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02 Dec
Surgery versus Antibiotics in Childhood Appendicitis
A new study finds antibiotic-only treatment for appendicitis in children is safe, effective and less costly than surgery.
Health News Results - 269
U.S. Woman Living Healthy With Kidney Sourced From Pig
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- December 17, 2024
- Full Page
A 53-year-old woman from Alabama has a new lease on life after receiving a gene-edited kidney obtained from a pig, living healthily with the new organ for over a month, her New York City doctors announced Tuesday.
Towana Looney's road to kidney failure began with the ult...
Removing, Storing Patient's Blood Before Liver Surgery Helps Avoid Transfusions
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- December 11, 2024
- Full Page
Canadian Rowan Ladd scratched her head when doctors said they might bank a blood donation from her at the start of her 2022 liver surgery, but she figured it couldn’t hurt.
“You’re told before surgery that the liver is so full of blood vessels that ther...
Insurer Anthem Rescinds Anesthesia Policy Change After Backlash
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- December 6, 2024
- Full Page
After facing weeks of pushback, health insurer Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said Thursday it will not go ahead with a policy change that would have limited reimbursements for anesthesia during medical procedures.
If the proposed policy had taken effect, it would have o...
Antibiotics or Surgery: What's Best for Child Appendicitis?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- December 2, 2024
- Full Page
For decades, surgery to remove an inflamed appendix has been a rite of childhood for many.
But a new study says treating appendicitis with antibiotics, rather than surgery, is the best way to address most cases.
Using antibiotics to treat uncomplicated cases of app...
Woman Receives World's First Robotic Double-Lung Transplant
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- November 22, 2024
- Full Page
A 57-year-old woman with COPD has received the world's first fully robotic double lung transplant.
The breakthrough surgery was performed in October at ...
There May Be a Better Way to Treat Hematoma Brain Bleeds
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- November 21, 2024
- Full Page
After a hit to the head or a fall, people, especially seniors, can develop a dangerous pooling of blood and fluid between the brain's surface and it's protective covering, the dura.
These "subdural hematomas" typically require surgery to fix, but a new study suggests a b...
1 in 3 Surgery Patients Suffer Complications
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- November 14, 2024
- Full Page
More than a third of surgical patients develop complications as a result of their procedure, a new study shows.
About 38% of adult patients suffer an adverse event during or following their surgery, researchers reported Nov. 13 in the
When Is It OK to Undergo Routine Surgery After a Heart Attack?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- November 1, 2024
- Full Page
Seniors who’ve had a heart attack should probably delay any elective surgeries for three to six months, a new study advises.
People aged 67 and older...
Study Suggests Earlier Is Better for Heart Valve Replacement Procedures
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- October 31, 2024
- Full Page
In a finding that challenges conventional thinking on when people with failing heart valves but no symptoms should get surgery, a new study suggests these patients would fare far better if they had their valves replaced right away with a minimally invasive procedure.
The...
Most Patients Can Keep Using GLP-1 Weight Loss Meds Before Surgeries
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- October 31, 2024
- Full Page
A new guidance issued jointly by groups representing U.S. surgeons, anesthesiologists and gastroenterologists affirms that most people taking popular GLP-1 weight-loss meds can keep taking them in the weeks before a surgery.
Concerns had arisen because the drugs, which i...
MRI Might Spare Rectal Cancer Patients Surgery and Colostomy
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- October 23, 2024
- Full Page
Some rectal cancer patients might be spared surgery and the lifelong need for a colostomy bag if they undergo MRI screening, a new study finds.
The scans might accurately predict which patients have a higher odds for cancer recurrence and require surgery plus chemotherap...
Black Patients 22% More Likely to Die After Bypass Surgeries
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- October 22, 2024
- Full Page
Heart bypass operations have gotten safer, but not everyone is benefiting equally: New data shows that Black patients face a 22% higher odds of dying in the hospital after their surgeries.
