Shekhar Singh

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Early Signs & Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation on the joints. Usually, the disease tends to appear with mild symptoms which may come and go and progress over a period of months. Symptoms of this disease vary from day to day, and one should have to check with the doctor if they are facing the following symptoms:

Fatigue:

When you have rheumatoid arthritis, you feel usually tired before any other symptoms appear. Fatigue may appear before the onset of other symptoms by weeks or months. It will come and go from week to week or day to day. Sometimes, fatigue is accompanied by a general feeling of ill health or even depression.

Morning Stiffness:

One of the early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis is Morning stiffness. If it lasts for a few minutes, it is a sign of Arthritis. Over time, the symptoms can worsen without a proper treatment. Stiffness lasts for several hours is usually a symptom of inflammatory arthritis and a typical rheumatoid arthritis. But, stiffness can be felt at ay period of prolonged inactivity like napping or sitting.

Joint Stiffness:

The occurrence of stiffness in one or more of the smaller joints is a common early sign of Rheumatoid Arthritis. This can occur at any time of the day whether you are active or not. Generally, stiffness begins in the joints of the hands and it comes on slowly, although it can appear suddenly. This stiffness will affect multiple joints over the course of one or two years.

Joint Pain:

The other common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are joint pain. Usually, you may feel pain during movement or while at rest and it is followed by joint tenderness. This pain can affect both sides of the body equally. In early stages of rheumatoid arthritis, the pain appears on fingers and wrists. Over time, you may experience the pain in your knees, feet, ankles, or shoulders.

Minor Joint Swelling:

This is one of the early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. You may have a mild inflammation on the joints. Usually, this swelling is associated with the warmth of the joints. Flare-ups can last anywhere from a few days to few weeks and it can be expected to increase over time. Subsequent flare-ups may be felt in the same or other joints.

Fever:

Fever can be an early warning sign of rheumatoid arthritis when it is accompanied by other symptoms like joint pain and inflammation. However, a high fever having 100°F (38°C) is a sign of some other illness or an infection.

Numbness and Tingling:

Inflammation of tendons can create pressure on your nerves. This can cause numbness, tingling or a burning feeling in your hands referred to as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The joints of the hands or feet may even produce a squeak or crackling noise as damaged cartilage grinds against joints when you move.

The decrease in range of motion:

The presence of inflammation in your joints can cause tendons and ligaments to become deformed or unstable. Over time, you may find yourself unable to bend or straighten some joints. Even though your range of motion is affected by pain, it is always advisable to engage in regular gentle exercise.

Other Early Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis:

When you are in the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis, you may feel a variety of symptoms including:

Dry mouth

Itchy, or inflamed eyes

Discharge in eyes

Difficulty in sleeping

The appearance of chest pain when you breathe

Hard bumps of tissue under the skin on the arms

Loss of appetite

Weight loss

If you have above-said symptoms, it is advisable to see a doctor to get a proper diagnosis.

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Early Signs and Symptoms of Leukemia

Leukaemia is cancer in the White Blood Cells (WBC) of the body. Even though there are three blood cells - Red Blood Cells (RBC), White Blood Cells (WBC) and Platelets in the human body, Leukemia generally refers to cancer of the WBC.

WBC is one of the vital components of the immune system. These cells protect our body from invasion of bacterias, viruses, fungi as well as from other abnormal cells and foreign substances. When leukaemia occurs, WBC cells get affected, and they don’t function like normal WBC’s. These cells will divide quickly and form a group of cells eventually.

Risk factors for Leukaemia:

Even though the causes of leukaemia aren’t well-known, there are several factors which increase the risks of the disease.

● A recent family history of leukaemia

● A habit of smoking - increases the risk of developing Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML)

● Had undergone previous Cancer treatments like Chemotherapy or Radiation therapy.

● High level of exposure to radiations

● Exposure to various chemicals like Benzene.

● Genetic disorders like Down Syndrome.

Types of leukaemia:

● Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) - It occurs in children as well as adults.

● Acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) - It occurs mostly in children.

● Chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) - It occurs mostly in adults

● Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)- It usually occurs in people with age of 55 or above.

Signs and Symptoms of Leukemia:

1. General Weakness:

This is a typical early sign of leukaemia. The weakness in the body usually happens, and it made the affected one feel drained and washed out. If one has a weakness for a prolonged period, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

2. Feeling Tired or Fatigue: It is one of the first and foremost signs of Leukemia. The person affected with leukaemia always feels tired and they want to take rest. This feeling won’t go away from one’s body no matter how much sleep or rest one has taken.

3. Weight Loss Cancer cells usually take up energy stored in the body and use up for their metabolism. When leukaemia affects, the same case will happen. These cancer cells drain energy from the body and the affected person will lose weight, becoming thin day by day. If one is eating normally but still losing weight, it is time to check with a doctor.

4. Bruising easily with no clear cause Leukaemia affects the platelets in the body and it will lead to bruising or bleeding. The bleeding will happen easily and there is no known cause for it. Usually, bleeding occurs from gums or nose in the body. Sometimes, the leukaemia affected person will notice blood in the urine or stools.

5. Frequent Infections Leukaemia will increase the number of white blood cells, which in turn increase the chances of infections. When infections are affecting frequently, the chances of leukaemia are very high.

6. Swollen lymph glands: Another common symptom of leukaemia is Swollen Lymph Glands. This will happen because of the collection of abnormal white blood cells in the lymph glands.

7. High fever Fever is the most common and one of the early signs of cancer. The recurrence of illness over a specified period is a significant sign of leukaemia. Usually, disease occurs when the affected WBC cells spread from their origin point.

When to see a doctor?

It is recommended to make an appointment with a doctor if there is any of the above said signs or symptoms or anything that worry you. In rare cases, leukaemia is identified with blood tests that are taken for some other health conditions. Usually, the signs and symptoms of Leukemia are vague and not specific. There are chances that people reject the early leukaemia symptoms because these resemble the typical symptoms of the flu and general illnesses.

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Common Signs And Symptoms Of Gastrointestinal Disorders

Gastrointestinal disease is of different kinds, and they affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract like Oesophagus, Intestine, Rectum, etc. The disorder can be acute, chronic or sometimes even functional which leads to various diseases. The reasons for these disorders may vary. It could be a simple Indigestion or deadly colon cancer. However, we can understand that we are in trouble when the gastrointestinal tract shows the following signs and symptoms.

Rectal Bleeding

Rectal bleeding is a condition that causes bleeding from the colon or rectum. Usually, blood will pass through the anus, and one can notice it in their stool or the toilet bowl or on the toilet paper. The blood colour will range from dark red to maroon to a tarry colour. Rectal bleeding is the symptom of various gastrointestinal problems, and early diagnosis of it is essential for better recovery.

Fistula

A fistula is another common sign that indicates that the gastrointestinal system got affected. An acute infection in the internal glands of the anus will lead to the formation of pus near the anus or rectum, which in turn causes the anal abscess. Sometimes, faecal material or foreign matter clog near the anus or rectum, leading to the abscess. The fistula is a condition in which the tunnel is formed under the skin and it will connect the clogged infected glands to an abscess. It may connect to the skin of the buttocks near the anal opening which leads to pain and infection over time.

