Premature birth can often result in complications for the newborn. Preterm or premature birth refers to babies born before 37 weeks of a normal 40 week long pregnancy. 

Some complications that can affect babies born prematurely are lung complications from lack of pulmonary maturity or development. Eye problems can result in vision difficulties or blindness. Premature babies may be more prone to infections and intestinal problems. They also are at increased risk for bleeding in the brain which can…

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Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic diseases in the world and is present in 4% 
of the world’s population. The majority 
of patients with epilepsy can be managed medically. Intracranial surgery involves inherent 
risks; thus, surgery is only indicated if the benefits outweigh the risks of uncontrolled
 seizures. If surgery is indicated, the patient must undergo a pre-surgical evaluation that involves an extensive medical history focusing on
 seizure activity, type, frequency, and duration. In addition a physical exam…

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Diabetes affects over 23 million people in the United States and is the 7th leading cause of death.  Uncontrolled high levels of blood sugar can cause vascular damage to the retina of the eye, the filtering system of the kidney, and the peripheral nerves.  In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of adult blindness, kidney failure, and non-traumatic amputations in the United States. 

Failure by a health care provider to diagnose, treat, and educate diabetic patients may constitute…

Continue Reading Diabetes and Medical Malpractice: Elevated Blood Glucose or Hypoglycemic Events
Mother cuddling her sleeping baby

Heart defects in newborns affect approximately 8 out of every 1000 births.  Causes can include genetic factors, such as those found in Down’s syndrome, or factors due to the developing baby’s environment. Certain medications, such as Paxil (Paroxetine), Zoloft (Sertraline), Wellbutrin (Bupropion), or Prozac (Fluoxetine) may be associated with cardiac birth defects in the babies of mothers who took these medications when pregnant. While some heart defects may only slightly affect a child’s quality of life, others can be…

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A ventricular septal defect (VSD) refers to a hole in the ventricular septum, the wall dividing the left and right ventricles of the heart. VSDs are the most common congenital cardiac anomalies. They are found in30-60% of all newborns with a congenital heart defect, or about 2-6 per 1000 births. During heart formation, when the heart begins life as a hollow tube, it begins to partition, forming a septa. If this does not occur properly it can lead to an…

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Pericardial effusion occurs when there is an abnormal amount of fluid around the heart.  The heart is normally surrounded by a thin membranous sac called the pericardium.  The space between the pericardium and the muscle that is the heart is referred to as the perciardial space.  Normal levels of pericardial fluid within the pericardial space are from 15 to 50 mL, or about 1-3 tablespoons.

An effusion, therefore, represents  an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pericardial space.   Because of…

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intestine

The small bowel is a long coiled hollow tube, called a tract, that is approximately twenty-five feet long. It includes the duodenum, jejunum and ileum.  A small bowel obstruction, also known as a small intestinal obstruction, is a mechanical or functional (paralytic) blockage of the intestinal tract, which prevents the normal transit of digestive products. It can occur at any level throughout the jejunum and ileum, and is considered a medical emergency when it occurs. The condition is often treated conservatively…

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Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) in infants is a narrowing of the pylorus, the lower part of the stomach through which food and other stomach contents pass to enter the small intestine. When an infant has HPS, the muscles in the pylorus have enlarged resulting in narrowing within the pyloric channel preventing food from emptying out of the stomach.

HPS is a form of gastric outlet obstruction, which means a blockage from the stomach to the intestines. It affects three…

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Wilson’s disease is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, where copper accumulates in the body’s tissues and organs, specifically the liver, brain, and eyes. The body acquires and stores too much copper. Copper deposition causes damage, death, and scarring of tissues leading to dysfunction of organs. 

The incidence of Wilson’s disease is 1:300,000. If both parents possess an abnormal gene for Wilson’s disease, there is a 25% chance their child will have the disorder. The gene responsible for Wilson’s disease is…

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Microscopist

Each year, approximately 69,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with malignant melanoma of the skin. As a disease that commonly affects young patients, malignant melanoma causes more lost life expectancy per death than almost every other cancer.  When diagnosed at an early stage, the prognosis for melanoma is quite good.  According to the Joint Committee on Cancer, when the lesion is deeper than 4 millimeters, or nearby lymph nodes are enlarged due to the melanoma…

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