• Articles

    Surgical and Nonsurgical Management of Gallstones

    SHERLY ABRAHAM, HAIDY G. RIVERO, IRINA V. ERLIKH, LARRY F. GRIFFITH, VASANTHA K. KONDAMUDI

    The recommended initial imaging study for most patients with suspected gallstones or a complication of gallstones is abdominal ultrasonography; however, additional studies also may be indicated. Although the natural history is generally benign, the physician must decide...

    Neglected Parasitic Infections: What Every Family Physician Needs to Know

    DANA WOODHALL, JEFFREY L. JONES, PAUL T. CANTEY, PATRICIA P. WILKINS, SUSAN P. MONTGOMERY

    Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is the most common form of bariatric surgery in the United States, although there is growing evidence of postoperative complications. Patients may experience gastric band slippage, port malfunctions, and gastroesophageal reflux disease,...

    Complications of Adjustable Gastric Banding Surgery for Obesity

    CHARLES KODNER, DANIEL R. HARTMAN

    Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is the most common form of bariatric surgery in the United States, although there is growing evidence of postoperative complications. Patients may experience gastric band slippage, port malfunctions, and gastroesophageal reflux disease,...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    AAFP News: AFP Edition

    Release of CMS Information Opens Physicians' Finances to Public Scrutiny | National Research Trials to Focus on Resident Duty Hour Rules | AAFP to FTC: Anticompetitive Practices in Health Care Threaten Family Physicians | Study Finds Modest Changes Lead to Better Quality,...

    Editorials

    Functional Gallbladder Disorder: An Increasingly Common Diagnosis

    DAVID IVAN CROTEAU

    Functional gallbladder disorder is being diagnosed more often in the office setting, increasing the number of cholecystectomies performed over the past two decades. The Rome III criteria help maximize the chance that surgical outcomes will have long-term clinical benefit.

    AFP Journal Club

    Evidence to Guide Measles Immunization Recommendations

    JILL ENDRES, MARK A. GRABER, ROBERT DACHS

    Although measles vaccination is rarely associated with fever and seizures in children, the benefits of immunization outweigh the risks. Parents should be encouraged to follow recommended immunization schedule and avoid the MMR and varicella combination vaccine.

    Photo Quiz

    Enlarging, Painful Nodule Under the Toenail

    MATT PEREZ, GREGORY ENGEL

    Photo Quiz presents readers with a clinical challenge based on a photograph or other image.

    Clinical Evidence Handbook

    Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes (Drug Treatments)

    KEES J. GORTER, FLORIS ALEXANDER VAN DE LAAR, PAUL G.H. JANSSEN, SEBASTIAN T. HOUWELING, GUY E.H.M. RUTTEN

    What are the effects of blood glucose–lowering medications in adults with type 2 diabetes?

    POEMs

    Nontraumatic Supraspinatus Tears: PT Is Equal to PT Plus Surgery at One Year

    HENRY C. BARRY

    In this study, the long-term outcomes of adults with nontraumatic supraspinatus tears who are treated conservatively are similar to those of patients treated with two different surgical approaches.

    Suppurative Complications of Sore Throat Uncommon and Unpredictable

    ALLEN F. SHAUGHNESSY

    First, the good news. Complications of acute sore throat—peritonsillar abscess, otitis media, sinusitis, and skin infections—occur in only approximately 1% of adults. However, there is no good predictor of which adults will develop these complications. Decision tools that try...

    Fewer Major Bleeds with Edoxaban Than with Warfarin, but Treatment Benefit Unclear

    MARK H. EBELL

    Edoxaban provides similar effectiveness and a somewhat lower rate of major gastrointestinal and intracranial bleeding than warfarin. It is worth reading the supplemental appendices to this report for a look at the subgroups. For almost all subgroups, low-dose edoxaban caused...

    Practice Guidelines

    AAP Releases Report on the Evaluation of Children When Sexual Abuse Is Suspected

    AMBER RANDEL

    Childhood sexual abuse is common and can lead to lifelong physical and psychological problems. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released a report to assist physicians in evaluating children who may have been sexually abused, determining when to report the case,...

    FPIN's Clinical Inquiries

    Treatment of Jellyfish Envenomation

    J. DAVID HONEYCUTT, CHRISTOPHER E. JONAS, RITA F. SMITH

    There is limited patient-oriented evidence upon which to base recommendations for treatment of jellyfish envenomation. Patients should be removed from the water, and an attempt should be made to prevent the discharge of adherent nematocysts (i.e., microscopic stinging cells),...

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Gallstones

    The gallbladder is an organ that stores a fluid called bile that helps you digest your food. Gallstones form when cholesterol and other things in the bile become solid and stick together, making stones. The stones can be as small as a pebble or as big as a golf ball.



    Disclosure

    All editors in a position to control content for this activity, AFP journal, are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships. View disclosures.


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