Surgery and surgeons

1,981 articles · Since 2004

Articles, page 58

Imagining what goes through a patient’s mind after surgery

June 26, 2012Jun 26, 20122

“I will never forget that day.” She smiled broadly. “It was about a week after my cancer surgery and I had finally worked up the courage to look in the mirror. I knew you had rearranged things a bit, okay.…

“I will never forget that day.”

She smiled broadly.

“It was about a week after my cancer surgery and I had finally worked up the courage to look in the mirror. I knew you had rearranged things a bit, okay. Moved stuff around. Taken things apart and jammed them all back together, right?”

I probably would not have said it quite like that, but she was correct that her surgery had involved removing part of her …

Health policy

How to improve physician compliance

David Mayer, MD

June 21, 2012Jun 21, 20122

"Educate the young, regulate the old." That quote has literally followed me around the world. I can vividly remember when first making the statement. I was one of five “safety experts” on the closing panel at an international safety and…

“Educate the young, regulate the old.”

That quote has literally followed me around the world. I can vividly remember when first making the statement. I was one of five “safety experts” on the closing panel at an international safety and quality meeting in Sydney, Australia a number of years ago. The thought was that the five of us would somehow be able to share “pearls” of wisdom regarding what was …

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How to improve physician compliance

Physician voices

How families cope with the surgical waiting room

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

June 20, 2012Jun 20, 20123

All of us hate waiting in lines. Our society breeds a “me-first” attitude. Often the lines in which we wait are slow to move and, we become irritable and angry. Somehow there is always someone who is able to outsmart the system and get served ahead of their place in the queue. In the typical queue at the grocery store, (or at the apple store genius bar) we become impatient because …

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Health technology

Robots for surgery aren’t ready for widespread use in hospitals

Kevin Pho, MD

June 17, 2012Jun 17, 2012

The following column was published on June 5th, 2012 in USA Today. I recently had the opportunity to try out a surgical robot, a medical device that has excited doctors, patients and hospital marketing departments. During the demonstration, I was…

The following column was published on June 5th, 2012 in USA Today.

I recently had the opportunity to try out a surgical robot, a medical device that has excited doctors, patients and hospital marketing departments. During the demonstration, I was able to precisely manipulate the robotic arms using joysticks. The experience felt right out of a Hollywood movie, as I was able …

Physician voices

The secrets to a fulfilling medical practice are often paradoxical

Robin Youngson, MD

June 14, 2012Jun 14, 20124

"Great interview, darling, but there’s one question you didn’t quite answer." My wife is my best coach. She thought the question about a busy orthopedic surgeon not having time to relate to his patients deserved a better response. My interviewer,…

“Great interview, darling, but there’s one question you didn’t quite answer.”

My wife is my best coach. She thought the question about a busy orthopedic surgeon not having time to relate to his patients deserved a better response.

My interviewer, a psychiatrist, said he once accompanied a surgeon friend on his Saturday morning round of post-op cases. On the drive home, he challenged his friend with the observation that many of the …

Conditions and diseases

Is the daily blood draw in the hospital truly necessary?

Ioana Baiu, MD

June 5, 2012Jun 5, 2012

One of the most memorable discussions regarding the cost of care was at 4:45AM during surgical morning rounds. As usual, the interns would present the overnight events of their patients to the chief resident and a plan for the day…

One of the most memorable discussions regarding the cost of care was at 4:45AM during surgical morning rounds.

As usual, the interns would present the overnight events of their patients to the chief resident and a plan for the day would be agreed upon. These morning rounds were particularly intense: in addition to the 30 patients that an intern had to manage solo over night, the brutal hours that the surgical …

Physician voices

A good doctor should rarely be surprised by test results

Angry Orthopod, MD

May 23, 2012May 23, 20125

I got into medicine because it is fun, and, of course, to help people. I think most of my colleagues did so as well. I get up every day and I get to go to work and figure out puzzles…

I got into medicine because it is fun, and, of course, to help people. I think most of my colleagues did so as well. I get up every day and I get to go to work and figure out puzzles all day. How cool is that? Sure, it may not always be unwarranted or a bad thing, but testing and more testing can definitely take the fun out of taking …

