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Living Donor Liver Transplantation Saves LivesAt this time there are eight patients on the waiting list for every available liver — and many patients are considered too sick or too old to even get a place on the list. To address this serious shortage, the Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation (CLDT) is pioneering methods of increasing access to liver transplantation. Living donor liver transplantation offers one solution. Transplantation for Short Bowel Babies
Under the direction of Dominique M. Jan, MD, the Pediatric Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplant Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center has special expertise in minimizing risk of liver failure in children with short bowel syndrome. Blood Test Replaces Heart Biopsy
Since the 1970's, heart transplant patients have had to regularly undergo the uncomfortable, and potentially risky test endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) for signs of rejection, a leading cause of death among heart transplant recipients. Now, a quick, easy-to-administer blood test is rapidly replacing EMB as the gold standard for diagnosing rejection of the donor heart. Columbia was one of the centers participating the five-year, multicenter study CARGO (Cardiac Allograft Rejection Gene Expression Observational Study). The study was conducted with biomedical company XDx. Ultrasound: A New Stethoscope for the Surgeon
Ultrasound has made its way into the operating room, helping surgeons to locate especially small or hard-to-find tumors. This technology facilitates a "search and destroy" approach to cancer—allowing the surgical team to first identify, then treat, areas where the disease has spread. Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplantation:
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For children with intestinal failure, the difference between needing organ transplantation or not—or even between life and death—may depend on changes as subtle as adjustments in the balance of their nutrients.
At Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian, the Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplant team has the expertise to provide the most advanced care available to such children.
More news for women with DCIS
In recent years, surgeons have recommended sentinel node biopsy to patients with a non-invasive breast cancer called DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ). The idea was to remove the lymph nodes closest to the tumor, then check to see if any cancer cells were present. If these nodes tested positive in the pathology lab, the patient faced another round of surgery to remove additional nodes under the armpit. Mahmoud B. El-Tamer, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery and Director of the Breast Fellowship Program, followed the progress of DCIS patients who had their axillary nodes removed. His team discovered a finding of positive cells in the lymph nodes had no long-term effect on the patients' life expectancy. The bottom line, says Dr. El-Tamer, is that most women with DCIS will not benefit from this approach.
Breast Reconstruction: Patients have a new cosmetic option
When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, her first concern is to get rid of the tumor and be free of the disease. But as she discusses her treatment with her physician, she will also want to know what type of surgery is likely to give her the best cosmetic results.
A new discipline called oncoplastic surgery addresses both of these concerns, combining the goals of oncology (treatment of cancer) with plastic surgery (reconstruction of the breast).
Robot Makes Medical & Robotic History,
Assisting Doctors and Nurses in Operating Room
 Penelope handing an instrument to Dr. Treat |
On June 16, 2005, a surgical robot developed by Michael R. Treat, MD made history by functioning for the first time as an independent assistant to the surgical team—handing and retrieving surgical instruments. Spencer E. Amory, MD performed the operation at the Allen Pavilion campus of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
The robot, known as the Penelope™, Surgical Instrument Server (SIS), uses innovative technology to identify surgical instruments, hand them to the surgeon, retrieve them, and put them back in place. Penelope is self-contained on one mobile stand, making it simpler to transfer her from one operating room to another.
Related Article: Penelope™ Tries Her Steady Hand at Surgery
Heart surgery without the surgeon: Columbia University researchers test new cardiovascular repair system for mitral valve regurgitation
Evalve adopts catheterization techniques for non-invasive mitral valve repair
Researchers at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons are conducting a Phase II clinical trial of the Evalve Cardiovascular Repair System for the treatment of mitral valve regurgitation, a serious heart condition that —left untreated— can lead to arrhythmias or congestive heart failure. Initial results with the system have demonstrated that successful repair of the mitral valve is feasible using this approach, which uses non-invasive techniques and effectively takes the procedure out of the operating room.
Medicare Expands Coverage of Heart Pumps for Destination Therapy
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a National Coverage Decision Memorandum for the use of Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs), heart pumps for accute heart failure patients who are ineligible for heart transplant. This decision will give hope to thousands of end-stage heart failure patients.
