Terms like ileostomy and colostomy really sound a bit too scientific, don t they? Well, it is true that may seem to be pretty scary to almost anybody who is not professionally familiar with them! That being said, it is quite important to know what these things are, as it is always good to be informed of things like these. After all, one never knows when he or she may need to consider the possibility of having one.

The similarity which exists between these two procedures is due to the fact that both of them require the surgeon to cut an opening into the intestine from the skin of the abdominal wall. To be more specific about each of the procedures, the ileostomy involves the removal of the entire colon as well as the rectum of the person who is undergoing it. When this operation is performed, the small intestine s end is adapted so as to expel the faeces which are produced as a result of the digestive process.

Now, this does seem like quite a daunting prospect, does it not? Well, it does and with good reason as it is really not a small matter, at all. That is why the surgery is performed on people who suffer from diseases such as Crohn's disease, who have a condition in which entire sections of their gut cannot be linked in a proper manner!

On the other hand, a colostomy refers to a follow-up surgery to a colectomy, in which the surgeon creates an opening which is known as a stoma. A colectomy is when there is a removal of a part of the large intestine. In many cases of colostomies being performed, they are intended to be temporary in nature.

Now, taking into account just how serious these operations are, a person may wonder just what unfortunate thing needs to happen to warrant a surgery of this sort to be performed! Well, essentially, if there is an occurrence of bowel cancer which is significantly bad, then there may be a need which arises as a result of the same.

Advanced medicines do have some interesting facts; contrary to what most people think, a stoma does not hurt. This is because there are no nerves in the area! While a person may hopefully never need either surgery performed on oneself, that surely does not mean that awareness about them should not be widespread.

Colostomy And Ileostomy - What's The Difference Between Them?

In our bodies, the vascular system is composed of vessels. This system is comprised of a complex network of veins and arteries. The arteries transport oxygenated blood away from the heart and spread it throughout our bodies and veins brings the deoxygenated blood (oxygen-poor) back to the heart for purification. Whenever this complicated process gets disturbed, pain, dysfunction of the system, and other complications may occur.

Most common complications among all are:
1. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: This condition is when there is a  bulge  formed in the weak area of the largest artery in the abdomen and keeps on increasing with each pressure flow of blood from that artery. This condition weakens the artery further and massive internal bleeding may occur.

2. Carotid Artery Disease - Stroke: This condition arises when the main blood vessels flowing blood to the brain develops a plague caused due to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). The continuous increase of plague can cause a stroke.

3. Peripheral Arterial Disease: This condition occurs when the flow of oxygen-rich blood is insufficient to the lower limbs of the body due to hardening of the arteries in that area. This can cause difficulty in walking, foot ulcers, infections and can even lead to amputation.

The complication of these types are corrected by the vascular surgeon with the process is commonly known as vascular surgery. However, this condition is sometimes medically managed by an innovative, less invasive procedure called Endovascular surgery. 

Vascular Surgery-
Vascular surgery is generally the traditional surgery that corrects the diseases outside of the heart and the brain. This procedure is more invasive as it involves incisions that are surgical in nature. Vascular surgery comprises of the surgery of the aorta, carotid arteries, and other small diametric arteries. This surgery also involves surgery of veins for treating various conditions such as varicose veins and May-Thurner syndrome.

Endovascular Surgery:
However, this type of surgery is an innovative way to treat medical conditions related to the vascular system. For instance, during the procedure of treating the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, it involves making a small cut near the hip area and inserting the endovascular graft through the arteries and is positioned inside the aorta, in a catheter, which is a flexible, long, and narrow tube. The endovascular graft is a tube device made up of special fiber and is framed within stainless steel self-expanding stents. The grafts expand and seal off the aneurysm. This stops the internal bleeding the system and the graft remain in the aorta permanently.

This method has a short recovery time, smaller incisions, less discomfort, less stress on the heart and has fewer risks. This surgery is appropriate for the patient who is at high
risk of complications. 

Take Away-
Diseases related to artery and veins are now being treated with various methods such as angiography, stenting, sclerotherapy in various countries. These days vascular surgeons have become proficient with the endovascular surgical methods. Endovascular surgery is durable and less painful and stressful when viewed with the context of vascular surgery. However, the cost of staying longer at the hospitals is somewhat got balanced by the high cost of imaging equipment and other high financial expenses in the endovascular surgery.

Endovascular VS Vascular Surgery - Know The Difference!

Oily skin and summers: what is the ideal way to handle it?

Oily skin is a condition that can be characterized by shine on the skin and a large number of pores. The oil in question is a result of overactive sebaceous glands that produce excessive sebum. This can result in acne and blackheads. Summer is a time of the year where skin problems due to oily skin are worsened by factors such as sweat and dust. So proper skin care is necessary in order to negate the effects of oily skin.

