
HCA Midwest Health unveils new non-invasive treatment for uterine fibroids
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At some point in their lives, most women develop uterine fibroids, a common type of noncancerous tumor that can grow in and on the uterus. While small fibroids often don't need treatment, larger fibroids are treated with medications or surgery – up to significant procedures like hysterectomy.
That is, until now.
Women in the Kansas City region have a new, non-invasive breakthrough treatment for these non-cancerous tumors. HCA Midwest Health's Overland Park Regional Medical Center is the first hospital in the area to offer transcervical fibroid ablation (TFA), a surgical alternative with a shorter recovery time that leaves the uterus intact, unlike a hysterectomy. TFA, also known as the Sonata treatment, is an outpatient procedure performed without general anesthesia, using radiofrequency energy to locate fibroids and treat them from inside the uterus.
'Patients have been thrilled to hear there is an additional option for the treatment of their fibroids,' said Dr. Kimberly Swan, a board-certified OB-GYN with Kansas City Women's Clinic. 'They specifically appreciate Sonata, as it can address multiple fibroid symptoms with a short procedure and only a day or two of downtime.'
The benefits of the incisionless procedure include less pain, less bleeding and faster recovery for patients, Swan said. The procedure itself can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the number and type of fibroids being treated, and recovery time is usually just one to two days.
This new procedure is important, Swan said, because uterine fibroids are an incredibly common condition.
'Seventy to 80 percent of women will develop fibroids in their reproductive years, which can require the decision between long-term medical management or major surgery,' she said. 'Now, we can offer a permanent solution with a minor procedure.'
Not all fibroids cause symptoms, but when they do, symptoms can include heavy menstrual bleeding, back pain, frequent urination and constipation. Any woman experiencing such symptoms should see a doctor, Swan said.
Contact Kansas City Women's Clinic to learn more or make an appointment.
Investing in health care advancements
The new technology required to provide these ground-breaking TFA treatments is just the latest in several recent investments Overland Park Regional Medical Center has made in new technologies, equipment and facilities. Other recent renovations and expansions on its campus include:
A $17 million Women's Services renovation that provided new, state-of-the-art antepartum, labor and delivery and postpartum suites.
A new $5.9 million hybrid operating room to enhance surgeons' capabilities in treating complex neurological and vascular cases that allow for additional minimally invasive techniques.
A new, 32-bed Orthopedic and Spine Specialty Unit focusing on post-op care for patients who undergo complex orthopedic and spine procedures. The unit also has comprehensive services, like the state-of-the-art therapy gym that will help improve patient outcomes.
A $3.5 million renovation of the Cardiac Specialty Unit and the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, where highly specialized teams of cardiac experts provide care to post-operative and critically ill patients with cardiac, thoracic and vascular issues.
An investment of $2.5 million in its fourth DaVinci robotic surgery system, increasing its capacity to provide the latest in minimally invasive surgery options.
The hospital is breaking ground soon on a significant expansion and renovation of its surgery department, encompassing 400,000 square feet of new space and upgrades to all its existing perioperative spaces, including pre-op, the post-anesthesia care unit, its operating rooms, sterile processing and endoscopy.
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BDPruitt
'The greater Overland Park community continues to grow, and we need to grow our hospital to ensure we're continuing to meet the community's needs,' said Matt Sogard, Overland Park Regional CEO. 'That means not only investing in the latest equipment, providing cutting-edge treatments and expanding and upgrading our facility – it also means continuing to recruit the best physicians, nurses and support staff to provide that needed care.'
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One of Kansas City's premier healthcare providers, HCA Midwest Health is comprised of seven hospitals and dozens of physician practices, surgery centers and more, including Research Medical Center, Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Centerpoint Medical Center, Menorah Medical Center, Lee's Summit Medical Center and Belton Regional Medical Center. Visit hcamidwest.com for more.

