Cardiovascular

Left atrial appendage closure: A life-changing procedure for patients with nonvalvular A-fib

Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, currently affecting over 5 million people in the U.S. Twenty percent of all strokes occur in patients with A-fib, and A-fib-related strokes are more frequently fatal and disabling. The most common treatment to reduce stroke risk in patients with A-fib is a blood-thinning medication such as…

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Orthopedics

Welcome Charles F. Moore Jr., M.D., to Norton Rheumatology

Charles F. Moore Jr., M.D., is the newest member of Norton Rheumatology. Dr. Moore earned his medical degree at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency in internal medicine and pediatrics. During that time he became the internal medicine/pediatrics chief resident. Dr. Moore completed a fellowship in rheumatology and…

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Obstetrics, Pediatric Services

Services treat pregnant women with substance use disorders and their babies

The opiate epidemic has changed the face of prenatal and perinatal care, and Norton Healthcare has special programs in place to help mother and child confront drug-related health issues. The Norton Maternal Opiate and Substance Treatment (MOST) Program is designed to reduce the stigma for pregnant women with substance use disorders by providing prenatal and…

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Obstetrics

Treating endometriosis pain

Treating the pain associated with endometriosis usually requires a combination of surgical and medical interventions. There are now several medications on the market that can be used. The newest is Orilissa (elagolix), which is indicated for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis, and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration…

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Orthopedics, Sports Health

PRP injections Platelet-rich plasma helps accelerate healing

As an alternative to surgery, the platelet-rich plasma injection is getting attention for its ability to help the body use its own healing properties to treat muscle, tendon and ligament injuries. During a PRP injection procedure, the doctor harvests platelets from the patient, then concentrates them in the patient’s own plasma before injecting them into…

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System

Norton Healthcare makes investments towards a healthier community and quality patient care

With the help of generous donors, Norton Healthcare has been adding new facilities and technology to offer more sophisticated health care to the Louisville area. Since the 2014 opening of Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital, Norton Healthcare has continued renovating facilities and adding new buildings. Recent projects include doubling the size of Norton Brownsboro Hospital;…

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Adult Services, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Pediatric Services

Update on antenatal corticosteroids in women at risk for preterm delivery

Liggins and Howie’s landmark paper in 1972 demonstrated that a single course of corticosteroids given to women at risk for preterm delivery reduced the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome and mortality in the offspring. After almost 50 years and a plethora of studies, the optimal timing of corticosteroid remains unclear. The benefits of a single…

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Neuroscience, Pediatric Services

Migrainous disorders in children

The formal name for “childhood periodic syndromes” has changed from “childhood periodic syndromes that are commonly precursors of migraine” in ICHD-2 to “episodic syndromes that may be associated with migraine” in ICHD-3, partly because some of these disorders can affect adults. “Recognizing these migrainous disorders can help children get the treatment they need and potentially…

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Adult Services, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Pediatric Services

Updates on obstetric hemorrhage

In this update: New definition for postpartum hemorrhage from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Tranexamic acid as first-line medication 1:1 ratio of packed red blood cells (PRBC) to fresh frozen plasma (FFP) Postpartum hemorrhage is defined as cumulative blood loss greater than or equal to 1,000 mL or bleeding associated with signs/symptoms of…

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Spine

Norton Leatherman Spine reveals increase in cases of osteomyelitis

Physicians are seeing more cases of an otherwise rare spine infection — osteomyelitis — that can be caused by injecting bacteria along with heroin. A recent Norton Leatherman Spine study took a closer look at osteomyelitis patients. The study revealed the number of Norton Leatherman Spine patients with spine infections that required surgery increased twelvefold…

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CME, Obstetrics

CME opportunity: Evaluation and Management of Urinary Incontinence

At the 22nd annual Primary Care Update: A Clinical Update on the Management of the Adult Patient, Marjorie L. Pilkinton, M.D., Norton Urogynecology Center, presented on the evaluation and management of urinary incontinence. The goal of the annual Primary Care Update is to educate and provide awareness to primary care practitioners on treating a variety…

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Neuroscience

NeuroPace implant helps patient control epilepsy

Neurostimulator monitors for seizures and interrupts them without the patient feeling a thing In 2010, Heather Ritchey had a seizure. It came out of nowhere, and she didn’t have another one for two years. Unfortunately, when the next one hit, she was behind the wheel of her car. It’s the last time she’s driven. “I…

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