Surgery and surgeons

1,981 articles · Since 2004

Articles, page 62

New fields in general surgery and the rise of the surgical hospitalist

June 24, 2011Jun 24, 20116

As medicine adapts to the 21st century, new specialties arise. General surgery is seeing two new fields emerge. One is "Acute Care Surgery," which encompasses three facets of general surgery — emergency surgery, critical care and trauma care. The other…

As medicine adapts to the 21st century, new specialties arise.

General surgery is seeing two new fields emerge. One is “Acute Care Surgery,” which encompasses three facets of general surgery — emergency surgery, critical care and trauma care. The other is the concept of a surgical hospitalist. That is, a surgeon works only in a hospital and has no office or private practice. The idea is similar to the medical …

Physician voices

A surgeon makes it a point to directly communicate with the patient

bongi, MD

June 18, 2011Jun 18, 20117

If nothing else, this post illustrates that surgeons are not that great with the whole bedside manner thing. I would like to think I'm an exception ... but I still am a surgeon. I make a point of communication with…

If nothing else, this post illustrates that surgeons are not that great with the whole bedside manner thing. I would like to think I’m an exception … but I still am a surgeon.

I make a point of communication with my patient. Obviously if he is a child, I use the same measure of effort in communicating with the parents. But few things irritate me more than some …

Physician voices

What big hospitals can learn from smaller ones

Dr. Martin Young

June 17, 2011Jun 17, 20113

Every now and then a tonsillectomy patient bleeds after arriving back on the ward after surgery. On this occasion, there was nothing remarkable in the event itself. What was remarkable was the efficiency of the response. I got the phone…

I got the phone call from the ward sister at 11:05 am, and immediately drove the short distance back to our local hospital. I checked on my patient in the ward, confirmed the bleed,

…

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Health technology

Hospital inefficiencies observed during a surgery rotation

Anar Mikailov

June 14, 2011Jun 14, 2011

I recently finished my surgery rotation at a Level 1 Trauma Hospital in Philadelphia and amidst the ephemeral eight weeks I quickly realized the immense demands of a surgical residency. So, as an avid technology enthusiast and a team member, I took note of inefficient workflows with potential for technology driven solutions. By discussing the observed inefficiencies and potential solutions I hope to inspire …

Physician voices

Baby Boomers are driving the next wave of joint replacements in medicine

Eric Marcotte, MD

June 10, 2011Jun 10, 2011

by Eric Marcotte, MD Associated Press health writer Marilynn Marchione recently reported on the rapid growth of so-called "fix-me-it is" in orthopedic surgery. Healthier and younger than the typical patients undergoing joint replacement, Baby Boomers are driving the next big…

by Eric Marcotte, MD

Associated Press health writer Marilynn Marchione recently reported on the rapid growth of so-called “fix-me-it is” in orthopedic surgery. Healthier and younger than the typical patients undergoing joint replacement, Baby Boomers are driving the next big wave of joint replacements in medicine.

This is definitely welcome news for Zimmer, Biomet, and our other fine biomedical companies here in Indiana. Whether this …

Physician voices

Why private practice surgeons perform more open breast biopsies

Jeffrey Parks, MD

June 9, 2011Jun 9, 20119

A Florida study assessed the rate of needle versus surgical breast biopsies over a period of five years. What we're talking about here are non-palpable abnormalities that are identified on screening mammography. A mammogram report will come back that assesses…

A Florida study assessed the rate of needle versus surgical breast biopsies over a period of five years.

What we’re talking about here are non-palpable abnormalities that are identified on screening mammography. A mammogram report will come back that assesses the relative risk of an abnormal collection of calcifications harboring an invasive or pre-invasive cancer (staged on a scale from I-V). With such data, one is obligated, …

Health policy

How to minimize the costs of surgery

Christopher Chang, MD

June 5, 2011Jun 5, 201123

Surgery is expensive, there are no doubts about that. However, there are a few things a patient without insurance who desires surgery can do to minimize the costs as much as possible. Before going into cost-cutting measures, you first need…

In rank order, the costs of surgery come from (highest to lowest):

Hospital Charges

…

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How to minimize the costs of surgery

Medical education

Going through Netter’s to teach medical students pelvic anatomy

Nicholas Fogelson, MD

May 20, 2011May 20, 20114

I recently had the opportunity to go to the anatomy lab and help the first years go through the pelvic anatomy. What a blast! There is nothing like dissecting a cadaver to tune up one’s surgical anatomy skills, and helping…

Prior to going into the lab, I spent many hours going through Netter’s atlas to brush up on the anatomy so …

Physician voices

6 ENT physicians practicing in Tanzania, a country of 40 million people

Bruce Campbell, MD

May 15, 2011May 15, 2011

I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve. - Albert Schweitzer The middle-aged Tanzanian…

I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.
– Albert Schweitzer

The middle-aged Tanzanian woman lived many hours away and had traveled to the academic medical center in Moshi. She had now waited all day to see …

Physician voices

Transfusing a Jehovah’s Witness during surgery

Neil Baum, MD

May 13, 2011May 13, 201158

I was in practice about five years and was about to do a radical nephrectomy on a patient. I met with the patient and his son in my office and the son informed me that he and his father were…

I was in practice about five years and was about to do a radical nephrectomy on a patient.