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Business Journals
2 days ago
- Business Journals
HCA Midwest Health unveils new non-invasive treatment for uterine fibroids
expand At some point in their lives, most women develop uterine fibroids, a common type of noncancerous tumor that can grow in and on the uterus. While small fibroids often don't need treatment, larger fibroids are treated with medications or surgery – up to significant procedures like hysterectomy. That is, until now. Women in the Kansas City region have a new, non-invasive breakthrough treatment for these non-cancerous tumors. HCA Midwest Health's Overland Park Regional Medical Center is the first hospital in the area to offer transcervical fibroid ablation (TFA), a surgical alternative with a shorter recovery time that leaves the uterus intact, unlike a hysterectomy. TFA, also known as the Sonata treatment, is an outpatient procedure performed without general anesthesia, using radiofrequency energy to locate fibroids and treat them from inside the uterus. 'Patients have been thrilled to hear there is an additional option for the treatment of their fibroids,' said Dr. Kimberly Swan, a board-certified OB-GYN with Kansas City Women's Clinic. 'They specifically appreciate Sonata, as it can address multiple fibroid symptoms with a short procedure and only a day or two of downtime.' The benefits of the incisionless procedure include less pain, less bleeding and faster recovery for patients, Swan said. The procedure itself can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the number and type of fibroids being treated, and recovery time is usually just one to two days. This new procedure is important, Swan said, because uterine fibroids are an incredibly common condition. 'Seventy to 80 percent of women will develop fibroids in their reproductive years, which can require the decision between long-term medical management or major surgery,' she said. 'Now, we can offer a permanent solution with a minor procedure.' Not all fibroids cause symptoms, but when they do, symptoms can include heavy menstrual bleeding, back pain, frequent urination and constipation. Any woman experiencing such symptoms should see a doctor, Swan said. Contact Kansas City Women's Clinic to learn more or make an appointment. Investing in health care advancements The new technology required to provide these ground-breaking TFA treatments is just the latest in several recent investments Overland Park Regional Medical Center has made in new technologies, equipment and facilities. Other recent renovations and expansions on its campus include: A $17 million Women's Services renovation that provided new, state-of-the-art antepartum, labor and delivery and postpartum suites. A new $5.9 million hybrid operating room to enhance surgeons' capabilities in treating complex neurological and vascular cases that allow for additional minimally invasive techniques. A new, 32-bed Orthopedic and Spine Specialty Unit focusing on post-op care for patients who undergo complex orthopedic and spine procedures. The unit also has comprehensive services, like the state-of-the-art therapy gym that will help improve patient outcomes. A $3.5 million renovation of the Cardiac Specialty Unit and the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, where highly specialized teams of cardiac experts provide care to post-operative and critically ill patients with cardiac, thoracic and vascular issues. An investment of $2.5 million in its fourth DaVinci robotic surgery system, increasing its capacity to provide the latest in minimally invasive surgery options. The hospital is breaking ground soon on a significant expansion and renovation of its surgery department, encompassing 400,000 square feet of new space and upgrades to all its existing perioperative spaces, including pre-op, the post-anesthesia care unit, its operating rooms, sterile processing and endoscopy. expand BDPruitt 'The greater Overland Park community continues to grow, and we need to grow our hospital to ensure we're continuing to meet the community's needs,' said Matt Sogard, Overland Park Regional CEO. 'That means not only investing in the latest equipment, providing cutting-edge treatments and expanding and upgrading our facility – it also means continuing to recruit the best physicians, nurses and support staff to provide that needed care.' expand One of Kansas City's premier healthcare providers, HCA Midwest Health is comprised of seven hospitals and dozens of physician practices, surgery centers and more, including Research Medical Center, Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Centerpoint Medical Center, Menorah Medical Center, Lee's Summit Medical Center and Belton Regional Medical Center. Visit for more.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Researchers make shocking discovery about hidden health threat lurking inside wine bottles: 'Very difficult to assess'