There are multiple ways to handle this condition in summers:

1. Using cleansers - Proper cleaning of skin is a very important step in lessening the effects of oily skin. Harsh cleansers have an opposing effect as they facilitate secretion of oil, so a mild cleanser is usually the best option. Some cleansers may contain ingredients that irritate the skin, so care is advised in selecting a proper one.

2. Hydration and food - Keeping the body well hydrated in summers combined with a diet free of greasy, oily food and less fats can help in reducing the effects of oily skin.

3. Using masks to clear the face - Masks such as clay masks, yogurt, and baking soda can help in cleansing the skin by clearing the oil. It should be noted that these treatments should not be overdone as they can cause the skin to dry up too much and over secrete oil.

4. Skin moisturizers - People often have this notion that oily skin does not require moisturizer application. Selecting a moisturizer that is fit for oily skin and using it will help moisturize the skin and keep it healthy.

5. Sunscreen - Sunscreen is a necessity during summers, and the sunscreen you choose should be specifically for oily skin in order for it to work effectively. Application of sunscreen can help prevent the UV rays of the sun from penetrating the skin and cause complications.

6. Dermatological treatment - In case of severe oiliness, treatments such as chemical peels and creams laced with tretinoin can help.



Oily skin and summers: what is the ideal way to handle it?

Cancer, in any form, is a deadly disease that requires immediate attention and treatment. Colon cancer is a common form of the disease, with over 10 lakh people reportedly affected in India each year.

In some cases, surgery is the only remedy for colon cancer. Depending on the progression of your cancer, if surgery becomes necessary, you should consider undergoing laparoscopic surgeries.

What is a laparoscopic surgery?

While most surgeries are open, where a large incision is made on the body to operate on the internal organs and tissues, it s not the same with laparoscopic surgery. Here very small incisions are made on a particular body part to carry out the surgery. The procedure gets its name from the equipment used in the operation. A laparoscope is a tube-like instrument that has a camera on one end. During the surgery, this laparoscope is inserted in the patient s body and the image relayed back by the camera is used to perform the surgery.

In case of laparoscopic colon cancer surgeries, the surgeon uses the same method to reach your the cancerous mass in your colon and remove it.

Why choose laparoscopic colon cancer surgeries?

As a person affected by cancer, you have already endured substantial pain and discomfort. You do not need additional discomfort from your surgery. This is why laparoscopic surgeries are so popular when it comes to colon cancer. Here are some benefits of the procedure over the standard surgery.

  Less pain after the surgery
  Limited stay at the hospital post surgery
  Allows you to return to a solid food diet sooner after the surgery
  Allows normal bowel function to resume quicker
  Less scaring from the procedure
  Faster return to a normal lifestyle

Not everyone is eligible for open surgery to treat colon cancer. For instance, open surgery on elderly people can be extremely dangerous. For them, laparoscopic surgeries are a better alternative.

Are you eligible for laparoscopic surgery?

Before you opt for laparoscopic surgery to treat your colon cancer, consult an expert. The surgeon will help you understand whether you meet the requirements for laparoscopic surgeries. Your doctor will evaluate your case and let you know which procedure will have the maximum impact on your long-term recovery from cancer.

Is laparoscopic surgery as effective in treating colon cancer as open surgery?

According to a study performed by a Canadian team of researchers, the laparoscopic procedure is just as useful in treating colon cancer as the standard surgery. However, each case of colon cancer is different and the outcome of surgery may vary from person to person.

Laparoscopic Colon Cancer Surgeries!

Many people know that smoking causes several problems including cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disease. However, there are other diseases occur because of smoking and chewing tobacco. Buerger's Disease is one such disease in which the blood vessels in legs and arms get blocked. This blockage will interfere in blood flow and results in forming blood clots. These clots will affect both legs and
hands.
Buerger's Disease is also known as Thromboangitis Obliterans. It is a type of vasculitis which causes inflammation in the blood vessels including thickening, narrowing, weakening, or scarring.
Buerger's Disease cannot be cured easily. However, by quitting the use of tobacco and smoking, one can limit the symptoms from getting worse. If a person is not able to quit smoking, he/she might end up
suffering from severe tissue damage. One can also even lose toes, fingers, or other parts of the limbs. This is why quitting all type of tobacco or smoking is the only way to treat Buerger's Disease.