Stomach Cramps

Stomach cramps are usually short-lived and it is often not serious. The cramp should be considered as a medical emergency if the pain occurred suddenly and unexpectedly in a particular section of the stomach. This condition is a very common sign of gastrointestinal disorders.

Flatulence

One of the most common signs of gastrointestinal disorders is flatulence. It is a condition when the intestinal gas - the waste gas produced during digestion, releases from the anus with sound and odour. Flatulence is due to various gastrointestinal problems like the breakdown of undigested foods, lactase intolerance, malabsorption of several food items. When a flatulence is occurring frequently, one should consult a gastrointestinal specialist for early diagnosis.

Incontinence

Incontinence is a condition that leads to the accidental leak or involuntary loss of urine from the bladder or loss of faeces from the bowel. The severity of the state ranges from a small leak to the complete failure of bowel movement controls. When Incontinence occurs, one should consult it with a gastrointestinal specialist to avoid severe problems.

Haemorrhoids

A haemorrhoid is a condition that swells the blood vessels on the rectum and anus. These swollen blood vessels will cause intense pain in the bowel movements. The state further causes rectal pain, itching, bleeding and protrusion of haemorrhoids into the anal canal. One may face a very terrible experience since stools passing through the rectum and anus will cause pain and bleeding. Haemorrhoids are a universal sign of various gastrointestinal problems, and one should consult a doctor for an early diagnosis.

Other Common Signs:

Apart from these signs and symptoms, several other symptoms indicate the gastrointestinal disorders in the body.

Gas and bloating

Diarrhoea

Constipation

Hiccups

Nausea

Vomiting

Lump in the throat

All these things are only the most common signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders. It is always recommended to have a regular checkup with a gastrointestinal specialist to ensure the good health. Eating right, exercising regularly and following proper diet will take you away from the havoc and provide you with excellent digestive health.

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A Bolt From The Blue: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Stroke

When people think of a medical emergency, the first thing that pops into their minds is usually a heart attack. The second most well known medical emergency is a stroke. A stroke or cerebrovascular accident is a sudden disruption of blood flow to the brain. The brain is the most oxygen-dependent organ in the body and even a few minutes of oxygen deprivation will result in cell death. This is what happens during a stroke.

A stroke is very similar in action to a heart attack except it occurs in the brain. The area or regions of the brain affected by the disrupted blood supply give rise to different signs and symptoms and cause different types of disability if not treated. A stroke can be fatal and is a leading cause of death worldwide.

Types Of Stroke

There are two types of stroke or cardiovascular attack:

Ischemic, where there is a lack of blood flow.

Hemorrhagic, where there is a rupture of blood vessels and bleeding in the brain.

A majority of strokes are ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes account for only 10% of all cases. It is also possible for an ischemic stroke to evolve into a hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke is caused by blood clots in the blood vessels of the brain, a blood clot from elsewhere in the body that reaches the brain, or due to abnormal blood vessel structures or distribution.

Hemorrhagic stroke is often caused by burst blood vessels in the brain itself or in the tissue surrounding the brain. Burst blood vessels cause blood to flood into surrounding brain tissue leading to cell damage and cell death.

Symptoms Of A Stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency so it is vital to be aware of the warning signs and symptoms of stroke. The major signs of a stroke are aptly summarized by the abbreviation ‘FAST’:

● F- facial weakness, usually on one side. The part of the mouth and the eye on one side of the face may become paralyzed or suddenly start to droop.

● A- arm weakness, either of both or one arm. The person may experience numbness, weakness, or paralysis of the limbs.

● S- speech problems such as slurring and sudden onset of incomprehensible speech is an indicator of a stroke.

● T- time is the most important factor in determining the prognosis of a stroke. Faster treatment can dramatically improve chances of survival and reduce the risk of disability. 

Other symptoms of stroke depend on the area of the brain that is affected and includes dizziness, nausea, visual disturbances, confusion, difficulty breathing, and a sudden, severe headache.

Causes Of Stroke

A stroke can be caused by a block in blood flow through an artery or due to rupture of blood vessels. These can be caused by the following factors:

● Thrombotic stroke

A thrombus is a blood clot that forms due to atherosclerosis or plaque formation. Plaque buildup is caused by cholesterol which collects in the blood vessels and narrows them leading to obstruction of normal blood flow.

● Embolic stroke

An embolus is a particle that travels from one part of the body to another. Embolus formation usually originates in the heart. Most emboli consist of clots but can also be made of fat, cancer cells, or bacteria. 

● Hemorrhagic stroke

Hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel is weakened which causes it to burst. This can be due to high blood pressure, treatment with anticoagulants (blood thinners), aneurysms (weak spots in blood vessels), arterial malformations, trauma, and drug use (amphetamines and cocaine).

Treatment Of Stroke

Treatment of stroke depends on the underlying cause of the stroke, whether ischemic, hemorrhagic or a combination of the two. Early detection and treatment is the most important factor in the management of stroke.

Ischemic stroke is usually treated with medications to break up the clot called tissue plasminogen activators or medications to prevent further growth of clots called antiplatelet medications, the most common being aspirin. These medications need to be administered within four hours of symptom onset. Clots or emboli can also be surgically removed.

Hemorrhagic stroke is treated with medications to reduce blood pressure, reduce intracranial pressure, prevent seizures, and reverse the effects of any blood thinners the patient may be taking. Surgery may also be recommended including aneurysm clipping, malformation repair, and endovascular embolization (coiling). Stroke is a severe and often fatal condition. Prevention of stroke is a much better alternative than waiting for the worst to happen- control your blood pressure, diet, and get regular exercise.

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Bridge To Transplant: Benefits And Risks Of LVAD Implantation For Heart Failure

Heart failure is life-threatening. There are not many options for treatment except for a heart transplant. But transplant waiting lists are long so what can be done for a patient with severe heart failure awaiting a heart transplant? The answer is implantation of a Ventricular Assist Device, also known as a Left Ventricular Assist Device or LVAD.

What Is A Left Ventricular Assist Device?

An LVAD is a type of mechanical circulatory support system. It is a mechanical pump that helps to support the pumping functions of the heart in patients with heart failure. It can be used to completely or partially replace the function of the heart.

The left ventricle is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Due to this large demand, the left ventricle has to generate massive amounts of force to successfully pump blood to the whole body. In cases of heart failure, the left ventricle may not be able to pump adequately leading to insufficient oxygen and blood supply in the body.

The LVAD is not a replacement for the heart- rather it supports and strengthens the functions of the heart. It can be used as a ‘bridge to transplant’ to maintain cardiac function while the patient waits for a transplant or as an alternative to a heart transplant.

LVAD implantation involves placing a mechanical pump that has both external and internal components. The actual pump is connected to the left ventricle with a tube connecting to the aorta while this entire mechanism is connected to an external battery and control panel. It is an open heart surgery and takes up to 6 hours to perform. A ventricular assist device can also be placed for the right ventricle (RVAD) or for both ventricles (BiVAD).

Why Is A LVAD Required?

A left ventricular assist device is required in the following cases:

As a ‘bridge to transplant’ to keep the patient alive and in a reasonable state of the function while they wait for a heart transplant. It also allows the patient to wait for a transplant without being admitted to the hospital.

