Surgery

Articles tagged with "Surgery".

Tumor Oxygenation and Survival Rates 22 Sarcoma Patients

Tags: Oncology, Surgery, Evidence-Based Medicine

January 20, 2026

Does Tumor Oxygen Level Predict Cancer Spread?

Yes. In this study of 22 sarcoma patients, tumors with low oxygen levels were twice as likely to spread to the lungs. Disease-free survival at 18 months was 70% for well-oxygenated tumors but only 35% for hypoxic tumors.

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center measured oxygen levels directly inside soft tissue sarcomas before treatment. They found that oxygen level was a strong predictor of whether the cancer would spread, independent of tumor size.

At-home Feasibility: Intranasal Evaporative Cooling for Acute Migraine

Tags: Neurology, Pain Management, Cold Therapy, Surgery

January 16, 2026

Can You Use Intranasal Cooling for Migraines at Home?

No, it’s not practical. This feasibility study found that at-home intranasal cooling caused too much pain and discomfort, leading to high dropout rates. Only 6 out of 15 participants completed the study, and the treatment was rated as “very unpleasant.”

A previous pilot study showed that intranasal evaporative cooling could help migraines when given in a clinic. But for this treatment to be useful for most migraine sufferers, people need to be able to use it at home. This study tested whether that’s realistic. The results were disappointing.

Cold Water Swimming and Surgery and Clinical

Tags: Cold Therapy, Surgery, Evidence-Based Medicine

January 16, 2026

Why Do Some People Die in Seconds While Others Survive an Hour in Cold Water?

The difference lies in two competing reflexes and how quickly the brain cools. Cold water immersion can kill within seconds through cardiac disturbances, or protect the brain for over an hour through hypothermia. This Lancet review explains both extremes.

Cold immersion deaths are the third most common cause of accidental death in adults and second in children worldwide. About 450,000 such deaths occurred in 2000 alone. Yet a 2-year-old girl once survived 66 minutes fully submerged in iced water and made a full recovery. Understanding why some die instantly while others survive requires looking at the body’s competing responses to cold.

Headache and Migraine Cold-based Interventions and Health Benefits

Tags: Neurology, Pain Management, Cold Therapy, Surgery

January 16, 2026

Can Cooling Through Your Nose Help Stop a Migraine?

Yes. In this pilot study, 87% of migraine patients had benefit from intranasal evaporative cooling within 2 hours, and the relief lasted for 24 hours. This device sprays a cooling mist into the nose to reduce migraine pain.

Cryotherapy (cold therapy) is the most common non-drug method that migraine sufferers use to relieve pain. Researchers tested a new approach: cooling through the nose. The inside of your nose has lots of blood vessels close to the brain. Cooling this area can transfer cool blood to the brain’s outer layer, potentially reducing migraine pain.

Health Effects of Voluntary Exposure to Cold Water Review

Tags: Cold Therapy, Surgery, Research Review, Clinical Trial

January 16, 2026

Is Cold Water Immersion Actually Good for Your Health?

The evidence is promising but not conclusive. This comprehensive review of 104 studies found that cold water immersion may reduce body fat, improve insulin sensitivity, and protect against metabolic diseases. However, many studies had small sample sizes and design limitations, making definitive conclusions difficult.

Cold water bathing has been claimed to boost immunity, treat depression, burn calories, and reduce stress. But are these claims backed by science? Researchers from The Arctic University of Norway examined all available published research to separate fact from fiction.

Trigeminal Cardiac Reflex and Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation Review

Tags: Cardiovascular Health, Cold Therapy, Surgery, Research Review

January 16, 2026

Does the Trigeminal Cardiac Reflex Affect Blood Flow to the Brain?

Yes. This review shows that stimulating facial nerves triggers a powerful reflex that changes both heart rate and blood flow to the brain. When researchers activated this reflex in rats using jaw extension, they observed blood pressure drops and prolonged dilation of brain blood vessels lasting up to 3 hours.

The trigeminal cardiac reflex (TCR) is a well-known phenomenon in surgery. When facial nerves are stimulated, heart rate and blood pressure drop. This review explores something less understood: how this reflex also affects blood flow to the brain.

Trigeminocardiac Reflex: Comparison with the Diving Reflex

Tags: Cardiovascular Health, Cold Therapy, Surgery, Evidence-Based Medicine

January 16, 2026

Are the Trigeminocardiac Reflex and Diving Reflex the Same Thing?

They’re closely related but not identical. Both reflexes slow the heart through the trigeminal nerve, but the diving reflex raises blood pressure while the trigeminocardiac reflex lowers it. This review proposes they’re actually two versions of the same ancient oxygen-conserving mechanism.

When cold water hits your face, your heart rate drops. When a surgeon touches certain facial nerves, the same thing happens. These similar responses have long puzzled scientists. This 2015 review from researchers in France and Canada explores how these reflexes are connected and what they mean for human health.

The Impact of Nicotine on Wound Healing: Cigarettes vs Vaping vs Patches

Tags: Nicotine, Wound Healing, Smoking, Surgery, Recovery

August 31, 2025

Does nicotine affect wound healing after surgery?

Yes. Nicotine significantly impairs wound healing regardless of delivery method, with cigarettes causing the most severe damage. All forms of nicotine - cigarettes, vaping, and patches - delay healing by reducing blood flow, disrupting cellular repair processes, and weakening immune response.

This 2025 systematic review by Bonilla et al. examined how different nicotine delivery systems affect the body’s ability to heal wounds. The research reveals that while cigarettes cause the most damage due to additional toxins like carbon monoxide and tar, nicotine itself is the primary culprit behind delayed healing across all delivery methods.