This two-handed robot goes deep into the brain
Robots have become common partners in the OR, enabling surgeons to operate through small incisions and manipulate tools endoscopically, avoiding invasive open surgery. But in neurosurgery, robots’ capabilities have been more limited. While they can assist with relatively simple procedures like inserting an electrode, more invasive and complex operations like removing a tumor still require ... Read More about This two-handed robot goes deep into the brain
Does cannabis affect surgical outcomes? We need more data.
After alcohol, marijuana is the most commonly used recreational substance among U.S. adults and adolescents. Up to 22 million Americans 12 or older use cannabis. In a 2022 survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 0.7 percent of 8th graders, 2.1 percent of 10th graders, and 6.3 percent of 12th graders reported using marijuana ... Read More about Does cannabis affect surgical outcomes? We need more data.
A global take on rare disease research: Maya Chopra, MBBS, FRACP
Several years ago, while working as a clinical geneticist at the Imagine Institute of Genetic Diseases in Paris, Dr. Maya Chopra saw a child with unexplained intellectual disability, a cleft palate, distinctive facial features, and an inability to speak. Through a genetic analysis, she and her colleagues identified a rare variant in one copy of ... Read More about A global take on rare disease research: Maya Chopra, MBBS, FRACP
From aerospace to the OR: 3D modeling improves surgical planning by revealing details of patients’ hearts
One of the most important tools for complex heart surgeries at Boston Children’s isn’t even in the operating room. For years, heart surgeons couldn’t see the complete extent of a patient’s condition until a procedure started, forcing them to rely on experience, diagnostic imaging, and other information to plan surgery. Now, 3D modeling allows them ... Read More about From aerospace to the OR: 3D modeling improves surgical planning by revealing details of patients’ hearts
Making immunotherapy safe for AML
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the second most common leukemia in children, is hard to treat and has a five-year survival rate of just 65 to 70 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. While immunotherapies like monoclonal antibodies or CAR T-cell therapy are effective for certain blood cancers, they have not been possible in AML ... Read More about Making immunotherapy safe for AML
Uncertainty surrounds ACL treatment decisions in young athletes. It shouldn’t.
It’s an injury once seen mainly in adults, yet it’s become increasingly common in younger patients. From 2000 to 2020, the number of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in children and adolescents increased between three- and five-fold. For young athletes, an ACL tear spells six to nine months of downtime, heightened risk for secondary ACL ... Read More about Uncertainty surrounds ACL treatment decisions in young athletes. It shouldn’t.
EEG markers in early life could help predict and diagnose anxiety
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem among children and adolescents and are a risk factor for adult disorders. Stress is a big factor — at home, at school, and from external factors like COVID-19 and climate change. But some children may be innately more susceptible to anxiety. New research at Boston Children’s ... Read More about EEG markers in early life could help predict and diagnose anxiety
Pioneering trial offers hope for late treatment of ‘lazy eye’
In children with amblyopia or “lazy eye,” one eye is weaker than the other for any of a number of reasons. It may not focus as well, it may be misaligned due to strabismus, or its vision may be obstructed by a cataract or a droopy eyelid. As a result, the brain starts to favor ... Read More about Pioneering trial offers hope for late treatment of ‘lazy eye’
Hurdles in health care: Navigating insurance approvals
If you’ve ever struggled with your patient’s insurance company when it came to getting their prescription filled, you’re not alone. For patients with chronic conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), newer drugs like biologics can be very effective — but also very expensive. As a result, many insurance companies have limited access to these medications ... Read More about Hurdles in health care: Navigating insurance approvals
Rapid DNA sequencing yields timely answers for infant epilepsy
Treating children with epilepsy has traditionally been a matter of trial and error, trying different drugs one after the other. In the one-third of patients for whom the drugs do not work and seizures continue, doctors consider brain surgery — if it can be done safely. Early in her career, Ann Poduri, MD, MPH, who ... Read More about Rapid DNA sequencing yields timely answers for infant epilepsy