Treatment

Medical innovations are rapidly expanding therapy options for many diseases. Keep reading to find more information on new therapies, surgical techniques, effective medication and patient care.

News • Behavioural intervention study

Want to boost bowel cancer screening response? Add a deadline

Screening for colorectal cancer has proven effective for reducing mortality, but response rates are lacking. A new study finds that putting on the pressure can provide the necessary encouragement.

News • Reduced need for follow-up treatments

Crohn's disease: Mesenteric-based surgery shows promise

Crohn’s disease is incurable, with high rates of recurrence. A new approach, involving surgical removal of the mesentery, dramatically reduces the possibility that follow-up surgery will be needed.

News • Impact on long-term survival

Biological vs mechanical heart valve replacement: study compares outcomes

Patients aged between 50 to 70 years with a mechanical heart valve replacement had better long-term survival compared to those with a biological valve, new research has found.

Article • Future treaments discussed at senology congress

How will we treat breast cancer in 2034?

The year: 2034. Breast cancer patients benefit from perfectly personalised diagnostics and therapies. The tedium of follow-up treatments is a thing of the past, thanks to AI, augmented reality and robotics. Just a tale from the realm of science fiction, or could this soon be clinical reality? At the annual meeting of the German Senologic Society, Prof Dr Marc Thill from the Agaplesion Markus Hospital in Frankfurt cast a glance into the crystal ball, exploring the potential of new technologies, but also pointing out bottlenecks in diagnostics and professional personnel.

News • Plasma vs. whole blood resuscitation

Trauma surgeons propose ‘precision transfusion’ approach

Giving separated blood plasma improves outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or shock, whereas unseparated or “whole” blood may be best for patients with traumatic bleeding.

News • Variations in patient access

Biliary tract cancer: inequalities across Europe

Research on biliary tract cancer is advancing rapidly, ranging from targeted treatments to new drugs. However, the delivery of these advances to patients is lagging behind, new European studies find.

News • Mechanical vs medication approach

Stroke: thrombectomy and thrombolysis equally effective in preventing disability

While thrombectomy to remove blood clots after a stroke is increasingly performed, new research suggests that it may not be needed in all cases.

Extensive testing demonstrates the efficiency of the Pentax Medical PlasmaTyphoon™+

Patient safety is at the heart of every medical advancement, and technologies like endoscopes have been pivotal in transforming surgery by enabling minimally invasive procedures. This evolution has led to safer operations, reduced complications, and improved patient outcomes. However, these advancements depend on rigorous hygiene protocols for reusable medical equipment.

News • Relatable characters as communication gateway

How comic book heroes and villains could help cope with childhood trauma

The world of comic book heroes and villains is filled with trauma of all kinds. A new study explores how these tales of hardship can help find better treatments for mental health issues in children.

News • Outbreak response study

Hepatitis E vaccination: 2 out of 3 doses still effective in an epidemic

The vaccine to protect against Hepatitis E is given in a 3-dose regimen. However, in an epidemic setting, two doses have also proven effective, a new study shows.

News • Catheter-based approach

New method aims to "steam away" prostate cancer

Steam eliminates wrinkles and germs, but can it destroy cancer cells too? A multisite clinical trial explores the potential of a water vapor system using steam to kill prostate cancer cells.

News • World first procedure

Testicular tissue transplant provides hope for restoring fertility after chemotherapy

A premiere that brings hope for fertility restoration to men who underwent chemotherapy during childhood: Researchers reintroduced cryopreserved immature testicular tissue taken 16 years prior.

News • Pandemic-induced treatment delays

“Heartbreaking”: the impact of Covid on children with brain tumours

Paediatric brain tumours are difficult to diagnose and treat – especially, when delays occur. A new study explored the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children with brain tumours.

News • Eco-friendly equipment

Plant-based caps bring more sustainability to the operating theatre

Around 800,000 single-use theatre caps are consumed every year in Scottish hospitals. A new type of caps made from cellulosic fibre offer a sustainable alternative to traditional disposable options.

News • Rupture prevention

Breast implants: the importance of regular screenings

Women with breast implants should regularly attend follow-up care to avoid the risk of "silent" implant ruptures and their long-term complications, experts caution in a new publication.