As a ‘Destination Therapy’ for patients who cannot undergo a heart transplant and need treatment for heart failure.

As a ‘bridge to recover’ to allow the heart to rest and recover function in cases of minor heart failure.

Benefits Of LVAD Implantation For Heart Failure

LVAD implantation can be life-saving for patients with heart failure. The benefits of LVAD implantation are: 

LVAD implantation restores heart function in cases of heart failure.

It improves survival chances and quality of life for people awaiting heart transplants.

It allows the patient to remain outside the hospital while they wait for a transplant.

It is an alternative treatment for heart failure in patients who cannot have a heart transplant.

Improved cardiac function.

It helps to maintain or even improve organ function.

It allows the heart to rest and recovers from cardiac problems.

Risks Of LVAD Implantation

As with any surgical procedure, especially an open heart surgery, there are certain risks of LVAD implantation for heart failure such as:

● Risk of excessive bleeding

● Blood clot formation

● Infections

● Viral transmission

● Pulmonary insufficiency (backflow through the pulmonary valve)

● The need to use anticoagulants can cause complications

● Device failure

● Increased risk of stroke due to blood clots

● Right heart failure or dysfunction

● Damage or destruction of blood cells due to components of the LVAD

Heart failure can be difficult to treat and LVAD implantation is often the only option to improve survival rates. The risk-benefit ratio of LVAD implantation has to be evaluated before the procedure is performed due to the chances of severe complications. Talk to your doctor to know more and help you make an informed decision.

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Overview of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery

CABG is one of the most common types of open-heart surgeries done with patients having narrowings or blockages in the arteries. With the help of this surgery, new routes are created around the blocked or narrowed arteries which in turn allows the smooth delivery of blood to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle.

Facts about Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery:

Coronary Artery Disease occurs due to the hardening of the heart arteries which supply blood to the heart muscle.

There are various tests like EKG, Stress Test, Echocardiography, and Coronary Angiography will be helpful in diagnosing this disease.

The surgery will clear the blocks and provide sufficient blood flow to deliver the oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscles.

The bypass surgery can be done by taking a vein from the leg or an inner chest wall artery.

What is coronary bypass graft surgery?

It is the surgery used to treat the coronary heart disease (CAD). The Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a condition in which the coronary arteries get blocked or narrowed. When they blocked, the average blood supply to the heart becomes disturbed which stops the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. Usually, the block is due to the formation of fatty material within the walls of the heart muscle.

Ways To Do Coronary Bypass Graft Surgery

One way to treat CAD is to bypass the blocks of the coronary arteries with a piece of a healthy blood vessel from anywhere from the body. Usually, grafts used for the bypass procedure may be a piece of vein from the leg or an artery in the chest. The surgeon will place one end of the graft above the blocks and another end below the blocks. Blood will bypass through the grafts instead of the affected arteries.

The other way to do CAD is traditional bypass surgery. In this case, the surgeon makes a large incision in the chest and stops the heart for a while. Then, he will open the chest by cuts the breastbone in half length and spreads it. Once the heart is exposed, the surgeon will insert tubes into the heart so that the blood can be pumped through the body by a heart-lung bypass machine, which is used to pump the blood when the heart is stopped temporarily.

Goals of the Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery

The following are the goals for doing this surgery:

● Enhance the quality of life by decreasing other CHD symptoms

● Provide one with the more active lifestyle

● Enhance the pumping function of the heart.

● Lower the risk of a heart attack

● Increase the survival rate.

Symptoms of coronary artery bypass Grafting Surgery

● Chest pain

● Fatigue

● Palpitations

● Abnormal heartbeats

● Breath shortness

● Swollen hands and feet

● Indigestion

Things like lifestyle changes, undergoing medications, and Angioplasty are the replacement option for CABG surgery. CABG will be a primary choice of treatment if the blocks are severe coronary arteries of the heart. Usually, doctors prefer Angioplasty with stent replacement for the blocks in arteries. When the angioplasty, can’t treat the problems, then CABG is considered as the more effective treatment option than others.

There are cases in which the patient may require a repeat surgery if the grafted arteries or veins become blocked. However, taking medicines preferred by the doctor and make the necessary lifestyle changes will help one to stay away from the CABG.

The success rate of CABG surgery is very high in India, and the results are usually excellent. Persons who have undergone CABG have reduced symptoms, reduced risk of future heart attacks and decreased chances of dying early.

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Things to Know Before Undergoing Heart Valve Replacement Surgery

Heart valve replacement surgery is one of the common treatments for affected heart valves - the provider of healthy blood circulation to the entire body. All heart valve replacement surgeries are not the same, and in recent times, there are more options for doing the valve replacement surgeries than ever. While it’s good news, on the other side, patients have to research the surgical routes and find out which suits them best.

Here's what to know:

Know the Procedures:

Heart Valve replacement surgeries have two main types.

1. Minimally invasive surgery:

 In this procedure, tiny incisions are made in the chest instead of large openings. This will give a quicker recovery than normal surgical procedures, and the patients have less discomfort than the conventional ones.

2. Transcatheter Technique:

It is a minimally invasive process in which the surgeon inserts a catheter into the bone marrow and reaches the major artery. Then, they weave a new valve into the damaged one without removing the valve.

3. Open Heart Surgery:

 In this surgical procedure, the surgeon made a cut in the heart, opens it and replace the affected valves with the artificial one.

For some patients, the open heart surgery will be complicated due to various health problems, and for some patients, the traditional method becomes uneasy due to multiple complications like frail or sickness. It is recommended to know the treatment procedures for one’s heart valve replacement surgery.  

2. Consider the replacement options

For one who is going to undergo a heart valve replacement surgery, there is another critical decision to make: What is the replacement for valves?

● For transcatheter technique, there is no choice of replacement. One should undergo the replacement with bovine valve attached to a wire-like scaffold.

● Blood thinners are usually preferred in heart valve replacement surgeries, but these thinners won’t last a lifetime. Hence, it is not the best choice of replacement for heart valves.

● In most cases, the replacement is made from plastic, metal, other materials  or an animal's heart tissue (usually a cow's.)

The patient should decide the replacement option by considering it with the doctor.

3. Get Ready!

“If one’s arteries are too small, there are no chances for transcatheter technique.”

- Like this, various factors affect the type of surgery and type of replacement valve one should have. Hence it is essential to understand the health history, current medical condition, and age. There are a variety of medical tests like pulmonary function test, coronary angiography, ultrasound testing to diagnose the health of blood vessels going to the brain, etc. One should consult with a doctor and should undergo all the necessary tests to know the readiness of their surgery. 

4. Find the ‘One’ - The Right One.

It’s essential to find the excellent heart surgeon. Fortunately, it is not so hard to find the good surgeons. The best way to find the right one is to get a referral from your family care provider or a cardiologist. After getting a referral,  It’s important to visit them in person and ask them the questions before ensuring an appointment.

Here’s what to ask:

1. Every year, how many valve repair surgeries do you do?

2. What is the reason for my valve disorder?

3. How many surgeries do you do every year for the valve disorder that I have?

4. What is your success rate for valve repair surgeries?  

5. How long does the valve repair operation take to complete?

6. Is there any chance of Barlow’s Disease in me? If I have a Barlow’s valve – what is the opportunity of repairing my affected valve?

