News in Ear, Nose and Throat at UC San Diego Health System

Head & Neck Surgery

News and Events

Read recent news from the Department of Surgery at UC San Diego Health System. Also visit UC San Diego Health System media coverage and social media.


UC San Diego Health System Receives National Achievement Award for Cancer Program
May 01, 2013
American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer Recognizes Quality Care UC San Diego Health System is a recipient of the 2012 Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. Seventy-nine cancer care pro... (More)

Women’s Wellness Day, Free to the Public on Saturday, April 13
March 28, 2013
On Saturday, April 13 from 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., UC San Diego Health System is hosting an interactive conference in La Jolla, focused on women’s health.  The event is free and open to the public. Fifteen leading experts will host insightful talks on ... (More)

Kidney Sparing Surgery Underutilized for Patients Who Need It Most
March 25, 2013
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have released study results that show national treatment trends in the surgical management of patients with kidney disease. The study found that partial and complete kidney re... (More)

New Imaging Agent Enables Better Cancer Detection, More Accurate Staging
March 20, 2013
Drug Designed and Developed at UC San Diego School of Medicine Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have shown that a new imaging dye, designed and developed at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, is an effective... (More)

UC San Diego Health System Listed among Nation’s Top Neurosurgery and Spine Programs
March 15, 2013
University of California, San Diego Health System has been named among “100 Hospitals with Great Neurosurgery and Spine Programs” by Becker's Hospital Review, a news publication for hospital and health system leadership. According to the Becker's ... (More)

Sports Medicine Chief Christopher Wahl, MD, Blends New Techniques with Old School Philosophy
March 04, 2013
Nationally recognized orthopedic surgeon Christopher Wahl, MD, has joined the University of California, San Diego Health System as the new chief of Sports Medicine.  Recognized for his specialty in treating complex, high-energy traumatic sports inju... (More)

Man Walks Again After Surgery to Reverse Muscle Paralysis
February 27, 2013
After four years of confinement to a wheelchair, Rick Constantine, 58, is now walking again after undergoing an unconventional surgery at University of California, San Diego Heath System to restore the use of his leg. Neurosurgeon Justin Brown, MD, ... (More)

UC San Diego Health System Named One of the Nation's 100 Top Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics
February 26, 2013
University of California, San Diego Medical Center has been named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® for the second time by Truven Health Analytics, formerly the health care business of Thomson Reuters. Truven Health Analytics is a leading provi... (More)

Study Shows Effectiveness of Magnetic Device for Treatment of Reflux Disease
February 22, 2013
A study published February 21st in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) provides clinical evidence of the safety and effectiveness of a new magnetic medical device to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Santiago Horgan, MD, professor... (More)

Alternative Hip Replacement Technique Results in Faster Recovery
February 04, 2013
Only 15 Percent of Joint Replacement Specialists in Nation Capable of Muscle-Sparing Approach   University of California, San Diego Health System is one of only a few hospitals in the nation to offer computer-assisted navigation technology with th... (More)

Surgical Technique Spots Cancer Invasion with Fluorescence
January 10, 2013
One of the greatest challenges faced by cancer surgeons is to know exactly which tissue to remove, or not, while the patient is under anesthesia. A team of surgeons and scientists at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have develo... (More)

UC San Diego Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center Listed among Nation’s Best Heart Hospitals
January 09, 2013
The Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center located at University of California, San Diego Health System has been named among "100 Hospitals with Great Heart Programs" by Becker's Hospital Review, a business and legal news publication for hospital and health... (More)

UC San Diego Medical Center One of First Five Comprehensive Stroke Centers in the Nation
December 05, 2012
Rigorous requirements highlight significant difference in the treatment of complex stroke cases UC San Diego Medical Center-Hillcrest is one of the first five facilities in the country, and the only center in San Diego County, to be certified as a ... (More)

UC San Diego Cardiology Team Performs 100th Extraction Procedure with 100 Percent Success Rate
November 29, 2012
A multidisciplinary team from the Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center at University of California, San Diego Health System has performed its 100th lead (pronounced “leed”) extraction surgery, a delicate procedure to replace the thin wiring of lifesaving ... (More)

UC San Diego Health System Awarded “A”s for Patient Safety
November 28, 2012
UC San Diego Health System was honored with two separate “A” Hospital Safety Scores by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits.  The A scores were awarded in the latest upd... (More)

Optimal Care for Surgical Weight Loss Confirmed at UC San Diego Health System
October 25, 2012
Bariatric Program Accredited by ACS Bariatric Surgery Center Network The Bariatric Metabolic Institute (BMI) at University of California, San Diego Health System has been accredited as a Level 1 facility by the Bariatric Surgery Center Network (BS... (More)

