The opioid epidemic has caused the incidence of acute hepatitis C (HCV) in the United States to triple over the last several years. More than 5 million people in the nation carry the virus. Because many of these people are undiagnosed, especially in high-risk populations, many organs from HCV-positive donors are still being procured.
Traditionally, one of the clinical hallmarks characterizing heart failure has been a low ejection fraction (EF) of the left ventricle. EF is the percent of blood pushed out by the heart with each heartbeat. But there is a growing awareness of a significant portion of the heart failure population who do not display low EF— a condition known as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
As advances in heart failure treatment continue, Baylor University Medical Center remains at the forefront and is still one of the largest programs in Texas. In 2018, surgeons on the medical staff performed 54 heart transplants and implanted a record 78 LVADs (left ventricular assist device). Dan M. Meyer, MD, recently appointed surgical chief of heart transplant and mechanical circulatory support at Baylor Dallas, implanted the first LVAD at Baylor in 1996, and recently implanted the 500th LVAD, making BUMC the first hospital in North Texas to reach this milestone.
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common type of pancreatic cancer, is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. It is an extremely slow growing tumor. PDAC normally remains undetectable until late in the disease process, due in part to the physical location of the pancreas. It is situated behind the stomach at the back of the retroperitoneal space, overlaying the aorta, vena cava, and spine, deep inside the body. Because of the location of the pancreas, a computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan is typically needed to detect a lesion, so it may not be discovered until the patient develop symptoms. PDACs located in the head of the pancreas may obstruct the bile duct, resulting in jaundice. Approximately 80 percent of PDAC cases present with this painless jaundice. When the lesion is located in the body or tail of the pancreas, however, the first symptom is likely to be pain associated with invasion of the spleen or stomach, occurring much later in the course of the disease.
When arthritis and other conditions attack the hips, knees and other joints, exercise, hobbies – even a quick stroll across the house – can bring agony. For most patients, joint replacement is a life-changing experience, restoring normal range of motion and allowing a return to normal routines. And as the population ages, the number of replacement surgeries is on the rise.
