A condition called atherosclerosis occurs when arteries that feed into the heart become clogged with plaque. In angioplasty, one treatment option, a small tube with a deflated balloon-type tip is inserted where the clogs are most severe. The...
Novocain, which is the brand name for procaine, is a local anesthetic that desensitizes the skin and mucous membranes. It is perhaps most known for its use during dental work to numb pain caused by contact with nerves in the mouth and gums. Today,...
The esophagus, the tube that carries food, liquids and saliva from the mouth to the stomach, may require surgery for a variety of reasons, such as the treatment of esophageal cancer, motility disorders including dysphagia and achalasia, both...
Surgeries and medical procedures for children requiring anesthesia cause most parents to worry about the possible risks and side effects. While anesthesia continues to improve in safety, some risks accompany its use in both children and adults....
Gall bladder surgery, also known as cholecystectomy, is a common procedure that can be performed in a variety of ways. Typically it involves a surgical incision or a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique. Regardless of the method, all...
There are a number of ways to deliver a baby. Understanding the different possibilities can help a woman prepare for anything. Women often create a birth plan, or written explanation of how they prefer to deliver the baby. While all those involved...
Epidural anesthesia, also referred to as epidural analgesia or epidural block, is widely used in a variety of clinical settings. It may be used for any procedure beneath the nipple line during inpatient and outpatient surgery, during diagnostic...
According to John S. McDonald, MD, chairman of the department of anesthesiology and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA Medical Center, spinal anesthesia has emerged as the technique of choice in Cesarean sections because of superior...
When the Spanish Conquistadores began invading deep into South America, they died mysteriously, felled by blow darts and arrows that had even struck near vital structures. These 15th-century conquerors had no time to learn what poison had killed...
It has long been a well-established fact that smoking is hazardous to your health. Smoking can cause a myriad of diseases and conditions that can lead to substantial health care costs, lost productivity at work and many smoking-related health...
If the mere thought of going to the dentist is enough to send you off in the opposite direction, if your arm hairs stand at attention whenever someone mentions the word "dentist" and if your vision of an ideal dental experience consists of a few...
