July 30, 2013

Kidney Failure: Stages and Treatments

Kidney failure can either happen slowly over a period of time or suddenly (acute kidney failure). In majority of cases kidney failure is permanent that is known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD). http://goo.gl/oLPYlL

July 12, 2013

Different Types of Pediatric Eye Disorders


If you are concerned that a child may have an undetected eye problem the best course of action is for the parents to take them to a optometrist for a eye test.
http://tinyurl.com/o2akljg

June 27, 2013

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for Treating Coronary Heart Disease

To understand the causes, symptoms and treatments of coronary artery surgery, it is first essential to know what is coronary artery bypass surgery. Also referred to as coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), bypass surgery of heart or heart bypass surgery is primarily done to get relief from coronary artery disease and angina. The cardiac bypass surgery not only eliminates the symptoms of coronary artery disease but also allows the patients to resume their routine lifestyles. It drastically reduces the risk of heart attacks. 



The building up of plaque in the artery wall is known as Atherosclerosis. This condition is also regarded as one of the primary reasons for coronary bypass surgery. The arteries passages become narrow and hard, thereby reducing flexibility. The reasons for plaque accumulation are high cholesterol levels, unhealthy lifestyle and high blood pressure. The arteries become so narrow that the blood flow supply to the heart is drastically reduced, as a result of which the heart muscle has very little amount of oxygen left, further leading to tissue damage.

The surgical procedure is performed by restoring the flow of the blood to the heart muscle so as to divert the blood flow around a blocked artery section in the heart. The procedure makes use of a healthy blood vessel that is taken from arm, abdomen or chest and legs. This healthy blood vessel is then connected to the heart’s other arteries in order to bypass the blood around the blocked area. This surgery is yet another option to improve the flow of blood into the heart. Heart disease is treated by the means of this surgery. 



To identify the candidates for this surgery, diagnostic tests are done to know the type, location and degree of coronary artery disease. The surgeon determines the best treatment by evaluating the tests, age, the structure of the heart, lifestyle, other medical conditions and the severity of the disease symptoms. The surgeon makes use of several heart bypass grafts in order to decide the suitable graft on the basis of the blockage location, size of the coronary arteries and the amount of blockage. The different types of grafts used are radial artery, internal mammary arteries, inferior epigastric artery, gastroepiploic artery and saphenous veins. Many coronary arteries are bypassed during the procedure namely quintuple bypass surgery, quadruple bypass surgery, single bypass surgery, double bypass surgery and triple bypass surgery. It basically refers to the number of coronary arteries bypassed during the procedure. 



The heart bypass surgery recovery involves the reduction of risk factors of heart disease that also includes certain strategies to help the patients to stop smoking, exercising regularly, reducing stress, controlling high blood pressure and improving the cholesterol levels. Some medications are also required for a complete patient’s recovery. These medications are meant to be taken every day that helps in preventing the chest pain and the medication drugs also improves the survival rate. Some of the medications prescribed are beta blockers, ACE inhibitor, nitrates and antiplatelet therapy.



The surgical procedure of minimally invasive coronary artery bypass is performed for those patients who needs left internal mammary artery bypass graft leading to left anterior descending artery. Keyhole approaches (video-assisted or thoracoscopic surgery and port access), robotic coronary artery bypass surgery and endoscopic approaches are the three minimally invasive procedures. The robotic assisted CABG (coronary artery bypass graft surgery) involves small incisions that results in less blood loss, pain and no rib spreading. The recovery is also faster in the case of robotic assisted CABG.

June 5, 2009

Latest News about Apollo Hospitals in India

How Prone Are You to Heart Attack? – Apollo Hospitals Would Tell You in 10 Seconds …Apollo Hospitals in India launch the 64 Slice CT Angio Scan to diagnose how prone is a person to heart attack. The breakthrough technology would minutely scan the arteries and walls of the heart for blocks and calcium deposits to generate highly clear cardiac images without the incision of a single needle. Moreover, the painless procedure would be over in 10 seconds without any hospitalization.

Apollo Hospital Ties-up with Johns Hopkins Institute, USA to Offer World Class Facilities…State of the art medical facilities and expertise are now available right here in India by virtue of a comprehensive agreement between Johns Hopkins Institute and Apollo Hospitals in India. The institute, which has been rated as the best hospital in United States for 16 consecutive years, would cooperate with Apollo Hospitals in India toward establishing the facilities for advanced genetic testing and minimally invasive surgical centre along with up-to-date medical education and training.
JCI Accreditation for 3 Apollo Hospitals in India…Three branches of the Apollo Hospitals in Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad have been conferred with JCI Accreditation (Joint Commission International). The accreditation, based on international consensus of standard and quality in medical organizations, is considered as the most prestigious one in the field of healthcare. The accreditation for some more of the branches are on the cards.

Apollo Hospitals Adds Bangalore & Mumbai in its Map with the opening of new branches in Bangalore and Mumbai, Apollo Group of Hospitals charts it new road to growth. The super specialty hospital in Bangalore and 5 Apollo Clinics in Mumbai would also take the healthcare in these two Indian metro cities to a new level. The Bangalore branch focuses on tertiary care and preventive facilities whereas high-end diagnostic facilities are the specialty of the Mumbai based clinics.

June 4, 2009

Knee Replacement Surgery

Introduction
Knee Replacement Surgery also known Total Knee Arthroplasty is a cure of painful knees, knee arthritis and other knee related issues. Knee Replacement is a surgical procedure during which the bones of the knee are resurfaced with metal and plastic implants. The weight passing through the knee should be well distributed for which the bones of the knee are well aligned.

The need for knee replacement surgery in most cases is knee osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease. With age the cartilage surface at the end of the bones is worn away which inflames the knees and affects the normal functioning of the knee. The injured cartilage, sore tissues and exposed bone causes pain.

Swelling of the knee, knee pain, bow-legged deformities, loss of motion are some of the symptoms of serious arthritis of the knee joint.

Procedure
The procedure of knee replacement surgery involves removal of the damaged bone of the knee joint and replacement with prosthesis or an artificial joint made of metal alloys, high grade plastics and polymers.

During the surgery, the knee is kept in bent position so that the surface of the knee is fully exposed. An incision of 6-12 inches is made after which the muscles, kneecap and connective tissues are moved aside to expose the damaged joint surface. After smoothening the bone's rough surface, the prosthesis is inserted.

RisksThe potential risks of Knee Replacement Surgery are
- Thrombophlebitis - Infection - Pneumonia - Knee Stiffness