https://medicalxpress.com/surgery-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in General surgery For patients facing a diagnosis of glioblastoma—one of the most aggressive and devastating forms of brain cancer—the standard path forward has long meant invasive open-skull surgery and a daunting prognosis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-laser-therapy-weapon-deadly-brain.html Mon, 17 Aug 2026 16:00:06 EDT news706176001 In a thoughtfully designed adaptive clinical trial, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine physician-scientists demonstrated that the U.S. could triple or quadruple the supply of platelets available to help save patients who are bleeding, of all ages, and extend the life-saving therapy to rural regions and community hospitals. Platelets are the component of blood that encourages clotting, plugging cuts and tears in blood vessels and stemming blood loss. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-chilled-platelets-safely-lifesaving-patients.html Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:00:03 EDT news705922201 Traditionally, obesity has been classified primarily using BMI, a measure of weight relative to height that provides limited information about whether excess fat is actually affecting a person's health. BMI levels have historically played a central role in determining eligibility and priority for metabolic bariatric surgery—operations on the stomach that help people lose weight and treat health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-obesity-definitions-reveal-ill-health.html Sat, 15 Aug 2026 13:20:01 EDT news705918615 A new study by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) found that bacterial infections develop in approximately 5% of adults hospitalized with firearm injuries, with most infections occurring during the initial hospitalization rather than after patients return home. The findings were published in JAMA Network Open as a research letter. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-bacterial-infections-affect-hospitalized-adults.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 09:40:02 EDT news705322433 Robot-assisted surgery (RAS) is one of the most advanced tools in modern medicine. These systems give surgeons extreme precision, allowing procedures to be performed through small incisions that minimize both pain and recovery time. Yet even with this sophisticated technology, operations still depend on a human surgeon, who must stay intensely focused for hours while making medical decisions. With RAS increasingly adopted worldwide, understanding what it demands of surgeons is critical. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-human-side-robotic-surgery-tracking.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:20:09 EDT news705229321 Any minor cut or scrape sets the body's natural healing process in motion. However, deep wounds are far more vulnerable to bacterial infection and the accumulation of harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage cells and disrupt normal repair mechanisms. These factors can significantly delay healing and increase the risk of complications. With this in mind, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) have developed an antibiotic-free multifunctional injectable hydrogel designed to accelerate wound healing. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-hydrogel-smarter-approach-wound.html Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:20:01 EDT news704463213 Traumatic injuries, whether on a battlefield or in a car accident, often involve damaged blood vessels that require immediate repair. New research from Harvard bioengineers aims to make these critical, time-sensitive medical treatments faster and more personalized, with the potential to save lives and advance biomedical technology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-minutes-custom-blood-vessel-grafts.html Tue, 28 Jul 2026 10:00:24 EDT news704450258 A bioinspired material developed by scientists at Imperial College London accelerates wound healing and the repair of human skin. The material captures the body's own healing proteins, releasing them only when repair cells pull on them and delivering healing signals precisely where and when they are needed. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-smart-wound-triggering-body.html Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:40:05 EDT news704384881 More than 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. For patients who need a liver transplant, determining whether a donor liver is healthy enough to transplant is a critical part of the process. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-real-biosensor-ph-glucose-lactate.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:00:03 EDT news703245699 Each year, thousands of patients in the United States wait for a liver transplant, while transplant teams must make rapid, difficult decisions about whether donor organs are suitable for use. Many of those livers, particularly from older or medically complex donors, require careful evaluation before transplantation, and current assessments often sample only a small region of the organ. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-portable-ps-oct-scanner-reveal.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:00:07 EDT news702741466 A landmark Northwestern Medicine study published in JAMA suggests lung transplantation can significantly extend survival in select patients with advanced lung cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-lung-transplant-survival-patients-terminal.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:20:03 EDT news702737704 For the first time, two teleoperated humanoid robots have been used to complete two surgeries during a preclinical trial, researchers report in the July 8 issue of the journal Nature. The work is the result of a collaboration between a team of engineers and a team of surgeons at the University of California San Diego. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-surgeons-teleoperated-humanoid-robots-surgery.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:40:04 EDT news702729363 A liver cancer diagnosis frequently leads to surgery, with the goal of completely removing all malignant tissue. To ensure that no tumor remains in the organ, the resected tissue is subjected to frozen-section analysis during the procedure. This analysis takes time: Patients remain under general anesthesia throughout, operating room staff are occupied, and with every passing minute the risk of complications increases. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-ai-based-tissue-anomaly-duration.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:20:03 EDT news701358601 A study led by researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) demonstrates a new method of using decellularized cartilage with patient-specific cells to help enlarge pediatric airways narrowed as a result of severe subglottic stenosis. Researchers demonstrate that this new method is faster, more effective and able to overcome issues associated with the current standard grafts, such as donor site morbidity, insufficient tissue volume and a delayed timeline. The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-scientists-personalized-cartilage-graft-infants.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 05:00:05 EDT news700744261 Metabolic and bariatric surgery for teens with severe obesity was found to be cost-effective over 10 years, according to a new analysis from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago published in JAMA Network Open. While long-term clinical benefits of weight-loss surgery for eligible teens have been well established, and it is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, insurance coverage has been limited and few teens can take advantage of the surgery. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-economic-case-teen-weight-loss.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:00:14 EDT news700730821 Skin is our protective barrier from the outside world, and it is highly susceptible to damage. To prevent infection, restore protective skin cells, and reduce scarring, it is essential to quickly and robustly close a wound. A new study, published in Advanced Science, shows that a multi-axis stretchable wound zipper (MSWZ) is effective in closing complex wounds quickly, improving wound healing. The MSWZ uses programmable force that can be personalized via mobile application, enhancing patient comfort and compliance. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-programmable-wound-zipper-complex-skin.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 03:10:01 EDT news700299601 A landmark clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that tranexamic acid reduced transfusions across major surgeries without increasing the risk of dangerous blood clots. The trial was coordinated by the University of Manitoba (UM) and co-led by researchers at UM and The Ottawa Hospital. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-inexpensive-drug-major-surgeries-blood.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:30:01 EDT news700216081