Category: Surgical Procedures
Breakthrough Heart Xenotransplantion from Pig
In a first, a bioengineered pig heart is transplanted into a human donor, indicating we are on the threshold of a game-changing option for organ transplantation.
The Frenetic Frenum Freeing Frenzy
What problems do tongue-ties cause? Do all of them need to be clipped?
Appendicitis: Surgical vs. Medical Treatment
Surgery or antibiotics for appendicitis? This new study can help with the decision.
When Doctors Refuse to Believe Evidence
Paul Offit's new book covers the evidence for many surgeries, medications, and screening tests that have been proven ineffective and harmful yet are still being used by doctors who refuse to follow the science.
Ian Harris on “Surgery, the Ultimate Placebo”
Ian Harris explains that more than half of commonly performed surgical operations may be placebos. Adequate studies using a blinded control group are essential.
The Wisdom of Third Molar Removal
In the Olden Times (ten or so years ago), the indication for third molar (aka “wisdom teeth”) removal was the presence of wisdom teeth. Now, oral surgeons are rethinking things.
Stem Cells for Knee Arthritis
Stem cell treatments for knee arthritis are not yet ready for prime time, but that has not stopped their premature commercialization.
Patients blinded by stem cell therapy: an update
An update on the tragic results of unproven stem cell treatments to treat macular degeneration.
Bouffant caps versus skull caps in the operating room: A no holds barred cage match
Over the last few years, AORN and the American College of Surgeons have been battling it out over AORN's 2014 guideline that has increasingly led to the banning of the surgical skull cap in the operating room in favor of the bouffant cap. Lacking from this kerfuffle has been much in the way of evidence to support AORN's guideline, but unfortunately that...
ORBITA: Another clinical trial demonstrating the need for sham controls in surgical trials
Last week, the results of ORBITA were published. This clinical trial tested coronary angioplasty and stenting versus optimal medical management in patients with single-vessel coronary artery disease. It was a resoundingly negative trial, meaning that adding stenting to drug management didn't result in detectable clinical improvement. What was distinctive about this trial is that it used a sham procedure (i.e., placebo) control,...