Musc,health Videos

Sally Smith and her friend, a courageous woman who is living with colon cancer, talk about what it’s like to live with cancer and stress the importance of solid relationships with family, friends and participating in support groups. In closing, they read a poignant poem titled, ‘Acceptance’ and discuss what it means to accept living with cancer. If you enjoyed this podcast, you may be in interested in reading Sally Smith’s book, The Circle: A Walk with Dementia. For more information on The Circle, click here.

Dr. Kenneth Chavin, a specialist in transplant surgery, comments on a recent honor of MUSC’s transplant services, which was named the number one liver transplant program in the country by the University Health Consortium. He notes specific initiatives and strategies employed by the transplant team at MUSC to achieve their high level of success. Dr. Chavin emphasizes the importance of the multidisciplinary approach and notes that MUSC has the shortest wait time in the country for both liver and kidney transplants.

Sally Smith talks in depth with a dear friend who has lived with colon cancer for the past three years. They discuss the importance of having a positive outlook and how cancer can change a person’s life, in some ways, for the better. If you enjoyed this podcast, you may be in interested in reading Sally Smith’s book, The Circle: A Walk with Dementia. For more information on The Circle, click here.

Dr. Carolyn Reed, Chief of General Thoracic Surgery at MUSC, discusses esophageal cancer, distinguishing between two forms. She notes that although rare in comparison with other varieties of cancer, esophageal cancer is very aggressive. Dr. Reed explains how the anatomy of the esophagus contributes to both the aggressiveness of the cancer as well as its difficulty to treat. To conclude this cancer podcast, she outlines steps for patient evaluation as well as various treatment options, which are dependent upon the status of the tumor itself and also potential spread to other areas.

Dr. Latha Hebbar, a specialist in obstetrical anesthesia, talks about both pharmacological and non-pharmacological options for pain relief during labor. She focuses on epidural anesthesia, offering the pros and cons of this method. In this anesthesia podcast, Dr. Hebbar also compares epidural versus spinal anesthetics and notes various conditions which would prevent a woman from receiving either. She concludes by discussing potential side effects of labor anesthetics, emphasizing the rarity of any such complications.

In this vascular health podcast, vascular surgeon Dr. Jacob Robison explains the potential contribution of carotid artery disease to stroke. He distinguishes between transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and severe stroke, pointing to TIAs as significant warning signs of stroke risk. Dr. Robison lays out the evaluation and treatment processes for symptoms of TIAs, detailing some of the specicific stroke prevention techniques performed at MUSC.

Vascular surgeon Dr. Jacob Robison describes claudication, a painful cramping of the legs during physical activity. He explains how a patient is evaluated for blood restriction and also offers information on several treatment options. He focuses on modification of risk factors as a first line of defense. In this vascular health podcast, Dr. Robison also addresses the question of whether loss of a limb is the likely outcome of claudication, mentioning warning signs of significant blood flow restrictions.

Dr. Bayne Selby, an interventional radiologist, discusses a procedure called uterine artery embolization for fibroids, which are benign tumors of the uterus. He explains what the procedure involves and notes success rates. Dr. Selby describes how imaging is used to guide catheters through blood vessels. He concludes this radiology podcast with a discussion of recovery from uterine artery embolization.

In this aging podcast, Fran Emerson, the program director for the Charleston Alzheimer’s Association, discusses with Sally Smith the dynamic of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease when the caregiving doesn’t come naturally. She explains that not everyone is a natural caregiver; thus, caregiving often has to be taught. Ms. Emerson offers advice for working out roles within the family when a parent is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She also touches on the issue of caregiver guilt, regardless of the amount one aids in care, as well as resentment that may form within the family. If you enjoyed this podcast, you may be in interested in reading Sally Smith’s book, The Circle: A Walk with Dementia. For more information on The Circle, click here.

Fran Emerson, the program director for the Charleston Alzheimer’s Association, speaks with Sally Smith in this aging podcast about catastrophic reactions, which are sudden agitated acts toward a caregiver or family member. She notes that such reactions are motivated by underlying causes such as fear or fatigue. Ms. Emerson offers advice on how to approach a person in order to avoid a catastrophic reaction or diffuse the situation once begun. To conclude, the topic of forming new relationships with loved one’s diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is addressed. If you enjoyed this podcast, you may be in interested in reading Sally Smith’s book, The Circle: A Walk with Dementia. For more information on The Circle, click here.

In this uroradiology podcast, uroradiologist Dr. Nancy Curry describes the medical workup of kidney stones, explaining how CT scanning has allowed progress in efficiency of diagnosis. She discusses the uroradiologist’s role in guiding both the pre- and post-treatment of patients with kidney stones.

In this podcast Dr. Carol Wagner, an expert in the area of infant nutrition, describes her research on vitamin D in pregnant and lactating women. Dr. Wagner notes that vitamin D deficiency is linked with many diseases that occur later in adulthood, emphasizing the importance of proper vitamin D levels during pregnancy and in the infancy period.

In this podcast Dr. Carol Wagner, an expert in the area of infant nutrition, describes her research on vitamin D in pregnant and lactating women. Dr. Wagner notes that vitamin D deficiency is linked with many diseases that occur later in adulthood, emphasizing the importance of proper vitamin D levels during pregnancy and in the infancy period.

Dr. Preston Church, a specialist in infectious disease as well as epidemiology, discusses the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in South Carolina, which has the 10th highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the country. He explains that the majority of those effected are African American, many of whom are women. Dr. Church emphasizes that the virus is spread by sexual transmission – both homosexual and heterosexual contact. He concludes by discussing progress in HIV screening tests, describing some of the merits of point-of-care testing.

Neonatologist Dr. Carol Wagner discusses current medical focus on vitamin D, explaining that the lack of adequate sun exposure in the lives of contemporary Americans has led to vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D, she notes, if very important for maintaining health and cannot be sufficiently provided by diet. In this nutrition podcast, Dr. Wagner makes recommendations for daily amounts of vitamin D that are needed for both adults and children.

Infectious disease specialist, Dr. Preston Church, talks about new developments in the treatment of HIV. He focuses on greater simplicity in treating new patients in terms of medication regimens. He also describes methods directed at totally new parts of the virus itself. Dr. Church touches on expected survival rates for an HIV patient who undergoes treatment in comparison with a person who is not treated. He concludes this infectious disease podcast with a discussion on how HIV affects lifestyle.

Dr. Langdon Hartsock, Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics at MUSC, explains what should be done for a broken bone prior to arriving at the emergency room. In this bones and joints podcast, he focuses on injury prevention, especially amongst older adults. Dr. Hartsock mentions the importance of seeing a physician quickly after a suspected fracture, indicating some of the risks of waiting too long.

Dr. Qanta Ahmed, the associate director for the Sleep Clinic at MUSC, explains proper sleep hygiene for achieving the correct amount of quality sleep each night. She addresses the issue of co-sleeping with a pet or another person and also emphasizes the importance of keeping the bedroom free of anything stimulating. She concludes this sleep podcast by discussing ways to reduce jet lag when traveling across time zones.