UC San Diego Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center Program Receives National Recognition
October 24, 2012
Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy program honored as “Center of Excellence” The physicians, surgeons and team members who pioneered the lifesaving pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) procedure at University of California, San Diego Health System a... (More)

Single-Site Laparoscopic Surgery Reduces Pain of Tumor Removal
September 27, 2012
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have found that recovery from an emerging, minimally invasive surgical technique called Laparo-Endoscopic Single-Site Surgery (LESS) was less painful for kidney cancer patient... (More)

Researchers Identify Link between Kidney Removal and Erectile Dysfunction
July 30, 2012
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a link between patients who undergo total nephrectomy - complete kidney removal - and erectile dysfunction. Results from the multi-center study were recently p... (More)

Genetic Test May Reduce Need for Repeat Biopsy for Prostate Cancer
July 17, 2012
Karim Kader, MD, PhD, associate clinical professor at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, together with a team of researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, have developed a genetic test to predict a man’s risk for prostate cancer.... (More)

Gene Mutations Cause Massive Brain Asymmetry
June 25, 2012
Discovery could help lead to prevention of radical surgery in rare childhood disease Hemimegalencephaly is a rare but dramatic condition in which the brain grows asymmetrically, with one hemisphere becoming massively enlarged. Though frequently dia... (More)

New Surgical Technique May Reverse Paralysis, Restore Use of Hand
June 15, 2012
Justin M. Brown, MD, reconstructive neurosurgeon at UC San Diego Health System, is one of only a few specialists in the world who have pioneered a novel technique to restore hand function in patients with spinal cord injury. In a delicate four-hour ... (More)

UC San Diego Health System Awarded “A” for Patient Safety by The Leapfrog Group
June 06, 2012
On June 6, 2012, UC San Diego Health System was honored with an “A” Hospital Safety ScoreSM by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits. U.S. hospitals were assigned an A, B... (More)

Invasive Bladder Testing Before Incontinence Surgery May Be Unnecessary
May 02, 2012
NIH-Funded Study Finds Office Visit Alone Just as Effective Invasive and costly tests commonly performed on women before surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) may not be necessary, according to researchers at the University of California S... (More)

First U.S. Case Since FDA-Approval, New Magnetic Device for Heartburn
April 10, 2012
On Monday, April 9, Santiago Horgan, MD, chief of minimally invasive surgery at UC San Diego Health System implanted the new FDA-approved LINX device in a 29-year old patient suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a chronic digestive... (More)

Botox Injections Now Used for Severe Urinary Incontinence
March 13, 2012
When you think of Botox injections, you probably think of getting rid of unwanted wrinkles around the eyes or forehead, but recently the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved using the injections to help patients with neurological condition... (More)

New Weight Loss Surgery Folds Stomach into Smaller Size
March 09, 2012
Patients seeking a weight-loss surgery that does not require an implanted device or permanent change to their anatomy, have a new clinical trial option at UC San Diego Health System. Santiago Horgan, MD, chief of minimally invasive surgery, and his ... (More)

Robotic Surgery with One Small Incision, U.S. First
December 21, 2011
On Tuesday, December 20th, Santiago Horgan, MD, chief of minimally invasive surgery at UC San Diego Health System was the first surgeon in the United States to remove a diseased gallbladder through a patient’s belly button with the aid of a new FDA-... (More)

First-ever Procedure in Region’s Only Hybrid Operating Room
November 02, 2011
UC San Diego Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center experts have performed San Diego’s first-ever coronary revascularization procedure using a hybrid operating room, the only facility of its kind in the region. The state-of-the-art operating room allows pat... (More)

Center for Future of Surgery Opens at UC San Diego School of Medicine
October 18, 2011
Largest Surgical Training Site in U.S. Advances Safety and Innovation in OR Every year, millions of patients undergo lifesaving surgeries. The outcome of each procedure is driven by dynamic factors such as the patient’s health, drugs and instrument... (More)

Building Sustainable Surgical Systems, November 9-11
October 12, 2011
4th Annual Alliance for Surgery and Anesthesia Presence Conference Today, around the world, more than two billion world citizens do not have access to emergency and essential surgical care. The results are devastating, leading to more than 500,000 ... (More)

NIH-Funded Study Shows Increased Prostate Cancer Risk from Vitamin E Supplements
October 11, 2011
UC San Diego Experts Available to Discuss Results/Risks Men who took 400 international units (I.U.) of vitamin E daily had more prostate cancers compared to men who took a placebo, according to an updated review of data from the Selenium and Vitami... (More)

