Monthly Archives: June 2017
5 Most Common Outpatient Surgery Procedures
In several accounts of treatment, the patient needs a surgical assistance rather than a medicinal one. At first, due to several medical reasons, most of the surgeries were executed on inpatient basis only. These days, however, several hospitals in Kolkata execute numerous outpatient surgical procedures as well.
Let’s have a glimpse of the most common outpatient surgical procedures that are being carried out in hospitals of Kolkata-
1. Cataract Surgery
Cataract is a condition of eye when the natural lens of the eye gets cloudy and needs replacement with an artificial one. It is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in hospitals. The success rate is flying high and with very less room for error and other discomfort.
2. Minor Joint Repairs
Bone breakage can be an inpatient procedure as well, depending on the severity. Though most of the minor surgical procedure including tendon replacement and meniscus surgical correction are done on an outpatient basis, most of these treatments are availed by sports persons.
3. Cholecystectomy
More commonly known as gallbladder removal, it is a surgical procedure for removal of gallbladder. This procedure is executed in case of gallbladder stones and any other severe condition of the gallbladder. This procedure is outpatient mainly when executed through laparoscopic approach.
4. Skin Therapy and Grafting
Skin surgical procedures such as correction of wrinkles, sagging skin, acne scars and many other similar aesthetic procedures are often done on an outpatient basis.
5. Abdominal Hernia Correction
Hernia is a condition in which a portion of the internal fat or tissue pushes out through the outer skin. This needs surgical correction to fix the problem permanently. Earlier, these were carried out through open surgery, thus the patient needed to stay for a couple of days in the hospital. These procedures are mostly done on outpatient basis.
Even though almost in each of these, the patient is allowed to go home from the hospital on the same day as the procedure, it is subjected to the overall health condition of the individual and as per the recommendation of the doctor. In case the doctor finds it best for the patient to stay overnight, it must be carried out without any protest.
Also, an outpatient and his family members are advised to take proper care and to watch out for any discrepancies. In case any trouble arises, the concerned medical staff must be consulted and if necessary, the patient must be taken back to the healthcare facility for help.
Why Every Child Needs the ‘Child Checkup Package’?
As Benjamin Franklin had rightly said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The standard procedure of treatment that onsets after the symptoms begin to persist, and home remedies don’t work. After a series of discussions and screenings in the hospitals, a particular disease is recognized and suitable medications begin accordingly. This situation is far more delicate for the children.
To mitigate such long procedure and to ensure that children stays in good health, the hospitals are taking initiatives regarding the same. Meanwhile, we have introduced one of the best screening for children. It is called the ‘child checkup package’ and it comprises of the following tests-
- Complete hemoglobin with ESR profile
- ABO and Rh blood grouping
- Fasting blood sugar
- Urine test and
- Stool test
Each of these tests has its own significance. For instance, knowing the exact blood group will help greatly to deal with any serious medical emergency that need blood transfusion. Precious minutes can be spent to collect the suitable blood group, instead of doing a blood test and awaiting its result.
The stool and especially urine test in this season is very helpful to keep a track on the excretory system of children. During winters, children tend to drink a very limited amount of liquid and often this habit clings on to them even when summer arrives, which causes a higher concentration of salts in urine. A timely screening would disclose the exact condition and thus, the child can be guided to be more careful.
The best feature about this checkup package is that it comes with a complimentary session with a pediatrician. Thus, instead of simply handing over a bunch of paper with numbers and ranges on it, this package gives parents some quality time with a doctor for consultation. This way, the parents become aware which aspects of their child to be more careful for.
The child checkup package offered by ILS Hospital is very economical and affordable. It is best to keep these mentioned vitals in check and take preventive measures on time, rather than let them bloom over time and then take corrective measures for the same.
Thus, the child checkup package is recommended for every child to ensure a healthy childhood, growth and development.
10 Period Myths You Need To Bust Right Now
Our lives are all surrounded by myths and opinions. And sadly, the menstrual cycles are not any exception. Sometimes it appears as if common people have more facts regarding periods as compared to the gynecologists in Kolkata.
But, now it’s time to get rid of these myths and know the facts-
#1. Menstrual cycle is of 28 days
It is the average length of the cycle. However, it varies from woman to woman. Only your body can tell your cycle length, not your friends or internet apps.
#2. It is dangerous to wash your head during the cycle
Thank the almighty, it is a myth. Washing your body or hair has neither effect on your flow or length of the period, nor on your health otherwise.
#3. PMS is a myth
If you feel irritated and have mood swing, particularly before having your periods, and resolves soon after it onsets. Chances are that you are suffering from PMS and not bipolar disorder.
#4. You need to take bed rest during periods
It is true that you need rest if you lose a large amount of blood, during periods, though, you lose only a small amount. Though you can take a day off and relax in case of severe cramps, it is not a must-do.
