SPOTLIGHT GALLERY

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a dangerous enlargement of the main artery in the abdomen. If it ruptures, it can cause life-threatening bleeding. Two major treatments exist: Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) and open surgical repair. EVAR is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a stent graft placed inside the aneurysm through blood vessels, while open repair involves a larger cut and direct surgical replacement of the damaged aorta. Although EVAR offers faster recovery

Fetoscopic laser surgery, also called fetoscopic laser photocoagulation, is the most effective treatment for severe cases of TTTS. The goal of this procedure is to separate the twins’ blood circulation by closing the abnormal blood vessel connections on the placenta. This helps balance blood flow between the twins and allows each baby to grow independently. During the procedure, doctors insert a small camera called a fetoscope into the mother’s uterus through a tiny incision

In the age of rapid medical advancement, the idea of altering human genes via surgical or genetic intervention is no longer science fiction. Diseases that once seemed untreatable—like certain cancers, muscular disorders, or genetic syndromes—can now be approached at their source: our DNA. Through advances in genetic surgery and gene-editing technology like CRISPR-Cas9, scientists can now target, cut, and even replace faulty genes. This opens up the possibility of curing hered

An artificial heart is a mechanical device that replaces the heart's ventricles. The ventricles are the lower chambers of the heart. It connects to the heart’s two upper chambers, also known as the atria, and major arteries. There are two ventricles: the right one and the left one. When a total artificial heart is used, it replaces both ventricles of the heart and the function of the original heart. A total artificial heart transplant is a treatment option for patients with l

Jaws matter way more than most people realize. The jaw is made up of two parts, the mandible and maxilla, and their main functions are to chew, speak, keep the airway stable, and maintain facial symmetry/social expression.  Loss or dysfunction of jaw bone can produce not only functional problems (difficulty eating, speaking, or breathing) but also profound aesthetic and psychosocial consequences that affect quality of life. Because the jaw is exposed to extreme force, complex

Alongside many groundbreaking medical innovations lies the evolution of surgical sterilization. There was once a time where many infectious diseases and complications occurred after surgery, resulting in death to the patient. With newcoming practices arising, sterilizing surgical techniques, surgery has now become one of the safest options for saving a life. The development of sterilization practices transformed surgery from a high-risk, last-resort procedure into a routine a

The most typical patients for ACL injuries are athletes but this can also happen from falling on the knee, a direct hit to the knee, or car accidents. ACL can tear due to pivoting, landing from a jump, changing directions suddenly, or colliding into someone or thing. These activities can result in a sprain or a tear in the ACL. With a sprain or tear the immediate effects are quite similar including: bruising, weakness in the knee, swelling, and tenderness.  Most repairs consi

Have you ever wondered what doctors can do for people whose knees hurt so much from arthritis that walking becomes painful? For adults with knee osteoarthritis, there is a new treatment called the MISHA Knee System. It is an implantable shock absorber that helps reduce pain and improve movement for people who are not yet ready for a full knee replacement. The MISHA System gives patients another option when medicine, therapy, and injections no longer work. The MISHA implant is

Dimpleplasty is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to create cheek dimples in people who do not naturally have them or want to enhance them. Although dimples may seem like a small feature, many see them as a youthful and attractive addition to a smile. This procedure has grown in popularity in recent years and is usually done as an outpatient treatment, meaning patients can go home the same day. The first step in dimpleplasty is a consultation between the surgeon and the

Burn injuries can destroy large areas of skin, the body’s protective barrier, and pose immediate risks of fluid loss, infection, and death. For survivors, deep burns leave scars, contractures, and lifelong functional limitations. Traditional skin grafting, which involves harvesting a patient’s own skin or using donor skin, has been the standard for decades. However, it faces serious limitations when burns cover a large surface area or when donor sites are exhausted. To overco

Keyhole spine surgery, a type of minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS), refers to any surgical technique involving minimal to no trauma to the muscle yet achieves the same surgical results. Evolving for decades and recently experiencing significant advancement, the technology around this procedure has been refined, allowing it to perform on increasingly complex procedures.  This technique uses special instruments including retractors and tubes that allow the surgical proced

Corneal neurotization is a surgical procedure that restores corneal sensation to the eye and treats the numbness of the eye. Patients suffering from neurotrophic kerapathy or nerve damage from injury or surgery to the corneal should consider receiving corneal neurotization as a treatment. Corneal sensation is crucial for the eye, as it is required for blinking and reflex tearing. Corneal neurotization is an outpatient surgery that can be executed under monitored anesthesia ca

There is a recently emerging surgical technique that has begun taking the spotlight: single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS). Using this method, surgeons operate using a single incision (usually in the abdomen) rather than creating multiple cuts into the skin. This approach is an appealing alternative to other laparoscopic surgery methods, as it offers numerous benefits such as reducing recovery time, less pain, and little scarring.  Single-port Laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) is

The shortage of donor organs in the US is severely low, with more than 103,000  people currently waiting for life-saving transplants, and that’s just one snapshot of a constantly growing list. Every day, about 13 people die because a suitable organ never becomes available, showing the desperate need for new solutions in transplantation (United Network of Organ Sharing). Many patients remain on the waiting list for months or even years, but that list isn’t fully equal. Compati

Umbilicoplasty, also known as belly button surgery, is a cosmetic procedure that reshapes or reconstructs the navel to create a more balanced and natural appearance. It is often chosen by people who wish to improve the look of their abdomen after pregnancy, weight changes, or previous surgeries. Although small, the belly button can play a major role in body confidence, and umbilicoplasty offers a simple way to enhance one’s self-image. The procedure is typically performed und

As many people would think, having an amputation when technology and medicine wasn’t too developed yet like in prehistoric times would be extremely scary and risky. However, it was actually done well 30,000 years ago. 30,000 years ago, there was a successful amputation of the lower leg done on a child in Borneo, Indonesia. The surgery was also known as the first amputation that was successful and done in prehistoric times. It was also known that the individual had survived fo

Organ transplants save thousands of lives every year, but one problem has always been time. Once an organ is removed, there is only a limited amount of time to deliver it to a patient until the organ is no longer usable, making healthcare professionals work fast. Before advancements in technologies, ice or cold storage would be a main source of preservation. Now, evolving technologies have transformed the process of organ preservation, reshaping transplant and donor utilizati

Have you ever thought about what doctors can do when someone’s heart becomes too weak to keep blood flowing through the body? For people with advanced heart failure, there is a device called a Left Ventricular Assist Device, or LVAD which can be a life-saving option. A LVAD is a small mechanical pump that helps the left ventricle which is the heart’s main pumping chamber move blood to the rest of the body. It helps ease symptoms like shortness of breath and tiredness, giving

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, CTS, is a condition caused by pressure on the median nerve which runs through a part in the wrist called the carpal tunnel. These nerves control sensation and movement in parts of the hand, especially the thumb and your first 3 fingers. When the nerve is compressed, patients feel numbness, tingling, weakness, and even pain in their hand. According to Brigham and Women's Hospital, “Carpal tunnel surgery is a treatment option for carpal tunnel syndrome,

An appendectomy is a surgical procedure used to remove the appendix when it becomes inflamed or infected, a condition known as appendicitis. The appendix is a small tube-like organ located in the lower right side of the abdomen. “Appendectomy is surgery to remove an inflamed or infected appendix (appendicitis). Because an inflamed appendix has the potential to rupture, appendicitis is a medical emergency” (Cleveland Clinic). A ruptured appendix can spread infection throughout