Physician voices

Medical school and residency aren’t places for human growth

Paul E. Smith, MD

May 18, 2012May 18, 20126

The end of my residency and beginning of my practice was the most wrenching experience of my life. I was woefully prepared for the transition. Full disclaimer: I was trained many years ago when residencies were acknowledged brutal demeaning processes.…

I think my process of becoming a surgeon was fairly typical, with the exception that there was no one …

ASA: Need anesthesiology providers? Consider anesthesiologist assistants

American Society of Anesthesiologists & James R. Mesrobian, MD

May 6, 2012May 6, 20126

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. On March 28, 2012, Governor Scott Walker signed into law SB383, a bill to license Anesthesiologist Assistants (AA) in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (WAAA), the…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

On March 28, 2012, Governor Scott Walker signed into law SB383, a bill to license Anesthesiologist Assistants (AA) in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (WAAA), the Wisconsin Society of Anesthesiologists (WSA), the Wisconsin Medical Society, numerous other medical specialty societies, the Medical Examining Board, and six major hospital systems supported the bill. Since 2001, seven states …

Physician voices

A trauma surgeon on the pointlessness of gang violence

Bryan Hubbard, MD

May 3, 2012May 3, 20122

Another call night in downtown L.A. It had not been a particularly eventful day: the usual offering of people hit by cars, falling off of things, and victims of man-made violence. Some injuries happen as a result of an accident, some as a result of carelessness, and of course many happen because of an intentional act. At about 1am the trauma pager went off; the text announced a “Level 1 …

Patient voices

The healing power of ice cream

Dr. Martin Young

April 22, 2012Apr 22, 20124

The phone conversation, as my dad, in the bed next door, recalls it, went something like this. “Hello?” “Hi, is this Jim? Where are you?” “No, it’s not Jim. I’m John, and I’m in hospital.” “Oh sorry, John, I was…

The phone conversation, as my dad, in the bed next door, recalls it, went something like this.

“Hello?”

“Hi, is this Jim? Where are you?”

“No, it’s not Jim. I’m John, and I’m in hospital.”

“Oh sorry, John, I was looking for Jim the refrigerator mechanic. Wrong number. Hope you’re okay!”

“I’m not okay. Just had both my knees replaced and I’m very sore.”

“John, I’m sorry. I got problems too. I run an ice cream …

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The healing power of ice cream

Physician voices

I must breathe for this patient

Felicity Billings, MD

April 12, 2012Apr 12, 20122

Mostly it is just terrifying. I sat on the edge of the bed in my fleece pajamas and tried to describe the fear. “I’m sure you’ll do great,” my husband tried to reassure me. “But you don’t understand. Every time…

Mostly it is just terrifying.

I sat on the edge of the bed in my fleece pajamas and tried to describe the fear.

“I’m sure you’ll do great,” my husband tried to reassure me.

“But you don’t understand. Every time you induce general anesthesia, you’re basically almost killing someone. It’s … petrifying.”

“But everyone always said you were a great resident Felicity, you’re going to be a great attending too. I’m sure everything will …

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I must breathe for this patient

Physician voices

The curious equilibrium between a patient and his tumor

Sid Schwab, MD

April 10, 2012Apr 10, 20124

"You can't just let me bleed like this, Doc. I need to get out of here." So said John, a man in his seventies, with kidney cancer spread to his Ampulla of Vater. Renal cell cancer is among those that…

“You can’t just let me bleed like this, Doc. I need to get out of here.” So said John, a man in his seventies, with kidney cancer spread to his Ampulla of Vater. Renal cell cancer is among those that sometimes behave in very strange ways. John had had his removed, along with his left kidney, about nine months earlier. At the time, it was thought likely to be …

Physician voices

Greening the operating room

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Susan M. Ryan, MD, PhD & T. Kate Huncke, MD

April 5, 2012Apr 5, 20125

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. In an effort to recognize April as Earth Month, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is taking action to help hospitals across the country green their operating rooms…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

In an effort to recognize April as Earth Month, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is taking action to help hospitals across the country green their operating rooms with a white paper by the ASA Task Force on Environmental Sustainability.