7. What kind of incisions will you recommend for my surgery?

8. Is my tricuspid valve healthy?

Heart Valve replacement surgery is considered one of the safest surgeries which leads to positive benefits in patients’ life. The recovery time from surgery depends on the age and current health condition of the patient. However, the recovery will happen at his own pace, and the patients should be eventually able to lead a normal and healthy life.

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Risks and Complications of Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee replacement surgeries become mainstream these days. Most of the total knee replacement surgeries become successful. However, there are complications do occur in these surgeries. Here are the potential complications from the knee replacement surgeries and in rare instances, these complications will become fatal.

Blood Clots:

After a knee replacement, the blood flow path will change, and it leads to the possible blood clot. These clots will form in the vein, and it will lead to severe pain and noticeable swelling. Doctors usually suggest mild exercise after the surgery to avoid the blood clots. In the case of blood clots, doctors use various ways to cure them. Drugs such as heparin, Rivaroxaban, Dabigatran, and Apixaban will help prevent the blood clots. However, the usage of blood thinning drugs can increase the risk of bleeding and infection.

Wound Infection:

After a knee replacement, there are limited chances for wound infections. This infection will happen in about 1 in 50 cases. These infections will be treated with antibiotics. There are some extremely rare cases where the wound develops a deep infection, which leads to the removal of the replaced joints.

Nerve And Other Tissue Damage:

Sometimes, body parts like ligaments, arteries or nerves will face damage due to knee replacement.

The knee replacement leads to nerve damage which usually develops over time.

The ligaments may be damaged while operating and it can be treated with braces to provide better recovery.

Severe damage to arteries will happen after the surgery, and it will be cured by doing another surgery.

The knee replacement will sometime reduce the flow of blood which leads to various severe complications.

Bone Fracture:

The bones in the body will start to fall usually several months after the surgery. Most of the times, it is due to the Osteoporosis - the condition which weakens the bone. This condition is extremely rare, and if it happens, another surgery is required to fix the bones or replace them entirely.

Dislocation:

In most of the knee replacement surgeries, plastic bearings are used as a replacement material. In these cases, there are chances for the dislocation of these bearings. When this dislocation happens, the patient requires further surgery for better recovery.

Bleeding and Haematoma:

It is a condition in which the blood collects in a wound after surgery. These collected blood will swell the skin, and the operated area looks bloated. Usually a few days later, these collected blood will leak out by itself. In some cases, the blood remains in the wound and surgery is the only way to remove them. Intaking of drugs like aspirin and antibiotics after surgery will increase the chance of hematoma.

Other Risks And Complications:

Usually, a prosthesis component is used in bone replacement. There are chances that this component will loose or dislocate if it does not seal to the bone well.

The legs of the patient will slightly vary into different lengths after surgery. In such cases, a short insert is the better remedy.

The knee after surgery may be stiff. Due to this, some people neglect to bend their knees. This will develop scar tissue and limits flexibility.

Usually, after surgery, an allergic reaction to the bone cement can occur. In those cases, both the bone cement and prosthesis will be removed to provide better recovery.

Kneecap, muscles, ligaments, and tendons will be damaged after the surgery.

For the most cases, all these complications can be treated with much efficiency. Even a surgery followed by complications is still considered as successful if the pain is treated and the functioning of knee improves over time.

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What is the Dor Procedure?

The heart is a complex organ. Even a minor change in its structure or function can have devastating consequences for the body.

The human heart consists of 4 chambers- two atria and two ventricles. The atria are receiving chambers and the ventricles are pumping or dispensing chambers. The atria and ventricles have different thicknesses and sizes depending on their function and the force they have to generate to maintain cardiac output. The ventricles are thicker since they have to pump blood out of the heart whereas the atria are thinner since they simple receive blood.

The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body, the right ventricle pumps this deoxygenated blood to the lungs where is receives oxygen, the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs, and the left atrium pumps oxygenated blood to the whole body. Due to its large demand and force required, the left ventricle is the thickest chamber of the heart.

The Dor procedure is a cardiac surgery developed by Dr Vincent Dor, a French cardiac surgeon, in 1985. It is also known as endoventricular circular patch plasty (ECPP).

When Is The Dor Procedure Required?

The Dor procedure is done to restore the normal size and shape of an enlarged left ventricle. This dilatation of the left ventricle usually occurs due to a myocardial infarction or heart attack.

A normal left ventricle has an elliptical shape. When a person has a heart attack that affects the left ventricle, a scar may form which bulges out and affects the pumping function of the left ventricle. This scar tissue changes the shape of the ventricle from elliptical to spherical which affects the mechanics of blood pumping and hemodynamics.

As the shape of the left ventricle changes, more force is required to pump blood due to the limitations of the laws of physics that govern fluid dynamics. Increase in size of the heart tissue (hypertrophy) and a circular shape cause the valves to widen which hampers the correct directional flow of blood resulting in cardiac insufficiency. This causes increased stress on the left ventricle which can lead to further health complications for the patient.

How Is The Dor Procedure Performed?

The Dor procedure is an open heart surgery that involves endoventricular circular patch plasty, done after a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).

The Dor procedure is a ventricular reconstructive surgery in which the surgeon removes the scar tissue that has formed on the left ventricle.  The whole procedure takes about 4 hours but the actual reconstruction takes only 20 minutes. The procedure involves creating a suture to remove the scar tissue and reshape the left ventricle to its normal elliptical shape. If there is a lot of dead tissue and scarring, a patch may be placed called a Dacron patch.

The Dor procedure uses a series of stitches or sutures to seal off the dead tissue (‘purse string stitches’) and reinforce the wall of the left ventricle. The Dor procedure is usually performed in conjunction with CABG or valvular repair if required.

Indications For Dor Procedure

The Dor procedure is indicated in the following situations:

Heart attack or myocardial infarction with the formation of scar tissue

Heart failure

Severe coronary artery disease with angina (chest pain)

Valvular diseases or disorders.

Ventricular tachycardia (abnormally fast heartbeat)

Risks and Benefits Of The Dor Procedure

As with any surgery, especially open heart surgery, the Dor procedure carries the following risks:

Infection of the surgical site

Excessive blood loss

Rejection of the patch

Formation of blood clots.

On the other hand, the Dor procedure improves cardiac function, restores the normal shape and function of the left ventricle, and increased survival rates. The Dor procedure cannot be performed in all cardiac patients. It is not a viable option for patients with right or left ventricular dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, and end-stage cardiomyopathy.

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How is Bone Marrow Transplant Done?

Bone Marrow transplant, medically termed as Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), is a procedure suggested to treat aplastic anemia, blood cancer (like lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma), certain immunodeficiency diseases and damaged blood cells due to chemotherapy. This is required when the bone marrow stops producing function or healthy stem cells.

In the transplant, healthy and thriving stem cells are infused into the patients after the damaged or affected stem cells are killed through chemotherapy or radiation. A person undergoing a bone marrow transplant should know a few basic things to get a better understanding of the process.

What is Bone Marrow?

Bone marrow is the soft fatty tissue that is found within bones. There are of two kinds. The red marrow helps generate red blood cells, white blood cells, and the platelets. The yellow marrow stores fats which can be used as energy. Interestingly, a child’s bone marrow is mostly red but as they grow up, most of them are converted into the yellow marrow.

How Is Bone Marrow Transplant Done?

A bone marrow transplant is a long and rigorous process which requires a careful and thorough follow up for it to be successful. There are three major steps in a bone marrow transplant besides the follow up:

● Chemotherapy or radiation process

●  Harvest the bone marrow to be transplanted (either by the patient or a donor)

● The Transplant

Chemotherapy or radiation is the first step towards the transplant. This ensures to kill the damaged or the existing cancer cells in the body. This can be done in two ways:

● Ablative or myeloablative treatment: Popularly known as the conventional treatment, this requires a high dose of chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy to kill cancer or damaged stem cells before the transplant of the healthy one. It also kills all existing bone marrow to regenerate a completely new bone marrow system.

● Reduced Intensity Conditioning (RIC): Here, the chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy are done in small dosage. This is specifically considered for aged patients or ones with other medical issues.

There is three major processes for Bone Marrow Transplant depending on the source of the bone marrow:

● Autologous transplant: In this, the bone marrow is collected from the patient. Healthy stem cells of the patient are harvested before the chemotherapy and frozen. Once the chemotherapy rids the body of the cancer cells, the frozen cells are transplanted back into the patient.

● Allogeneic transplant: Allogeneic transplant is where the bone marrow is taken from a donor. An important requirement for this is that the donor’s genes should match that on the patient. This is the reason why the patient’s immediate relatives are tested for a match or a syngeneic twin are best suited for it. Nevertheless, a match can also be found in a non-relative but this might but the process might be time-consuming.

● Umbilical cord transplant: The stem cells for this type of transplant are taken from the umbilical cord of a newborn child. As the stem cells at this stage are not completely developed a perfect genetic match is not required.

Is Bone marrow transplant and stem cell transplant the same?

Both the transplant basically involves transferring stem cells, the only difference is the source it is collected from. When it is collected from the bone marrow is called a bone marrow transplant and when it collected from the blood it is called a stem cell transplantation.

In bone marrow transplant a specially designed long needle is used to withdraw the matter directly from the pelvic area of the donor or the patient (Bone marrow harvest.).

Whereas, the stem cells extracted from the blood is more like a transfusion, carried through a central venous catheter (i.e. a small tube inserted into a large vein) which go through a process of filtering the stem cells from the blood and (Leukapheresis).

What are the Risk and Complications:

If you are a cancer patient, you should be informed that bone transplant is a procedure that comes with a certain risk and complications and, in some cases, has proven to be fatal. The effect of transplant varies from patient to patient. The major risk involved are: 

● Graft-versus-host disease (allogeneic transplant only)

● Stem cell (graft) failure

● Organ damage

● Infections

● Cataracts

● Infertility

● New Cancers

● Death

Irrespective of the mentioned risk, Bone Marrow Transplant has been able to save the lives of many. Hence, anyone considering for a transplant can discuss with their professional specialized doctors on the pros and cons and decide on the best option.

[shekharsingh2018-blog]

Types of Paediatric Heart Surgery

When a child is having CHD (congenital heart defects) right from the birth of a child is affected by heart diseases after birth, the treatment is needed for the child's wellbeing. There are many kinds of heart disorders ranging from minor to severe. These disorders can occur inside the heart or in the large blood vessels located outside the heart. Specific heart defects may not need repair as they can heal as the baby grows while some heart disorders may need surgery right after the child’s birth.

There are various types of Paediatric Heart Surgery, and each one has its benefits. Let's have a look at them.

Patent ductus arteriosus(PDA) ligation:

"While in the womb, each baby has a blood vessel called ductus arteriosus, which runs between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. When the baby starts to breathe on his/her own, it will close by itself. If it is opened even after the birth, then it is called a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)."

- A PDA Ligation surgery is required to cure this in case the medicines won’t work out.

How is it done?

The surgeon will make a cut on the left side of the chest, and he divides or cuts the ductus arteriosus. This procedure is done in NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Repairment of Coarctation Of the Aorta:

“When a part of the aorta becomes narrow - like an hourglass timer, then it will lead to Coarctation of the aorta. The blood flow to the lower parts of the body will be affected by this disorder which in turn results in high blood pressure.”

-To repair this defect, doctors usually undergo a surgery.

How is it done?

There are many ways to repair this disorder.

The surgeon cuts the narrow section in the heart, and he will make it bigger with an artificial synthetic patch.

Sometimes, the surgeon eliminates the narrow section by stitching the remaining ends together.  

Another way to repair the problem is to do a "bypass surgery." In this case, the surgeon connects a tube on either side of the narrow section and provides a bypass to the vital parts of the aorta. Hence, blood flows through the tunnel and bypasses this thin section.

Atrial septal defect (ASD) repair:

“When there occurs a hole in Atrial Septum - a wall between the left and right atria of the heart, it is called an ASD.”

-When ASD occurs, blood with and without oxygen will mix with each other, leads to various medical problems. Surgery is the best option to repair this disorder.

How is it done?

Open-Heart surgery is done to repair ASD. The surgeon will close the septum by stitching it or put a patch on the hole to cover it.

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair:

“When the hole occurred in the ventricular septum - the wall between the left and right ventricles of the heart, then it will lead to VSD.”

-It will also mix the oxygenated blood with used blood. The condition will lead to irregular heartbeats and other heart problems. Surgery is the best option to repair this disorder.

How is it done?

In cases where the VSD causes heart failure or endocarditis, open-heart surgery is needed to repair it. Usually, the surgeon closes the hole in the septum with a patch.

Transposition of the great vessels repair:

“ When aorta and pulmonary veins originate from extremely other sides of the heart, this transposition leads to many congenital disabilities.”

-Placing those vessels back in their right places require open-heart surgery.

How is it done?

The surgeons do an arterial switch to solve the issue. They divide the aorta and pulmonary artery and connect them to where they belong! - pulmonary artery to the right ventricle and the aorta and coronary arteries to the left ventricle.

 Truncus Arteriosus Repair:

“Truncus Arteriosus is a condition where all three blood vessels - aorta, coronary arteries, and pulmonary artery originates from one common trunk.”

-It is one of the rarest conditions that occur in the child. The disorder is very complicated, and it requires one or two more surgeries for complete cure.

How is it done?

The surgeon separates the pulmonary arteries from the aortic trunk and the patches all the defects. After doing these, the surgeon creates a connection between the right ventricle and the pulmonary arteries.

 Tricuspid Atresia Repair:

“When the tricuspid valve is deformed, narrowed, or it is missing, then it leads to a disorder called Tricuspid Atresia.”

-Babies who are born with Tricuspid Artesia are ‘blue’ because they cannot receive blood from the lungs. This condition will restrict the circulation of blood to the lungs. Surgery is the only way to repair this problem, but the baby may be given a medicine called prostaglandin E which will keep the patent ductus arteriosus open for a while.

How is it done?

The surgeon repairs the tricuspid valve by replacing the lid or put in a shunt so that blood can get to the lungs.

  Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) repair:

“When the pulmonary veins resend the blood from lungs to the right side of the heart instead of the left side, it is called TAPVR.”

-Surgery is the only cure for this disorder, and if the newborn has no severe symptoms, it is done in the first six months of the baby's life.

How is it done?

The surgeon will place the pulmonary veins back to the left side of the heart where they are supposed to be, and he will further check for any abnormal connections. If there is any, he will close that too.

Hypoplastic left heart repair:

“If a left heart is very poorly developed, it leads to a disorder called Hypoplastic Left Heart.”

-This is a very severe heart defect, and it causes death in most babies if not treated well. Only specialized medical centres can do this operation, and it usually requires series of three heart operations to attain a complete cure.

How is it done?

In the first operation, the surgeon creates a new vessel from the pulmonary artery and the aorta, to carry blood to the lungs and the rest of the body. The second operation is most often done when the baby is 4 to 6 months old followed by the third one at a year after the second operation.

With new advances in testing and treatment, most surgeries are successful, and it leads children to healthy and productive lives.

[shekharsingh2018-blog]

Why is Medical Tourism a Successful Industry in India?

India is known as one of the best tourist destinations all over the world. Be its exotic cultural heritage or scenic locations, India has always charmed people and attracted them to her. Over the years, we have noticed some intense footfall in India. Needless to say, it is generating sufficient revenue from its tourism department and well, a bit of it has to do with the healthcare sector as well. Yes, if you did not know it already, medical tourism is an existing area of tourism and it helps India severely in both revenue generation and enhancement of its medical technology and advancements. So enormous has been the success of medical tourism, that the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the ministries of Health and Tourism has started have started a website for it recently.

You might ask what is medical tourism? Or why is it the next thriving industry? Medical tourism is where patients decide to travel to another location (country, continent) to seek medical help and services for multiple reasons. There could be a range of reasons for people traveling a long distance for treatment. These may include low or no availability of medical services in the residential location of the patient, financial convenience, the patient medical conditions that require them to travel and so on. For example, India witnesses many patients from the countries and continents where the government expenditure on the public sector (that includes healthcare sector) happens to be low, some of which are Africa, South America, and the Middle East.

There are various reasons that make medical tourism a successful industry in India some of which are listed below for a more comprehensive understanding of the area.

Financial Affordability

One of the major problems faced by many in medical treatment is financial affordability. India is an affordable nation to many of those in the west such as the US or UK (thanks to the exchange rate) while not compromising on the treatment Medical treatments in India, including the travel and accommodation come out to be relatively reasonable (30 - 70% cost-cutting benefits) for people living in these regions and hence they prefer to come here for medical advice and help.

World Class Infrastructure

When it comes to infrastructure, India has a large number of multi-specialty hospitals. Each of them furnished with the latest of equipment, the best of infrastructures and world-class doctors. Each of the metro cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Pune have their own long list of excellent hospitals each known for their own specialized unit and services. Anyone coming to India can choose from any of these cities and then decide in the hospital of their choice.

Immediate Medical Care

More often than not it takes time to book an appointment with doctors overseas, and due to such busy schedule, some patients decide to travel to other destinations like India to avail immediate services. This happens mostly in cases where the urgency of the situation cannot be pushed further and hence requires immediate treatment and care to avoid serious consequences. India witnesses many emergency cases on a regular basis every year and hence becomes number one choice for many patients to seek immediate medical care for various diseases and problems. The relieve of visa restrictions by the Indian government which states that tourist visa does not need two-months time period between their consecutive visits has also added as an advantage to people choosing to visit India for their healthcare.

And finally...

Exotic locations

As we mentioned earlier, India has always attracted tourists to its cultural heritage and exotic locations; and this actually acts as a catalyst for many patients in their decision making to choose the location they want to travel to for medical treatment. Places like Taj Mahal, Red Fort, and many others stay atop the list of many travelers and are what push the patients to pack their bags and book their tickets to our country.

Medical tourism in India has recorded to be an industry that makes a revenue worth 3 billion dollars (soon to be shooting up to 7-8 billion dollars around 2020). In the recent years, both the health service sector and the government tourism sector has released the benefits of promoting medical tourism for the country. While it is helping the country with an outstanding amount of revenue, it also means that the governments and the healthcare service sector are constantly trying to come up with ways to improve medical tourism in India. This means best and latest of equipment and technologies, patients friendly laws and services, and improved medical research which is again a great news who is traveling to India for any health treatment.

[shekharsingh2018-blog]

Benefits and Risks of Open-Heart Surgery

The very thought of our heart being slit open makes many of us step back and not consider open heart surgery at all. However, knowledge about it can ease our acceptance towards having one. An open-heart surgery might have a better quality of life. Another information that can ease one’s heart is, if done right, open heart surgery has a good recovery rate.

What is Open-Heart Surgery:

An open heart surgery is a complicated surgery involving the heart’s arteries, muscles or valves. In this type of surgery, the chest is cut open, so the name.

The procedure of the surgery is quite as long as the patient’s other health complications are taken into consideration before suggesting it. Respiratory issues, kidney diseases, other heart conditions are some of the complications that may hinder an open heart surgery. For the patient with diabetes and hypertension, their sugar and blood level should be stabilized before the surgery can be performed.  

For the above-mentioned reason, the patient might be asked to be admitted a week prior to the surgery for observation and also regularizing the sugar and blood levels. Even, after the surgery, the patient is kept in ICU for a while to check the success of the surgery.

When Are People Suggested an Open-Heart Surgery?

Not all heart issues need an open-heart surgery. Heart conditions which need an open heart surgery are:

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft: This is one of the most common reasons for an open-heart surgery. This procedure is when arteries that carrying blood to the body are either blocked, damaged or diseased. The blocked may be the result of high BP, high level of cholesterol, lack of physical activity, smoking, insulin resistance or diabetes.  

Heart Transplant: Another complicated open heart surgery. As a procedure involves complete replacement of the patient’s heart with that of a healthy donor's heart (in which case the donor had agreed to it prior to his death. In most cases, the recipient’s heart is replaced by that of the donor’s. However, interestingly, in the certain situation, the heart of the patient is also left in its place to aid the donor’s heart. This is called piggyback transplant procedure.

Aortic or Mitral Valve Surgery: The valves in the heart help to control the flow of the blood between the chambers and to the arteries from the heart. An open surgery is needed to repair or replace them and the procedure is different for each of them.

Correct congenital heart Defects: Doctors generally suggest other alternatives for such condition unless an open heart surgery is a must.

Risk in an Open-Heart Surgery:

An open-heart surgery comes with a long list of risk and complications. The signs of such complications arise only after the surgery. The patients are kept under observation in ICU to monitor the complications that may surface. These risk may include:

Chances of Pneumonia, which leads to inflammation of the lungs. This causes a dry cough, a problem in breathing, chest pain, fever etc.

Stroke or Heart attack

Interruption in the brain’s routine cognitive function

Organ failure- kidney and lung

Irregular heartbeat, a condition known as Arrhythmia

Blood loss or blood clot

Chest pain

Infection in the area of the surgery

Benefits of an Open-Heart Surgery:

As mentioned earlier, open-heart surgery can be used to treat many fatal heart conditions. Blockage in the arteries, defect or damage in the aortic and mitral valve, birth heart defects and other heart issues can be treated and corrected with an open-heart surgery.

