What is Vyxeos (daunorubicin and cytarabine) and how is it used? Vyxeos is a chemotherapy treatment given intravenously (IV) to adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).  Vyxeos is used to treat the following types of AML patients: Newly diagnosed, therapy related: those whose AML is related to previously received chemotherapy or radiation therapy (also called therapy-related AML, …

What is Anterior Cervical Discectomy? There are three main types of anterior cervical discectomy surgeries. Anterior cervical discectomy (ACD) is a surgical procedure that involves removing a part or all of a damaged spinal disc through an incision in the neck. ACD does not involve placement of a bone graft.  Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is similar to ACD, …

What is percutaneous vertebroplasty? Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is a procedure used to treat and stabilize vertebral (spinal) fractures. The process involves using a type of imaging called fluoroscopy, which provides X-rays in real time, to enable a doctor to inject a concrete-like fast-setting polymer into the damaged vertebrae.  A procedure called kyphoplasty often accompanies vertebroplasty. Kyphoplasty is the insertion and …

What is a retrobulbar block? Retrobulbar block is an anesthetic procedure used for eye surgeries.  Usually, lidocaine with epinephrine is injected into the retrobulbar space, which is the area located behind the eyeball (globe). It numbs the muscles around the eye by blocking cranial nerves II, III, and VI. This numbs the eye and also paralyzes the eye muscles temporarily …

What is Promacta (eltrombopag) and how is it used? Promacta is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 1 year of age and older with low blood platelet counts due to chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), when other medicines to treat ITP or surgery to remove the spleen have not worked well enough. Promacta is also used to treat …

What is Kisqali (ribociclib) and how is it used? Kisqali is a prescription medicine used in combination with: an aromatase inhibitor to treat pre/perimenopausal or postmenopausal women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), as the first endocrine based therapy; or fulvestrant to treat …

What is Baqsimi (glucagon) and how is it used? Baqsimi is a prescription medicine used to treat very low blood sugar (severe hypoglycemia) in people with diabetes ages 4 years and above. What are the most important side effects and other facts about Baqsimi (glucagon)? Baqsimi may cause serious side effects, including: High blood pressure. Baqsimi can cause high blood …

What is the Pringle maneuver? The Pringle maneuver is a common surgical technique that temporarily clamps off blood flowing into the liver. The Pringle maneuver is a procedure to stop the liver’s blood supply during a liver surgery. A clamp is applied over the hepatic vascular pedicle, the channel that contains the hepatic duct, hepatic artery and the portal vein. …

What is hepaticojejunostomy? A hepaticojejunostomy, or Roux-en-Y procedure, bypasses the bile duct to allow digestive juices to drain from the liver directly into the small intestine. The hepatic duct is the tubular channel that carries bile from the liver to the small intestine to aid digestion. A hepaticojejunostomy is a surgical procedure to make a connection (anastomosis) between the hepatic …

What is cardiac resynchronization therapy? Cardiac resynchronization therapy involves inserting electrodes into the heart attached to an electrical pacemaker device, which will administer electrical current when the heartbeat falls out of rhythm. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a treatment to help the heart beat with healthy rhythm. CRT is a minor surgical procedure to implant an electronic device under the …