“We found Black patients who have coronary artery bypass surgery experience ...
Cataract Surgery Could Save Your Eyesight and Maybe Your Life
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- October 22, 2024
- Full Page
Cataract surgery could restore good vision to older people and by doing so cut their odds for potentially life-threatening falls, a new study finds.
Folks who got the surgery had significantly lower odds for bone fractures and brain hemorrhages linked to falling compared...
Too Much Fasting in Hospital Could Have Downside for Orthopedic Surgery Patients
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- October 21, 2024
- Full Page
The repeated fasting required for multiple surgeries in a row can slow a patient’s recovery and increase the risk of death, a new study war...
Doctors More Likely to Order 'Opioids Only' for Black Patients After Surgery
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- October 21, 2024
- Full Page
After Black patients undergo a surgery, they are much more likely than their white peers to receive only an opioid for post-op pain relief, rather than a more nuanced combo of analgesics, a new study finds.
So-called "multimodal analgesia" is the recommended way to go, e...
Music Might Speed Your Recovery From Surgery
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- October 18, 2024
- Full Page
Pop tunes, smooth jams and banging beats can help people more easily recover from surgery with fewer painkillers, a new review finds.
Listening to music reduces ...
When Complications Strike After Heart Surgery, Women More Likely to Die Than Men
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- October 16, 2024
- Full Page
Women and men experience similar rates of dangerous complications after a major heart surgery.
So why are women dying at higher rates than men when these complications strike?
That's the main question raised by a new study that involved more than 850,000 cases of M...
Shorter Course of Breast Cancer Radiation Won't Affect Breast Reconstruction
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- September 30, 2024
- Full Page
A shorter course of post-mastectomy radiation doesn't jeopardize a patient's chances of successful breast reconstruction, a new study finds.
Did Your ACL Surgery Work? Try Hopping Backwards
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- September 19, 2024
- Full Page
Hopping backward is a good test to see if someone’s ACL surgery has gone well, a new study says.
That backward hop is an effective way of measuring the strength of a patient’s knee function, as well as the strength of their quadriceps, researchers reported re...
Long-Term Outcomes Good for Face Transplant Recipients, Study Finds
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- September 18, 2024
- Full Page
There have been 50 face transplants performed in 11 countries since the surgery was pioneered back in 2005, and long-term outcomes have been favorable, a new review finds.
In total, 85% of people receiving these complex surgeries survived five years and 74% were still al...
New Medical Technology Lights Up Bacteria Hiding in Wounds
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- August 30, 2024
- Full Page
Fluorescent light can be used to highlight bacteria that hides in wounds, causing infections and slowing down the healing process, a new evidence review says.
A handheld fluorescent device can light up bacteria in 9 out of 10 wounds that traditional clinical treatment wo...
It's Safer to Donate a Kidney Now Than at Any Time in History
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- August 28, 2024
- Full Page
The risk of death associated with donating a kidney is at an all-time low, a new study finds.
A kidney donor’s risk -- already small a decade ago -- is now lower by ...
Men Face Much Higher Risk for Hernias Than Women, and Age Matters
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- August 13, 2024
- Full Page
At least 20 million hernia surgeries are performed globally each year, making it one of the most common medical procedures in the world. But does gender matter when it comes to hernia risk?
New Australian research says yes: Half of the nearly 436,000 hernia repair proced...
How Wildfire Smoke Could Be Harming Surgical Patients
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- August 6, 2024
- Full Page
Wildfire smoke could interfere with the safety of surgeries, a new study warns.
Inhaling the smoke could complicate the effects of anesthesia on surgical patients, and it also might hamper their recovery, researchers reported Aug. 6 in the journal Anesthesiology...
Surgery Overused for 'Tongue Tie' Issue That Stops Babies From Breastfeeding, Experts Say
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- July 29, 2024
- Full Page
Surgery is being overused to correct breastfeeding difficulties in infants, a new report says.
