Monday, March 20, 2006
NO TOWEL LEFT BEHIND
NO TOWEL LEFT BEHIND
Surgeon forgets towel inside of man afer colon surgery
A California man went in for an operation, and came out with something strange in his stomach.
William Miller came out of colon surgery at the M.D. Cancer Center in Houston suffering a fever and was hardly able to walk for 73 days. No one knew what was wrong until the doctors discovered a towel had been left in his abdomen after the surgery.
Miller sued the Cancer Center, arguing that the doctors should have found the towel sooner.
Miller's experince unfortunatly is not as rare as one would think. A study shows that malpractice claims involving objects left in patients bodies is no unusual according to Atul Gawande, a surgeon at Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston.
Based on the nearly 29 million hospital surgeries performed each year, the researchers estimate that more than 1,500 cases of retained foreign objects occur annually in the U.S.accoring to Mumbai's newportal website.
While many of these cases have involved sponges, typically napkin shaped pads designed to soak up blood, a third of them involved sergical instruments.
"All of these are very hard to loose inside of a person," said Gawande, "Our data shows it to be a rare problem, about 1 in 15,000 operation."
Such forgetfulness seems so strange that it might be considered comical, if the consequences were not so often serious. A forgotten item can cause a patient more operations, time off of work, circulitory malfunctions and in some cases, death according to MNS health and fitness publication. A misplaced item may mean another operation, a dangerous inflammatory reaction, or even death. As for the forgetful doctors there are lawsuits fo face and diciplinary actions which may put their employment in danger.
The risk of having and instrument or sponge left in you is nine times during emergency surgery than normal and four times greater if an unexpected change in operation takes place.
Underweight people are at higher risk than overweight people.
"You have more room to loose things," said Gawande.
Gawande said one solution to the problem would be to routinely X-ray patients after emergency surgery or after an operation in which the game plan changes.
Surgeon forgets towel inside of man afer colon surgery
A California man went in for an operation, and came out with something strange in his stomach.
William Miller came out of colon surgery at the M.D. Cancer Center in Houston suffering a fever and was hardly able to walk for 73 days. No one knew what was wrong until the doctors discovered a towel had been left in his abdomen after the surgery.
Miller sued the Cancer Center, arguing that the doctors should have found the towel sooner.
Miller's experince unfortunatly is not as rare as one would think. A study shows that malpractice claims involving objects left in patients bodies is no unusual according to Atul Gawande, a surgeon at Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston.
Based on the nearly 29 million hospital surgeries performed each year, the researchers estimate that more than 1,500 cases of retained foreign objects occur annually in the U.S.accoring to Mumbai's newportal website.
While many of these cases have involved sponges, typically napkin shaped pads designed to soak up blood, a third of them involved sergical instruments.
"All of these are very hard to loose inside of a person," said Gawande, "Our data shows it to be a rare problem, about 1 in 15,000 operation."
Such forgetfulness seems so strange that it might be considered comical, if the consequences were not so often serious. A forgotten item can cause a patient more operations, time off of work, circulitory malfunctions and in some cases, death according to MNS health and fitness publication. A misplaced item may mean another operation, a dangerous inflammatory reaction, or even death. As for the forgetful doctors there are lawsuits fo face and diciplinary actions which may put their employment in danger.
The risk of having and instrument or sponge left in you is nine times during emergency surgery than normal and four times greater if an unexpected change in operation takes place.
Underweight people are at higher risk than overweight people.
"You have more room to loose things," said Gawande.
Gawande said one solution to the problem would be to routinely X-ray patients after emergency surgery or after an operation in which the game plan changes.
EMRALD ASH BORER EAB
Emeralds in Danger
Michgan sees devastating effects of Emrald Ash Borer
In the short span of five years, fifteen million Erald Ash trees have been either destroyed or infested by the exotic pest known as the Emrald Ash Borer or EAB.
The damage is taking place this minute, and no completly efective method has been invented to stop the rapid spread of the Asian beetle.
Mighican alone is estimated to have a population of 700 million ash trees, all of which are in serious danger of being killed by the EAB according to the deptartment of agriculture. The state has responded to the threat aggressively, enacting a statewide quarantine to stop the spead of the pest and has set up a team of experts and officials from government agencies and universities to create a comprehnsive method that would enable them to detect and eliminate the EAB. The beetle has spread to parts of Winsor and Ontario creating an international alert for Emrals Ash trees.
It is difficult to detect if a tree is infested early on because the trees do not show symtoms until they are already destroyed. The top of the tree goes first, thinning out and dying, then numerous shoots will be seen coming out of the lower branches that have yet to be destroyed.
The EAB attacks the tree as larvae, destroying the bark and preventing the trees ability to transport water and nurtrients according to Emrald Ash Borer's information website. Research is still being conducted to find out more about this exotic pest. Little is known about it at the moment.
The beetle is thought to have gotten into Michigan though wood package imports from Asia, though scientists are not positive of the method of its arrival.
Insecticide treatment has shown to be effective in preventing Ash tree from being infested by the EAB, and it recomended to home owners with Emrald Ash trees on their property seek preventative methods to pretect their trees. The earlier it is prevented the less chances of your trees becoming infested.
"People should start now. Don't wait until the trees are dying." said Michigan State University's Entomologist David Smitley.
It is also possible to hire trained professionals known as arborists to handle your concerns with any trees you might have on your property.
