Surgery | LocalHealthGuide

Cancer Surgeries and Organ Transplants Are Being Put Off for Coronavirus. Can They Wait?

The elective procedures being postponed because of coronavirus aren’t all optional, but cancer patients and organ recipients are being forced to wait.

February 10, 2020 Transplantation

How lifesaving organs for transplant go missing

In a nation where nearly 113,000 people are waiting for transplants, scores of organs — mostly kidneys — are discarded after they don’t reach their destination in time.

January 30, 2020 Health Costs / Health Insurance / Surgery

A $41,212 appendectomy

Healthcare Bluebook estimates the price of the procedure ranges from $9,678 to more than $30,000– and the“fair price” it suggests for the surgery is $12,090.

January 17, 2020 Surgery

“Prehabilitation” — rehab before surgery — improves outcomes, study

An inexpensive program to help surgery patients get physically and mentally ready for their upcoming operation may help reduce overall costs and get them home faster

August 12, 2019 Health Costs / Joint Replacement Surgery / Surgery

To Save Money, American Patients And Surgeons Meet In Cancun

US hospital costs are so high it makes sense for an orthopedic surgeon from Milwaukee and a patient from Mississippi to go to Mexican hospital for the surgery.

August 5, 2019 Ethics / Research / Transplantation

Human-animal hybrids are coming

Human-animal hybrids are coming and could be used to grow organs for transplant. What does it mean? A philosopher weighs in

August 1, 2019 Seniors / Surgery

The Talk Seniors Need To Have With Doctors Before Surgery

Older patients have different priorities than younger ones. More than longevity, they value remaining independent and having quality time with loved ones

July 17, 2019 Kidney / Medicare / Transplantation

Calls Grow For Medicare To Cover Anti-Rejection Drugs After Kidney Transplant

Medicare has covered transplant patients who had end-stage renal disease. But coverage ends after 36 months for those younger than 65.

June 13, 2019 Transplantation

Minorities face obstacles to transplants

African American, Latinx and Native American patients often wait longer for life-saving transplants – or never receive one at all because of barriers to care.

January 23, 2019 Alcohol / Hepatitis / Liver / Transplantation

Alcohol-Linked Disease Overtakes Hep C As Top Reason For Liver Transplant

One reason for the shift, researchers said, is that hepatitis C, which used to be the leading cause of liver transplants, has become easier to treat with drugs.

December 28, 2018 Fitness / Surgery

Got surgery coming up? Get out and walk.

Eating well and exercising before surgery can improve surgical outcomes even among patients who have extremely serious procedures.

December 18, 2018 Health Costs / Health Insurance / Surgery

Medical device breaks – a big bill follows

Charges: $99,159 for emergency services, therapy and hospital care, including $52,587 for the first surgery and $43,208 for the second to replace broken device.

December 11, 2018 Health Costs / Health Insurance / Hospitals / Surgery

One Breast Implant, Two Prices. It Depends on Who’s Paying.

Breast implants pricing gives a glimpse into how hospitals mark up prices of medical devices to boost their bottom lines.

December 5, 2018 Health Costs / Health Insurance / Transplantation

No Cash, No Heart. Transplant Centers Require Proof Of Payment.

Virtually all transplant centers require patients to verify how they will pay bills that can total $400,000 for a kidney transplant or $1.3 million for a heart.

November 30, 2018 Surgery

Sales Reps May Be Wearing Out Their Welcome In The OR

Patients might not realize that salespeople working on commission are frequently present in the OR and sometimes even advise the clinical team during surgery.