Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) – What, Why, Where?

As soon as a mother gives birth to a baby, the first thing they want to do is to bring their precious possession to their home. But if the little one is take her to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), it becomes a major cause of concern for the parents causing fear. Though it may sound alien at first, but understanding NICU and its need can ease the fear and allow the parents to help in the child’s recovery.

So, what is Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)?

NICU is a special section in pediatric department of a hospital, where newborn babies are kept for days or weeks subjected to the baby’s scale of prematurity. This department of the hospital possess special equipment and personals who are trained to provide extensive care to the babies and their special needs.

The equipment at NICU provides adequate oxygen and temperature and mitigates the risks associated with them. Altogether it provides the optimal environment for the baby’s sustenance.

NICU - ILS Hospitals

Why does some babies need special care?

During the birth of a child, several physical and emotional changes come into play for both mother and baby. During pregnancy, all the vital functions such as transfer of nutrients, removal of wastage, protection from pathogens and supply of oxygen come from the mother. But, as the baby comes out of the uterus, it can no longer depend on the placenta for transferring vital nutrients and major body functions, as it needs to adjust with the outside environment. Some of the major adaptation to be undergone by the baby post birth are as follows:

  1. The lungs must become functional and breathe air
  2. The heart must circulate blood efficiently
  3. The liver must initiate its own immunity system
  4. The digestive system must process food and eliminate wastage
  5. The kidney must initiate the fluid and iron balance of the body

NICU - ILS Hospitals

For most of the babies, this transition comes naturally without any major problem. But if the baby is born premature or with low birth weight or with some congenital disease, then this transition becomes quite challenging. Thankfully, special care is available for such babies in NICUs.

So where to take your baby if she needs special care?

ILS Hospitals offers NICU facilities to babies with special needs. It has trained specialists and modern equipment to help the baby adapt with the external environment. Such new born babies get a new life at ILS Hospitals. Especially, for the people of Eastern India.

NICU - ILS Hospitals

A Brief Description Of Umbilical Hernia

One out of every five babies are born with umbilical hernia. Usually, it is a disease of infants and gets corrected on its own while growing up. Let’s have a brief introduction of umbilical hernia and its treatment.

What is Umbilical Cord?

Umbilical cord is the connection between a mother and child during pregnancy. The umbilical cord passes through the belly button. Ideally, this opening closes on its own shortly after birth.

Umbilical Hernia

When does Umbilical Hernia arise?

When the opening of the belly button does not close, the intestine or surrounding tissues bulge out of the weak spot near belly button. Thus, the condition of umbilical hernia arises.

This type of hernias usually do not induce any pain or discomfort. Statistically, 90 percent of babies suffering from umbilical hernia get cured of it on its own. But, if it does not close by the time the child reaches the age of 4, then treatment is required.

Infants having Umbilical Hernia

Babies who are either born premature or with low birth weight or belongs to African-American origin are more prone to developing this kind of hernia. It can be found in both, girl and boy.

Infants having umbilical hernia

Adults having Umbilical Hernia

It is mostly a disease of infants, but it can occur to an adult as well. It occurs in adults when the weak spot experiences too much pressure. Contributing factors for the same can be:

  1. Multiple pregnancies
  2. Being overweight or obese
  3. Having twins or triplets or more
  4. Presence of fluid in the abdominal cavity
  5. Previous stomach surgery
  6. Persistent cough

Adults having umbilical hernia

Diagnosis of Umbilical Hernia

It can be easily detected in children, especially while crying or laughing. It can be visually distinguished by presence of a swelling near the belly button. In case of adult, the swelling near the navel, which may also induce pain, is a sure shot way of distinguishing umbilical hernia.

Complications associated with Umbilical Hernia

As already mentioned, umbilical hernia is usually not associated with any major trouble. However, it becomes quite serious and needs immediate treatment, if the umbilical cord is incarcerated. A physical examination is done to determine whether the cord is incarcerated or not. During this examination, the surgeon tries to push it back inside the abdominal cavity. If it can’t be pushed back, then it is already incarcerated. Such condition arises when the protruded part does not get enough blood supply and might end up developing gangrene and serious infection.

