Endo Awareness
March is endometriosis awareness month. According the CDC, endometriosis occurs “when the kind of tissue that normally lines the uterus grows somewhere else”. In other words your uterine lining can grow on ovaries, it can wrap around your intestines and in some cases on parts of the body nowhere near the female reproductive organs, like in a few rare cases the lungs. As serious as this sounds, unfortunately, many people have heard more about ovarian cancer (which is very serious) than endometriosis. I, however, have known about this disease and the havoc it can wreak for my entire life.
Growing up I used to pra...
Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - March 16, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: dw at disruptivewomen.net Tags: Advocacy Women's Health Source Type: blogs
Top stories in health and medicine, February 6, 2015
From MedPage Today:
What Is the Real Cost of a New Knee? Assuming current eligibility criteria for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the per patient lifetime cost attributable to symptomatic knee OA is $12,400, which represents about 10% of total direct medical costs in patients with OA.
Attitudes Affected Outcome in HIV Prevention Trial. In the last analysis, the reasons for a negative outcome of an HIV prevention trial came down to people and their attitudes about the virus and the drugs intended to prevent it.
Mixed Results for Switch vs. Bypass in Severe Obesity. Patients with a body mass index of 50 to 60 who underwent...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 6, 2015 Category: Journals (General) Authors: MedPage Today Tags: News Infectious disease Obesity Orthopedics Source Type: blogs
Removing the Fallopian Tubes to Prevent Ovarian Cancer – Something to Consider
New information strongly suggests that most ovarian cancers originate, not in the ovary, but in the fallopian tube. If this is so, then removal of the fallopian tubes may actually prevent ovarian cancer.
The evidence is powerful enough that the American Congress of Obstetricians & Gynecologists is now recommending that fallopian tube removal be considered in women planning to undergo surgical sterilization or hysterectomy.
The Fallopian Tube Origin of Ovarian Cancer
We used to think that ovarian cancer originated in the peritoneal lining that covers the ovaries and abdominal organs. But the fallopian tube origin of ova...
Source: The Blog That Ate Manhattan - January 23, 2015 Category: Primary Care Authors: Margaret Polaneczky, MD Tags: Best of TBTAM Family Planning Ovarian Cancer Essure Fallopian tube oophorectomy prophylactic salpingectomy Sterilization Tie my tuibes tubal ligation Tubes Source Type: blogs
Cholecystectomies at night: Are they safe?
A new study from surgeons at UCLA found that laparoscopic cholecystectomies done at night for acute cholecystitis have a significantly higher rate of conversion to open than those done during daylight hours.
Nighttime cholecystectomies were converted 11 percent of the time vs. only 6 percent for daytime operations, p = 0.008, but there was no difference in the rates of complications or hospital lengths of stay.
Continue reading ...
Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - November 18, 2014 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Skeptical Scalpel, MD Tags: Conditions Surgery Source Type: blogs
Consumer Centricity: Changing what we know about Health Care
Consumer Centricity is about to change everything we know about health care. It is creating a health investment community where transparency is king and social exchange reinforces value.
This is the rise of the consumer health investment marketplace. Technology is improving the conversations and exchange of data—social media (providing peer-to-peer information and counseling), quantifying technology (providing measures of health to the person without the need for clinical reporting), and financial advice (tune in to some of the social media pages for patient and cost advocacy). We are witnessing the handoff of health ca...
Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - October 20, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: dw at disruptivewomen.net Tags: Consumer Health Care Cost Coverage Policy Insurance Source Type: blogs
Echelon Flex GST Stapling System with Gripping Surface Technology
Ethicon, a division of J&J, will be unveiling its brand new laparoscopic ECHELON FLEX GST System which consists of the ECHELON FLEX Powered Plus Stapler and the ENDOPATH ECHELON Reloads with Gripping Surface Technology (GST). The device has been developed to place staples while maintaining the position of the stapled tissue, hopefully resulting in cleaner, more predictable results and leading to fewer staple reloads.
The set should be available for purchase in the U.S. and Europe later this year.
Some details about the device and staples Ethicon is touting in its announcement:
In testing, the ECHELON FLEX GST System r...
Source: Medgadget - August 28, 2014 Category: Technology Consultants Authors: Editors Tags: Ob/Gyn Surgery Thoracic Surgery Urology Source Type: blogs
My University of Michigan Experience
By: Ethel Osei-Tutu, medical student, University of Cape Coast, School of Medical Sciences, Ghana
Editor’s Note: For more information on the Ghana–Michigan medical student exchange program, see “Perceptions of Ghanaian Medical Students Completing a Clinical Elective at the University of Michigan Medical School” by Abedini, Danso-Bamfo, and colleagues, published in the July issue.
The University of Cape Coast, School of Medical Sciences (UCCSMS) began a yearly exchange program with the University of Michigan (UMich) in 2012. Four final-year students from UCCSMS are selected each year based on merit ...
Source: Academic Medicine Blog - August 28, 2014 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Guest Author Tags: Featured Trainee Perspective international exchange program international medical education patient centered care University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences University of Michigan Medical School Source Type: blogs
The do nothing consultation
The last few consultations I have done have been what I call “ do-nothing consultations “. This is when I tell the patient that they do not need my help in order to get pregnant ; and that their best course of action would be continue trying in their bedroom. This might seem to be very unusual advice coming from an IVF specialist . Because I am a senior specialist, most patients come to me for a second ( and often third ) opinion , in order to have their tests and investigations reviewed by an expert. Often they have been advised surgery by a gynecologist or infertile specialist, and they need to make sure they a...