Forever chemicals are lurking all around, whether it's in drinking water or common household items such as children's toys. Now, European scientists have discovered them in wine. Levels of trifluoroacetic acid, a degradation product of PFAS, have risen "alarmingly" in European wines in recent decades, according to researchers with the Pesticide Action Network Europe. According to The Guardian's summary of the results, the group tested 49 bottles of commercial wine, finding that those produced before 1988 had no traces of TFA but those from after 2010 showed a steep rise in contamination. Levels tended to be lower in organic wines and higher in varieties with the highest amounts of pesticide residue. Scientists believe the main sources of TFA to be fluorinated refrigerants known as F-gases and PFAS pesticides concentrated in agricultural soil, but there is scant data on formation rates for TFA precursor pesticides. "This makes it very difficult to assess how much TFA formation and emission potential agricultural soils currently have, as accumulated pesticides can degrade and release TFA over time," study co-author Gabriel Sigmund told the publication. "So even if we completely stopped the use of these pesticides now, we have to expect a further increase in TFA concentrations in our water resources and elsewhere over the next years." Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a group of 15,000 compounds used in products including water-repellent clothing and nonstick cookware. They are also prevalent in drinking water supplies across the globe and popular foods such as rice, coffee, eggs, and seafood. One global study even found that about 31% of groundwater samples and about 16% of surface water samples contained high levels of PFAS despite not being located near any known contamination source. While researchers are still investigating the health impacts of these chemicals, they have been linked with decreased fertility, increased risk of cancer, and reduced ability of the body's immune system to fight infections, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Experts have not historically been worried by the potential health effects of TFA, but recent studies suggest that it could interfere with reproductive health, according to The Guardian, which added that the German chemical regulator recently proposed classifying the substance as toxic to reproduction. A number of governments across the globe have taken action to help reduce their citizens' PFAS exposure. For instance, PFOA was banned globally in 2020, and both the European Union and United States have made commitments to take action on PFAS contamination. Do you worry about having toxic forever chemicals in your home? Majorly Sometimes Not really I don't know enough about them Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. In the U.S., New Hampshire has banned ski, board, and boat waxes containing these chemicals, and at least 29 states were likely to consider legislation to reduce PFAS exposure in 2025. It's impossible to avoid PFAS, but there are a few things you can do to limit your exposure. They include ditching nonstick cookware and limiting your purchases of stain- and water-resistant clothing. You can also look for PFAS-free brands. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.


New York Post
15-05-2025
- New York Post
In-N-Out Burger removes artificial coloring from signature drinks
In-N-Out Burger has announced a major menu switch, changing the ingredients of a few of its beverages. 'As part of our ongoing commitment to providing our customers with the highest-quality ingredients, we have removed artificial coloring from our Strawberry Shakes and Signature Pink Lemonade,' Patty Pena, a spokesperson for the California-based burger joint, confirmed to Fox News Digital on Wednesday. Advertisement It is unclear which specific dyes have been removed by the popular fast-food restaurant or if the coloring will be replaced. Last month, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a ban on petroleum-based synthetic dyes within the nation's food supply, citing health concerns. Petroleum-based synthetic dyes are used to add color to food and drug items. The dyes are commonly found in breakfast cereals, candy, snacks, beverages, vitamins and 'other products [that are] aimed at children,' according to an article titled 'The Artificial Food Dye Blues,' shared by the National Library of Medicine. Advertisement 3 In-N-Out Burger removed artificial coloring from the chain's Strawberry Shakes and Signature Pink Lemonade. In-N-Out Burger The FDA recently announced the approval of three natural-source colors in food items: Galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract and calcium phosphate. Pena told Fox News Digital the chain will be making a major change to a staple condiment as well. 'We're also in the process of transitioning to an upgraded ketchup, which is made with real sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup,' Pena said. Advertisement 3 In-N-Out Burger is in the process of taking high-fructose corn syrup out of its ketchup. WeWander – HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called out sugar during the agency's announcement on the artificial dye ban. 'Sugar is poison,' Kennedy said at the time. 'And Americans need to know that it is poisoning us.' California-based certified nutritionist Courtney Swan of Realfoodology told Fox News Digital that high-fructose corn syrup needs to be examined. Advertisement High-fructose corn syrup is a processed sweetener derived from corn starch, which Swan classifies as an 'ultraprocessed, refined sugar.' 3 It is unclear which specific dyes have been removed by the popular fast-food restaurant or if the coloring will be replaced. Mustard Assets – The syrup is 'so far removed from its original source that it's not even recognizable as something that would be considered food anymore,' Swan said. Fox News Digital followed up with In-N-Out Burger for additional comment.