Nicholson Clinic

Thanks to its fast, minimally invasive nature, laparoscopic gallbladder removal has become the industry standard. This procedure is known to present with fewer risks than open surgery while enabling patients to heal significantly faster. It is, however, not without a potential for complications. Perhaps the most devastating is the propensity for accidental bile duct injury due to misidentification during the procedures. A new technology is poised to take this concern off the table. The new imaging method, known as CholeVision, is under development by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It involves the use of a special light that enables, with the flip of a button, doctors to clearly see the location of the bile ducts. This, in turn, enables them to avoid accidental injury to the ducts during gallbladder removal. It is estimated that about 4,000 of 800,000 gallbladder removal procedures in the United States alone result in duct damage. The light is hoped to dramatically reduce this

Losing weight may soon become as simple as swallowing a little pill. At least that’s the hope for a new procedure under testing known as the Elipse gastric balloon. Functioning in a similar manner to two recently FDA-approved weight loss alternatives, this temporary measure enables people to lose weight by helping them feel fuller faster. Like the recently approved Orbera and ReShape gastric balloon systems , Elipse is a temporary measure that works by taking up some of the space in the stomach itself. When inflated, the balloons promote lighter eating because the stomach’s holding capacity has been effectively reduced. Unlike Orbera or ReShape, the Elipse doesn’t involve a limited surgical procedure for insertion. The Elipse balloon is contained within a capsule. This capsule is attached to a catheter and is then swallowed. Once swallowed, the capsule dissolves and the balloon is filled with about 19 ounces of liquid and the catheter is removed. The balloon stays in place for about