Surgery

Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD

Guest: Michael Gordon, MD

Myopia, or near-sightedness, affects approximately 25% of Americans between the ages of 12 and 54. Though glasses are the common quick fix to myopia, laser eye surgery has become more commonly used to correct vision problems since being introduced in the early 1990's. Though over 18 million LASIK procedures have been performed worldwide, some controversy still remains regarding the maximum possible correction and efficacy using this technique. What does the one of the country’s top refractive surgeons have to say? Listen as host Dr. Leslie Lundt interviews one of the most respected eye surgeons in the country, Dr. Michael Gordon.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: Mark Watson

Dr. Watson, co-author of the Lap-Band Companion Handbook and a general surgeon with years of experience performing the Lap-Band procedure goes through the practical aspects of Lap-Band surgery: Who is a candidate, what to look for in a surgeon and a bariatric program, what are the financial realities of this type of procedure, and what type of outcomes can one expect.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: William Welch, MD

Dr. Welch reviews the approach to this common and disabling condition that affects our older patients. He reviews the diagnosis and initial treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis and then discusses how surgical techniques can bring relief to many of our patients.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: William Welch, MD

Advancing surgical treatments and devices are producing better outcomes for patients with spinal problems. How do these innovations alleviate pain associated with spinal stenosis, spinal metastases and spine trauma? Dr. William Welch, chief of neurosurgery at Pennsylvania Hospital, describes new spinal implants, including the X-STOP device, and motion preservation systems that are replacing traditional fusions.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: Craig Israelite, MD

Dr. Craig Israelite, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, discusses a series of approaches to knee osteoarthritis. A brief review of non-surgical treatment is followed by a discussion of image-guided surgery, minimally invasive surgery, partial knee replacements and the post-operative use of multi-modal pain strategies. Dr. Lee Freedman hosts.

Host: Lee Freedman, MD

Guest: Craig Israelite, MD

Dr. Israelite intially reviews some basic concepts in the approach to osteoarthritis. He then outlines recent surgical advances in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip that have led to better outcomes for our patients. These include minimally invasive surgery, progress in postoperative rehabilitation and the development of new bearing surfaces that both improve range of motion and extend the life of the hip prosthesis.

Host: Michael Greenberg, MD

Guest: Stanley Kardatzke, MD

Dr. Stanley Kardatzke, author of Decisive Surgery for a Dying Healthcare System, discusses affordable medical care with the cost-effective, prepaid medical plan used in his practice.

Host: Lauren Streicher, MD

Guest: Bruce McLucas, MD

It’s generally accepted as appropriate and efficacious treatment for symptomatic uterine fibroids, but uterine artery embolization is dogged by questions about its short- and long-term outcomes. Host Dr. Lauren Streicher addresses the debate with Dr. Bruce McLucas, clinical assistant professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. How should we approach this dialogue with our patients?

Host: Lauren Streicher, MD

Guest: Bruce McLucas, MD

Despite 600,000 hysterectomies, fibroids remain the number one reason women undergo surgery. While removal of the uterus may be the best treatment, uterine artery embolization may be a non-surgical option for many women with symptomatic fibroids. Dr. Lauren Streicher speaks with Dr. Bruce McLucas, clinical assistant professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, to discuss candidate evaluation for a successful uterine artery fibroid embolization, and the efficacy of gynecologists who are performing the procedure.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD

Guest: Ted Feldman, MD

Recently physicians have learned that a common heart defect called patent foramen ovale or PFO found in 25% of the population could be linked to migraine headaches. In this segment host Dr. Mark Hill discusses the cause and presentation of PFO with Dr. Ted Feldman. Dr. Feldman discusses how pateint outcomes in PFO closure have led physicians to believe that migraines may also be linked to PFO.