The medical profession made history back in 2001 when a surgeon based in New York performed the first-ever telesurgical procedure on a patient located in France, successfully removing their gall bladder using console controls linked to a robot via a dedicated fiber. Since this feat, the number of telesurgical procedures performed has grown significantly, while […]
One of the most pressing risks that medical professionals must account for during the birthing process is the possibility of one or both of the baby’s shoulders getting caught on the mother’s pelvic bone, effectively preventing full delivery. This birthing scenario, known as shoulder dystocia, not only puts the baby at risk of fractures or […]
Back in December, our blog took an in-depth look at the altogether deadly threat posed by sepsis, a condition that statistics show may be responsible for an astounding six million fatalities around the world every year and a contributing factor in as many as 50 percent of all U.S. hospital fatalities. For those unfamiliar with […]
In our previous post, we discussed how many women planning to undergo either a hysterectomy — the surgical removal of the uterus — or a myomectomy — the surgical removal of uterine fibroids — now have concerns about whether the procedure will be performed using a power morcellator. As it turns out, however, they may […]
One of the more common medical decisions that women with uterine fibroids may find themselves facing after they are done having children or approaching menopause is whether to undergo a hysterectomy, which is the surgical removal of the uterus. While gynecologists have been recommending this procedure for quite some time, it’s nevertheless understandable how women […]
When unintentional medication overdoses occur among adults, it’s typically because of either some sort of medication error or a failure on their part to read the accompanying instructions fully. Unfortunately, statistics show that the phenomenon of unintentional medication overdoses is not limited to adults, occurring with startling regularity among children. Indeed, roughly 70,000 children are […]
Patient safety advocacy groups, medical professionals and hospital officials have all come to appreciate the periodic reports issued by the Pennsylvania-based ECRI Institute for their valuable insight into how to make facilities and procedures safer for patients. As it turns out, the organization recently released its second annual Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for Healthcare […]
Given the popularity of professional football here in the U.S., the National Football League is never really out of the headlines. Indeed, the online sports media is currently busy covering every conceivable angle for the upcoming draft. However, one NFL-related story that hasn’t garnered as much attention, but which is fascinating from both a fan […]
Last time, we discussed how the American College of Surgeons is now urging more surgical teams to consider adopting what is known as “enhanced surgery” protocols, which are essentially a complete overhaul of the traditional preparation and recovery practices for surgery. In general, most people undergoing surgery will be required to abstain from food and […]
No matter what profession, the reality is that wholesale change is seldom welcomed with open arms. Indeed, most workers will prove reluctant to alter routines or procedures that they have not only mastered, but which have consistently produced favorable results. This is especially true in the medical profession, where surgeons and anesthesiologists adhere to time-tested […]
