Abuse victim after reconstruction: "Be strong and never give up"
An Afghan woman whose nose and ears were severed because she wanted out of an abusive marriage has received reconstructive surgery and told her story on a British television show. "I want to tell all women suffering abuse to be strong and never give up," said Aesha Mohammadzai, who was featured on the cover of Time magazine in 2010. The Telegraph (London) (tiered subscription model) (2/26)

Plastic surgeon's missions of mercy help women in India
For 10 years, San Diego plastic surgeon Munish Batra has traveled to India to offer free surgery to victims of dowry burnings. "We've had situations where their elbows are burned and they can't feed themselves and can't hold their children. It's a very depressing situation; our goal is to restore function," he said. KGTV-TV (San Diego) (3/1)

Congress gives up on efforts to avoid sequestration
Hopes of averting $85 billion of spending cuts set to take effect today at the FDA and other agencies disappeared as Congress left the U.S. Capitol for the weekend. Congressional leaders are scheduled to meet with President Barack Obama today to talk about the matter, but there is little optimism that the effort will accomplish anything. In the House, Republicans are now focused on the March 27 deadline for preventing a government shutdown. The Washington Post (2/28), Medscape (free registration) (2/28), CNN (3/1), The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (2/28)

Surgical tool maker issues recall
A labeling issue has prompted a Class I recall of some of Lumenis' VersaCut morcellators. The FDA has reported that air embolisms could result from improperly attached aspiration tubing. Medscape (free registration) (2/26)

Health Quality & Advocacy

Do the research before getting implants, FDA advises
Women considering breast implants should remember that future surgeries may be needed because the devices don't last forever, the FDA is telling patients. Patients should understand the possibility of complications increases with time and ask to see the information label for the implants they are considering, the agency said. HealthDay News (2/27)

Research & Technology

Motion-based video games improve skill on surgery simulator
Surgical trainees who played video games on the Wii system performed better in simulated keyhole procedures than colleagues who didn't, according to a small study in Italy reported in the journal PLoS One. The success of off-the-shelf sports and combat games in the study could prompt the development of software expressly for surgical training, the research team wrote. Bloomberg (2/27)

SmartQuote

He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator." -- Francis Bacon, British author and statesman Share: