Too Little, Too Late, Too Risky: Surgery In Africa
A new survey looks at the state of surgery in Africa. We asked Dr. Forster Amponsah-Manu, a general surgeon in Ghana, about his reaction — and his personal experiences.
surgery
Surgeons Try Prescribing Fewer Opioids To Lower Addiction Risk
Based on research conducted at the University of Michigan, surgeons developed a simple strategy to reduce misuse and abuse of painkillers after surgery: give patients fewer pills.
Questioning A Doctor's Prescription For A Sore Knee: 90 Percocets
Following minor surgery, a Kaiser Health News columnist sees up close how easily doctors can prescribe opioid pain pills, and how such prescribing helps fuel the epidemic of opioid addiction.
'The Butchering Art': How A 19th Century Physician Made Surgery Safer
Before surgeons accepted germ theory, operations often killed patients. All Things Considered host Robert Siegel talks with the author of a new biography of antiseptic advocate Joseph Lister.
Sheer Number Of Casualties Makes Las Vegas Count Difficult
Doctors and emergency officials are still trying to figure out exactly how many people were shot in Las Vegas. The wide range of injuries and the sheer number of people injured are challenges.
Whatever Happened To ... The Surgeon Who Couldn't Count On Electricity?
His goal: to perform surgery. The problem: power outages and finicky machines. We check back in with a doctor in Ghana.
Why U.S.-Trained Surgeons Often Aren't Ready For Humanitarian Work Abroad
A study compares surgeries performed by Doctors Without Borders volunteers in the developing world with those taught to U.S. surgical residents — and finds "a dramatic mismatch."
Imagine: Facing Surgery Without An Anesthesiologist On Hand
A new report looks at the number of anesthesiologists around the world — and finds that many countries barely have 1 per 100,000. And some have ... zero.
Slug Slime Inspires Scientists To Invent Sticky Surgical Glue
The words "strong" and "inspiring" are not usually assigned to garden slugs. But slug slime inspired materials scientists to invent a new kind of adhesive that could one day help heal human wounds.
Arthroscopic Surgery Doesn't Help With Arthritis Knee Pain
This is the latest study to find that arthroscopic surgery doesn't reduce pain for people with knee arthritis, and can cause other problems. The procedure remains popular in the U.S.