Source: The Patient's Doctor - August 18, 2014 Category: Obstetricians and Gynecologists Tags: Endometrial polyp Health In vitro fertilisation India Infertility Medical ultrasonography patient Uterus Source Type: blogs
A real life infertile story - straight from the heart
This is from an email Manju sent me, which a reader shared with her.It's full of valuable insights, which both doctors and patients can learn from , and I am privileged to share this with you.My Infertility story...I am 33 years old and DH is 38 and we have been married for around 9.5 years. Ours was a love marriage and there was no pressure from either family on babies. We started planning for a baby 6 years back and that was when my gynae told us that I had PCOD. I was put on Metformin and folvite and asked to lose weight(I am 5'5" tall and weighed around 70 kgs). I took the advice pretty seriously and joined a gym and s...
Source: The Patient's Doctor - August 1, 2014 Category: Obstetricians and Gynecologists Tags: Artificial insemination Erectile dysfunction In vitro fertilisation Infertility IUI ivf Polycystic ovary syndrome Pregnancy Source Type: blogs
Healthcare Update — 07-24-2014
This study might suggest that mega-hospital care is better, but is immediate care in small volume emergency departments better than delays in care during travel to a mega-hospital … or no care at all because patients can’t get there?
This may explain why doctors are so good at practicing defensive medicine. During their careers, doctors spend more time in the courtroom than in the classroom.
The headline is misleading since during a lawsuit, doctors aren’t in the courtroom 40 hours per week as they are during medical school. The point is that for 11% of their careers, an average physician has a lawsuit ha...
Source: WhiteCoat's Call Room - July 24, 2014 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: WhiteCoat Tags: Healthcare Update Source Type: blogs
The Need for Brave Health Reform
A Proposal for Private Health Reform in Australia
Australia’s health system is in need of reform. A recently published article by Country Doctor on KevinMD.com prompted me to solidify my thoughts on potential solutions which could improve the private health system in Australia. My apologies to our international readers for whom this will have less relevance, although I believe there are key messages that apply to all of our health systems.
In basic terms, the Federal Government in Australia funds General Practice consultations, Specialist Outpatient consultations and private hospital specialist fees via Medica...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - July 22, 2014 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Sean Rothwell Tags: Administration Featured Health Reports Politics Australia health reform MBS Medicare Benefits Scheme PHI private health Private Health Insurance Source Type: blogs
Infertile Patient query - IUI versus laparoscopy ?
Hi, Dr Malpani. I have been reading your blog and have found it to be very helpful. My husband and I have started infertility treatments and options. Briefly, this is what has happened: -We have been trying for a year naturally (both 29 years old) -Did blood work to check all hormonal levels and everything is normal -Husband did semen analysis and that is better than normal -PCT was done twice (wish I had known this is kind of outdated and most doctors don't do this but oh well, what is done is done!) and both showed that sperm were not swimming like they should at all -Doctor/OBGYN had recommended using mucinex but cervic...
Source: The Patient's Doctor - July 15, 2014 Category: Obstetricians and Gynecologists Tags: Artificial insemination Dr Malpani endometriosis In vitro fertilisation Infertility Invasiveness of surgical procedures laparoscopy Surgery Source Type: blogs
A Patient’s Story–How Much Can or Should– Your Doctor Tell You About Potential Risks?
Below a non-fiction story from Pulse: Voices from the Heart of Medicine, “an online magazine of personal experience in health.” Pulse is both a magazine and an online community that provides a chance for patients, doctors, nurses, social workers to come together, and share their experiences.
The magazine’s founders write: “Despite the large numbers of health magazines and medical journals, few openly describe the emotional and practical realties of health care. We at Pulse believe that our stories and poems have the power to bring us together and promote compassionate health care. “ Pulse was launched by th...
Source: Health Beat - May 18, 2014 Category: American Health Authors: Maggie Mahar Tags: endometrial cancer malpractice suit Pulse: voices from the heart of medicine shared decision making follow-up surgery lymlymphectomy/omentectomy lymph-vessel blockage lymphedema Source Type: blogs
Tubal Reversal Puerto Rico: Traveling For The Best Surgery Possible
A couple travels from Toa Alta, Puerto Rico for a laparoscopy procedure a sterilization reversal with Dr. Monteith. (Source: Tubal Reversal Blog)
Source: Tubal Reversal Blog - May 4, 2014 Category: Infertility Authors: Dr. Monteith Tags: ligation and resection reversing tied tubes tubal ligation tubal ligation reversal tubal reversal surgery untie tubes why tubal reversal advice are they important benefits of laparoscopy chance of pregnancy after reversal not having Source Type: blogs
Morcellation of Fibroids To Be Eliminated by Boston Hospitals
Morcellation of fibroids is commonly done during laparoscopic hysterectomy to aid in removal of a large amount of tissue through a small surgical port in the abdomen.
Unfortunately, this procedure has recently been implicated in the development of widespread intra-abdominal cancer in two women recently in Boston. In response, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston are banning the procedure in fibroid removal surgeries.
Dr. Amy Reed is one patient who is now battling stage IV cancer after the procedure spread leiomyosarcoma cells contained within a fibroid throughout her abdomen.
The...
Source: Inside Surgery - March 29, 2014 Category: Surgery Authors: Editor Tags: Cancer ObGyn Surgery Oncology Amy Reed Brighams and Womens fibroids laparoscopic hysterectomy leiomyosarcoma MGH morcellation Source Type: blogs
