Surgeries

An initiative at VUMC is helping patients recover more quickly from major surgery, leave the hospital earlier and have fewer side effects from their pain management. (photo by Joe Howell)
December 2, 2025

Ketamine fails surgical recovery trial

In a large, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, the pain reliever ketamine posed side effects while failing to aid patient recovery after major surgery.

By Paul Govern
(iStock image)
November 4, 2025

VUMC performs minimally invasive transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement for recent heart transplant recipient

The team used an artificial tricuspid valve, EVOQUE, which received Food and Drug Administration approval in February.

By Jill Clendening
October 27, 2025

Macon County father’s voice restored following oral cancer surgery

After surgical removal of a rare tumor left a sizable hole inside Nick Schrock’s mouth, he could only speak in a muffled, lispy whisper. Tyler Ames, a dentist at VUMC, fashioned a prosthetic device to close the hole and allow Schrock to speak more clearly.

By Jill Clendening
Mark Kelley, MD, MMHC
October 13, 2025

Mark Kelley retires, having ‘profoundly shaped surgical oncology’ at VUMC

Kelley is lauded by his colleagues and surgical leaders for his contributions both at VUMC and nationally.

By Jill Clendening
The surgical team included, from left, Michael Topf, MD, Kyrionna Golliday, Carleigh Burns, Marcus Balanky, Jo Chung, and Eben Rosenthal, MD.
October 10, 2025

VUMC performs nation’s first surgery using latest generation of intraoperative PET-CT scan technology 

PET-CT combines the functional information gained through PET with the structural details gained by a CT scan, aiding in early detection of recurrent disease.

By Evan Dorian
Surya Gangavarapu, MD, resident in Neurological Surgery, meets with local researchers at a VUMC partner site in West Africa.
September 26, 2025

Medical students lead and learn in the Global Neurosurgery program

They go beyond their own community to represent Vanderbilt University and VUMC in support of research and education efforts abroad.

By Evan Dorian
September 26, 2025

VUMC’s global neurosurgery program provides education, training and impact through collaborations with partners across continents 

The program seeks to both share and learn in its mission to enhance the neurological health of populations in low resourced settings.
By Evan Dorian
September 23, 2025

Orthopaedic Outreach Day ‘resets the soul’ for patients and volunteers

Thirteen patients received free orthopaedic surgeries, including five sports cases, six hand/upper extremity cases and, for the first time, two foot and ankle surgeries.
By Danny Bonvissuto
August 26, 2025

Grant supports development of head-mounted augmented reality system to guide tumor resection 

The technology will allow surgeons to rely less on a fallible mental construction of the resection plane, thereby reducing the risk of human error affecting the procedure. 
By Evan Dorian
August 25, 2025

‘I didn’t know that I’d been living my life in pain’: Patient’s remarkable recovery after crossing paths with a compassionate neurosurgeon

Exhausted from a multiyear journey navigating a debilitating illness, Lainey Mathis received life-changing care from Ryan Lee, MD, whose new cerebrospinal fluid disorders center is already making a massive impact on patients.
By Evan Dorian
July 21, 2025

Multicenter trial confirms near-infrared autofluorescence increases detection of parathyroid glands

Damage to these glands can cause hypoparathyroidism, a condition that can lead to low levels of calcium and elevated levels of phosphorus in the blood.
By Jill Clendening
July 7, 2025

Quick action to treat young dancer’s rare heart condition a testament to what multidisciplinary teams can do

Bystanders assumed the healthy teen — who has danced for nine years, six of those competitively — was overheated or exhausted. Conscious, though unresponsive to questions, Zoe quickly worsened.
By Christina Echegaray
July 7, 2025

Vanderbilt Health at forefront of improving head and neck surgery with fluorescence imaging to ‘light up’ nerves 

A new study identified a safe and effective fluorescent imaging agent that can assist surgeons in visualizing — and therefore protecting — nerves during surgery.
By Evan Dorian
1 2 3 … 10