No doubt there are risk and complications, not to mention the fear attracted to the word “open-heart surgery”. Nevertheless, the success rate for an open heart surgery is high. So, anyone contemplating on an open-heart surgery for a family member or themselves can speak to their primary physicians to discuss on the best course to follow for it.

[shekharsingh2018-blog]

Life And Death: The Risks & Benefits Of Liver Transplant

The liver is one of the most vital organs in the human body. It performs over 500 different functions that help to keep the body healthy and functioning. The liver stores energy in the form of glycogen, stores fat-soluble vitamins, detoxifies the blood, produces digestive juice (bile), regulates blood volume, synthesises proteins, and much more. Since it performs so many important functions, there is no life without a liver.

The liver is the only organ capable of regenerating. But this does not mean that it cannot be damaged. Liver damage is often a severe condition and in severe cases, the only option for treatment is a liver transplant.

What Is A Liver Transplant?

 A liver transplant is an operation done to replace a diseased or damaged liver with a healthy liver from a donor. A deceased donor can give a whole liver while a live donor will only be able to donate a part of their liver. Liver transplants have been performed for decades now and it is a life-saving measure for people with end-stage liver disease or severe liver damage. A successful transplant is a chance at a healthy and longer life for people who need it.

Who Needs A Liver Transplant?

The liver is the second most transplanted organ after the kidneys. Clearly, liver disease and damage is a serious and far too common problem worldwide. Liver transplant is reserved for the most severe cases of liver disease and liver damage, especially end-stage or terminal liver disease.

Liver failure is of two main types: acute and chronic. Acute liver failure or fulminant liver failure is caused by sudden, severe damage to the liver usually due to drug overdoses, toxins, infections, or adverse drug reactions. Chronic liver failure is caused by repeated injury over years due to excessive alcohol intake, fatty liver, etc.

Other conditions that may require liver transplantation are:

Congenital defects in the structure of the liver.

Liver Cirrhosis

Chronic Hepatitis infection

Metabolic disorders such as Wilson’s disease

Hepatic vein clot

What Are The Risks Of Liver Transplant?

As with all surgeries, liver transplant surgery comes with certain risks. The most common risks of liver transplant surgery are graft rejection, post-surgical infection, excessive blood loss, etc.

Risks of liver transplant also include:

Bile duct obstruction or leakage

Blood clots

Seizures

Disorientation and confusion

Graft rejection or rejection of the donated liver is by far the most troublesome risk. The immune system automatically fights any foreign tissue in the body. When a liver is transplanted, the immune system identifies it as foreign tissue and attacks it. This can cause severe and life-threatening effects on the host body. Around 30% of patients who undergo a liver transplant will experience some graft rejection and everyone who undergoes a transplant will have to take immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their lives to prevent immune-related graft rejection.

Since immunosuppressant drugs cause the immune system to function less, transplant patients are at a higher risk for infections. However, not all patients develop infections and the problem lessens with time. Some transplant recipients may also face side effects caused by immunosuppressant or anti-rejection medication such as loss of bone density, diarrhoea, diabetes, cholesterol problems, and hypertension.

As for a live donor, there are no major risks associated with donation. Only a small portion of the liver is taken and this regenerates on its own. The donor faces no long-term side effects and can return to normal life in a few weeks.

Benefits Of Liver Transplant

While it may seem like there are many risks associated with the liver transplant, you have to remember that without a liver the body cannot function. Hence, the greatest benefit of liver transplantation is the prevention of death due to liver disease.The success rates of liver transplant surgery are very promising with up to 70% of people living beyond 5 years after transplantation. Long-term success also depends on how the patient takes care of their health.

Following a healthy lifestyle and taking the prescribed medications can greatly improve survival rates and quality of life. As with most conditions in healthcare, prevention is better than cure. Prevent liver disease by eating healthy, limiting alcohol intake, and quitting smoking. Every small change to keep your liver healthy can make a big difference in your overall health. For those who need a transplant, the benefits of liver transplant are immeasurable. Talk to your doctor about the best course of action for you and your health.

[shekharsingh2018-blog]

What are the Steps of a Kidney Transplant?

A kidney transplant is a serious surgery which most people do not know. A kidney transplant involves a lot of struggle, both mental and physical for the patient and their family as well. It is vital surgery that needs to be performed when a person has severe kidney failure and has no other options left to survive. The main factor in a kidney transplant is to find a donor. It is difficult to find a perfect matching kidney and also a willing person to donate one. Kidney donation is a great step which can change the life of a person completely. Kidney transplant in India is very common nowadays and the country has a lot of experienced and expert kidney surgeons. There are many specialized hospitals for the kidney transplant in India that cater to best high-quality medical care and facilities.

Finding a perfect matching donor is not a simple process. It takes a lot of time and effort to find an ideal kidney match. There are two types of kidney donors: One is a living donor who willingly donates one of his kidneys to the needy and the other is a deceased donor whose kidney after cross-matching is transplanted on to the recipient. Most of the time doctors advice to find out a donor from the family itself so as to have an increased chance of successful organ transplantation as to find a matching organ is very difficult. A kidney donor can continue a healthy and normal living even after donation and thus can help save the life of a loved one or someone who is in need.   There are several tests that have to be done to make sure that the donor and the recipient are a good match for a successful transplant. The three test that has to be performed are:

1. Blood Type Matching: To make sure that the recipient's blood type matches with the potential donor’s blood type.

2. Tissue Matching: This test is performed to measure and define certain proteins called antigens present in the recipient and potential donors blood and tissue proteins.

3. Cross Matching: This test is performed by mixing a small amount of the recipients and potential donors cells.

If all the tests are positive then the transplant team and doctors will get the donor and the patient admitted for the transplant surgery. The transplant surgery has to be carried out as soon as possible so as to increase the possibility for a successful transplant.  After the transplant team confirms that the kidney is in good condition and is matching the patient will be given general anaesthesia and taken for surgery.

Down the year's several new techniques have been developed for a kidney transplant in India. Usually, a large incision is made on the recipient’s side. With the advanced technology, it is now possible for the surgeons to perform the surgery with just a small incision on the body. The transplant team will have a discussion with the patient on the technique and choice and will clarify any doubts if any. The surgeon will discuss the options whether to remove or leave the damaged kidney after the surgery. The patient will be hospitalized for few days after the surgery and will be monitored by the team closely to make sure there are no complications. Most kidneys start working right away after the transplant. But, in few cases, the newly transplanted kidney might take few days to start working. Until then, the patient might undergo dialysis. The recipient patient might be hospitalized until the doctors are satisfied with the proper functioning of the newly transplanted kidney and the patient’s health condition. The living donor may be discharged from the hospital after a few days after the surgery. You may need to visit your doctor two or three times in a week immediately after the surgery. After the transplant, the patient may return back to normal life very soon.

Narayana Health is one of the best hospitals for the kidney transplant in India with a team of skilled surgeons in Bangalore. Narayana health is the best hospital in India with 25 hospitals, 7 heart centres and 19 primary care facilities across India and also 1 hospital in the Cayman Islands.