What Causes Buerger's Disease?
As discussed earlier, smoking cigarettes or cigars and chewing any form of tobacco is one of the main causes of Buerger's Disease. Still, the exact cause of this disease is unknown, but in most cases of Buerger's Disease, the sufferer has consumed tobacco products. It is an assumption that chemicals present in tobacco, cigarettes, and cigars may affect the lining of blood vessels, causing them to swell. According to experts, the genes in the body may also cause this disease. It is suspected that this disease is caused by an autoimmune response in which the immune system of the body attacks healthy tissues mistakenly. According to this theory, some people are prone to this disease.

Symptoms of Buerger's Disease-
Some of the most common symptoms of Buerger's Disease are:
  Pain in the hands and feet while exercising
  Stiffness due to reduced blood flow
  Pain at Rest
  Skin ulcerations
  Gangrene of the fingers and toes in severe cases
  Numbness, coldness, or tingling of the feet and hand
  Pale, reddish, or blue-tinted hands or feet.

Diagnosis of Buerger s Disease-
There is a set of tests that can diagnose Buerger s disease. Doctors first ask a person about his/her lifestyle, use of tobacco, and symptoms. After seeing a few symptoms, doctors may perform a test to check the blood flow. He may also look for other diseases that cause similar symptoms. Some of the common test to diagnose Buerger s Disease are:


  Allen Test: The Allen test is a blood flow test. In this type of test, patients squeeze their hand into a firm fist, which pushes out blood from hand. The doctor presses the arteries to slow down the
blood flow of the hand. At this stage, the normal color of the skin gets pale. After that, patients open his/her hand and doctors release the pressure from both sides of the wrist one by one. If it takes a longer time to go back to the normal skin color, it may be an indication of Buerger s disease

  Angiogram: It is a type of X-ray that will help to check the blockage of the blood vessels in the legs and arms. In this test, doctor place catheter (thin tube) into an artery to pump the dye. After
that, he takes X-ray images. Doctors may also perform tomography (CT) or MRI scan for clear results.

  Blood Tests: The blood tests will help the doctor to check if there is any other disease that causes the same symptoms as most of the vascular diseases mimics the symptoms of Buerger s
Disease. The doctor may also perform tests to check for diseases like lupus, diabetes, and those that cause blood clots.

Treatment of Buerger' Disease-
Quitting smoking and use of tobacco will help a person to lower the symptoms of this disease. Doctors may also prescribe for pain killers or antibiotics to get rid of the pain in affected areas. If a person finds it difficult to quit smoking, doctors help him/her with the right program and rehabilitation techniques.

Take Away-
Buerger's Disease is one of the rare illness caused by intake of tobacco products, this is why quitting smoking is most important to treat this disease. It is also advisable to consult a doctor as soon as a person identify any of the above symptoms.

All You Need To Know About Peripheral Vascular Injuries!

The kidneys are primarily responsible for filtering blood and removing waste from the body. They also regulate the fluid and electrolyte balance. If the kidneys stop functioning, a patient may need to undergo dialysis or have a renal transplant. Many patients prefer undergoing a transplant as it offers a better quality of life in the long run.

A kidney transplant can be described as a procedure to replace one s own kidneys with a donor's kidney. In case of kidney transplant, there are two types of donors. The human body can function with one healthy kidney and hence family members and friends of the patient may choose to donate a kidney. Else, a kidney may be sourced from recently deceased donors who have chosen to donate their organs after death. In both cases, it is important that the donor kidney match the patient s blood and tissue type.

A renal transplant surgery usually takes about 3 hours. The donor kidney is placed in the abdominal cavity and connected to the patient s arteries, veins and bladder. Usually, the donor kidney begins functioning immediately. The patient s own damaged or diseased kidneys may not be removed unless there is a severe infection, cancer or a diagnosis of large polycystic kidneys.

The patient will need to be hospitalized for a few days after the surgery. In some cases, dialysis may be needed if the kidneys are unable to produce urine. In addition diuretics and other medication may be needed to remove excess water and salt from the body. Medication will also be prescribed to suppress the immune system so that the patient s body does not reject the donor kidney. These medications typically need to be taken for the rest of the patient s life.

A renal transplant is considered a relatively safe procedure. Less than 20 out of 100 people reject a donor kidney. However, there are a few other risks involved. These include:
  Bleeding
  Severe infection
  Failure of the donor kidney
  Reaction to anesthesia
  Increased risk of infections due to suppressed immune system

Kidney transplant is not advised for people suffering from diseases such as cancer or any significant lung or heart disease. If the patient is suffering from an infection, he or she may be advised to wait until the infection subsides before undergoing a renal transplant. A renal transplant may seem to be an expensive procedure but in the long run, this can work out to be more budget friendly than dialysis.

Renal Transplant - What Should You Know About It?

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