-
Aug 6, 2023 | 
kevinmd.com | Ton La |Michael McGuire |Michael Kirsch |Tom Bowen
Mr. Sampson, a 70-year-old man with a history of diabetes, was referred to us by his primary care physician for nerve conduction studies. He had been experiencing increasing numbness in his right hand for the past year and had recently started having trouble playing his beloved guitar. As a Vietnam War veteran, he had a fascinating story to tell. As I approached him in the waiting room, he greeted me with a hint of playful sarcasm.
-
Jun 11, 2023 | 
kevinmd.com | Ton La |Brittany Ladson |Michele Luckenbaugh |David Alfery
She sat in the hospital bed, staring out the window as the nurse flitted in and out of the room, adjusting IV lines and checking her vitals. It had been a long time since she’d been in a hospital, but at 75 years old, her health was beginning to fail. She knew that she was considered “elderly” now, but she didn’t feel old. She still had so much life left, and she was determined to keep living it. But as she lay there, she couldn’t help but wonder: what exactly made someone “elderly”?
-
Jun 4, 2023 | 
kevinmd.com | Ton La |Charles E. Binkley |Oscar Chen |Sera Choi
As the current COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage across the globe, many are left wondering when the next pandemic will occur. The reality is that pandemics are not a new phenomenon, and throughout history, we have seen numerous instances of infectious diseases causing widespread devastation. While we cannot predict with certainty when the next pandemic will occur, there are certain circumstances under which they are more likely to occur.
-
May 30, 2023 | 
kevinmd.com | Ton La |Michael McGuire |Patricia McTiernan |Jim Sholler
Death is an inevitable part of life, and in medicine, it is a topic that is frequently encountered. As medical professionals, we see patients who are faced with terminal illnesses and inevitably nearing the end of their lives. Dealing with death can be a daunting task, and it’s a topic that requires sensitivity, empathy, and compassion. At the forefront of end-of-life care are the principles of compassionate care.
-
May 8, 2023 | 
kevinmd.com | Ton La |Katie Fortenberry |Michael Joyce |Brian A. Primack
It was a calm and quiet night in the ICU during my rotation when suddenly, the piercing sound of a code blue alarm filled the air. An elderly female patient, 66 years old, had come in earlier with lung clots due to ovarian cancer. She was on the other side of the hospital, and as part of the ICU team, I was tasked along with my attending to immediately go see the patient that was suffering from a heart attack.
-
May 3, 2023 | 
kevinmd.com | Ton La |Peter Spence |George Mathew |Steven Siegel
As a doctor who has cared for countless critically ill patients, I cannot stress enough how important therapists are for patient recovery. Whether it’s occupational, physical, or speech therapists, these health care professionals play an integral role in helping patients regain their abilities and quality of life after an illness or injury. In my experience, occupational therapists are especially crucial for patients who have experienced loss of motor function from a stroke, for example.
-
May 1, 2023 | 
kevinmd.com | Damane Zehra |Emily Hagen |Daniel Song |Ton La
Three months ago, a case was discussed in the multidisciplinary tumor board. A 17-month-old child was admitted through the ER with a posterior fossa tumor (brain tumor) and multi-level spinal cord compression due to tumor deposits. The tumor was so extensive that only a biopsy could be performed rather than maximum safe resection.
-
May 1, 2023 | 
kevinmd.com | Ton La |Lori Johnson |Gjanje L. Smith |Wanneh A. Dixon
Mr. Sanchez had been feeling unwell for days before he decided to visit the emergency room. When I walked into his room, I immediately noticed that he was scared and anxious. His sore throat had been persistent for five days and was now so severe that he couldn’t eat or drink anything. He had also developed a rash covering his entire body, which was only getting worse. The lymph nodes in his neck were painful, and he was visibly uncomfortable.
-
Apr 22, 2023 | 
kevinmd.com | Ton La |Martha Rosenberg |Michael Joyce |Andrew Hertler
During my night shift at the emergency department, I encountered a 72-year-old decorated war veteran named Mr. Sun. Accompanied by his concerned wife, he came to address a year-long struggle with fatigue and a non-productive cough he’d been experiencing in recent weeks. Initially resistant to seeking medical attention, Mr. Sun finally gave in to his wife’s insistence. As I entered the room to assess Mr. Sun, it was immediately apparent how unwell he looked.
-
Apr 19, 2023 | 
kevinmd.com | Yoshihiro Katsuura |Ton La |Harvey Castro |Paul Hofmann
An excerpt from The Spine Encyclopedia: Everything You’ve Wanted to Know about Back and Neck Pain but Were Too Afraid to Ask. As we age, our cells become less functional, and bodily tissues lose the ability to replenish and regenerate. The spine is not excluded from this process and undergoes predictable degeneration as we age. For some, spinal degeneration turns into serious pain and disability that can end in the need for surgery.
