The Scope Radio

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a serious lung condition that can arise after an individual suffers a pulmonary embolism. The condition can lead to a buildup of tissue in the lungs that often leads to high blood pressure, heart strain and eventual heart failure. Luckily for patients, there is a surgery available that can treat CTEPH without a full lung transplant. Heart surgeon Dr. Craig Selzman explains the steps involved in the six-hour “roto-rooter operation.”

An aquatic snail from the Caribbean Sea could hold the secret to a new type of pain killer in its venom. Dr. Michael McIntosh, a scientist at University of Utah Health, is working to isolate pain-killing compounds that could serve as a non-addictive replacement for opioids. In this episode, Dr. McIntosh talks about what his early research has found, how these venoms work and the major changes it could make in the way doctors treat pain.

Shoulders can be injured in many ways, including trauma, torn tendon, or simply overuse. Fortunately, an injured shoulder doesn't always require surgery. Dr. Tom Miller speaks with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Tashjian about how injured shoulders can commonly be diagnosed and treated without surgery.

Children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are often prescribed stimulant medications to help manage the condition. But parents may worry about how these medications might change or impact their kid's health. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner says stimulant medications for ADHD actually claim the highest positive response rate for any mental health diagnosis. Learn what research has shown about how these medications work, why they work, as well as some common side effects and risks for children.

A three-foot shelled “worm” that looks like a unicorn’s horn? It just goes to show that the great blue planet we live on still holds some surprises. Naturalist Margo Haygood from the College of Pharmacy at the University of Utah tells the tale of how she and her colleagues came upon the odd beast and what it has taught them about the diversity of life on Earth. Learn more here.

Believe it or not, sometimes people can break bones and not realize it. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen says some bones are more prone to fractures. Swelling, trouble moving a joint, or lingering pain after a few days can all be indications of a bone fracture. Learn about some other symptoms of broken bones if you suspect you may need an X-ray to find out for sure.

University of Utah Health has a new Women’s Clinic. It features care for women of all ages, free on-site health coaching and plenty of parking. Dr. Kirtly Jones talks with Dr. Jen Eggebroten, OB-GYN at the new clinic, about what’s unique about the clinic, why she chose to practice there and what it means for female patients in the Salt Lake Valley.

Men in their 50s and 60s may begin taking more trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night. It’s annoying and messes with your sleep schedule, but is it something concerning regarding your health? Urologist Dr. Gary Faerber explains why most men need to use the restroom more often as they age and what treatments are available to get back to sleeping through the night.

Broke a bone and need a cast? Well, forget those big, heavy casts that your friends could write on. Dr. Tom Miller speaks with Dr. Bruce Thomas, an orthopedic surgeon, to discuss how physicians now use lighter, fiberglass casts to help bones heal instead of the heavier Plaster of Paris casts from earlier times.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a relatively new treatment for at-risk patients that can reduce the chances of an individual contracting HIV by more than 90 percent. However, it should not be seen as a vaccine. Dr. Claudia Goulston, associate professor of infectious diseases and a specialist in HIV, explains what exactly PrEP is, who it is good for and some important things you need to know about the treatment before you consider starting it.

Many new parents wonder if their little one will ever let them get a full night of sleep again. For newborns, the pattern is typically: eat, sleep, poop and repeat—all through the night. Family physician Dr. Sonja Van Hala offers sleepy parents some advice for sleep-training babies to snooze through the night.

Sometimes a complex health concept is best explained through an analogy — an easily understood comparison of two different ideas. A medical analogy can be an effective communicative tool for any physician. For example, saying “the heart is like a pump” basically helps anyone to understand how the heart works. Dr. Evonne Kaplan-Liss, physician and journalist at Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brooke School of Journalism, says analogies can also help physicians connect with patients. Learn more about what makes for a good medical analogy.

Spring is here and it’s time to start that spring cleaning. But if you come across mouse droppings you could be exposed to hantavirus. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen discuss the virus and simple cleaning steps you can take if you find mouse droppings.

In January 2017, a new practice bulletin released by top OBGYN and pediatric authorities suggests new guidelines concerning cutting your baby’s umbilical cord after delivery. What does this mean for your baby and how long should your doctor wait before cutting the cord? Dr. Kirtly Jones, OB-GYN with University of Utah Health, discuss what the research says.

For patients in need of an organ transplant, the first step is to meet with a team of doctors and specialists. One of the members of the team is a social worker who conducts an interview. This may be surprising to some patients. Organ transplant surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Campsen sits down with Melissa Morales, an organ transplant social worker. They discuss what to expect in the interview and the role it plays in the medical outcome.