Mayo Clinic Talks

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Erick Bothun, M.D.  Normally, our eyes work together, providing us with one single image and providing accurate depth perception. However, when there’s misalignment of the eyes and they don’t point in the same direction, that’s known as strabismus. It’s much more than a cosmetic issue; a variety of complications...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guests: Erin O’Brien, M.D. & Rohit Divekar, M.B.B.S  Patients frequently come to primary care with symptoms of nasal congestion, facial pressure, post-nasal drainage and recurrent sinus infections and they often believe their symptoms should be treated with an antibiotic. Determining the underlying cause of the patient’s symptoms, deciding who will...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Cheryl L. Khanna, M.D.  Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide and is characterized by progressive optic nerve damage often but not always associated with elevated intraocular pressure. When vision loss occurs, it begins insidiously and progresses silently. Many patients are unaware of any eye problems until they become advanced. Although...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Joshua M. Romero, M.D.  Tendon disorders can be difficult to manage, and patients often suffer with chronic symptoms. Traditional treatments such as physical therapy, braces, and steroid injections have shown to be of limited benefit. There’s another treatment option for chronic tendon disorders; focused shockwave therapy. It’s non-invasive and uses acoustic pr...

Host: Andy Herber, P.A.-C. Guests: Jennifer Bold, D.N.P., APRN, C.N.P.; Michelle Booth-Kowalczyk, APRN, C.N.P.; John Weimer, PA-C; Alec Williams, APRN, C.N.P., D.N.P.; As healthcare grows increasingly complex, the success of newly hired nurse practitioners and physician assistants depends not only on their preparation, but also on the systems that support their integration, development, and long-t...

Host: Darryl S. Chukta, M.D.  Guest: Robert D. McBane, M.D.  At times, pulmonary embolism can be very challenging to diagnose. While some patients have a very dramatic presentation, others may have very subtle, non-specific symptoms. Establishing a diagnosis quickly is important as a delayed or missed diagnosis can lead to excessive morbidity and mortality. What clues might a patient have that sho...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Ruti Sella Svetlit, M.D. Cataracts are one of the leading causes of vision impairment, especially among older adults. While cataract surgery has been available for many decades, it has evolved significantly over the last several years. Patients now have multiple lens options which can give them a variety of...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Stephanie L. Grach, M.D., M.S.  Chronic fatigue syndrome is now known as myalgic encephalomyelitis. Despite this change in terminology, there’s still a great deal that’s not known regarding this health problem. Clinical manifestations can include severe, persistent fatigue, often with a worsening of symptoms following physical exertion. Impaired sleep, potentia...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Josh P. Wiedermann, M.D. Neck masses in children are commonly seen in a primary care practice. Fortunately, most are benign, although serious causes, including malignancy, always remain a possibility. Based on medical history, physical examination, and occasionally imaging studies, the cause is usually able to be identified. What are some key elements consisten...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Karthik Ravi, M.D.  Eosinophilic Esophagitis is often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed in primary care settings, yet it’s a common cause of esophageal symptoms. It’s commonly mistaken for the more common gastroesophageal reflux disease as it can present with symptoms of reflux and dysphagia. How can we differentiate eosinophilic esophagitis from reflux esophagitis? ...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Dawn Davis, M.D.  Psoriasis is a health condition commonly seen in primary care but one which has evolved significantly in both how we understand the disease as well as how it’s managed. At one time, psoriasis was considered primarily a skin disorder; however, we now know it’s part of a systemic inflammatory disease with potential involvement of multiple organ....

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guests: Jake Eide, M.D. & Rijul Kshirsager, M.D.  Skull base tumors are not commonly seen in a primary care practice, yet it’s important for us to recognize them when they do present. These tumors can be either benign or malignant, however because of their proximity to important structures in the brain, even benign tumors can...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Regis Fernandes, M.D.  We’ve known for some time that patients who have hypertension and diabetes are at increased risk for developing subsequent cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. It’s now being thought that these health problems are related and interconnected, representing Kidney-Cardiovascular Metabolic Syndrome. They form a pathophysiologic...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Joshua M. Romero, M.D.  Pickleball has become one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S., especially among older adults. This rapid rise in popularity has also resulted in a significant number and variety of sports-related injuries. It’s important for primary care clinicians to recognize the most common injuries and their risk factors. We should also discuss...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Stacey Rizza, M.D.  Although vector-borne illnesses can be acquired by travel to distant parts of the world, some can be acquired here in the U.S. As a result, these infections become pertinent to primary care clinicians as they can produce serious complications. When should we suspect a vector-borne illness in a patient? How do we distinguish it from other vir...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Stacey Rizza, M.D.  Lyme Disease is a tick-borne illness commonly seen in various parts of the country. Despite its common occurrence in the primary care practice, it’s associated with confusion and controversy. From the presenting symptoms, occasional ambiguous serologic results, to managing patients with persistent symptoms following treatment, primary...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Stacey Rizza, M.D.  We’ve now had our second outbreak of a potentially deadly infectious disease. Hantavirus has been diagnosed in several individuals and most recently just under 100 cases of Ebola Virus have been confirmed along with several hundred suspected cases. Ebola virus is caused by several species of the Ebola...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Benjamin Lai, M.D.  Substance use disorders are chronic and often relapsing conditions associated with compulsive substance use. They result from a complex interaction of chemistry within the brain, often combined with genetic and environmental issues. Common substances involve alcohol, stimulants, sedatives and opioids; opioids commonly prescribed by health ca...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Michael Mueller, M.D.  Fibromyalgia is a chronic health problem commonly seen in a primary care setting. It can be challenging to diagnose and even more so to manage. It can have a devastating effect on a patient’s lifestyle, and patients will commonly go from provider to provider seeking relief for their...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D  Guest: Mark D. Tyson, III, M.D., M.P.H.  Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, and primary care clinicians are often the first to evaluate patients with bladder cancer. The symptoms are usually subtle and may include either gross or microscopic hematuria. The decision in whether to investigate these presenting symptoms can often impact early...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Stacey Rizza, M.D.  Hantavirus has been in the news lately. Although it’s rare, it can cause serious disease which can be life-threatening.  Early symptoms are similar to other common viral infections including fever, myalgias, headache, and fatigue. As a result, the ability to establish an early diagnosis is challenging. Who’s...