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Diagnosing Pancreatitis
… may be suspected if a patient experiences symptoms and has risk factors such as heavy alcohol use or gallstones. A number of tests and procedures may be performed to determine how well the … to measure digestive enzymes. Elevated levels of amylase and lipase can suggest acute pancreatitis. Blood testing may …
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Palliative Care Is Actually for Everyone
… Before speaking with Ana Berlin, MD , general surgeon and palliative care physician at Columbia, I had prepared … end-of-life, the many ways we as humans interpret dignity and comfort. I figured we would have a conversation about palliative philosophy, communication, and the ways in which a doctor determines what a good death …
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Anal Fistula
… the anorectal junction. The gland then becomes inflamed, and in an effort to expel its infected contents, expresses … hemorrhoids, the collection of fluid within a fixed area and the associated inflammation, becomes exquisitely tender. … either drains spontaneously or is incised (cut open) and allowed to drain, the pain diminishes. However, a …
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Connective Tissue Disease (Including Marfan Syndrome)
… tissues are tissues throughout the body that support and bind cells together. Containing proteins such as collagen and elastin, connective tissues can be injured or inflamed as a result of inherited diseases, autoimmune diseases, and environmental exposure. Because connective tissue is …
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The Current Approach to Lymphatic Malformations
… one of the top programs in the nation for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric vascular anomalies. The Vascular … patients with a variety of vascular tumors, malformations, and associated syndromes including the newly categorized … we have managed children with various vascular anomalies and associated syndromes with a multi-disciplinary approach. …
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What Causes Pancreatic Cancer?
… However, certain personal, environmental, health, and inherited risk factors have been identified that increase … after age 50. Most patients are between the ages of 60 and 80 at the time of diagnosis. Ethnicity : There is higher … to develop pancreatic cancer than are Asians, Hispanics, and Caucasians. The reasons for this discrepancy are not …
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FAQs About Pancreatitis
… If other causes of acute pancreatitis have been addressed and resolved (such as via gallbladder removal) and the pancreas returned to normal, you should be able to … In chronic pancreatitis, there is ongoing inflammation and malabsorption — patients gradually lose digestive …
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Is Robotic Surgery Safe for Breast Cancer Patients?
… warning about the use of robotic surgery for mastectomies and other cancer-related surgeries. The warning focused on … Robotic surgery allows for a minimally invasive approach; and with smaller incisions, the approach can lead to less post-op pain, scarring, chance of infection, and quicker recovery time. While robotic surgeries are safe …
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Guide to the Aorta
… the body along two different types of pathways: veins and arteries . Veins bring blood cells to the heart, where … oxygen to the rest of the body. The Aorta is the first and largest part of the artery system . All smaller arteries … aorta . The descending aorta travels down the chest and becomes the abdominal aorta when it crosses the …
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Valve Sparing Aortic Root Replacement (David Procedure)
… aortic valve is kept (although it may be repaired and reimplanted) and reconnected to a new section of aortic tissue. By … bypass), which takes over the function of the heart and lungs during the operation. Steps to Procedure Step 1 : …
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Prenatal Surgery for Myelomeningocele
… Columbia’s Carmen and John Thain Center for Prenatal Pediatrics is now offering … range of complications including early death, paralysis, and bowel and bladder dysfunction. Prenatal intervention has been shown …
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Formerly Conjoined Twins Make Medical History at NYP – Again!
… Over 20 years ago, conjoined twins Carmen and Rosa Taveras were brought to Morgan Stanley Children’s … 52 doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, technicians, and others in a 14-hour operation that involved rerouting and dividing the internal organs and reconstructing the …
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Glossary of Pancreatic Terms
… of Vater is formed by the union of the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct when they enter the intestine. … Bile An alkaline (basic) fluid secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder between meals. Upon eating, … in red blood cells). Bilirubin is excreted in bile, and its levels are elevated in certain diseases. Biopsy A …
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Mitral Valve Regurgitation
… Mitral valve prolapse is a condition in which the leaflets and tendon-like cords supporting the mitral valve weaken. The … This may prevent the mitral valve from closing tightly and lead to regurgitation. However, mitral valve prolapse is common and most people who have it never develop severe …
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