A growing number of newborns are being diagnosed with ankyloglossia, also called “tongue-tie.â€
Tongue-tie restricts the tongue’s range of motion in a b...
COVID-19 Virus Is Widespread in U.S. Wildlife
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- July 29, 2024
- Full Page
The virus responsible for COVID-19 is widespread among wildlife, a new study finds.
SARS-CoV-2 was detected in six common backyard species, including deer mice, opossums, raccoons, ...
Double Mastectomy May Offer No Survival Benefit to Women With Breast Cancer
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- July 26, 2024
- Full Page
Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer in one breast, even in the early stages, sometimes opt for a double mastectomy, due to the fear that the cancer will migrate to the other breast.
But that decision may not offer any real benefit in terms of survival, an exhausti...
Average Hip, Knee Replacement Patient May Be Getting Younger
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- July 24, 2024
- Full Page
Brent Ruch, a collegiate basketball center, opted to have his left knee replaced at age 35 after struggling with pain for years.
“Walking with a limp and living with a consistent aching pain was physically and emotionally difficult. I didn’t want ...
Some Youths Still Taking Opioids Months After Surgery
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- July 15, 2024
- Full Page
Many tweens and teens are filling prescriptions for opioids far in advance of surgeries unlikely to be associated with severe pain afterward, a new study says.
Worse, a significant minorit...
Having Diabetes Raises Risk of Failure With Spinal Fusion Surgery
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- July 12, 2024
- Full Page
Diabetes can make lumbar spinal fusion surgery much more likely to fail, a new study says.
People with diabetes are nearly three times more likely to have their vertebrae fail to properly he...
Just a Few Surgeries Make Up Most Post-Op Opioid Prescriptions
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- July 3, 2024
- Full Page
Opioid addiction often starts with a prescription for post-surgery pain relief, and two new studies identify a handful of procedures that account for large shares of those prescriptions.
The findings were published recently in two major medical journals.
"Our findi...
Women Less Likely to Get a 'Secondary Condition' Fixed During a Heart Surgery
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- July 1, 2024
- Full Page
You're getting heart surgery, but your surgeon notices a new anomaly that perhaps could be fixed at the same time.
That's more likely to happen if you're a man than a woman, new studies find.
Surgeons Perform a U.S. First: Kidney Transplant in Awake Patient
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- June 24, 2024
- Full Page
John Nicolas was deep into kidney transplant surgery when he decided to ask his doctors if they'd started yet.
"At one point during surgery, I recall asking, 'Should I be expecting the spinal anesthesia to kick in?'"Nicolas, 28, recalled in a news release. "They had alre...
Surgery Helps Young Kids With Cerebral Palsy Walk, Regardless of Age
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- June 21, 2024
- Full Page
A surgery that helps 7- to 10-year-olds with cerebral palsy walk also helps older kids and teens with the condition, a groundbreaking study shows.
"We had thought that the older kids would not do as well, but there was really no difference in outcomes between the two gro...
Glowing Dye Helps Surgeons Track & Destroy Prostate Cancer
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- June 11, 2024
- Full Page
British retiree David Butler was surprised to find that he had prostate cancer, and that it had spread to the lymph nodes and other places near the prostate.
"I ...
Study Supports Safety of High-Dose General Anesthesia
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- June 10, 2024
- Full Page
Older adults who avoid surgery because they fear general anesthesia will cause thinking declines need not worry, researchers report.
A study of more than 1,000 patients who had heart surgery at four hospitals in Canada found that the amount of anesthesia used did not aff...
It's Safe to Take GLP-1 Weight Loss Meds Before Surgery: Study
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- June 6, 2024
- Full Page
Despite recent concerns that taking Ozempic, Wegovy or other GLP-1 medications might be unsafe before a surgery, a new review has uncovered no such danger.
The issue arose because weight-loss drugs slow gastric emptying. The thought was that food might linger in the stom...