I met with the patient and his son in my office and the son informed me that he and his father were Jehovah’s Witnesses and that he didn’t want his father to receive any blood or blood products before, during, or after surgery. I asked the father if that was his wish and he …

Health technology

How to use an iPad in the OR during surgery

Felasfa Wodajo, MD

May 9, 2011May 9, 20116

The iPad has received a significant amount of attention in the health care arena since its introduction last year. The attraction is fairly obvious; it is a portable, lightweight, powerful computing device with an intui-tive interface and a large library…

The iPad has received a significant amount of attention in the health care arena since its introduction last year.

The attraction is fairly obvious; it is a portable, lightweight, powerful computing device with an intui-tive interface and a large library of built-in applications. In fact, major medical schools such as Stanford and …

Physician voices

A neurosurgeon considers stepping out of her comfort zone

gcs15, MD

April 30, 2011Apr 30, 20115

There are few things I enjoy more than talking about the spine and the brain. Therefore, it stands to reason that I enjoyed our state neurosurgical society meeting recently. I don't like big national meetings, being an introvert at heart.…

There are few things I enjoy more than talking about the spine and the brain.

Therefore, it stands to reason that I enjoyed our state neurosurgical society meeting recently. I don’t like big national meetings, being an introvert at heart. Our state meeting, however, is small; this makes for a more intimate atmosphere and more outspoken dialogue. Colleagues from across the state can exchange ideas, new techniques, and opinions. We also …

Physician voices

How a family conference affects the decision for surgery

Chris Porter, MD

April 29, 2011Apr 29, 20114

"Treat your patients as you would your own loved ones," is advice taught throughout training in health care. Great advice. I use it constantly. Mr. Davis is dying of multiple organ failure in the ICU after exploratory abdominal surgery. His…

“Treat your patients as you would your own loved ones,” is advice taught throughout training in health care.

Great advice. I use it constantly. Mr. Davis is dying of multiple organ failure in the ICU after exploratory abdominal surgery. His siblings and children trickle in from Florida and Montana.

I’m always sorry for the last to arrive, who visits his dying brother’s bedside minutes before the family conference. …

Patient voices

Arm amputation from a rare sarcoma

Felicity Billings, MD

April 25, 2011Apr 25, 2011

Harold was 51 years old and needed his left arm amputated. A year ago he noticed some swelling in his forearm and went to his primary care doctor. An MRI showed something. It was small and hard to define, hard…

Harold was 51 years old and needed his left arm amputated. A year ago he noticed some swelling in his forearm and went to his primary care doctor.

An MRI showed something. It was small and hard to define, hard to categorize, probably a collection of blood, but there was an outside chance it could be a sarcoma, a tumor originating from muscle …

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Arm amputation from a rare sarcoma

Physician voices

Can doctors learn surgical skills on YouTube and Facebook?

Dr. Martin Young

April 15, 2011Apr 15, 201112

I am a self-taught bass guitarist in a church band, and, to be honest, it sometimes shows. I know I need to improve my skills, but time commitments make formal lessons difficult. So two days ago I opened up YouTube…

19,000 hits registered. I selected a few that looked good on …

Physician voices

Sixteen stab wounds, seriously delivered

Sid Schwab, MD

April 13, 2011Apr 13, 2011

She was a Korean woman, spoke passable English. We always exchanged pleasantries, and she called me "doctor" when I picked up my laundry. This time she was notably quiet, distant. I didn't figure it out until I got home and…

She was a Korean woman, spoke passable English. We always exchanged pleasantries, and she called me “doctor” when I picked up my laundry. This time she was notably quiet, distant.

I didn’t figure it out until I got home and hung up my jacket, on the inside of which I noticed she’d pinned an envelope. It contained a photo I’d taken months ago, left and forgotten in one of my pockets. …

Physician voices

Physician characteristics that are universally appreciated

Michael A. Zadeh, MD

April 11, 2011Apr 11, 20116

The relationship a physician has not only with their patients, but also with their patient’s families, has long been the foundation of the medical system. Over the course of time this once valued bond has had its ups and downs;…

The relationship a physician has not only with their patients, but also with their patient’s families, has long been the foundation of the medical system.

Over the course of time this once valued bond has had its ups and downs; however today with the internet, Obama healthcare reform, and Medicare cuts to name a few, the doctor-patient relationship finds itself in its …

Patient voices

Why patients seek a second opinion

Howard Luks, MD

April 10, 2011Apr 10, 20117

This has been a very busy week already. I have seen many second opinions and I am always very interested in the reason why the patient initiated the second opinion. In many situations it was simply to see if I…

This has been a very busy week already. I have seen many second opinions and I am always very interested in the reason why the patient initiated the second opinion.

In many situations it was simply to see if I would perform the surgery. After I spent a while listening to the patient, examining them and coming up with an appropriate …

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Why patients seek a second opinion

Conditions and diseases

7 procedures that can affect the way you breathe and sleep

Steven Y. Park, MD

April 9, 2011Apr 9, 20112

Millions of surgical operations are performed every year to improve your health, beauty, and even your smile, but there’s a hidden danger in some of the most common procedures that can aggravate if not actually cause obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep…

Sleep apnea happens when your jaws are too narrow, which constricts the internal soft tissue layer that lines your upper breathing passageways, from …

Medical education

Think about medical school tuition debt before becoming a doctor

Skeptical Scalpel, MD

April 7, 2011Apr 7, 201125

Recently, I received a call from the son of some old friends. This 30-year-old man has been an elementary schoolteacher for the past few years and recently decided that he would like to go to medical school and eventually become…

Suppressing the urge to tell him not to even consider …

Surgery and surgeons

Articles, page 62

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