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Current left ventricular assist devices are designed to provide full hemodynamic support for patients with end-stage failing hearts, but their use has been limited by operative risks, low reliability, and device-related morbidity. Such concerns have resulted in minimum use of left ventricular assist devices for destination therapy. We hypothesize that partial circulatory support, which could be achieved with small pumps implanted with less-invasive procedures, might expand the role of circulatory support devices for treatment of heart failure.
Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (General Surgery) - Wed, 10 January 2007
http://jtcs.ctsnetjournals.org/
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The introduction of endovascular surgery allowed to make surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) also in otherwise inoperable patients according to traditional open surgery.
MedNews (General Surgery) - Fri, 22 December 2006
http://mn.medsurfnews.com/
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For patients with lumbar disk herniation, the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) randomized trial intent-to-treat analysis showed small but not statistically significant differences in favor of diskectomy compared with usual care. However, the large numbers of patients who crossed over between assigned groups precluded any conclusions about the comparative effectiveness of operative therapy vs usual care.
Journal of the American Medical Association (General Surgery) - Tue, 5 December 2006
http://jama.ama-assn.org/