Authors: Nicola Di Lorenzo Valeria Tognoni Luca Iezzi Achille Lucio Gaspari
Publish Date: 2011/01/14
Volume: 25, Issue: 2, Pages: 339-342
Abstract
According to the World Health Organization WHO 1 approximately 234 million major surgical operations are conducted each year This includes more than 63 million people who undergo surgery to treat traumatic injuries 31 million for treating cancers and another 10 million for pregnancyrelated complications Sooner or later most of world’s population will have to go under the knife expecting to be treated with the latest technology and the most effective proceduresStudies conducted by the WHO 1 conclude that complications after surgery result in disability or prolonged stay in 3–25 of hospitalized patients Moreover iatrogenic lesions represent the seventh cause of death in western countries approximately 100 patients/day in the United States with surgeries “contribution” of 50 This means that at least 7 million patients annually have postoperative complications and indicates the need to investigate and develop better surgical procedures instruments and training programs to offer a greater potential to solve many healthcare problems and complicationsSince the advent of the European Union EU research in the medical field has a relevant place in the Union’s activities Every year the EU devotes relevant funds to healthcare research by means of Framework Programs FP and other actions FP7 acting 2007–2013 is distributing grants for 61 billion euro—approximately 700 M in 2011The main efforts are devoted to genomics immunotherapy and vaccines stem cells gene therapy prosthesis tools for modern biology imaging detection and analytical tools moreover translational research in major infectious diseases and other diseases such as cardiovascular ones cancer diabetes and obesity Within this scenery surgery is participating with a small presence although it is now considered the “gold standard” treatment for many of the abovementioned pathologies cancer metabolic syndrome cardiovascular diseases with significant results reported for short and longterm outcomesAlthough the cornerstones of medical research and future perspectives we cannot deny that drug pipelines are drying up and gene therapy has yet to deliver the anticipated breakthroughs On the other hand surgical procedures and innovative medical technology can offer a greater potential to solve many healthcare issues They also can provide in many cases a viable alternative to lengthy drugbased treatments and costly mobility aid systems which can easily last a patient’s lifetime for example gastroesophageal reflux disease and morbid obesity
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