#5. No exercise
Exercise is always good, even during periods. Sometimes, it even helps to soothe the cramps and uplifts the mood.
#6. You can’t get pregnant during the cycle
No gynecologists in Kolkata would give such a non-scientific advice. The chances of pregnancy are related to the ovulation cycle, not the menstrual cycle and thus, conceiving during periods it is quite possible.
#7. Swimming in the ocean is dangerous because it can attract sharks
No, never. Under no circumstances, you are likely to be a potential/favored target for shark biting, if you are swimming while menstruating. It is applicable for bear attack as well.
#8. Proper age of menarche
There is no right age of on-setting the menstrual cycle. Most girls get their periods somewhere between 9 years to 15 years. Often, your cycle begins close to other women’s in your family. But, in case, it does not, even when you or your ward reaches 15, it is better to get a consultation from a gynecologist in Kolkata.
#9. Missing period means you are pregnant for sure.
Just because you are missing your period for a few days or even weeks, sometimes, does not imply you are free to announce the good news. You can skip your cycles even for 2-3 months without a pregnancy. So, be extra sure before celebrating or panicking!
#10. Menstrual blood is not normal blood
Bleeding means loss of blood, no matter the biological location. And there is only one type of blood, the normal blood that rushes through veins.
So, don’t get drift away from facts and stay updated!
The Importance of Pathology in Modern Day Healthcare Industry
The term pathology is something we all have heard all our lives, but how many of us know its importance? Almost every one of us have been to at least one pathology lab at least once in our lifetime.
So let’s understand, what is Pathology? The word “pathology” comes from two words “pathos” meaning suffering and “logos” meaning study of suffering respectively. It is a major field in the modern diagnosis and thus for overall treatment. In simple words, it can be referred as study of disease.
Almost all the hospitals, in India and the world depend upon accurate pathological reports. It basically acts as a junction between medicine and science, using the cutting edge technology of genetics for better diagnosis, screening and treatment. It is done primarily for the benefit of the patient and also to make the treatment procedure much smoother for doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals as well.
Several people actually believe that pathology is restricted to autopsy or more commonly known as post mortem and thus applicable for only the ones present in the morgue. However this notion is absolutely wrong, pathological screenings are carried out for disease which include, cough, blood, urine tests to biopsy for Cancer detection.
Pathology is a very wide branch and over 19 types of specializations coexist and all obviously pathologists doesn’t have the same work. Depending on their articular specializations, skill and interest, they work either in laboratories, hospitals, clinics or pathology centers. Often they provide valuable advice to the doctor and alongside decide for the best possible treatment in case of complicated diseases.
Out of the several specializations, the most significant are chemical pathology, hematology (diseases related to blood and its components), histopathology, medical microbiology (study of infections), toxicology, molecular genetics, Immunogenetics and histocompatibility. Apart from these, there are several more which has its own importance.
Apart from screening and identifying possible infection or severe diseases, pathology comes into play even during blood transfusion, blood storage, and organ storage. It is equally important during developing vaccines for several infections and diseases. Thus, any hospital with their own pathology lab is always a perk over the other who lack this feature.
A Brief Introduction of Osteoporosis
Our body is made up of bones, muscles, nerves and lots other. We all must have a healthy balanced meal in order to ensure that our body function properly. But several people discover their health, especially in terms of their bone strength, starts degrading with time. You can find several people dealing with bone diseases and discomfort in Orthopedics clinics.
And osteoporosis is one of the most common disease affecting numerous lives all across the world. The term osteoporosis, is self-explanatory as, it is derived from the Greek language, literally meaning ‘porous bones’. Thus, osteoporosis is a disorder in which, the bones of the individual lose its strength, becomes porous in nature and thereby the chances of broken bones increases significantly. Several orthopedic clinics specialize and focus on this particular disease to help people dealing with osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is clinically defined as a condition of low value of peak bone mass and usually defined as less than 2.5 bone density. This is estimated with the help of a screening called dual energy X-ray absorptiometry of the hip.
Osteoporosis can affect individual of any age group, but usually the chances of occurrence of the same is greatly higher among people of the elderly age group. The calcium content of the bones drops beyond what is considered as safe or normal. Thus, leaving the bones highly susceptible to breakage or damage, up to a point where even a minor slippage can cause hairline fracture or more.
The bones that are more likely to suffer the consequences are usually the backbone, hip bones, and forearm. Recognizing osteoporosis is often too tricky, mainly because there are no early symptoms of the same. Most people only come to realize after a bone breaks and the individual is likely to suffer from chronic pain and lose the ability and agility to carry out routine work.
In order to mitigate or at least delay the entire event of osteoporosis, an individual must be careful since their mid age itself. Mostly because once the bone starts to lose bone density, its recovery becomes tricky. Apart from changing into better diet and exercise, one must also be careful and avoid slipping or falling. Also, making changes in lifestyle and habits such as to quit smoking and drinking is also recommended by several Orthopedics.