Community Magazine December 2013

A PREVIEW ATSOME OF THE EMERGING Sometimes, modern medicine pushes past science and into the realm of science fiction. The artificial heart and hip replacements were certainly in that category, giving rise to the idea of a bionic man or woman. Other breakthroughs have less of a “wow” factor, but offer relief and comfort where once there was pain and suffering. Here are 10 medical breakthroughs just over the horizon that could have a profound impact on your life. Halting High Blood Pressure Here’s a breakthrough with a sci-fi feel: lowering high blood pressure with radio waves. About half of the 1.2 billion people worldwide with high blood pressure aren’t controlling it, and 20 percent of them don’t respond to conventional treatment. Researchers have found that some radio frequencies will disable certain nerves in the kidneys to significantly lower blood pressure. The treatment involves threading a catheter through an artery in the groin, but doesn’t require major surgery. The treatment, already approved in Europe, should be widely available in the U.S. in about two years. Medtronic is conducting the first U.S. trial. Lengthening Limbs People with uneven limbs may have a new way to treat the deformity. After surgical implantation of a telescoping titanium rod into the hollow part of bone, surgeons break the bone at the midpoint of the rod. The patient simply holds a magnetic-field “control” against the skin for a couple minutes every day, which sends a signal to the rod to extend ever so slightly. As the bone is forced to separate, the bone cells fill the gap. The length of the treatment depends on each patient’s situation and how much bone growth is needed. Help for the Heart Significant strides have been made in the use of metal stents to open clogged arteries and in repairing or replacing defective valves. Soon such procedures will become less invasive. Instead of using a metal stent to open a blocked artery and restore blood flow, Abbott Laboratories is testing a temporary stent that dissolves after two years, leaving behind a healed blood vessel. Abbott is also working on a clip to close a dysfunctional mitral valve. It’s delivered by catheter rather than through open heart surgery. Both items are already on the market in Europe. A replacement heart valve is also on the way, from Edwards Life Sciences. While most valve swaps involve open heart surgery with the heart temporarily stopped, this valve would be placed intravenously, with the heart still beating. Automatically Dispensed Medications Researchers are studying howawirelesschip,implanted in a patient’s hip, can help administer medications on a regular basis. The patient’s physician can adjust dosages and dispense times via a wireless controller. This will be especially helpful for patients with chronic diseases and who must remember to take daily pills at specified times. BREAKTHROUGHS INMEDICINE 60 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE