From the Director’s Desk - Kauvery Hospital

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Pongal ushered in the new year on a sweet note with Kauvery being conferred the Platinum Medal and Certification for following the best practices in 5S. 5S is a workplace organization methodology that uses a list of five Japanese words: Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke. The list describes how to organize a work space for efficiency and effectiveness by identifying and storing the implements used, maintaining the work area and tools, and sustaining the new order. Kauvery is the only hospital in the service sector to have been given this award and it is heartening to see that this new initiative is transforming the way we deliver healthcare.

Pongal was celebrated on 14th Jan 2016, with the staff and doctors being entertained with competitive events like ethnic wear, musical chairs and singing, as also cooking & savoring of the traditional pongal.

Osteoporosis (reduced bone density resulting in bone weakness and fractures) is a very common occurrence among Indian women. An early diagnosis can facilitate preventive treatment to reduce the incidence of fractures. Kauvery has introduced the Osteoporosis and Bone Health Check Package, which helps to identify people who are at risk, so that appropriate treatment can be initiated at an early stage. Please visit Specialty Clinics for more details.

We welcome Dr Amal A. Louis, Senior Consultant Cardiologist, Dr M. Jeevagan, Senior Consultant Urologist and Dr Murali Krishna, Senior Consultant Emergency Medicine who have joined Kauvery as full time consultants. These highly qualified and competent doctors are sure to complement our existing team to achieve clinical excellence in their respective specialties.

With an intensified zeal and vigor in our efforts to bring this city the best in healthcare, we wish you peaceful, healthy and cheerful months ahead.

Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, MS Ortho, FRCS Ortho (UK & Ireland)
Executive Director & Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon, Kauvery Hospital

Urinary Stone Disease

Article by Dr. Jeevagan, Senior Consultant Urologist, Kauvery Hospital

Urinary stone disease is a well-known common problem in our country, affecting 10 to 15 % of the population. What is of increasing concern is that most of them are between 20 and 50 years of age. Men are affected three times more than women. People who are more likely to be affected by urinary stone disease include those: living in hot and dry climate; having a sedentary life style; exposed to high temperature while working; eating foods high in salt, and junk food. Obesity is another key risk factor, besides family history and urinary tract infections.

Stone formation occurs when minerals in the urine become very concentrated, leading to precipitation and crystal formation. This, in turn, may lead to crystal nucleation, aggregation and growth. There are various types of urinary stones, the commonest being calcium oxalate. Other types of stones are calcium phosphate, uric acid, struvite etc.

Symptoms of stone

Symptoms of stones in the kidney are hardly noticed until the stones grow big enough to irritate and tend to block the urinary system. You may experience dull back pain, suffer from urinary infections and notice rarely blood in urine. Unattended large stones in the kidney may lead to loss of kidney function, spreading of infection to your blood and very rarely septic shock, a life-threatening condition.

Sometimes, a kidney stone may travel into the ureter, the tube between the kidney and the bladder, and stay there. Such a ureteric stone may cause you severe pain in your sides below your ribs; you may roll in the bed with unbearable pain, as you may not respond to oral tablets, and may get some relief only with injectable pain killers.

Also, you may vomit, experience pain while passing urine, notice blood in urine and suffer frequent urination. Even though the symptoms are severe, such stones are spontaneously flushed out when you pass urine, provided they are less than 6 mm.

Stones in either ureter, or a single functioning kidney with ureteric stone may lead to sudden stoppage of urine production with no warning symptoms. Unless treated as emergency cases, such patients will suffer acute renal shut down. Stones in bladder or urethra can cause painful urinary retention.

Diagnosis

Ultra sound imaging of the kidneys, ureters and bladder is an ideal screening test to identify the problem of urinary stones. Blood test should be done to examine kidney function, and a routine urine examination to rule out urinary infection. However, a CT scan or an IVP (intravenous pyelogram), which is an x-ray test, is a ‘must’ to plan treatment for the stone. It is like a road map for treatment planning.

Management

The first step of urinary stone management is to relieve the pain with a safe pain killer. Once pain subsides, the medical condition of the patient has to be evaluated. Stone size of 5 to 6 mm in the kidney and up to 6 mm in the ureter can be safely managed with medication. Interventional treatment becomes necessary if the patient has abnormal kidney function, sepsis or intolerable pain even after medication or stones larger than 6 mm in the ureter and kidney.

Pictures above show in a 5-year child a large stone in the right kidney removed through a key hole in the back with Holmium laser Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

Pictures below show stones in the kidney and ureter treated by flexible ureteroscope retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) and Holmium Laser.

There are different methods available for urinary stone breaking like pneumatic, ultrasonic, electro-hydraulic etc. However, Holmium laser is a versatile laser in stone treatment; stones of any size in the kidney, ureter or urinary bladder are best managed, irrespective of the nature and hardness of stones, with least complication and best results.

Various setting options in the 100-watt laser help in the fragmentation and dusting of the stones, with superior stone clearance rate and shorter time than those of shock-wave lithotripsy (a procedure that uses shock waves to break up stones). Also, Holmium laser is quite effective in patients who are unhealthily obese, or pregnant, or on blood thinners, whereas shock-wave lithotripsy is not medically advisable.

Prevention

Patients with urinary stone disease must reduce salt intake, increase fluid intake and cut down on red meat. Medication and periodic check-up with an Ultrasound Sonography Test (USG) or an x-ray would help plan appropriate treatment and avoid recurrence of the disease.

Further metabolic evaluation is needed in cases of frequent stone formation, single functioning kidney, anatomical defects in the urinary system, chronic diarrhea with stone disease, infected stones and strong family history of stone disease.

Myths

There are certain popular beliefs which are not medically true. For example, the common belief is that reduced sodium intake helps prevent urinary stone formation. But, in fact, reduced calcium intake beyond normal requirement is not advisable. Reduction of the daily required calcium in our diet usually results in increased absorption of oxalate from the gut, which in turn increases the oxalate in urine leading to stone formation.

There isn’t enough scientific evidence to support the belief that restriction of a particular fruit, nut or vegetable helps in preventing stone disease. However, it really helps to eat all the vegetables and fruits, in moderation. There is no relationship between stone formation and hardness of water.

Carbonated water and beer tend to increase urinary excretion of oxalate leading to stone formation. Eating leafy vegetables after cooking is safer than taking uncooked fresh ones as in salads: boiling prevents absorption of oxalate. Yet another myth is that once a patient has had a procedure, recurrence of the illness is a certainty, which is simply not true. A careful reevaluation has to be done at the time of completion of treatment through confirmatory tests.

Conclusion

The most important thing in urinary stone disease management is its early identification and timely expert advice on treatment. Taking home remedies, following the advice of quacks and neglecting proper treatment may lead to increased stone size, kidney dysfunction, and infection and in some rare cases, life-threatening sepsis.

Healthy life style, eating any food in moderation with low salt, avoiding red meat, drinking plenty of oral fluids and more importantly, periodic check-ups will surely prevent stone formation and its recurrence.

Dr. Jeevagan, Senior Consultant Urologist is acclaimed for his excellent work in the field of laser laparoscopy and endourology. He has nearly 10 years of experience in the management of stone disease by endoscopic and percutaneous procedures. He has performed numerous reconstructive laparoscopic procedures for kidney, ureter and bladder diseases. He is one of the very few laser-trained surgeons in Tamil Nadu who can perform holmium laser enucleation of prostate (Holep). Kauvery Hospital has a 100 W Holmium laser facility for this purpose.

All About Joint Replacement: Interview with Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj

A veteran in the field of joint replacement surgery, Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj – Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon and Executive Director, Kauvery Hospital is a Dr. D.A Patel gold medal awardee for his academic excellence. Having special interest in the management of shoulder and knee problems and skilled in treating these problems by keyhole surgery, he has practiced in world renowned hospitals like Guys Hospital, St.Thomas Hospital, and Kings College Hospital, both in London and Ireland for more than a decade before returning to India. In this interview, Dr. Aravindan talks on the various facets of joint replacement.

WHEN DOES ONE NEED A JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY?

The main indication of joint replacement is when osteoarthritis reaches the advanced stage. Osteoarthritis is an age related wear and tear of the joints that happen after the age of 35-40. After the age of 40, stage I arthritis happens when the cartilage between the joints starts to degenerate. The initial stages can be managed by tablets, physiotherapy and regular exercises. When it reaches stage II, the joint lubrication becomes lesser over time, just like in the engine of a car. Patients can be benefited from an injection in the joint called viscous supplement. When it reaches stage III, patients have continuous pain throughout the day and their quality of life is severely impacted. In such conditions, we do a key- hole surgery and address cartilage damage.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERIES THAT YOU PERFORM?

In India, the most common joint replacements are done for the knee joint, followed by hip and shoulder. Knee replacement largely depends on the age and degree of arthritis. When patients come in at a very early stage, only one half of the knee is affected. Actually the knee has three compartments, an inside compartment, outside compartment and knee cap compartment. When one component alone is affected, that can be replaced and is called as unicompartmental knee replacement. The other joint replacements include elbow, wrist, joint and ankle but they are very rare. It is usually following an injury or weight related. When overweight people come in for surgery, I advice them to first optimize their weight before going ahead with the replacement.

We did a surgery on a 88 year old man from Jodhpur, so age is not a barrier. The whole idea is that even if the patient is going to live only for a few years after the surgery, he should be as self-reliant and independent as possible.

WHAT ARE THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS FIELD?

The latest implants that are in the market today give a good bending capability in the knee and are called high flexions knee replacements. There is advancement in design by making a cut in the back of the knee. This cut helps achieve 130-145 degree flexibility. However, patients should have realistic expectations. They can’t expect to be as flexible as they were in their 20s.

WHAT IS THE PROSTHESIS USED FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS?

These are artificial implants that comprise of two parts, metal and plastic. The joint space becomes narrow so we make cuts in the bone and replace it with a metal and put in a very high quality polyethene.

Most of the current replacements are expected to last a lifetime. The implants normally outlive the patient unless in rare circumstances where people start doing aggressive sports and wear out the replacements.

Both pre and post surgery physiotherapy are very important as it helps to strengthen quadriceps and takes off the load from the knee. The physiotherapy usually lasts for a month. Some patients with very positive mindsets even start walking in 14 days! They can go back to office in 3 weeks and driving within 2 months time.

CAN PATIENTS WITH OTHER BODILY AILMENTS UNDERGO JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERIES?

People with cardiac surgery, diabetes etc. can undergo joint replacement surgeries as long as the risk factors are addressed and managed. It was not possible 15 – 20 years ago but is possible now.

Is there any risk of the body rejecting the prosthesis?

In the case of rejecting the prosthesis, nickel allergy is a rare case but is a documented phenomenon where in the body rejects prosthesis. There are special implants for those kinds of patients. It is not like the case of kidney transplants and joint replacement is not an immunity – related issue because it is just a metal that is replacing the damaged part of the body.

Don’t just sit around in Pain. Get to the Bottom of it.

Trust experienced Proctologists at Kauvery to correctly diagnose and treat your rectal health issues. If you have symptoms like rectal itching, pain, bleeding or any other unusual symptoms, don’t waste precious time waiting. Uranus – Bottom clinic offers treatment for a wide variety of health problems like piles, fissures, fistulas, tumours.

Dr. Jyothi Basu, Senior Proctologist at Kauvery Hospital, talks about various treatments available at Kauvery’s Bottom Clinic “Uranus”.

Watch his video talk on YouTube.

Learning Disorder in Children

Article by Mrs. Srithi R. Kannan, Special Educator

When a child is found to face problems at school, it is important to ascertain the nature of and reasons for the problems. An assessment can reveal all aspects and levels of the problem areas. More often parents find it difficult to accept the situation, and they need counseling themselves.

Children with special needs require unique instruction by specially trained professionals. It will help these kids achieve their highest potential and strive to progress beyond their limitations.