New Technique to Remove Large Colon Polyps, California First
August 18, 2011
For the first time in the western United States, a surgical team lead by Elisabeth McLemore, MD, has used a novel operating platform to perform the scarless removal of rectal tumors. Called Trans-Anal Minimally Invasive Surgery (TAMIS), the techniqu... (More)

Kidney Preserving Surgery Saves Bone Health
August 04, 2011
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have shed new light on how surgery impacts both chronic kidney disease and bone health, particularly in women. For the first time, their findings point to the importance of pu... (More)

Women Win Out in Gastrointestinal Surgery
June 30, 2011
In the first study to consider the impact of gender on patient outcomes in major gastrointestinal surgeries, researchers at UC San Diego Health System have found that women are more likely to survive after the procedure than men. The pattern is even... (More)

UC San Diego Experts Say Paternal Exposures Can Affect Sperm Leading To Infertility
June 17, 2011
According to the California Teratogen Information Service (CTIS) Pregnancy Health Information Line, more studies are needed to evaluate men and the potential effect of illnesses, medications and lifestyle habits on fertility and pregnancy. For coupl... (More)

“Chemobath” for Colon Cancer Evaluated at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center
June 09, 2011
As part of a multicenter clinical trial, surgical oncologists at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center are comparing the effectiveness of standard chemotherapy to a tri-modality approach to halt advanced colon cancers. The objective is to determine if t... (More)

Christopher Kane, MD, Appointed C. Lowell & JoEllen Parsons Endowed Chair
May 26, 2011
Internationally-recognized cancer surgeon, Christopher Kane, MD, professor of surgery and chief, division of urology, has been named the inaugural holder of the C. Lowell and JoEllen Parsons Endowed Chair in Urology. The $2.5 million endowed faculty... (More)

Plasticity of Hormonal Response Permits Rapid Gene Expression Reprogramming
May 16, 2011
Gene expression reprogramming may allow cancer cell growth as well as normal differentiation Gene expression is the process of converting the genetic information encoded in DNA into a final gene product such as a protein or any of several types of ... (More)

Surgeon Availability Tied to Survival Rate in Vehicle Crashes
March 28, 2011
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine claim that the availability of surgeons is a critical factor in public health and suggest that surgery should become an important part of the primary health care system. A re... (More)

Empowering Women Surgeons: Women in Surgery Lecture on March 24
March 22, 2011
In order to support professional development of women surgeons and raise gender awareness, the UC San Diego Department of Surgery is offering a free educational series for surgeons, medical students, and the general public. The lecture, “Think big: ... (More)

Radical Surgery Removes Half of Pelvis, Saves Leg
March 21, 2011
During a radical surgery to treat a rare bone cancer, surgeons at UC San Diego Health System and Moores Cancer Center removed 50 percent of a patient’s pelvis. Instead of amputating the connected leg, the surgical team, comprised of orthopaedic, vas... (More)

UC San Diego Department of Surgery to Host the 34th San Diego Postgraduate Assembly in Surgery
March 10, 2011
The Department of Surgery at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine will host the 34th San Diego Postgraduate Assembly in Surgery.  The event will take place March 17 to 19, 2011 at the Omni San Diego Hotel. The conference, “A... (More)

Trial Treats Prostate Cancer with Diet
March 10, 2011
UC San Diego Launches Nation’s First Non-Supplement Study on Prostate Cancer/Diet : Less meat, more vegetables, an active lifestyle, and phone calls The vegetables most boys wanted to avoid in childhood – such as kale and broccoli – just may be th... (More)

Novel Cancer Surgery Enabled by NOTES Tools
February 07, 2011
Surgeons at UC San Diego Health System have identified a new application for “scarless” surgery tools that are normally used for natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). In what is believed to be the first case in the United States, ... (More)

Fluorescent Peptides Help Nerves Glow in Surgery
February 07, 2011
Accidental damage to thin or buried nerves during surgery can have severe consequences, from chronic pain to permanent paralysis. Scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine may have found a remedy: injectable fluorescen... (More)

Mountaineer Reaches Peak with Aid of Surgeon
January 13, 2011
Climber Prepares for Denali in 2011 Triathlete Ben Horne has recently climbed more than 25 mountain peaks, from Half Dome and Mt. Whitney to Longs Peak and Mt. Rainier. He’s run the Grand Canyon from rim to rim and back, and completed Ironman Ari... (More)