Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is an efficient, minimally-invasive, gold standard procedure used for removing large kidney stones. Creating an access from the skin on the back to the kidney — called renal access, is a crucial yet challenging step in PCNL. An inefficiently created renal access can lead to severe complications including massive bleeding, thoracis and bowel injuries, renal pelvis perforation, […]
NIMS has developed a hot-melt tissue adhesive (i.e., medical glue that is applied in a molten state) capable of healing operative wounds. This adhesive has excellent medical material properties in terms of its ease of use, adhesiveness to tissues, biocompatibility and ability to prevent postoperative complications. Post-surgical complications (e.g., adhesions, bleeding, inflammation and infections) are major issues in clinical medicine. […]
Canadian researchers report that troponin levels after cardiac surgery could be a significant marker for 30-day mortality risk. Their findings were published on March 2, 2022 in the New England Journal of Medicine. “This study is a landmark for the health teams taking care of patients after cardiac surgery. For the first time, we have a marker that is fast […]
Whether they need a knee replaced, a hernia stitched up, a cataract in their eye removed or their gall bladder taken out, a new poll shows many older adults harbor concerns about scheduling elective surgery. But once they’ve had it done, most are glad they did. The new findings from the National Poll on Healthy Aging focus on elective surgery, a catch-all term […]
In a retrospective study of adults initiating kidney failure treatment during 2011-2018, disparities in kidney transplantation by race were highest among patients age 22-44 years of age. Within this age group, kidney failure was treated by kidney transplantation among 10.9% of White patients but only 1.8% of Black and 4.4% of Hispanic patients. Research has shown wide racial/ethnic disparities in use […]
A study published in Science Translational Medicine performed at the Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories and UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre has proved that it is possible to convert blood type safely in donor organs intended for transplantation. This finding is an important step towards creating universal type O organs, which would significantly improve fairness in organ allocation and decrease mortality for patients […]
In a first-of-its-kind surgery, a 57-year-old patient with terminal heart disease received a successful transplant of a genetically-modified pig heart and is still doing well three days later. It was the only currently available option for the patient. The historic surgery was conducted by University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) faculty at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), […]
The increased number of deceased donor liver transplants related to alcoholic hepatitis — up more than 50 percent over predicted numbers — was associated with rising alcohol sales. Registrations for the national organ transplant waiting list related to alcoholic hepatitis as well as the number of deceased donor liver transplants for the inflammatory liver condition rose significantly during the pandemic, […]
Persons diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis, but without symptoms or need of symptom relief, could benefit from early aortic valve replacement surgery since it reduces the risk of death, heart attack, stroke and heart failure. Researchers from the AVATAR trial reported this finding on Nov.13, 2021 at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2021. The study was also published simultaneously […]
After an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery, it’s common to experience quadriceps weakness, which was thought to be caused primarily by muscle atrophy, or shrinkage. But researchers at the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology have found an additional cause, which could help clinicians design more effective rehabilitation programs. They found that besides muscle loss, the quadricep muscle — specifically, […]
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