Endometriosis is cut or vaporised with an electric current or laser. It ranges from a simple, 20 minute operation to complex surgery involving important organs such as the bowel and bladder.
One stock history of medicine tale is that trepanning is one of the most ancient treatments for migraines.
Grey’s Anatomy’s portrayal of trauma experiences is far more dramatic than in real life.
IMDb/Shondaland, The Mark Gordon Company, Touchstone Television (2005-2007), ABC Studios
A new study compared fictional patient experiences in Grey’s Anatomy with real trauma cases. It concluded patients who are fans of the show might have unrealistic expectations of medical care.
Surgeons in Switzerland use the robot da Vinci to aid a hernia operation. Over a third of US hospitals have at least one surgical robot.
AP Photo/Keystone, Salvatore Di Nolfi
Matt Beane, University of California, Santa Barbara
There are more robots than ever in the operating room – but that’s led to fewer opportunities for surgical trainees. Now, some new doctors are teaching themselves in secret.
Zawadi Juluis Saidi had reconstructive surgery on her cleft lip at a Dar es Salaam hospital. African children face huge barriers to surgery.
Reuters/Sala Lewis
Fixing facial birth defects helps a child’s optimal growth. But collaboration is needed if developing countries are to increase access to reconstructive surgery.
Surgical techniques for varicose veins are becoming more refined, but not all cases require surgery. Lifestyle changes can help.
At present, surgeons vary widely in their approach to opioid prescription and some patients use opioids for prolonged periods post-surgery.
(Shutterstock)
Surgeons are big prescribers of opioids. But while guidelines are in place for dentists and for doctors who prescribe opioid-based painkillers for long-term pain, there are none for surgeons.
How do anesthetics work, and what makes for an ideal anesthetic? It’s not as mysterious as once believed, and there’s a gas that ticks all the boxes for a perfect anesthetic: xenon.
A new book explores consciousness, awareness and memory when under the knife.
from www.shutterstock.com.au
Almost one-third of human disease requires surgery, but most of those people who need surgery are not getting it. Here’s why we need to make surgery more accessible.
Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne