the toxicities associated with t...

    Breast Reduction? Body Weight a Factor in Healing Time, Study Finds

    Women who are heavier or older may take longer to heal after surgery to reduce the size of their breasts, new research indicates.

    Body weight and age can affect complication risk after breast reduction, according to a report in the April 2023 edition of

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • April 3, 2023
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