Transplanted Pig Kidney Is Removed From Woman Who Received It
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- June 5, 2024
- Full Page
A woman who was the second person to ever receive a kidney from a genetically modified pig has had the transplanted organ removed due to complications linked to a heart pump she is using, her doctors said.
Lisa Pisano, 54, remains hospitalized and has been transferred ba...
Nerve Surgery May Help Some Battling Severe Migraine
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- June 3, 2024
- Full Page
Nerve surgery can reduce the number of headache days for people who suffer frequent migraines, a new review finds.
The procedure also can decrease the ...
Doctors Used See-Through Plastic 'Window' to Monitor Injured Man's Brain
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 30, 2024
- Full Page
California skateboarder Jared Hager has become the first person to receive a transparent skull replacement, which allows doctors to better view the function of his brain.
The window has allowed doctors to both monitor his progress and test new and better scanning methods...
Doctors May Have Tried to Treat Cancer in Ancient Egypt
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 29, 2024
- Full Page
A 4,000-year-old skull provides evidence that ancient Egyptians might have tried to treat cancer, a new study claims.
Microscopic observation of the s...
Surgical Outcomes Better With More Women on Your Team
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- May 15, 2024
- Full Page
Heading for surgery? The ratio of women to men in the operating room could influence your recovery, new research shows.
Hospitals in Canada that had 35% or more surgeons and anesthesiologists who were female on staff tended to produce better outcomes for patients undergo...
Cancer & COVID Drove Him to Double-Lung Transplant
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 13, 2024
- Full Page
Chicago resident Arthur "Art"Gillespie fell ill in early March 2020 with COVID, after he and his father went to visit an uncle in a nursing facility.
"I was hospitalized for 12 days with a high fever and cough, and during that time, they were taking scans of my lungs, wh...
The Pros & Cons of Robotic Knee Replacement Surgery
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 10, 2024
- Full Page
Robot-assisted total knee replacements tend to have better outcomes on average, a new study reports.
Unfortunately, there's a downside"having a surgical robot assist a human surgeon can make the procedure much more costly.
Blood Test Might Predict Knee Osteoarthritis Years Early
- Lori Saxena HealthDay Reporter
- April 29, 2024
- Full Page
A blood test could help doctors spot the signs of knee osteoarthritis at least eight years before it shows up on X-rays, a new study claims.
After analyzing the blood of 200 white British women, half diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis and half without, researchers discov...
'Drug Take Back Day' is Saturday: Check for Leftover Opioids in Your Home
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- April 26, 2024
- Full Page
Each year, thousands of Americans head home after a surgery clutching prescription opioids to help ease post-surgical pain.
Trouble is, most won't use all those pills, and that could lead to a lot of misuse and addiction, one study found.
Which Patients and Surgeries Are 'High Risk' for Seniors?
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- April 26, 2024
- Full Page
Most seniors probably view any emergency surgery with a certain level of anxiety.
Now, a new study seeks to sort out who might be at highest risk for a complication from such surgeries -- and which surgeries are more prone to trouble.
Two key factors emerged: How...
Patient Gets First-Ever Pig Kidney Transplant Plus Heart Pump
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 24, 2024
- Full Page
New Jersey native Lisa Pisano was staring down the end of her days.
The 54-year-old had heart failure and end-stage kidney disease, but several chronic medical conditi...
Blood Loss Drives Higher Death Rate for Women During Bypass Surgeries
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- April 12, 2024
- Full Page
It's long been documented that women have a slimmer chance of surviving heart bypass surgery compared to men, and researchers believe that they now know why.
Women tend to be more vulnerable to blood loss during surgery -- red blood cells, specifically -- than men are, c...
Arthritis Can Often Follow ACL Surgeries in Young Adults
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- April 10, 2024
- Full Page
Early-onset arthritis may hit as many as one in every four young people who undergo anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgeries, new research warns.
The arthritic pain emerges within 6 to 12 months post-surgery, according to Michigan State University (MSU) ...