Robotic Cardiac Surgery Study Shows Improved Recovery Time and Quality of Life
Initial findings of a study to investigate the benefits of robotically assisted open-heart surgery show that patients experience quicker recovery times, less postoperative pain, and improved social functioning than those having traditional open-heart surgery. "We've seen dramatic improvements in hospital stay and recovery time," Dr. Argenziano said. "Also, patients experienced comparative improved social functions and less pain postoperatively."
IL-2 Unit for the Treatment of Melanoma or Renal Cell Carcinoma
The Tumor Immunotherapy Program at Columbia has the only comprehensive IL-2 Unit in the New York City area and routinely treats patients with metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. Our team is comprised of dedicated and highly experienced physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and nutritionists.
CUMC Surgeons Perform Nation's First Robot-Assisted Coronary Artery Bypass
Dr. Michael Argenziano, Director of Robotic Cardiac Surgery, and Dr. Craig R. Smith, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center, performed the nation's first robotically-assisted coronary artery bypass operation in January 2002. Coronary artery bypass surgery is one of the most common operations performed in the U.S., and this historic operation follows the successes of other robotically-assisted surgeries at Columbia University Medical Center.
Ductal Lavage
A new evaluation technique for women at risk for breast cancer.
"Until now, we have obtained information about high-risk women from breast imaging-mammography, ultrasound, and MRI," says Dr. Schnabel. "Ductal lavage comes from a completely different direction: it allows us to evaluate the breast from the inside out. Our hope is that it will enable us to view cell activity inside the breast without having to do surgery. So we're very excited about it."
The Future Is Now: Columbia University Medical Center Surgeons Perform Nation's First Robot-Assisted Atrial Septal Defect Heart Surgery
| Contact: | Michael Argenziano, MD |
| 866.ROBOT.OP |
 © 1998 Intuitive Surgical, Inc. |
On July 24, 2001, cardiac surgeons at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital's Columbia University Medical Center performed the first robotically-assisted atrial septal defect repair, without a chest incision of any kind. Michael Argenziano MD, Director of Robotic Cardiac Surgery, and Mehmet C. Oz MD, Director of the Cardiovascular Institute, performed the surgery on a 33-year-old mother of two young children. The young woman chose to become a pioneer by participating in the FDA-sanctioned clinical trial because it promised a fast recovery time that would allow her to return to her husband and children quickly, and it also left minimal scar tissue. It was expected that her hospital stay would be several days less than if she had had open-heart surgery, and that her recovery period would be significantly reduced as well.
News of the surgery was presented at a news conference at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital with the surgeons and the patient and her family. The surgery was featured by ABC-Good Morning America, Bloomberg Radio and Bloomberg News, Crain's Health Pulse, all of New York's major television news programs including the Daily News, New York Newsday, Hurriyet (Turkish news), Ch. 41 (Univision), the Fox News Channel (national), and the Charlie Rose Show.
VATS Surgery for Early-Stage Lung Cancers
VATS–video-assisted thoracic surgery –is a minimally invasive procedure for the removal of early-stage lung cancers. VATS technology has been made possible by improved video optics over the past few years. Lyall A. Gorenstein MD is confident that it can be done safely, based on its use in more than 1,000 lobectomies worldwide to date. "There has been a very low rate of complications, and there are many benefits to the patient, both immediate and short-term, and perhaps in the long term as well. That's why it's exciting to be able to offer it to our patients at Columbia University Medical Center."
For more information, please call Lyall A. Gorenstein, MD, at 212.305.3408.
Cardiac Surgeons Use Microwave Energy to Control Atrial Fibrillation
For Older Heart Patients: AGE Meets Special Needs of Older Cardiac Surgery Patients
New Program Serves High-Risk Heart Transplant Patients
Columbia University Medical Center Hyperhydrosis Center Offers New Hope, Improved Quality of Life for Hyperhydrosis Sufferers
Palmar hyperhydrosis and facial blushing affect more than 200,000 Americans, or 1 percent of the adult population. In some it occurs secondarily to hormonal or endocrine abnormalities, but in most people it is a primary disorder of unknown etiology. Symptoms occur spontaneously, often at the most inopportune times, and often are unrelenting. People suffering from hyperhydrosis avoid shaking hands and other forms of contact. The social and professional implications of hyperhydrosis can be very debilitating.
For further information, visit our website, http://www.hyperhidrosiscumc.com/.
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| ©1999-2006. Columbia University Medical Center, Department of Surgery, New York, NY. |
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