Healthcare and Medical News for Atlanta Physicians

Medication-Assisted Treatment: Separating Myths from Reality

By Yujia Shentu, MS and Justine W. Welsh, MD

In 2017, 1,043 Georgians died from opioid-related overdoses.1 People are now more likely to die from an opioid overdose than a car accident.2 This increase in overdose deaths has largely been driven by illicitly manufactured fentanyl powder, pressed into prescription opioid street pills or mixed with other drug supplies (e.g., heroin, cocaine). To combat the opioid crisis, ... Continue Reading

Drug Testing in Management of Chronic Pain – the least you need to know

By Randy F. Rizor, MD

Consider the following scenarios:  A 65-year-old woman with osteoporotic compression fractures is prescribed acetaminophen with codeine, 30 mg. She has filled two prescriptions for 30 tablets in the last 6 months and is requesting a refill. The PDMP report is consistent with your medical records. Prior to refilling the prescription you order a urine drug test. The results were ... Continue Reading

Depression and Anxiety in Teens

By Helen K. Kelley

Clinical depression and anxiety are on the rise among adolescents ages 12-17, as well as instances of self-harm. Here, we offer some insight into the importance of recognizing the signs of depression and anxiety in teens, which are often different from those of adults, as well as some of the differences in diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosing Anxiety and Depression in ... Continue Reading

The Impact of Nutrition on Endometriosis and Reproductive Health

By Pavan K. Ananth, M.D., MPH, and Ceana H. Nezhat, M.D.

Endometriosis affects one in eight women and can have devastating effects. It impacts all age groups with varying consequences and is not restricted to the reproductive tract. Severe endometriosis can cause bowel obstruction or perforation, ureteral stricture, renal failure and hemothorax, not to mention debilitating pain. Despite these serious, and sometimes ... Continue Reading

Cancer

By Helen K. Kelley

Atlanta-area physicians are at the forefront of groundbreaking cancer treatments that draw patients from all over the country. Cutting-edge Therapies for Brain Tumors in Children When Dr. Tobey MacDonald was recruited by Dr. Bill Woods to join the Pediatric Brain Cancer Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in 2009, he was astounded by the fact that no such program had ... Continue Reading

Statins, PCI or Nutrition – Which Matters?

By Neil Cooper, M.D., MHA, MSc

After my ST elevation myocardial infarction in 2012 and emergent deployment of left anterior descending stents, the first book I read was Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Caldwell Esselstyn, M.D. After reading other sentinel scientific studies on nutrition and heart disease, I realized the answer to the question of what’s necessary, statins, percutaneous coronary ... Continue Reading

Childhood Obesity

By Heather Phelps, DO

“One can of soda per day can result in 15 pounds of weight gain in one year,” I distinctly remember my attending saying when I was a pediatric resident. It was applicable then and even more so today as we struggle with a severe and worsening obesity problem among our nation’s children. We are all affected by obesity – either personally or professionally – so knowing a ... Continue Reading

Pediatric Anesthesia

By Ken Stewart, D.O.

The note read, “Everything went smoothly. ... We loved the teddy bear! Such a nice touch! We couldn’t be more pleased with our child’s surgery experience. Thank you!!” A simple teddy bear, provided by the perioperative staff, eased the child’s anxiety about the surgery, in turn easing her parent’s anxiety and natural instinct to defend. It’s now a matter of settled ... Continue Reading

Mindfulness and the Physician

By Jennifer Whaley, M.D.

“Mindfulness” seems to be everywhere in the news today. Books, videos, classes and websites are springing up to help us be more “mindful.” Everyone is talking about it, including your patients. But what is it? And how might it help you in your life and clinical practice? Most of the research into mindfulness has been a direct consequence of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn’s work at the ... Continue Reading

Post-Concussion Syndrome and Vestibular Involvement

By Ronald Leif Steenerson, M.D., and Gaye W. Cronin, OTD, OTR

PCS From The Neuro-Otology Experience Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) commonly involves the vestibular system, which is essential to normal movement and balance. The most persistent symptoms reported following PCS include vertigo deficits, neck spasms, exercise intolerances and memory problems.1 Vestibular symptoms of vertigo, imbalance and visual motion intolerances can last ... Continue Reading

Let’s Talk About Suicide

By Erin Harlow-Parker, APRN, PMHCNS-BC

After 30 years working in child and adolescent behavioral health, I have seen amazing advances in behavioral healthcare. We have identified genetic links to some mental health diagnoses; we have developed medications to better treat mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia; we have more available platforms to talk about mental illness and substance ... Continue Reading

Immunotherapy

By Helen K. Kelley In recent years, immunotherapy – a range of cancer therapies that use the body’s own immune system to attack cancer cells – has gained ground as a weapon for fighting many different forms of the disease. We recently spoke with two Atlanta physicians about the promise and the reality of some immunotherapies. Targeted Therapies Block Growth and Spread of ... Continue Reading

Regional Anesthesia For Abdominal Surgery

By Stephen M. Anderson, M.D.

Regional anesthesia plays an important role in patient recovery. Opioid-sparing techniques show benefits including decreased length of stay (LOS), improved postoperative pulmonary function and decreased overall morbidity and mortality. This article will discuss indications for regional anesthesia for abdominal surgery, the techniques by which they are used, and the risks and ... Continue Reading

Hernia Repair: Current Diagnosis and Management for Abdominal Wall Hernia Repair

By Mark B. Wilkiemeyer, M.D., FACS Abdominal wall hernia, simply defined as a space or gap in the abdominal wall, is one of the most common complaints seen by the practicing general surgeon. Literature tends to focus on management of hernia once it is identified and classified, but this ignores the necessary diagnostic steps to correctly classify the location of the hernia. ... Continue Reading

Fertility Treatment for the PCOS Patient

By Kathryn Calhoun, M.D.

Chronic anovulation is a hallmark of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), so the vast majority of women with PCOS will require fertility treatment to conceive. In a young PCOS patient with no obvious barriers to conception (other than anovulation), it is reasonable to start ovulation induction medicines before evaluating her uterus/tubes or her partner's semen analysis. If the ... Continue Reading

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