In June, Ochsner’s Dr. W. Charles Sternbergh III implanted the first iliac artery branched graft in Louisiana. The implant treats aortic and iliac artery aneurysms. This device “allows for continued blood flow through this important blood vessel.” According to a press release, because the procedure was performed without incisions the patient experienced minimal pain and required a single night’s stay.
Lakeview Regional Medical Center performed the area’s first robotic assisted gastric sleeve surgery in June (see pg. 22). The surgical weight-loss procedure permanently reduces the stomach to about 25 percent of its original size by removal of a large portion of the stomach, and was performed by Dr. Ruary O’Connell. The procedure is performed using the Lakeview Regional Medical Center’s da Vinci Si System, which employs four robotic arms and a magnified, 3-D, high-definition vision system, increasing precision while minimizing incisions, scarring and pain. Additionally, there’s a reduced risk of infection and faster healing time.
According to the results of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, smoking among high school students dropped to the lowest level since 1991, while texting while driving emerged as a looming concern. The survey of 13,000 students included behaviors such the use of tobacco and marijuana, texting while driving, sexual intercourse, soda consumption, alcohol use, fighting and the use of video games and computers. Bloomberg News reported that approximately 60 percent of American high school seniors say they have texted behind the wheel. It cited the study, noting that car crashes were labeled the No. 1 cause of deaths among adolescents.
