By: Board Certified Pain Management Expert Despite over 30 years of research advancing the field of Pain Management, woefully little of this research has penetrated the accepted norms of medical practice – that is, how the physician who is not a pain specialist deals with patients in pain. Most physicians still do not understand that […]
Category Archives: Articles From Our Experts
Adverse Drug Reactions and Drug-Drug Interactions: Consequences and Costs
By: AMFS Pharmocology Expert The most recent (March 2012) alert about drug-drug interactions (DDIs) issued by the FDA warned that the combined use of commonly used drugs in the treatment of elevated cholesterol such as atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin, or lovastatin, together with some antiviral drugs known as protease inhibitors such as tipranavir, ritonavir, and […]
Inferior Vena Caval Filters: A Solution Resulting in a Problem
By: Fellowship-trained Vascular/Interventional Radiologist BACKGROUND: Inferior Vena Caval Filters (IVCF) have been used in clinical practice since the 1970s. They are designed to prevent the migration of blood clots from the deep veins of the legs (Deep venous thrombosis / DVT) that could get trapped in the blood vessels of the lungs (Pulmonary Embolism / […]
Spine Surgery Litigation
By: Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon Medical litigation in spine surgery, as with any medical treatment, involves breach of standard of care, negligence, and causation. Although surgical treatment is an endeavor patients and surgeons naturally should go into with a common goal of improving the patients condition, adverse events can still occur. As surgery is a […]
Communication in Radiology
By: Board-Certified Diagnostic Radiologist Communication from Radiologists to their clinical colleagues is an increasingly important part of the interaction between care providers and Radiologists. In today’s faster-paced medical environment, the reality is that imaging has essentially replaced the bedside physical exam. The reasons for this are myriad and debatable, and well beyond the scope of […]
Fear of Cancer From Medical Radiation
By: Board Certified Nuclear Medicine Expert It is common in the U.S. today to find patients who are concerned that diagnostic medical radiation may cause cancer, and some of these patients may be hesitant to undergo radiology procedures themselves or be wary of allowing their minor children to undergo such procedures. If they develop a […]
Getting the Most From a Neuropsychological Evaluation
By: AMFS Board Certified Clinical Neuropsychologist What is Neuropsychology? When there is a question of brain damage or other forms of neuropathology, a neuropsychologist is frequently called in to assess the outcomes. Clinical Neuropsychology is a specialty within Clinical Psychology dedicated to understanding the functional outcomes when the brain has been disturbed. A Clinical Neuropsychologist […]
Bladder Perforation During Open Hysterectomy
Case Summary The patient in this case underwent an abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy for refractory uterine bleeding. She had previously undergone an appropriate workup and conservative approach to her abnormal uterine bleeding. After failing all of these measures, including hormonal medications, a hysteroscopy, and dilation and curettage of the uterus, she underwent definitive surgical […]
Anoxic Brain Injury Sustained at Nursing Home
Case Summary The case involves a female patient with cerebral palsy who was living at an adult care facility. She was severely impaired and did not have the ability to verbally communicate. While at the facility, one of the staff found her to be not breathing. At that point, they called for the ambulance/EMTs and waited for them to […]
Intact Placenta Leads to Post-Partum Complications
Case Summary The patient (mid-20s) had a past medical history notable for asthma, depression, and a prior ectopic pregnancy. In this matter, she underwent a vaginal delivery in February 2013 for her second child. However, all of products of conception reportedly did not get discharged, although the medical records indicated that they were. The patient ended […]