Uab Medcast

Almost everyone with spinal stenosis will see decreased pain and other symptoms following treatment, no matter their age. Thomas Staner, M.D., a neurosurgeon, discusses how improved imaging and a multidisciplinary approach has enhanced care for those with pain and other symptoms caused by spinal stenosis. Learn how treatments can progress from physical therapy and NSAIDs (for mild pain) to nerve blocks and lumbar laminectomy (for more severe pain).

Telehealth coupled with patient-collected data is allowing doctors to manage diabetes more effectively. Anish Patel, M.D., an endocrinologist, discusses how telehealth reduces hospitalizations and readmissions, and allows doctors to personalize treatment plans based on a stream of real-time data. Learn more about how easy it can be for patients to collect their own data, which doctors are able to access remotely. Dr. Patel shares advice for physicians looking to start a telehealth practice.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a new, more precise name for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Fernando Bril, M.D., an endocrinologist, explains how this name precisely describes the way in which fatty acids build up in the liver of patients who have insulin resistance. Learn more about the close relationship of MASLD, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Dr. Bril reviews current screening recommendations, effective interventions, and the first approved drug for the condition.

How is care improving for the three percent of U.S. children who have type 1 diabetes? Jessica Schmitt, M.D., a pediatric endocrinologist, shares encouraging developments in medical diabetes management as well as insights about accurate diagnosis and helpful lifestyle habits. Learn about new treatments on the horizon, including one medication that may delay the onset of type 1 diabetes.

The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is surging due to cases related to diabetes. Benjamin Pearce, M.D., a vascular surgeon, discusses management of PAD by highlighting three non-operative advancements, including exercise therapy. Learn how PAD can be diagnosed using an ankle-brachial index. Dr. Pierce explains how a multi-disciplinary team manages this condition and how they intervene early to prevent chronic limb-threatening ischemia.

85% of all non-melanoma skin cancers occur in the head and neck, which includes high-risk sub-units. Skin cancer is especially prevalent in the South. Harishanker Jayarajan, M.D., a head and neck surgeon, discusses the types and locations of skin lesions which warrant referral to an expert. He explains the general approach to treating head-and-neck skin cancers, as well as the modern usage of immunotherapy to shrink those lesions too dangerous to remove right away.

Patients who have surgery where there is an enhanced recovery program (ERP) recover faster and more effectively. Daniel Chu, M.D., a GI surgeon, discusses the many steps included in an ERP protocol and what it takes to establish the program. He explains how a multidisciplinary team of champions progresses through four phases of implementation. Learn how an ERP also helps patients rely less on opioids during recovery.

Pediatric and adolescent gynecology spans the gap between general pediatric care and adult gynecologic care. Janeen Arbuckle, M.D., speaks on her specialty in pediatric and adolescent gynecology, describing first the common conditions that warrant a visit for young women before and during adolescence. She highlights differences between the care grown women and adolescents receive, with special focus on the HPV vaccine and brith control (for managing special conditions). Dr. Arbuckle explains why creating a safe, confidential space for her young patients is so important.

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a deadly disease that can affect anyone — even doctors. But certain social determinants of health and psychological trauma make some more vulnerable than others. In part 2 of their discussion on SUD treatment and recovery,Christopher Godlewski, M.D., and Sudheer Potru, D.O., discuss how doctors can account for the particular challenges in a patient’s life. Find out why telehealth may be a game changer for those lacking access to addiction recovery specialists.

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a deadly disease that can affect anyone — even doctors. Christopher Godlewski, M.D., an anesthesiologist, and Sudheer Potru, D.O., an addiction medicine specialist, discuss the barriers to effective treatment of SUDs, both inside and outside of health care. They review the standard pharmacologic and behavioral therapy treatments as well as cutting edge medicines and neurosurgical approaches being used in the field.