Based on a child’s condition, after an assessment, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed by a team that includes the child’s parents and school staff. This is a program that lists, among other things, the special educational services that the child requires.

Well-known problems of school-going children are learning disabilities, learning disorders, slow learning, ADHD and autism. Reasons for these problems may include genetic factors, prenatal issues, environmental conditions, parental/peer pressure, fear complex triggered by teachers/peers, dislike of the subject, peer comparison and competition, bullying by peers or seniors or teachers etc. All these factors can retard learning.

Effective management of these problems depends crucially on: early identification; careful designing of an appropriate IEP; sympathetic and committed implementation of the IEP with the fullest co-operation of parents, special education teachers and the institution.

What is learning disability?

Learning disabilities are neurologically-based processing problems. These processing problems can interfere with learning basic skills such as reading, writing and/or math. They can also interfere with higher level skills such as organization, time planning, abstract reasoning, long or short term memory and attention.

It is important to realize that learning disabilities can affect an individual’s life beyond academics and can impact relationships with family, friends and in the workplace.

Dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, visual perception disorders, auditory processing disorders, and language disorders fall under the umbrella of learning disorders. Many children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) too have coexisting learning disabilities.

Learning disabilities listed above are the reasons for poor reading comprehension, reading fluency, listening comprehension, oral expression, written expression and poor performance even in basic mathematics. Kids with such learning disabilities need to learn differently with the help of sympathetic specially trained teachers.

With the proper testing and evaluations, every child’s learning disabilities can be diagnosed and an individual education plan devised so that the child can learn, and be taught to compensate and overcome the learning problems. The child can thus lead a happy and productive life like any other normal child.

The slow learner, by appearance and function, is normal, has adequate memory and possesses common sense. S/he requires more time and attention to learn. Her/his condition is elusive and difficult to identify, and requires formal evaluation by a special educator.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is the commonest childhood brain disorder, and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms include: difficulty in staying focused and paying attention; difficulty in controlling behaviour; hyperactivity (overactivity) that makes it difficult for an ADHD child to succeed in school, get along with other children, or adults, or finish tasks at home.

Inattentive ADHD children are easily distracted, cannot easily focus on one task, and may daydream. ADHD children have trouble sitting still, being quiet, and being patient, among other behavioural symptoms. These behaviours significantly interfere with daily life, and are present in more than one domain in youthhood.

The brain matures in a normal pattern but is delayed, on average, by about 3 years as far as learning goes. The delay is most pronounced in brain regions involved in thinking, paying attention, and planning.

To be diagnosed with this disorder, a child must have symptoms for 6 or more months, and to a degree greater than other children. The consequences of having ADHD are diagrammatically represented as given below:

Duties of a Special Educator in early intervention:

assess development
plan intervention
implement intervention
coordinate services
follow through with recommendations from others
assess family resources, priorities, and concerns
plan and implement services for families
coordinate interagency services
conduct program evaluation
serve as an advocate for children & families

Treating these children

Some or all of these options will help plan carefully appropriate treatment of these children: psychological analysis, guidance, encouragement and fixing the goal; memory tips, self reading, sincere practice and special expert guidance.

Interventions should be individually and developmentally appropriate, and properly attuned to age.

Mrs. Srithi Kannan is available for consultation on Tue/Wed/Thur between 11 am and 1 pm at Kauvery Hospital, Alwarpet, Chennai.

Ask The Doctor

Doctor, why do I get a dull ache in my knee and shoulder after exercising or playing tennis? I am worried that this could be a sign of arthritis. I am in my early 30s.

If the pain occurs after playing tennis or other such strenuous activities, it is likely to be caused by tendinitis and this needs to be ruled out before other possibilities are considered. If the pain is in the form of a dull ache that becomes worse when the joint is moved and is accompanied by tenderness and mild swelling in the affected area, these are all typical signs of tendinitis. This is a condition that occurs when the tendons, which connect the bones to muscles, become inflamed.

