Treatment • healthcare-in-europe.com

Percutaneous therapy for pelvic fractures

Fractures and disruptions of the pelvic ring are most often unstable, and can therefore jeopardise patients' standing and walking functions.

Intra-operative imaging in modern neurosurgery

The brain has few anatomical landmarks. During surgery it is critical that the neurosurgeon knows the exact locality of surgical instruments in relation to important brain structures. Thus neuronavigation systems have become standard tools for planning and guidance.

A percutaneous dilation tracheostomy kit

Tracoe experc kit, designed for percutaneous dilation tracheostomy, is based on the established Ciaglia technique with single step dilation.

European transplants society says organ supply must increase

The European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT) - Europe's leading transplant society - has called for the universal backing of new schemes to safely and ethically increase donor organ numbers.

Diseased heart pumps effectively after 10-year rest

UK - Ten years ago a donor heart was transplanted into a 2-year-old patient, suffering cardiomyopathy, to take over the function of her own enlarged and failing heart. However, unlike many transplant cases - her own heart was not removed.

Tissue engineering in paediatric cardiac surgery

When heart valves need replacing mechanical or biological heart valves are usually used. Both have disadvantages: Mechanical prostheses promote the development of blood clots so that patients need anticoagulant treatment for their lifetime.

Firemen to treat emergency cardiac cases

UK - Fire-fighters are being trained to assess possible cardiac patients in emergencies, and to use automatic defibrillators and oxygen therapy.

GGT level proves a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease

A connection has been discovered between raised levels of the liver enzyme Gamma-Glutamyl-Transferase (GGT) and the probability of death from diseases of the cardiovascular system or strokes.

Regular intake of NSAIDs reduces breast cancer risk

USA - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) could reduce the risk for breast cancer by 71%, according to recent studies published in the journal BMC Cancer. In colorectal cancer, these protective features of painkillers have already been known to exist for a while.

Into the breast's depths

USA - Radiologists at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts have released findings from a breast cancer research study designed to evaluate the use of software from Advanced Image Enhancement, Inc (AIE) for examining regions of interest (ROI) with Hologic's Lorad Selenia digital mammography system.

MDS assures greater care

Germany - PG 11 - a new product group added to the medical technical aids register* relates to decubitus aids.

Bird flu vaccine production to be based in CR

Czech Republic - The US firm Baxter International Inc. is to establish a production facility to produce a quite unique vaccine in CR. First discussed in December 2005, the plan appears to have made a significant step forward. Baxter specialises in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology, and globally employs around 48,000 people in 64 manufacturing facilities, which include those in…

Teamwork and the Future of Intensive Care Medicine

The 26th International Symposium of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine in Brussels: A resumee.

Seeking a compatible heart

Transplant surgeons use checklists to establish whether donor and recipient hearts are compatible - almost like people looking for suitable partners.

Digital operating theatres

World renowned for audio, video, communications and information technology products used for entertainment as well as business communications, Sony has continued to utilise and develop that technological expertise to take an increasing role in operating theatres.

AEIOU

A Web guide for mechanical ventilation in anaesthesia, intensive care and emergency medicine.

Controversy

The question of who should manage intensive care was hotly debated at the 35th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (GSTCVS); not always essentially, frequently aggressively, sometimes even insulting says EH Correspondent Holger Zorn

Mammography screening arrives in Germany

The Kassenärztliche Vereinigungen (regional Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians) are inviting women aged 50-69 years for mammography screening and, slowly but surely, the appointment books of the centres that perform this early detection examination are filling.

Integrated care

Dr Darius Jakubowski, a perinatal specialist and former senior physician at Holweide Hospital, works for three days a week at Holweide Hospital as a resident gynaecologist.

CTLM Seeing through the dense breast

Optical imaging stands on the threshold of a vast array of imaging uses, writes Professor Eric N C Milne MD FRCR FRCP, Professor Emeritus of Radiology and Medicine, University of California Irvine, and Director of Clinical Research, Imaging Diagnostic Systems Inc. `Presently, its greatest worth lies in higher sensitivity for the dense breast. It detects many more occult cancers than conventional…

Go green!

Austria - A call for the EU and national governments to establish and extend a legal framework for environmental standards in society and healthcare facilities was made by the organisers of `CleanMed Europe´, the first European conference to focus on sustainable healthcare products and practices.