Michigan has multiple strategies geared at halting the spread of the EAB which include:
Enforcing the quarantine restricting movement of ash trees and materials
Providing sanitation and disposal options
Conducting ongoing surveys to ensure that the pest is not spreading or to quickly detect potential additional infestations
Conducting much-needed research into the pest's biology and identifying potential control options
Ensuring community and homeowner education, outreach and awareness; and
Facilitating tree restoration/replacement wherever possible
Michgan sees devastating effects of Emrald Ash Borer
In the short span of five years, fifteen million Erald Ash trees have been either destroyed or infested by the exotic pest known as the Emrald Ash Borer or EAB.
The damage is taking place this minute, and no completly efective method has been invented to stop the rapid spread of the Asian beetle.
Mighican alone is estimated to have a population of 700 million ash trees, all of which are in serious danger of being killed by the EAB according to the deptartment of agriculture. The state has responded to the threat aggressively, enacting a statewide quarantine to stop the spead of the pest and has set up a team of experts and officials from government agencies and universities to create a comprehnsive method that would enable them to detect and eliminate the EAB. The beetle has spread to parts of Winsor and Ontario creating an international alert for Emrals Ash trees.
It is difficult to detect if a tree is infested early on because the trees do not show symtoms until they are already destroyed. The top of the tree goes first, thinning out and dying, then numerous shoots will be seen coming out of the lower branches that have yet to be destroyed.
The EAB attacks the tree as larvae, destroying the bark and preventing the trees ability to transport water and nurtrients according to Emrald Ash Borer's information website. Research is still being conducted to find out more about this exotic pest. Little is known about it at the moment.
The beetle is thought to have gotten into Michigan though wood package imports from Asia, though scientists are not positive of the method of its arrival.
Insecticide treatment has shown to be effective in preventing Ash tree from being infested by the EAB, and it recomended to home owners with Emrald Ash trees on their property seek preventative methods to pretect their trees. The earlier it is prevented the less chances of your trees becoming infested.
"People should start now. Don't wait until the trees are dying." said Michigan State University's Entomologist David Smitley.
It is also possible to hire trained professionals known as arborists to handle your concerns with any trees you might have on your property.
Michigan has multiple strategies geared at halting the spread of the EAB which include:
Facilitating tree restoration/replacement wherever possible
Monday, March 13, 2006
Huffing
A 15-year-old Clinton Township boy is dead and his 13-year-old friend is hospitalized after police say the pair was huffing
Local 4 reported that huffing is a cheap, cool and legal way of getting high from products around the house. Fumes are inhaled through the mouth giving users a quick high, according to Children’s Hospital of Michigan’s web site.
Cassandra Saunders couldn’t believe it when she found her daughter and her daughter’s friend unconscious in a van outside of her home.
“My little girl and her friends snuck out in the middle of the night and thought it would be cool to get high using Freon,” said Saunders.
Dr. Stephen R. Knazik of Children’s Hospital said that gasoline products and things that have alcohols are what is usually the choice for kids to huff.
“And they can pretty much huff or sniff anything that smells,” said Knazik.
the effects of huffing according to Dr. Knazik can lead to feelings of power, lower inhibitions, and children have the sensation of being drunk, followed by drowsines, euphoria and in many cases, death.
Cassandra's daughter was revived but her fifteen year old friend was
pronounced dead at the scene.
She feels like she's to blame because she made it and he didn't." Saunders said.
Huffing creates a tricky situation for parents as their children have acess to any of these household products that once inhaled can produce a dangerous high. Parents must find ways to talk to their adolescents about the serious dangers of brain damage or death caused by huffing.
Dr. Knazik highlighted the importnace of stressing to your children that while it may be cool and fun, it is not worth the risk. He suggests that parents introduce ulternative, more appropriate methods to make them feel good, and enjoy their time.
Signs that your child might be huffing can be observed through the smell of chemicals on thier breath and clothing. A drunk, dazed, or glassy eyed appearance could be a sign your child may be huffing.
Local 4 reported that huffing is a cheap, cool and legal way of getting high from products around the house. Fumes are inhaled through the mouth giving users a quick high, according to Children’s Hospital of Michigan’s web site.
Cassandra Saunders couldn’t believe it when she found her daughter and her daughter’s friend unconscious in a van outside of her home.
“My little girl and her friends snuck out in the middle of the night and thought it would be cool to get high using Freon,” said Saunders.
Dr. Stephen R. Knazik of Children’s Hospital said that gasoline products and things that have alcohols are what is usually the choice for kids to huff.
“And they can pretty much huff or sniff anything that smells,” said Knazik.
the effects of huffing according to Dr. Knazik can lead to feelings of power, lower inhibitions, and children have the sensation of being drunk, followed by drowsines, euphoria and in many cases, death.
Cassandra's daughter was revived but her fifteen year old friend was
pronounced dead at the scene.
She feels like she's to blame because she made it and he didn't." Saunders said.
Huffing creates a tricky situation for parents as their children have acess to any of these household products that once inhaled can produce a dangerous high. Parents must find ways to talk to their adolescents about the serious dangers of brain damage or death caused by huffing.
Dr. Knazik highlighted the importnace of stressing to your children that while it may be cool and fun, it is not worth the risk. He suggests that parents introduce ulternative, more appropriate methods to make them feel good, and enjoy their time.
Signs that your child might be huffing can be observed through the smell of chemicals on thier breath and clothing. A drunk, dazed, or glassy eyed appearance could be a sign your child may be huffing.