News • Reduction of severe side-effects

A 'kinder' chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma

Treating patients with Hodgkin lymphoma with a different form of chemotherapy shows promise to reduce severe side effects, shorten hospital time and increase likelihood of recovering fertility.

A technological solution for preventing device-detected subclinical AF?

As pharmacological options for subclinical Atrial Fibrillation and atrial high-rate episodes continue to run into challenges, new research suggests more physiological pacing solutions can help reduce risks of progression to clinical AF.

News • Study on care and outcomes in Scotland

Sex differences in treatment after heart attack revealed

After a heart attack, women in Scotland are less likely to receive preventative medicine than men, a new study shows. This could put them at greater risk of further heart attacks, strokes and CVD.

News • Research on bearing materials

Hip replacement: Study shows which implants are built to last

New research has identified hip implant materials with the lowest risk of needing revision, helping hospitals, surgeons and patients to choose what hip implant to use for replacement surgery.

News • Do no harm

“Never words” in doctor-patient communication (and what to say instead)

“There’s nothing else we can do”, “Why did you wait so long to come?” – doctors should avoid using such phrases. A new study points out the destructive potential of “never words”.

News • Toward better surgical outcomes

Total knee arthroplasty: a matter of alignment

Neutral or natural? Researchers from Kyushu University collected convincing evidence on joint alignment that could settle an ongoing dedate regarding best practices in knee replacement surgery.

News • Study on vascular access options

Intraosseous or intravenous: which way to administer medication during cardiac arrest?

Research shows a one-third chance of restoring blood circulation during cardiac arrest, regardless of whether the medication is administered into the bloodstream or bone marrow.

News • Elderly heart patients

Aortic stenosis: benefits of early intervention

Early surgery for aortic stenosis – a common heart condition in the elderly – can drastically improve patients' quality of life, a new study shows.

Interview • Congress showcases advances

Making immunotherapy work for more cancer patients

Immunotherapy has become the most promising strategy for treating several cancers, but its effectiveness is still very uneven. Three researchers explain how research is being done to change this.

Article • Overheard at Semi-Live 2024

Exchanging insights on advances in urological surgery

Telesurgical procedures, new resection techniques, robot-assisted surgery: The sixth Semi-Live conference at University Hospital Heidelberg looked at how surgical approaches have evolved in the last few decades driven by technical advances in the ongoing quest for precision and excellence in patient care.

News • Cancer treatment advances

USC study findings: early blood test forecasts survival rates in patients with metastatic prostate cancer

A new study found that measuring circulating tumor cells (CTCs), rare cancer cells shed from tumors into the blood, is a reliable way to predict later treatment response and survival prospects with metastatic prostate cancer.

News • Gene Therapy

Innovative gene therapy for hemophilia

Until now, those affected have had to inject the missing coagulation factor proteins themselves several times a week. Gene therapy now offers those affected the prospect of an improvement: the therapeutic agent is administered as a single intravenous injection.

News • Study on sex-specific VHD treatment

Treatment inequality puts women with heart valve disease at risk

Women with severe native valvular heart disease (VHD) are less likely to be treated in accordance with guidelines than men, finds a new study conducted at more than 200 centres across Europe.

News • Burst wave lithotripsy

Pushing kidney stones with ultrasound

Sometimes all it takes is a little push: Using ultrasound to reposition small kidney-stone fragments significantly lowers patients’ returns to the operating room, a new study finds.

News • Individualized therapy planning

Tumour irradiation: a little different every day

A bit more mucus in the nose, a little less air in the gut: Even small changes can be important when planning proton therapy against cancer. A new workflow allows for an adapted irradiation every day.

News • Study on antiviral therapy efficacy

Covid-19 treatment of immunocompromised patients: better late than never

Immunocompromised patients are at greatest risk of developing severe Covid-19 after an infection. While early antiviral treatments yield best results, even late-onset therapies still show benefits.

News • Surprising study results

Coronary bypass: new insights on ‘no-touch’ vein harvesting

For coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), a ‘no-touch’ technique to harvest the saphenous vein graft has been considered superior to the conventional approach. Surprisingly, a new study comes to a different conclusion.

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