Behavioral and mental health is part of every serious medical condition. According to Christina Pierpaoli Parker, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist, behavioral medicine belongs closer to patients in primary and specialty care clinics. She explains why many patients are not getting the mental health care they need and how integrated care models can help. Learn about UAB’s integrated care model normalizes mental health as part of routine care.

Bone disorders such as osteoporosis are silent diseases that most often affect women. Basma Abdulhadi, M.D., explains the importance of screening women over 65 (as well as those with other risk factors) to identify bone density loss and take steps to prevent dangerous fractures. Learn more about the DEXA scan, which helps doctors establish a patient’s degree of bone loss and determine the best interventions. Dr. Abdulhadi details the multiple approaches an interdisciplinary team uses to keep patients safe and mobile.

Maria Helena Lima, M.D., discusses the latest breast reconstruction options, including implants, autologous tissue flaps, and oncoplastic reconstruction. She also addresses patient safety concerns and the efficacy of silicone implants compared their saline counterparts.

Severe orthostatic headaches could indicate a serious condition called spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). Neurologist Will Meador, M.D., and interventional neuroradiologist Jesse Jones, M.D., discuss how they interpret a combination of symptoms and imaging to make diagnoses and the common first-line treatments for cases that do not resolve with conservative lifestyle interventions. Learn details about a complex surgery to address severe cases.

Learn why robotic-assisted CABG is a groundbreaking technique for many with coronary artery disease. Sasha Still, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon, describes the advantages of performing robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass — a minimally invasive version of the traditional CABG procedure that can further be performed on a beating heart. She discusses the complexity level and characteristics of patients who are most likely to benefit. Discover why Dr. Still and her colleagues felt it was important to offer this highly technical procedure at UAB.

Two devices for preventing blood clots are allowing many patients to stop taking blood thinners completely. The Amulet and the Watchman are both devices that allow doctors to perform left atrial appendage occlusion more safely than ever before. Tom McElderry, M.D., co-director of the Heart & Vascular Center, explains what has made these devices easier and faster to install, with complication rates well below 1%. He also discusses imaging technology that makes same-day procedures possible. Learn more about clinical trials related to these devices underway at UAB.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary liver cancer. It is a complex disease that requires a multidisciplinary team — for patients, that can mean a drawn-out array of appointments. Robert Cannon, M.D., surgical director of the UAB Liver Transplant Program, discusses the new Hepatocellular Carcinoma Clinic (HCC), which brings together relevant specialists for the benefit of patients. As he explains, patients can now leave one appointment with a diagnosis and a care plan built by the entire team. Learn more about exciting clinic trails offered through the HCC.

Head and neck cancers have always been some of the most difficult to treat, but advancements in robotic surgery, advanced imaging, and multidisciplinary recovery approaches are improving the outlook for many patients. Benjamin Greene, M.D.; Harishanker Jeyarajan, M.D.; and Carissa Thomas, M.D., share new insights and techniques in the field. Learn more about the connection between HPV and oropharyngeal cancer; new tools allowing more accurate diagnoses and monitoring for recurrence; and the surgical precision made possible by robotic surgery alongside intraoperative fluorescence imaging.

Degenerative mitral valve disease is the most common heart valve abnormality. Panayotis Vardas, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon, reviews the distinctions between primary and secondary mitral regurgitation. He describes categories of patients who would be candidates for mitral valve repair, which is the standard-of-care treatment, versus those who might undergo mitral valve replacement. Learn more about the dramatic success rates of mitral valve repair and clinical trials underway that explore new techniques for complex cases.

Some people struggle with symptoms for years and never receive a clear answer on what condition they have. UAB Medicine is part of the National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Disease Network (UDN), which means they are committed to applying the latest technology to make diagnoses for their regional community. Bruce Korf, M.D., associate dean for Genomic Medicine, explains the various tools the undiagnosed disease team uses, including radiologic imaging, neurological testing, and genomic sequencing. Learn how patients from all demographics may gain access and be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team. He also explains how new diagnoses can help doctors understand the less common ways diseases present.