[shekharsingh2018-blog]

How to Diagnose Cancer in Early Stage

Cancer has affected many lives around the world, not just the one who is suffering from it but also their family members. Data collected in 2012, show that every year around 5,56,400 death in India are caused by cancer. The cost of the treatment is nothing compared to the mental and physical chaos that it brings to the family as a whole. However, over the past decades, cancer treatment and diagnosis in India has advanced a lot saving many lives.

What is Cancer

In layman’s terms, cancer is a group of diseases that cause abnormal growth of the blood cells in a specific area. It then spreads rapidly to the rest of your body through blood. The main reason for this is a mutation in the DNA of the cell to completely disrupt the cell’s normal function.

There are over more than 100 different types of cancer depending on which part of your body it attacks. The name of each class is based on the place it affects. Nevertheless, the mechanism of its spread in the body is the same.

Risk Factors for Cancer:

The exact reason for why someone may develop cancerous cells in the body is still not known. However, there are specific factors that may increase the risk for cancer.  Some of the probable causes of this disease include:

● Heavy smoking(tobacco)

● High level of alcohol consumption

● Overweight

● Poor diet

● No physical activity

● Exposure to the sun and radiation

● Occupational hazards like exposure chemicals and ionizing radiation

● Environment pollution

● A family history of cancer (commonly known as Hereditary Cancer Syndrome

How can Early Diagnosis be of Help?

Cancer can be when it is limited to a specific part of your body. The problem arises when it spreads and invades the different parts and organs of your body damaging the body tissue.

Early detection of cancerous cells can help cure cancer through chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments can kill the cancer cells at its root, terminating its infiltration to the rest of the body. However, once they spread to the other parts of your body, through the blood, it becomes challenging to terminate it from every affected area. Here is when an early diagnosis can help.

How to Diagnose Cancer in Early Stage:

It is unfortunate that many lives can be saved if only cancer could be detected early.  The problem lies in the fact that there are hardly any signs or symptoms of the disease at an early stage. The signs and symptoms get noticed only when it has already spread to other parts of the body.

While there are specific symptoms of cancer, the problem is, these symptoms are not specific to cancer alone. Thus, indicating to many other diseases and conditions while making it difficult to detect cancer. The frequent mentions that we hear of wrong treatment or diagnosis of cancer arise out of this unavoidable issue.

In such a situation, a cancer screening test can be very efficient. A cancer screening test helps to detect cancerous cells in a person without any symptoms of cancer. In fact, it is one of the best ways to detect cancer at an early stage.

There is a wide range of screening test. There are mostly variations of blood tests, urine tests, medical imaging and other tests. Some of these tests have not just helped the early detection of the disease, but it has also helped decrease the chances of dying from cancer. Many types of cancer have their roots in genes. Hence, tracking back family history for cancer is another way of prevention or detecting it at an early age.

For example, it is noticed that genes mutation like BRCA1 or BRCA1 has a high probability of breast cancer. In such cases, physicians suggest preventive mastectomy for their patients.

As the exact cause of cancer is still unknown to us, the only way we can prevent cancer is by reducing the risk factors. A lifestyle change can go a long way to save us from the fatal disease. It is the only weapon we have against cancer along with frequent check-ups and screening for anyone who are genetically at risk for cancer.

[shekharsingh2018-blog]

Head and Neck Cancer: Treatment, Symptoms & Causes

The spread of cancer in the modern world is has been monstrous. Hardly any of us can say that we haven’t met a single person suffering from cancer in our lives. Yes, such great is the gravity of cancer.

What are the head and neck cancer cancers:

There are more than hundred different types of cancer. Head and neck cancer are malignant tumours that develop in the area neck above. This type of cancer normally grows in the cells of the internal part of the throat, mouth or the nose. These cells are called the squamous cell carcinomas in the head and neck area. Besides the squamous cells, cancer formation in the salivary glands is also as a head and neck cancer.

The names of different kinds of cancer are given depending on the area that it occurs. Based on this, head and neck cancer can broadly classify into six categories:

● Oral Cavity: Oral means everything related to the mouth. More specifically the lips, the palate, the gums, parts of the tongue, the inner lining of the cheeks and lips and the gums.

● The Throat or Pharynx: It would include anything from the back of the nose to the esophagus (the muscle connecting the throat to the stomach).

● The Vocalbox or the Larynx: This includes the area where the vocal cords are located along with the epiglottis(a tissue that stops food from getting into the air passage.

● The Nasal Cavity: When a tumour is in and around the nasal cavity which also includes the paranasal sinuses

● The Salivary Gland: When cancerous cells grow in the salivary glands in the mouth.

Symptoms of Head and Neck Cancer

Symptoms may vary depending on where a tumour develops and how it progresses. There are however a few common symptoms that are noticed in all of the head and neck cancer:

● A persistent cough and a sore throat that is adamant about healing

● Lump in the throat making it hard to swallow

● Mouth ulcers

● Complication in breathing

● Nosebleeds that keep happening frequently

● Feeling on pain in the ears accompanied with hearing issues

● A headache

● Nasal blockage

● Hoarseness of the voice

● Sudden weight loss without any reason

Causes:

Smoking is one of the leading cause of cancer. 75% of cancer cases are related to smoking tobacco. But there are also other causes for this disease. Smoking tobacco and alcohol are on the top of the list for the causes of cancer.

Chewing betel increases the risk of oral cancer

Infections like human papillomavirus(HPV)- a virus in the DNA

The acids in the stomach rising upwards towards the esophagus can cause cancer.

Chain smoking and overuse of alcohol increase the chances of head and neck cancer.

Treatments:

Statistics show that there is a high rate of survival in head and neck cancer as compared to other types of cancer. The two main course of action for this type of cancer is surgery and radiation. The treatment depends on various factors ranging from the location of the affected area, the health history of the patient, earlier tumours on other parts of the body (if any), the consensus of the patient.  

The treatment for head and neck cancer is broadly categorized into

Surgery: Primary purpose of the operation is to remove a cancerous tumour. Although the success rates of surgery are high, Some complications may surface from such type of surgery.  Problems include hoarseness of the voice, hearing and speech impairment, swollen throat or mouth area, affects the thyroid gland.

Radiation Therapy: Radiation helps to kill cancerous cells from the root through x-ray. A risk involved in this type of treatment is tooth decay and damage, affect the voice box, swollen throat leading to difficulty in eating and loss of appetite.

Chemotherapy: Interestingly, chemotherapy for neck and head surgery is not to kill the cancer cells but to create an inhospitable environment in the body for the cancerous cell. Thus, chemo helps to stops the cancer cells from spreading to other parts.

Targeted Therapy: As the name suggests, through drugs, the cancer cells are aimed and killed, but it does not harm the healthy cells.

Immunotherapy: in this therapy, the immunity on the cancer patient is strengthened through external means to fight the cancer cells.

The whole process of diagnosis and treatment can be tremendously taxing on both the patient and his family. Neither does it guarantees a cure or a stop from recurrence. Such problem leaves many of us disheartened and discouraged. However, this should not stop us from seeking medical help because head and neck cancer does have a high rate of success when compared to other forms of cancer.