According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, 67 percent of Americans are overweight, resulting in over $100 billion in medical costs per year. Diseases related to obesity include diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis,...
Laryngectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the larynx, or voice box, usually as a treatment for laryngeal cancer. It is normally performed when other treatment options, such as radiation or chemotherapy, fail. Laryngectomies can be...
The most common type of feeding tube for long-term use is the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, or PEG, tube. This tube is entered through the abdomen into the stomach, providing a channel for liquid nutrients in people who cannot eat due to...
As the most common weight loss surgery for obese patients, gastric bypass can provide dramatic weight loss and its attendant health benefits. In this procedure, the surgeon staples off the upper stomach and re-routes the small intestine to the...
Bowel diversion surgery is performed when the large intestine needs to be removed or needs time to heal. This surgery allows stool and gas to safely leave the body. There are several surgical options that exist for bowel diversion including...
Bariatric surgery alters the anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract to cause weight loss. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP, studies have shown that bariatric surgery can lead to weight loss that can be maintained...
A surgeon makes a large incision in the abdomen for gastric bypass surgery then use staples or plastic bands to make the stomach smaller. He creates a pocket at the top of the stomach then bypasses the rest of the stomach and part of the small...
A degenerative eye disease is a collective term for a disease that affects the various parts of the eye, including the retina, cornea, iris and macula. The common prognosis is a progressive loss of central vision. The diseases of the eye can be...
A colostomy adds a level of complexity to diabetes. Diabetics who already manage their condition through diet need not radically transform their eating habits once the colostomy fully heals, according to the United Ostomy Associations of America....