Laparoscopic Vs Macro-Laparoscopic Pain Mapping

According to gynecologists, the statistics of women suffering from some or the other gynecological disease is rising day by day due to numerous intrinsic as well as extrinsic factors. There are several surgical techniques for diagnosing these conditions, the two most useful techniques are laparoscopy and pain mapping. Let’s understand in details, how each of these works.

Laparoscopy

In the past 3-4 decades, the utility of laparoscopy has evolved remarkably. Today, laparoscopy is one of the most employed means of diagnosis used by gynecologists. It is used for taking a look inside the stomach to detect the presence of any defect in the reproductive organs. As compared to traditional diagnosis tools, laparoscopy is less expensive and offers quicker recovery.

It is performed under general anesthesia where a small telescope is inserted through the navel to capture the images of the internal organs. The presence of natural carbon dioxide in the abdominal cavity provides working space for the surgeon; in case it looks insufficient, additional amount can be injected through the navel to enlarge the gap between the skin and internal organs. The telescope is moved around inside the stomach to reveal the condition of fallopian tube, ovaries and uterus. It is particularly helpful to detect ectopic pregnancies and treatment of ovarian cyst and endometriosis. In case any abnormalities are observed, it can be further diagnosed.

Laparoscopic

Micro-laparoscopic pain mapping

Pain mapping is a useful diagnostic tool and particularly helpful if the patient is suffering from some chronic pain and no other tools is yielding any helpful results or unable to track the source of the pain. It is performed under sedatives while inserting the laparoscope inside the body, after which its effects wear off. The doctor then touches instrument to each organ such as ovaries, uterus ligaments and bladder separately and asks for the patient’s response. It is used to diagnose any persistent pain in the pelvic region.

Once the exact reason for the pain is estimated, then further medication is employed towards proper medication, which may be done either in the same session or in a new session. As compared to traditional laparoscopy, this technique aims to find out the exact reason for the chronic pain and cures it completely.

Pain Mapping - ILS Hospitals

At ILS Hospitals, advanced and recommended technological approaches are employed to provide treatment and care for the patients suffering from several gynecological diseases.

Everything You Should Know About Partial Knee Replacement

Partial knee replacement, also referred as uni-compartmental knee replacement, is a surgical approach to cure severe arthritis of knee. Earlier, almost every patient suffering from arthritis went for total knee replacement; wherein the entire portion of infected cartilage along with a layer of functional one is carved off the knee and replaced with metal and plastic implants.

But in case of partial knee replacement, only the infected portion of the knee is removed and resurfaced. It is ideal for those patients whose osteoarthritis is restricted to single compartment.

Structure of the knee

Need of knee surgery arises when the cartilage protecting the knee wears off gradually. This can be observed either in the entire knee joint or merely in single area. The knee is comprised of three major compartments, namely:

  1. Lateral compartment, which is the outer part
  2. Medial compartment, which is the inside of the knee
  3. Patellofemoral compartment, between kneecap and thighbone

Partial Knee Replacement - ILS Hospitals

How diagnosis is carried out?

The doctor estimates the extent of damage of bones and cartilage either by X-rays or Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

How partial knee replacement is carried out?

In this surgical approach, the surgeon diagnoses each bone and observes the limit of the osteoarthritis; and replaces the damaged compartment with plastic or metal implant called prosthetic, which can mimic the natural movements up to a large extent. The partial knee replacement aims to restore as much as healthy bones and cartilage as possible.

partial knee replacement

Advantages of partial knee replacement over total knee replacement

Partial knee replacement is gaining popularity among doctors and patients because of the numerous benefits it offers. Due to smaller incision, the patient needs shorter hospital stay and experiences lesser pain after surgery. The recovery period becomes comparatively faster. Since a large extent of healthy bones and cartilage is left intact, the patients experience more natural movement of knee as compared to total knee replacement.

Ideal candidate for partial knee replacement

As per doctors of ILS Hospitals, if an individual is suffering from osteoarthritis and no other medical treatment is helping to soothe the pain, then this orthopedic replacement can be considered as the ideal solution. In order to qualify for it, the arthritis must be finite to only one compartment. If a patient is suffering from knee stiffness and ligament damage, they can also be considered for this treatment.

