GLG News by Bariatric Surgeons

Michael BainWound Care DirectorNewport Nursing and Rehabilitation

FDA issues safety signal on ALCL & breast implants

January 31, 2011

Analysis of:FDA issues safety signal on ALCL & breast implants | www.psnextra.org

http://www.psnextra.org/Articles/FDA-ACLC-Issue.htmlThere is a link between breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).  This very rare tumor has almost no cases in the literature.  There appears that there might be an association between the two.

Forrest RubensteinCardiac, Thoracic and Vascular SurgeonST. MARY'S HOSPITAL, STREATOR, OF THE HOSPITAL SISTERS OF THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS

Preventing Bariatric Surgery Deaths

January 25, 2008

Analysis of:Pinning Down Mortality Rates After Bariatric Surgery | www.medscape.com

 Bariatric surgery is a major operative procedure that caries significant morbidity and mortality risks due to the comorbid diseases seen in this patient population.  This procedure is increasing in frequency as more patients are willing to have it and more surgeons are becoming proficient. The mortality rate is ~ 1 % at 1 year and 6% at 5 years which is greater than the population at large.

Forrest RubensteinCardiac, Thoracic and Vascular SurgeonST. MARY'S HOSPITAL, STREATOR, OF THE HOSPITAL SISTERS OF THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS

CMS regulations penalize hospitals for taking care of sickest patients

August 28, 2007

Analysis of:New Medicare Regulations Adopted To Reduce Certain Hospital Infections And Medical Errors | www.medicalnewstoday.com

This article presents the new CMS guidelines that deny higher payments for the additional costs associated with treating patients for certain hospital - acquired infections and medical errors. While these are laudable goals, to assume that all infections are the result of poor medical practice is an oversimplification. The development of nosocomial infections also has to do with the patients disease processes such as diabetes, morbid obesity, immunosuppression, tobacco abuse, etc. While few physicians would argue against enforcing these rules for documented mistakes (medication errors, transfusion mistakes, and objects left in patients bodies), most recognize there is a certain baseline of these other infections which cannot be avoided. Hospitals should only be penalized when their risk adjusted incidence exceeds a standardized baseline.

Forrest RubensteinCardiac, Thoracic and Vascular SurgeonST. MARY'S HOSPITAL, STREATOR, OF THE HOSPITAL SISTERS OF THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS

Retail drugstore clinics - filling a niche ?

August 28, 2007

Analysis of:Drugstore Clinics Spread, and Scrutiny Grows | www.nytimes.com

   Several large drugstores are establishing retail medical clinics within their stores much as eyeglass stores have had optomitrists on site.  There is no problem with these clinics per se as long as they practice within the scope of the practitioners license and skill.  There are concerns that those clinics staffed by non physicians will be practicing inferior medicine beyond the scope of the practitioner.  As these clinics become more widespread, they will certainly come under greater scrutiny.

Michael BainWound Care DirectorNewport Nursing and Rehabilitation

This coud ne a Panora's Box

August 28, 2007

Analysis of:New Medicare Regulations Adopted To Reduce Certain Hospital Infections And Medical Errors | www.medicalnewstoday.com

If a patient gets a bedsore, who pays for it? Most importantly, what does this mean to KCI and the other wound companies? Where will it end?

Forrest RubensteinCardiac, Thoracic and Vascular SurgeonST. MARY'S HOSPITAL, STREATOR, OF THE HOSPITAL SISTERS OF THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS

The drug patent "shell game"

August 28, 2007

Analysis of:New antihistamine gets FDA green light.(RX CARE)(Levocetirizine (Xyzal) by UCB Inc. and Sanofi-Aventis ) | www.therapeuticsdaily.com

   Zyrtec (cetirizine) is a second generation nonsedating antihistamine that has enjoyed wide popularity.  Zyrtec will become available generically in late 2007 and the generic form is expected to be significantly cheaper.  To virtually extend the patent, the manufacturer is marketing the active enantiomer, levocitirizine (Xyzal) as a replacement for Zyrtec. This required only a fraction of the R&D costs that developing a new drug would entail.  While this could be a boon to the pharmaceutical companies involved in the release, patients have little to benefit from the increased cost.

Forrest RubensteinCardiac, Thoracic and Vascular SurgeonST. MARY'S HOSPITAL, STREATOR, OF THE HOSPITAL SISTERS OF THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS

FIRE STAR™ Rx PTCA Dilatation Catheter - an incremental improvement, not disruptive technology

August 21, 2007

Analysis of:Cordis Corporation Introduces FIRE STAR™ Rx PTCA Dilatation Catheter | www.medicalnewstoday.com

   Cordis introduced the FIRE STAR™ Rx PTCA Dilatation Catheter to the European market.  This catheter reportedly has a lower profile than other devices on the market which enables it to cross highly stenotic or tortuous lesions.  There are no controlled studies showing device this offers any significant advantage for most angioplasty procedures.  The Fire Star device will likely become a part of the armamentarium of interventionalists but will not be the workhorse catheter unless a true outcome advantage can be demonstrated or the price is competitive with the devices currently available.

Michael BainWound Care DirectorNewport Nursing and Rehabilitation

They have improved, but they are not the holy grail

July 30, 2007

Analysis of:Recurrence of Spider Angiomas After Laser Treatment | dermatology.jwatch.org

Lasers are better than they were 10 years ago.  Especially for vascular lesions; however, they are not all purpose machines that can do everything, as evidenced by new ones every year.

Michael BainWound Care DirectorNewport Nursing and Rehabilitation

I would love it

July 12, 2007

Analysis of:Norwegian hacker says he can bypass AT&T on iPhone | today.reuters.com

It would be great to get an unlocked i-phone...

Forrest RubensteinCardiac, Thoracic and Vascular SurgeonST. MARY'S HOSPITAL, STREATOR, OF THE HOSPITAL SISTERS OF THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS

Bariatric surgery is a useful adjunct in the management of obese diabetics

July 6, 2007

Analysis of:Bariatric surgery - possible treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus | www.news-medical.net

   Type II diabetes and the metabolic syndrome are highly correlated with obesity. These diseases are epidemic in our society.  Weight loss has been definitively shown to reduce morbidity and mortality in these patients with complications from their obesity.  Bariatric surgery is a highly effective strategy for treating morbid obesity. It reliably produces greater weight loss than any other treatment.   As these procedures do have risks and potential complications, they should be considered a part of the treatment plan along with diet, exercise, and risk factor reduction.  No single strategy is best for all patients so this therapy needs to be individualized.

Page : 12345678910Next1 to 10 of 142