Future surgery: minimal invasion

Article Abstract:

''Minimally invasive surgery'' was the topic of the day at the recent Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons in San Francisco, California. The approach uses small incisions and the laparoscope (a fiberoptic tube inserted through a small incision) to guide surgical manipulation, leading to shorter recovery times, less pain, and reduced scarring. Common in gynecology and orthopedics for some time now, laparoscopic procedures may well become the chosen methods for thoracic (chest) and abdominal surgery as well. For instance, laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) is well on its way to being accepted by surgeons. At Advanced Laparoscopy Training Center Associates in Georgia, surgeons are trained to perform this procedure. They must also be proficient in the traditional approach, though, since complications can necessitate using it. Another operation conducted with minimal invasion is that performed for cancer of the esophagus, in which the thoracic cavity is not even opened. In Germany, many minimally invasive surgical techniques are used; a method for removing polyps (small, often benign, tumors) from the rectum without a large abdominal incision is in use at 30 clinics. Its pioneer, Gerhard F. Buess, now trains American surgeons in these and related techniques. Appendectomy via laparoscope was developed in Germany, too; in the US, the procedure is gaining popularity. Surgeons often work closely with manufacturers to develop better instruments; most are currently made in Germany. Many believe that minimally invasive surgery will replace virtually all surgery performed today. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Usage, Innovations, Conferences, meetings and seminars, Surgical technology, Laparoscopes

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Heart disease researchers tailor new theories - now maybe it's genes that make people fat

Article Abstract:

Several reports delivered at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association suggest that there is a genetic basis for obesity. Although a gene has not been found, and the work remains highly speculative, research has shown that the weight of children correlates with the mass of their other family members. A similar study described how body mass in some families followed a classic mendelian recessive pattern. An obesity recessive gene would require that the offspring receive two copies of the gene, one from each parent, in order for the trait to be passed to the child. One line of research suggests that individuals with the obesity genotype will be among the heaviest members of a population. There is also data to suggest that individuals who have inherited the obesity gene are also at increased risk for cardiovascular problems. Researchers found that, despite eating a diet of approximately 3,500 calories per day with nearly half of their diet coming from fat, one particular family remains slim, at an ideal weight and has low levels of blood lipoproteins. Members of the family do not engage in excessively physical work, and they exercise relatively little. These individuals have been found to have high levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL), two form of cholesterol. Overall the total cholesterol level in their blood is approximately 60 percent of the normal level. Study of this nearly 100 member family is anticipated to continue.

Research, Case studies, Genetic aspects, Obesity, High density lipoproteins, Low density lipoproteins, Lipoproteins, Genetics, Blood lipoproteins, American Heart Association

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