The Causes
The condition usually develops because of regular repetition of a motion over an extended period of time. Playing tennis regularly or doing the same strenuous exercises every day can cause the condition to develop as some tendons in the body are subjected to regular repeated stress. This does not mean that the exercise should be stopped. A sport coach or gym instructor should be contacted to obtain guidance on the use of correct techniques to limit the stress on the tendons. As people age the tendons become less flexible and more prone to injury and conditions like this.

When To See A Doctor
In most cases, mild tendinitis will usually disappear if the affected joint is given proper rest and the movements that cause it are modified to prevent future stress on the tendons. However, if the conditions persist, a doctor should be consulted. If the condition does not heal on its own, there is a danger of the tendon rupturing which may require surgery to repair it. Additionally, a condition known as tendinosis, which involves degeneration of the tendon itself, could develop.

The Treatment
The treatment for this condition involves pain relief and reducing inflammation. Your doctor may prescribe taking pain relievers to reduce the discomfort and anti-inflammatory medication. This could be in the form of creams and ointments for topical application. In severe cases corticosteroid injections may be required to provide faster relief. In addition specific exercises to strengthen the affected tendons may be advised. If the damage to the tendon is severe, such as in cases where it has become torn away from the bone, surgery may be the required to repair the damage.

Doctor, why am I getting red patches on my face after using a new highly recommended skin cream?

This is likely to be a case of contact dermatitis. The condition occurs when the skin reacts to contact with certain substances, like the skin cream mentioned. There may be nothing wrong with the cream itself; each person’s skin varies in sensitivity and what suits one person may not suit another. There are three types of contact dermatitis.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis
This condition occurs when the skin develops a reaction after coming into contact with a substance it is allergic to. The body responds by releasing chemicals that cause the skin to become irritated, red and itchy. The most common cause of this reaction is contact with certain metals used in jewelry such as gold or silver, gloves and other products made of latex, poisonous plants and shrubs such as poison ivy and perfumes, cosmetics and skin care products.

Irritant Contact Dermatitis
This condition occurs when the skin comes into contact with a toxic material, many of which are commonly used in homes. These include bleach, detergents, kerosene, drain cleaning powders and liquids, battery and other types of acid and aerosol sprays of various kinds. It most commonly occurs on the hands (it is also known as “hand eczema”) but can affect any part of the skin. Even nontoxic substances can cause this condition. For example, people whose hands are constantly exposed to water and / or soap, such as cooks, hairdressers and even doctors who need to wash their hands frequently, are prone to this condition.

Photo Contact Dermatitis
This is a very rare occurrence. It happens when the ingredients in sunscreen and other similar substances react to sunlight and cause an allergic reaction.

The Treatment
The first thing to be done when contact dermatitis occurs is to avoid scratching the itchy skin. This will increase the irritation and could even lead to infections that will require the use of antibiotics. Clean the affected area with warm (not hot) water and mild soap to remove any irritants that may be on the skin. Mixing two tablespoons of baking soda in cool water, soaking a clean piece of cloth in the solution, wringing it out and applying it to the skin can provide relieve from the discomfort. If the irritation remains, calamine lotion can be applied to the affected area. The condition will normally clear up in a few days. If it does not, consult a doctor who may prescribe steroid creams or antihistamines to cure to condition.

While contact dermatitis will normally go away on its own with proper home care, if the condition affects a large area of skin or if it is near the eyes, nose or mouth, a doctor should be consulted without delay as the conditions could quickly worse and spread to other parts of the body.

Things You Need to Know about Cataract Surgery

Article by Dr. B.S. Anil Chandra, MS (Ophthal)
Senior Consultant Phaco and Refractive Surgeon, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai

At the age of 50 plus years, most of us are likely to hear the eye doctor tell us, “You have cataracts.” As we age, proteins in the lens of our eyes may begin to break down, and the lens may become cloudy. What we see may appear blurred. This condition is known as a cataract.

Thus cataract is an eye disease – a clouding of the natural, crystalline lens inside the eye, causing partial or total blindness. It cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or corneal refractive surgery like LASIK. As frightening as it might sound, cataract surgery is one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures performed today. In the vast majority of cases, this procedure produces excellent visual outcomes.

