Surgical Insights
In-depth clinical analyses and objective surgical comparisons authored directly by board-certified vascular and colorectal surgeons.
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Microplastics in Carotid Plaque: Does Finding Them Change What You Should Do?
Microplastics in carotid plaque? A widely discussed study found plastic material in some plaques removed during carotid surgery. The most useful question for patients is whether that finding changes a real treatment decision. By M.J. Kim, MD Evidence reviewed through: October 7, 2026 Updated: October 8, 2026 Featured specimen image: Ed Uthman, MD, CC BY…
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A 5.2 cm Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Surgery Now or Close Monitoring?
A symptom-free 5.2 cm AAA may be monitored in men, while women should discuss repair. Learn how growth, measurements and anatomy affect the next step.
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Inguinal Hernia: Do You Need Surgery Now—or Can It Wait?
When can an inguinal hernia wait? Compare observation, repair, and mesh decisions, including the limits of long-term trial evidence.
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NPO After Midnight: Taking Your Morning Medications Before Surgery
“Nothing after midnight” and “take your morning medications” can sound like opposite instructions. They are not necessarily contradictory – because food, clear liquids, medications, and individual aspiration risk are not treated as the same thing before anesthesia. By M.J. Kim, MD Evidence reviewed through: September 14, 2026 Updated: October 1, 2026 At a Glance “NPO…
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Your Carotid Artery Is 80% Blocked. Does That Mean You Need Surgery?
An 80% carotid stenosis sounds like an emergency waiting to happen. If you have never had a stroke or TIA, however, the percentage is only the beginning of the decision – not the end. By M.J. Kim, MD Evidence reviewed through: September 14, 2026 Updated: October 1, 2026 At a Glance An asymptomatic 80% carotid…
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Your Leg Artery Is Blocked. Do You Really Need Angioplasty Right Away?
A scan can show a severely narrowed leg artery without answering the question that matters most: will opening it now improve your walking and quality of life enough to justify the procedure? By M.J. Kim, MD Evidence reviewed through: September 9, 2026 Updated: October 1, 2026 At a Glance A blocked leg artery does not…
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Diverticulitis Again? Do You Really Need Antibiotics – or Is It Time for Surgery?
Another flare does not automatically mean another course of antibiotics – or that you are one attack away from colon surgery. The more useful questions are how severe this episode is, whether you have higher-risk features, and how much recurrent diverticulitis is actually disrupting your life. By J.Y. Jeong, MD Evidence reviewed through: September 9,…
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Gallstones but No Pain: Do You Really Need Surgery Before Something Goes Wrong?
An ultrasound found gallstones you did not know you had. The next question is not simply whether stones are there – but whether they have ever caused trouble, and whether there is any reason to treat them now. By J.Y. Jeong, MD Evidence reviewed through: September 9, 2026 Updated: October 1, 2026 At a Glance…
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GLP-1 Drugs Before Surgery: Why Fasting and Medication Instructions Differ
If you take Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, or Mounjaro, you may receive different instructions because current professional recommendations do not all use the same approach. By M.J. Kim, MD Evidence reviewed through: September 1, 2026 Updated: October 1, 2026 At a Glance Not everyone needs a 7-day hold. Some current guidance allows many patients to continue…