Editor's Note Researchers have developed a fully dissolvable, needle-injectable pacemaker that regulates heart rhythms without requiring surgical removal. As detailed in an April 2 article in Scientific American, the miniature device—just millimeters in size—can deliver electrical stimulation for days to weeks before safely breaking down in the body, potentially reducing…
Editor's Note Sidney Barbier, a University of Denver senior and competitive cross-country skier, became the first person worldwide to undergo single-port robotic renal vein transposition, marking a breakthrough in treating nutcracker syndrome, The Cleveland Clinic reported April 3. As detailed in the article, the robotic surgery ended a competitive skier’s…
Editor's Note Physicians are feeling more optimistic about their profession and are beginning to see tangible benefits from AI in reducing administrative tasks, according to the latest Physician Sentiment Survey (PSS) from athenahealth. Physicians’ day-to-day outlook has improved in recent years despite ongoing concerns about US healthcare, the organization reported…
Editor's Note A new brain implant could one day restore voices to those who can no longer speak, the Associated Press (AP) reported March 31. As detailed in the article, researchers have successfully tested the experimental brain-computer interface (BCI) on a 47-year-old woman with quadriplegia who lost the ability to…
Editor's Note Surgeons at Northwestern Medicine have performed the first U.S. case of resection and partial liver transplantation with delayed total hepatectomy (RAPID) to treat metastatic colorectal cancer, according to a March 18 article in Healio. The procedure, which allows a transplanted liver segment to grow before fully replacing a…
Editor's Note Miniaturized pacemakers implanted in neonates and infants have demonstrated reliable performance for up to two years, with no unexpected device failures, according to a March 11 article in Healio. The research, published in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, suggests that these modified pacemakers could offer a viable alternative for…
Editor's Note An Australian man lived for 100 days with an artificial titanium heart, the longest duration recorded for a patient using the device, according to a March 12 report from CNN. The breakthrough marks a significant step toward using total artificial hearts as a long-term solution for patients with…
Editor’s Note Leaders in ambulatory surgery center (ASC) and perioperative services will converge at the 39th annual OR Manager Conference, to be held October 28–30, 2025, at the Anaheim Convention Center in California, of which the program agenda was just announced. Designed for professionals who juggle operational efficiency, profitability, vendor…
Editor's Note A novel stem cell transplant treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) led to disease-free outcomes for most participants in a clinical trial at a lower cost than gene therapy, according to a February 27 report in Sickle Cell Disease News. The approach, which relies on a less intensive…
Editor's Note A novel stem cell treatment for unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD)—a type of corneal disease caused by injury—restored corneal function in half of study participants within three months, according to a March 5 report in Medical News Today. According to the article, the experimental therapy, cultivated autologous…