SPOTLIGHT GALLERY

A craniectomy refers to a major brain surgery where the surgeon removes a part of your skull in order to gain better access to the brain. It is important to note that during the procedure of a craniectomy, the skull is not replaced, but instead it is done so in the follow up procedure called a cranioplasty. A craniectomy is also known as a decompressive craniectomy, as it is used to relieve swelling, pressure, bleeding, or excretion of extra fluids, all of which are usually c

The success rates of lung transplantation as a definitive therapy for end-stage lung disease is becoming extremely limited due to the scarcity of compatible organ donors. Many lungs have been discarded from donors’ bodies as they have concerns on its functionality and whether or not it had been injured. Because of this, Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) was invented as a solution. This allows donor lungs to be ventilated and perfused outside the body under near-physiological cond

Neurosurgery requires a great amount of precision. Whether operating on the spine or the brain, surgeons face the constant challenge of navigating delicate neural structures. This is where intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) steps in, it becomes a technological ally that has helped significantly in the landscape of high-risk surgeries. According to John Hopkins Medicine (n.d.), Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) refers to a group of procedures used during surgery to moni

Nerves transfer surgery is a procedure that helps people regain movement and feeling after serious nerve injuries. During this surgery, doctors take a healthy nerve that the body doesn't need and connect it to a damaged nerve that has stopped working. As John Hopkins explains “A nerve transfer is a procedure during which a surgeon takes a healthy, redundant, functioning nerve (donor nerve) and reroutes it to connect to a nonfunctioning, damaged nerve (recipient nerve)." This

Lung transplantation offers hope to patients with lung disease, but there is a critical shortage of donor organs. Only about 15%-25% of available lungs are typically used for transplantation because many donors are considered damaged or too risky. Ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has emerged as a game-changing technology that helps solve this problem by giving doctors a way to assess and potentially repair lungs outside the human body before transplantation. As researchers expla

In recent years, a new, transformative approach for performing liver-related surgeries: Parenchyma-Sparing Liver Resection (PSLR). This approach is able to effectively remove tumors while also minimizing the loss of healthy liver tissue during the procedure. The PSLR technique is a type of hepatobiliary (liver-related) surgery, and unlike older, traditional methods of hepatobiliary surgeries, it prioritizes the long-term health of the liver while also being highly precise and

Artificial Intelligence has begun to revolutionize almost every aspect of daily life today, including finance, education, transportation, and more. Recently, however, it has even begun to be applied in healthcare, specifically in performing/assisting in surgical procedures. AI holds promise in improving patient care and safety, and may sometimes even enhance the skills of human surgeons. The conversation surrounding AI usage in the healthcare field is hopeful while also raisi

Many nerve injuries leave people with lasting weakness, numbness, or pain, yet scientific progress is revealing a new possibility. Stem cells may help the body regrow damaged nerves, particularly in the peripheral nervous system. Research shows that stem cell therapy can support nerve repair by transforming into helpful cell types which can stimulate axon growth, and improve overall nerve function in both laboratory studies and early clinical research. Firstly,  stem cells ai

Endovascular repair is a minimally invasive approach that allows clinicians to fix aneurysms using catheters and a stent graft placed through the blood vessels, avoiding the large incisions and long recovery of open surgery. By sealing the aneurysm off from blood flow, this technique prevents further expansion and greatly reduces the risk of rupture. It is used widely for abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms and is also applied to many brain aneurysms. Endovascular aneurys

Laser surgery has quickly transformed modern medicine, offering a level of precision that traditional surgical tools cannot match, especially when it comes to delicate structures like blood vessels. Instead of cutting with a metal scalpel, surgeons can now use focused beams of light to repair, seal, or remove damaged vascular tissue with remarkable accuracy. This shift not only reduces trauma to the body but also improves patient outcomes and recovery times. A laser works by

Before a baby is born, its organs, bones, and nervous system are still developing, making the fetal period one of the most critical stages of human development. When a birth defect is detected during pregnancy, parents are often told to wait until after delivery for treatment. In many cases, delaying treatment can allow progressive and irreversible damage to occur. Fetal surgery is a specialised field designed to treat defects that worsen during pregnancy or threaten a baby’s

The total artificial heart is a device that completely replaces the heart’s two main pumping chambers. It is usually used for patients with severe heart failure who are waiting for a transplant. Although scientists hope that one day artificial hearts can be permanent replacements, there are still many challenges that make long-term implantation impractical.  One major problem inhibiting its implementation is biocompatibility, which describes how well the device interacts with

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