Physicians such as anesthesiologists are responsible for the health of the community, which is dependent on a healthy environment. Unfortunately, the …

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Greening the operating room

Medical education

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Jake McClure

April 4, 2012Apr 4, 20125

In my first week of the 3rd year surgery clerkship, I was introduced to some of the "Rules of Surgery." For example, "All bleeding stops eventually," or, "Everyone doesn't need to die with an incision," and even "The enemy of…

In my first week of the 3rd year surgery clerkship, I was introduced to some of the “Rules of Surgery.” For example, “All bleeding stops eventually,” or, “Everyone doesn’t need to die with an incision,” and even “The enemy of good is better.”

Boarded for this particular afternoon was a pancreaticoduodenectomy (the Whipple procedure), which for students is known to be a must-see operation if given the opportunity. However, the night …

Physician voices

Doing the wife’s tummy tuck

John Di Saia, MD

March 31, 2012Mar 31, 20122

One fine fall morning last year my wife turned to me and said: "I want a tummy tuck. There are no rules against you doing that for me are there?" We had talked about tummy tuck surgery for her several…

One fine fall morning last year my wife turned to me and said: “I want a tummy tuck. There are no rules against you doing that for me are there?”

We had talked about tummy tuck surgery for her several times over the years. She had had a gastric bypass a decade before we had met and was a pretty good candidate. No cigarettes. Well she did have a few surgical …

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Doing the wife’s tummy tuck

Physician voices

Robotic surgery shouldn’t be universally dismissed

Linda A. Kiley, MD

March 28, 2012Mar 28, 20123

A response to Why isn’t everyone excited about robotic assisted surgery? by Kelly Wright. Yes, it’s cool. The surgical robot is every gamer-cum-surgeon’s dream. However, I, too, was a skeptic regarding incorporating robotic surgery into my practice. I have been…

A response to Why isn’t everyone excited about robotic assisted surgery? by Kelly Wright.

Yes, it’s cool. The surgical robot is every gamer-cum-surgeon’s dream.

However, I, too, was a skeptic regarding incorporating robotic surgery into my practice. I have been practicing minimally-invasive surgery for over 20 years, including residency. I became convinced of the value of minimally invasive surgery after observing patients postoperatively. I have laparoscopically repaired an obturator nerve transection, …

Physician voices

Why isn’t everyone excited about robotic assisted surgery?

Kelly Wright, MD

March 19, 2012Mar 19, 20127

It’s cool. So cool, that President Obama used one. So cool, it’s been on the cover of Newsweek. It’s been in multiple television commercials, radio advertisements, highway billboards, and was even coined one of the top 14 medical breakthroughs of…

It’s cool. So cool, that President Obama used one. So cool, it’s been on the cover of Newsweek. It’s been in multiple television commercials, radio advertisements, highway billboards, and was even coined one of the top 14 medical breakthroughs of 2011 by Boston Magazine, a city teeming with medical innovation. Yet surgeons and health economists are unable to explain the fascinating rise of robotic-assisted surgery.

Currently, a single company manufactures and …

Conditions and diseases

Will Peyton Manning ever fully recover from his spinal nerve injury?

Edward Pullen, MD

March 15, 2012Mar 15, 20125

Does muscle weakness improve after disc surgery? For an NFL fan arguably the best thing that could happen to your team is to sign Peyton Manning and have him perform at or near his pre-injury level. The corollary is that…

Does muscle weakness improve after disc surgery?

For an NFL fan arguably the best thing that could happen to your team is to sign Peyton Manning and have him perform at or near his pre-injury level. The corollary is that one of the worst things to happen to your team would be to take a huge salary cap hit to get a Peyton Manning with such weak throwing arm that even …

Physician voices

Why would anyone believe that cheap surgery is a good choice?

Karen S. Sibert, MD

March 12, 2012Mar 12, 201212

If you live in southern California, you can’t miss the billboards advertising laparoscopic gastric banding at “1-800-GET-THIN” outpatient surgery centers. They feature happy people who’ve lost 100 pounds or more, and urge you to “let your new life begin” by having a “lap band” inserted. Fees at these centers are much lower than they are at university medical centers or other major hospitals.

Recently, however, those surgery centers and their owners …

Surgery and surgeons

Articles, page 58

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