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Virtual Ports, Ltd. (http://www.virtual-ports.com) is a medical device company developing and marketing instruments to improve minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures.
The EndoGrab retraction system reduces the number of ports needed for surgery by eliminating the need for traditional hand held retraction. For the surgeon, this simple solution results in the need for less auxiliary personnel, a decreased overall surgery cost, and more control over the surgery. The EndoGrab also offers added benefit to the patient who will experience less post-operative discomfort and scarring.
The EndoGrab is an internally anchored, hands-free retracting device that is introduced at the start of surgery through a 5mm trocar by means of a proprietary Applier tool. The Surgeon uses the Applier to attach the EndoGrab to both the organ requiring retraction and to the internal abdominal wall, thereby removing the organ from the operative field. The Applier is then removed and the port is free for use by other instruments.
3D video animation produced by Virtual Point Multimedia (http://virtual-point.com)
Skin laceration repair is an important skill in family medicine. Sutures, tissue adhesives, staples, and skin-closure tapes are options in the outpatient setting. Physicians should be familiar with various suturing techniques, including simple, running, and half-buried mattress (corner) sutures. Although suturing is the preferred method for laceration repair, tissue adhesives are similar in patient satisfaction, infection rates, and scarring risk in low skin-tension areas and may be more cost-effective. The tissue adhesive hair apposition technique also is effective in repairing scalp lacerations. The sting of local anesthesia injections can be lessened by using smaller gauge needles, administering the injection slowly, and warming or buffering the solution. Studies have shown that tap water is safe to use for irrigation, that white petrolatum ointment is as effective as antibiotic ointment in postprocedure care, and that wetting the wound as early as 12 hours after repair does not increase the risk of infection. Patient education and appropriate procedural coding are important after the repair.
A fractured rib is usually a result of a fall or accident. Prolonged coughing and sports with repetitive movement, such as golf, also can cause a rib fracture. Symptoms include pain when taking a deep breath, pressing on the injured area, or bending or twisting the body. In most cases, fractured ribs usually heal on their own in one or two months. Pain relievers can make it easier to breathe deeply.
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years. Also called leiomyomas (lie-o-my-O-muhs) or myomas, uterine fibroids aren't associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and almost never develop into cancer. Fibroids range in size from seedlings, undetectable by the human eye, to bulky masses that can distort and enlarge the uterus. You can have a single fibroid or multiple ones. In extreme cases, multiple fibroids can expand the uterus so much that it reaches the rib cage. Many women have uterine fibroids sometime during their lives. But most women don't know they have uterine fibroids because they often cause no symptoms. Your doctor may discover fibroids incidentally during a pelvic exam or prenatal ultrasound.
In your first few months of pregnancy, hormones flood your body. Your baby is still tiny but already your body is changing. Your breasts start to swell and may feel tender. Tiredness, nausea and frequent trips to the loo are common pregnancy symptoms.