May 15, 2014

The recommended initial imaging study for most patients with suspected gallstones or a complication of gallstones is abdominal ultrasonography; however, additional studies also may be indicated. Although the natural history is generally benign, the physician must decide whether…

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is the most common form of bariatric surgery in the United States, although there is growing evidence of postoperative complications. Patients may experience gastric band slippage, port malfunctions, and gastroesophageal reflux disease…

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is the most common form of bariatric surgery in the United States, although there is growing evidence of postoperative complications. Patients may experience gastric band slippage, port malfunctions, and gastroesophageal reflux disease…

Release of CMS Information Opens Physicians' Finances to Public Scrutiny | National Research Trials to Focus on Resident Duty Hour Rules | AAFP to FTC: Anticompetitive Practices in Health Care Threaten Family Physicians | Study Finds Modest Changes Lead to Better Quality, Lower…

Functional gallbladder disorder is being diagnosed more often in the office setting, increasing the number of cholecystectomies performed over the past two decades. The Rome III criteria help maximize the chance that surgical outcomes will have long-term clinical benefit.

Although measles vaccination is rarely associated with fever and seizures in children, the benefits of immunization outweigh the risks. Parents should be encouraged to follow recommended immunization schedule and avoid the MMR and varicella combination vaccine.

Photo Quiz presents readers with a clinical challenge based on a photograph or other image.

What are the effects of blood glucose–lowering medications in adults with type 2 diabetes?

In this study, the long-term outcomes of adults with nontraumatic supraspinatus tears who are treated conservatively are similar to those of patients treated with two different surgical approaches.

First, the good news. Complications of acute sore throat—peritonsillar abscess, otitis media, sinusitis, and skin infections—occur in only approximately 1% of adults. However, there is no good predictor of which adults will develop these complications. Decision tools that try…

Edoxaban provides similar effectiveness and a somewhat lower rate of major gastrointestinal and intracranial bleeding than warfarin. It is worth reading the supplemental appendices to this report for a look at the subgroups. For almost all subgroups, low-dose edoxaban caused…

Childhood sexual abuse is common and can lead to lifelong physical and psychological problems. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released a report to assist physicians in evaluating children who may have been sexually abused, determining when to report the case, and…

There is limited patient-oriented evidence upon which to base recommendations for treatment of jellyfish envenomation. Patients should be removed from the water, and an attempt should be made to prevent the discharge of adherent nematocysts (i.e., microscopic stinging cells…

The gallbladder is an organ that stores a fluid called bile that helps you digest your food. Gallstones form when cholesterol and other things in the bile become solid and stick together, making stones. The stones can be as small as a pebble or as big as a golf ball.