Orthopaedic Clinic Kolkata

With proper diagnosis and treatment, partial knee replacement demonstrates successful and long lasting result for patients of several age groups.

Coronary Artery Diseases: What, Where And How

Every year, 29th September is celebrated as World Heart Day. It aims to increase awareness amongst the people regarding heart diseases and its treatment.

Heart diseases in India is becoming epidemic. As per latest statistics, near about 30 million heart patients reside in India and about two lakh cardiovascular surgeries in India takes place every year. Out of 30 millions, 14 millions lives in urban areas, whereas rest 16 million lives in rural area. This outburst of cardiovascular diseases are due to several reasons, such as aging, food habit and lifestyle.

cardiac emergency kolkata

There are several types of cardiovascular diseases in and the most common one is coronary artery diseases it is also called ischemic heart diseases. This occurs due to blockage in blood vessels build up by plaque. These are a group of conditions which results in anigma (both stable and unstable), heart attack and sudden cardiac death.

How does it occur?

There are mainly two kinds of blood vessels, veins carry oxygenated blood from body to heart and arteries which carry oxygenated blood from heart to body. The arteries are thinner in cross section and elastic and smooth in nature. After developing plagues on the lining of arteries, the blood flow gets disrupted. Also, it make the inner surface sticky and attracts lipoproteins, inflammatory cells and calcium etc. Altogether they mix and sticks to the blood vessels making it thinner by growing inward.

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Ultimately new blood vessels may develop around the blockage to supply the blood to heart. This process may get hampered by hyper-stress or vigorous exercise. In case the plaque bursts, and the blood clot block the blood supply of heart, the patient suffers heart attack. If the blood vessel to brain is blocked then the patient suffers ischemic stroke. If a blood vessel bursts within the brain, the patient suffers hemorrhagic stroke.

What are the Symptoms?

The most common symptoms are heartburn, loss of consciousness, heaviness, irregular heartbeat, weakness, nausea, sweating, chest discomfort, which may extend up to other body parts such as neck, jaw, shoulder and back. The severity of symptoms may increase during exercise or emotional stress.

Cardiac Emergency Kolkata

How it can be Diagnosed?

It can be diagnosed by using ECG (Electrocardiogram), EKG (Echocardiogram), CT scans and several others. These procedure enables the doctor to evaluate the condition of the patient and provide suitable cardiovascular surgeries in India.

cardiac emergency kolkata

What Preventive measures to take?

One can reduce the chances of being susceptible to coronary artery diseases by following a healthy diet combined with regular exercise and not consuming any toxic substance such as cigarette and alcohol. In certain cases, medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol may be prescribed by the doctor.

Cardiac Emergency Kolkata

5 Most Common Heart Diseases Explained by Cardiologists in Kolkata

The graph of people suffering from heart diseases is growing everyday. The number of lives being claimed by cardiovascular diseases are more than all forms of cancer combined. The symptoms of cardiovascular diseases vary from person to person and mostly gets ignored by several people.

Continue reading 5 Most Common Heart Diseases Explained by Cardiologists in Kolkata

Gynaecological Surgery Explained by Gynecologists in Kolkata

Every woman has faced some or the other gynecological problem at least once in life. Generally some of them gets cured by oral medication, but for some problems, surgery becomes inevitable. Gynecological surgery deals with surgeries on female reproductive system. The main causes for so can be cancer, benign tumors, infertility and incontinence. Gynecologists in Kolkata should be approached in case any abnormality arises.

Continue reading Gynaecological Surgery Explained by Gynecologists in Kolkata

A Guide for Hernia Treatment in Kolkata

Hernia is a medical condition in which an internal organ bulges out of the skin membrane. The most common site for hernia is abdomen. The organs bulges out through the natural openings of the body such as bellybutton or by any previous operational scars.

Continue reading A Guide for Hernia Treatment in Kolkata

Symptoms of Cardiac Emergency You Must Know

Medical crisis can come any minute without a prior notification; especially cardiovascular emergencies. Cardiovascular emergencies can be fatal due to delay, if not recognized immediately. Jotting down emergency number may come handy while dealing with a medical emergency.

Continue reading Symptoms of Cardiac Emergency You Must Know