Surgery

As with many areas of health care the easiest way to treat a patient is to find a problem before it becomes to big to tackle. This is the same in gastroenterology where a problem caught early can make a world of difference in a patient's likelihood of survival.

As the only National Pancreas Foundation Center for Excellence in New Jersey and one of only 30 in the country Hackensack University Medical Center has made a point of providing the best care possible to patients when it comes to pancreatic health.

The treatment of pancreatitis has taken great strides in recent years including the ability to help patients through non-surgical options.

As with all areas of health care money is an important consideration for hospitals and other medical research institutions. Finding the most effective way to spend money to get the best results can be a difficult balancing act across the board.

For patients located near major medical centers their ability to receive the latest medical treatments is higher than those in more rural areas. Despite that the field of cardiology and others are working to make these treatments available to all patients in need.

As medical research makes progress in treating conditions like stroke prevention and atrial fibrillation new and smaller devices are being developed to help better treat these patients

For doctors who have been involved in the treatment of cardiovascular health for several decades a significant amount of progress has been made in the past few years helping to keep patients healthy through much less invasive measures.

While technology has come a long way in recent years for operations on the thyroid some patients either may not qualify for robotic surgery or may prefer the more traditional options for their own personal reasons.

In the past when patients underwent an operation for thyroid surgery or another thyroid related condition one of the concerns they had was scarring in the area of the operation. Thanks to advances in robotic technology that issue can be minimized or even eliminated completely.

In the years leading up to Hurricane Katrina striking New Orleans one of the leading health care providers in the city was working on finding its footing and direction heading into the 21st century. In the wake of the storm there was more flexibility to chart a new course into the future.

As robotics becomes a greater part of the surgical field there is a concern that some doctors may become too comfortable with technology and not rely as much on their traditional training in procedures. Despite this challenge there are ways doctors are finding to strike a balance between the two sides for the best end result.

Technology has advanced by leaps and bounds in hepatology in recent years particularly in the diagnosis of conditions like pancreatic cancer. Even still these advances can still make the diagnosis process a challenge, especially when explaining these conditions to patients and finding the best treatment methods.

Surgery on different parts of the body is as unique as the body parts themselves requiring specialization to provide the best patient care possible

At major institutions like Tulane University there is a considerable amount of focus and work on finding better ways to diagnose and treat sarcoidosis.

As more is learned about the treatment of sarcoidosis there is little doubt that steroids are not the final step in the development process. Doctors and researchers are working to find what that next step is.

Sarcoidosis is a condition which can affect many systems across the body which can make the diagnosis process a difficult one for patients and doctors alike.

As part of a long family tradition of Tulane Graduates William Lunn has a special place in his heart for New Orleans. Having seen the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina Lund said it has been that much more impressive to see the city rebuild in the decade since the storm.

Tulane Health System is one of the largest health care organizations in the State of Louisiana and part of an even larger health care network. Because of this they have the resources to provide top quality care to not only local patients but also people around the region and the globe who can use their help.

The MD Magazine editors rounded up the 10 best stories from the past month – did you read them all?

For patients with achalasia simple tasks like eating and drinking can be nearly impossible causing health problems including severe weight loss. A new minimally invasive procedure aims to to help get these patients back to a normal quality of life within a day after surgery.

Patients who undergo solid organ transplant are at increased risk of pneumocystis pneumonia, caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii, due to their compromised immune status.

Researchers have been interested for quite some time in the influence of high body mass index (BMI) on the risk for postsurgical complications following open gastrointestinal surgery.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that approximately 600 American women die in or shortly after childbirth every year. Roughly half of maternal deaths occur in women who have undergone cesarean section.

Part of an ongoing series that takes a high-level look at the positions of the leading nominees for President when it comes to political issues potentially impacting physicians, this installment focuses on Bernie Sanders.

Part of an ongoing series that takes a high-level look at the positions of the leading nominees for President when it comes to political issues potentially impacting physicians, this installment focuses on Marco Rubio.

Many patients contract MRSA during their ICU stays, and it can progress to serious infections and chronic colonization with a high likelihood of recurrent infection. The leading intervention is primary precautions, including contact precautions and active surveillance testing.

1 in 25 patients acquire a health care-related infection while hospitalized, which translates to 75,000 unnecessary deaths annually. Hand washing and alternative hand sanitation are documented, effective preventive interventions.

Harold Fernandez was just 13 when he and his 11-year-old brother started the journey from a small town in Colombia to the United States. Despite arriving as an undocumented immigrant Fernandez worked his way through some of the best schools in the country to become a top doctor in his field.

A new analysis of cohort study data estimates the average annual cost of caring for children with chronic pancreatitis or acute recurrent pancreatitis in the US now approaches $50,000.

Acromegaly, although rare, has classic and well-known symptoms. Notwithstanding these well-known signs, patients often seek diagnoses for several years after their first symptoms. Early diagnosis can prevent long-term comorbidity and premature death in patients with acromegaly