Conditions and diseases

7,003 articles · Since 2005

Articles, page 337

How did Michael Jackson die, and the medicine behind sudden cardiac death

June 25, 2009Jun 25, 200919

Michael Jackson is dead at age 50. I've received several e-mails to comment on this story, but there's really too few details to go on. I'm sure more will emerge in the near future. According to news reports, emergency medical…

Michael Jackson is dead at age 50.

I’ve received several e-mails to comment on this story, but there’s really too few details to go on. I’m sure more will emerge in the near future.

According to news reports, emergency medical services were called to his home in Los Angeles, where he was found in presumed cardiac arrest. CPR …

Steve Jobs received a new liver, and the ethics surrounding his transplant

Kevin Pho, MD

June 22, 2009Jun 22, 200913

Orac, a general surgeon who blogs at Respectful Insolence, writes the most comprehensive entry I've seen thus far on Apple's Steve Jobs' liver transplant. For those interested in the medicine behind the transplant, go and read his post in its…

Orac, a general surgeon who blogs at Respectful Insolence, writes the most comprehensive entry I’ve seen thus far on Apple’s Steve Jobs’ liver transplant.

For those interested in the medicine behind the transplant, go and read his post in its entirety. I’d like to highlight some of the potentially questionable ethics surrounding the case.

For one, there is the question why Mr. …

Op-ed: Not all screening tests lead to early, better treatment

Kevin Pho, MD

April 23, 2009Apr 23, 20094

The following op-ed was published on April 23rd, 2009 in the USA Today. As a primary care doctor, it's heartening to hear President Obama call for "the largest investment ever in preventive care." That means more people, for one, will…

The following op-ed was published on April 23rd, 2009 in the USA Today.

As a primary care doctor, it’s heartening to hear President Obama call for “the largest investment ever in preventive care.” That means more people, for one, will be undergoing tests to screen for various forms of cancer. But this might be one of those cases where what sounds like common sense is actually more …

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Why do I need a rectal exam, and what can doctors find with the gloved finger?

Kevin

March 6, 2009Mar 6, 20092

Have you ever wondered why doctors have to perform a digital rectal exam?Well, look no further, as primary care doctor Rob Lamberts gives us the answers discerning readers demand.Simply by looking at the rectum, which by the way, indeed "takes…

Have you ever wondered why doctors have to perform a digital rectal exam?

Well, look no further, as primary care doctor Rob Lamberts gives us the answers discerning readers demand.

Simply by looking at the rectum, which by the way, indeed “takes some getting used to,” can lead to significant diagnostic findings. Furthermore, does tight sphincter tone matter? And should you be worried about the large hands …

Tom Brady’s 2008 knee infection after ACL surgery

Kevin Pho, MD

October 23, 2008Oct 23, 20084

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady recently underwent repair of his anterior cruciate ligament at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. His doctor was Neal S. ElAttrache, who's a renowned orthopedic surgeon and former team physician of an NFL…

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady recently underwent repair of his anterior cruciate ligament at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. His doctor was Neal S. ElAttrache, who’s a renowned orthopedic surgeon and former team physician of an NFL team.

Unfortunately, his post-op course has been complicated by an infection. On his website, TomBrady.com, he acknowledged this and said that the original procedure was …

Why pneumonia can still kill: Bernie Mac’s 2008 death

Kevin Pho, MD

August 9, 2008Aug 9, 200811

Comedian Bernie Mac dies at age 50 from pneumonia. Sad news.He had been recently hospitalized, and as recently as two days ago, it was reported he was stable and responding well to treatment. What happened?There is very little medical information…

Comedian Bernie Mac dies at age 50 from pneumonia. Sad news.

He had been recently hospitalized, and as recently as two days ago, it was reported he was stable and responding well to treatment. What happened?

There is very little medical information to go on. It was known that he had …

Tim Russert and the limits of a normal stress test

Kevin Pho, MD

June 14, 2008Jun 14, 200821

WSJ Health Blog: "Russert's doctor Michael Newman said the tough-questioning but congenial host of NBC's 'Meet the Press' had been under treatment for asymptomatic coronary disease, but that it was under control with medication. He was carrying excess weight, Newman…

WSJ Health Blog: “Russert’s doctor Michael Newman said the tough-questioning but congenial host of NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ had been under treatment for asymptomatic coronary disease, but that it was under control with medication. He was carrying excess weight, Newman observed, but he got regular exercise and he performed well on an exercise stress test in April.”

GruntDoc: “I therefore propose a new sign in …

How too much muscle cream caused a fatal overdose

Kevin Pho, MD

June 9, 2007Jun 9, 2007

Overuse of muscle cream led to this teen's death:A medical examiner blamed a 17-year-old track star's death on the use of too much muscle cream, the kind used to soothe aching legs after exercise.Arielle Newman, a cross-country runner at Notre…

Overuse of muscle cream led to this teen’s death:

A medical examiner blamed a 17-year-old track star’s death on the use of too much muscle cream, the kind used to soothe aching legs after exercise.

Arielle Newman, a cross-country runner at Notre Dame Academy on Staten Island, died after her body absorbed high levels of methyl salicylate, an anti-inflammatory found in sports creams such as Bengay and Icy Hot,

…

Patent foramen ovale and Tedy Bruschi’s 2005 stroke

Kevin Pho, MD

March 15, 2005Mar 15, 200512

It was just reported that Tedy Bruschi is undergoing surgery for a hole in his heart:New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi -- who once played for the University of Arizona - is back in the hospital tonight, according to sources…

It was just reported that Tedy Bruschi is undergoing surgery for a hole in his heart:

New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi — who once played for the University of Arizona – is back in the hospital tonight, according to sources in Tucson and Boston.

The team isn’t confirming this news yet, but KOLD News 13 has learned Bruschi is undergoing surgery to repair a hole in his heart.

…

Tedy Bruschi’s 2005 stroke and what causes a brain bleed

Kevin Pho, MD

February 17, 2005Feb 17, 2005

As has been reported, Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi has been hospitalized with some kind of intracerebral bleed. As one can imagine, this is big news here in New England.Here's what we know so far:Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi will remain hospitalized…

As has been reported, Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi has been hospitalized with some kind of intracerebral bleed. As one can imagine, this is big news here in New England.

Here’s what we know so far:

Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi will remain hospitalized while he undergoes additional tests after suffering a broken blood vessel in his head, a Patriots team source told The Boston Globe on Thursday.

Bruschi,

…

Why testicular cancer is diagnosed without a biopsy

Kevin Pho, MD

February 12, 2005Feb 12, 200528

Man sues over "botched" testicular surgery: Another frivolous lawsuit?"A man is suing a hospital and one of its surgeons, claiming one of his testicles was wrongly removed during surgery.Danny Curtis claims the surgeon at Kern Medical Center did not conduct…

Man sues over “botched” testicular surgery: Another frivolous lawsuit?
“A man is suing a hospital and one of its surgeons, claiming one of his testicles was wrongly removed during surgery.

Danny Curtis claims the surgeon at Kern Medical Center did not conduct a biopsy before arranging urgent surgery to remove a testicular tumor in July 2004, according to the lawsuit filed in Kern County Superior Court.”

I …