Kidney Transplant While Awake?

In this week's curation of Moonlighting MD 💼, we’re covering

• 🩻 Man Receives Kidney Transplant While Awake

• 🚽 Scientists Discovering Where The Brains Waste Goes

• 🔊 US Surgeon General: Gun Violence A Public Health Crisis

Get the full scoop below ⬇️

INNOVATION IN MEDICINE
US Man Gets Kidney Transplant
While Awake

In a groundbreaking medical feat, doctors at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago performed a kidney transplant on John Nicholas while he was fully awake. Using a novel anesthesia approach that involved numbing the lower spine and light sedation, Nicholas was discharged within 24 hours, far shorter than the typical hospital stay. This innovative method not only shortens recovery times but also makes transplants more accessible to high-risk patients. Nicholas’s swift recovery and return to normal activities highlight the transformative potential of this procedure.

INNOVATION IN MEDICINE
The Brain Makes A Lot Of Waste. Now Scientists Think They Know Where It Goes

The brain produces a lot of waste, and scientists finally think they know where all that junk goes. Two teams just published three papers revealing that during sleep, slow electrical waves push waste-filled fluid from deep in the brain to its surface. From there, the waste is absorbed into the bloodstream and taken to the liver and kidneys for disposal. This discovery could help us understand and treat brain disorders like Alzheimer’s, where waste removal is impaired. The new findings suggest that helping the brain clear out its trash could potentially prevent a range of neurodegenerative diseases.

GOVERNMENT
US surgeon general declares US gun violence an urgent public health crisis

Gun violence in the U.S. has been declared a public health crisis by Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. In a groundbreaking advisory, Murthy highlights the devastating impact of firearm violence on communities and mental health, especially as guns have become the leading cause of death among kids and teens. By taking the issue out of the political realm and treating it as a public health emergency, Murthy calls for stronger laws and more research to curb the epidemic. This bold move aims to inspire action and protect future generations from the pervasive threat of gun violence.