Cataract Surgery Basics

During cataract surgery, the natural lens inside your eye that has become cloudy is removed, and replaced with an artificial lens (called an intraocular lens, or IOL) to restore clear vision. The surgery is performed typically as an outpatient procedure. It does not require an overnight stay in the hospital.

Most modern cataract procedures involve the use of a high-frequency ultrasound device. It breaks up the cloudy lens in the eye into small pieces, which are then gently removed with suction. This procedure is medically called phacoemulsification or ‘phaco’ for short. It can be performed with smaller incisions of 2-3 mm, thus promoting faster healing and reducing the risk of surgical complications.

After all the remnants of the cloudy lens are removed from your eye, the cataract surgeon inserts a clear intraocular lens into the eye. It is positioned securely behind the iris and pupil, exactly in the same location occupied by your cloudy natural lens before the surgery.

Laser Cataract Surgery

Recently, a number of femtosecond lasers – similar to the lasers used to create the corneal flap in all-laser LASIK – are being used in cataract surgery.

These lasers have gained approval for the following steps in cataract surgery, reducing the need for surgical blades and other hand-held tools:

Creating corneal incisions to allow the surgeon access to the lens
Removing the anterior capsule of the lens
Fragmenting the cataract (so, less phaco energy is required to break it up and remove it)
Creating peripheral corneal incisions, when needed, to reduce astigmatism i.e., faulty vision resulting from defective curvature of the cornea or lens of the eye.

Preparing for Cataract Surgery and Choosing an IOL

Prior to cataract surgery, your eye doctor will perform a comprehensive eye exam to check: a) the overall health of your eyes; b) evaluate whether there are reasons why you should not have surgery; c) identify any risk factors you might have.

Also, a refraction (i.e., the ability of the eye to bend light so that an image is focused on the retina) test will be performed to accurately determine the amount of nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism you have prior to surgery. Additional measurements of your eyes will be taken to determine the curvature of your cornea and the length of your eye.

These measurements are essential to help your cataract surgeon identify the proper power of the artificial intraocular lens that would give you the best vision possible after surgery.

Today you have many types of IOL to choose from for your cataract surgery, depending on your specific needs. In addition to IOLs that correct nearsightedness and farsightedness, there are now toric IOLs that correct astigmatism as well.

If you don’t mind wearing glasses after cataract surgery, a monofocal lens is usually inserted surgically. Just part-time use of reading glasses is often needed after cataract surgery with monofocal IOLs.

May be you like the idea of being less dependent on glasses after cataract surgery. If so, one way to correct presbyopia (i.e., a reduced ability to focus on near objects caused by loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens after age 45) and reduce your need for reading glasses is to have your cataract surgeon adjust the power of one of your monofocal IOLs. This is done (assuming that you have cataract surgery performed in both eyes) to give you a monovision correction, similar to monovision correction with contact lenses.

Another option is to choose one of a variety of advanced presbyopia-correcting IOLs to improve your reading vision without sacrificing your distance vision. Presbyopia-correcting IOLs include accommodating IOLs and multifocal IOLs; both the types are designed to provide a greater range of vision after cataract surgery than that of conventional monofocal IOLs.

Beware using these premium IOLs for two reasons: a) you may not be a right candidate for this procedure; b) choosing a presbyopia-correcting IOL will increase the out-of-pocket cost of your cataract surgery, since its additional cost is not covered by insurance plans.

Discuss with your eye doctor all medications you are taking, including non-prescription (“over-the-counter”) formulations and nutritional supplements. Some medications and supplements can increase your risk of cataract surgery complications and might need to be discontinued prior to surgery.

Events of the past month

Kauvery Hospital is now a 5S Workplace Organisation

Kauvery Hospital has won the Platinum Medal and Certification for the best practices in 5S in large and medium scale industries. It is heartening to note that Kauvery is the ONLY hospital to win this award and even better, the only organization in the service industry to bag this.

5S is the name of a workplace organization method that uses a list of five Japanese words: Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke. Transliterated into English, they all start with the letter “S”. The list describes how to organize a work space for efficiency and effectiveness by identifying and storing the items used, maintaining the area and items, and sustaining the new order.

Academic Doctors’ Meet – IMA Chennai, Kauvery Alwarpet Branch

IMA Chennai Kauvery Alwarpet branch’s monthly Academic Doctors’ Meet was held on 8th Jan 2016. IMA State Secretary Dr.Muthu Rajan issued Course Completion Certificates to 11 students of Paramedical courses. There was a presentation on:

1. Recent advances in Interventional Cardiology by Dr. Amal A Louis, Senior Interventional Cardiologist.

2. Diaper Ileostomy Appliances – An Innovation by Dr. Devaji Rao Senior General Surgeon.

3. Emergency Surgery in Acute Ischaemic Stroke by Dr. Raghavendran, Senior Neuro Surgeon.

Kauvery Hospital provides fully equipped Ambulance Services on Kaanum Pongal

Kaanum Pongal is a mega tourist festival where thousands flock important places of interest. A fully equipped ambulance with first aid kit, specialist nurses, paramedical staff and doctors from Kauvery Hospital, was positioned at Besant Nagar beach on Sunday the 17th January from 4PM to 10.30 PM, to manage emergencies during the celebration. Health informational pamphlets along with 2016 Kauvery Monthly Calendar were distributed to the public.

Binding together through culture and tradition

Kauvery Hospital celebrated Pongal at their premises on 14th Jan 2016. It was a fun filled celebration which included lot of competitions like ethnic wear, musical chairs and singing for the staff and doctors. The day was made sweeter with the cooking of Pongal and savouring. We believe in keeping traditions alive.

Pongal Celebration @ Mandaveli

Mayillaatam and Karagaatam, folk dances of the state were performed and Kolam competitions were conducted to bring out the essence of this important festival, Pongal. This event was sponsored by Kauvery Hospital. The participants were residents of Raja Street, Mandaveli, Chennai.

Road Safety Awareness Program

Larsen & Toubro Limited, Manapakkam along with Kauvery Hospital conducted a Road Safety Awareness program. A Walkathon from Manapakkam to Porur Junction was held on 10th January 2016 commemorating the 27th Road Safety Week. L&T created awareness of traffic and safety issues by distributing pamphlets on road safety measures to the public and setting up hoardings about the Do’s & Dont’s of driving.

This awareness program was not only meant for drivers and school children but for the public in general.

Vaccination & General Camp at IndusInd Bank Limited, Karapakkam

Vaccination & General Camp was organized for the employees of Karapakkam branch of IndusInd Bank on 04.01.2016 & 05.01.2016. More than 400 employees received immunization vaccines for Influenza, Tetanus and Typhoid. Height, weight, blood pressure and random blood sugar levels were checked. ECG was taken for employees above 40 years of age to rule out cardiac ailments.

Upcoming Events

Acute Illness Management (AIM) Course
Training programme for Nurses and Junior Doctors will be conducted on 01/02/2016 to 04/02/2016.
Venue: Hotel Raintree, St.Mary’s Road, Alwarpet, Chennai
Time: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Click here for more details on this programme.

General Medical Camp at Ambur
Kauvery Hospital will conduct a general medical camp at Ambur on 06/02/2016.
Time: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

General Medical Camp at Vyasarpadi
A general medical camp at Vyasarpadi will be organized by Kauvery Hospital on 14/02/2016.
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

CME at Savera Hotel
CME on Spine by Dr.Balamurali will be held at Savera Hotel on 20/02/2016.
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Cardiology Camp at Pudukkottai
Kauvery Hospital will conduct a Cardiology camp at Pudukkottai on 28/02/2016.
Time: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Doctor: Dr. Dhamodharan

Patient Experience

“Thanks to the doctors and the hospital for their effort.”
– L.N

“We came here on 10.01.2013. From that day onwards we have recommended this hospital to all our relatives and friends for the treatment and for other best qualities. We came again on 10.01.2016 midnight and got admission under Dr. Prithichary madam. She gave suggestion by phone for immediate relief for illness. Her service is wonderful and unforgettable. Thank you.”
– P.B

“Overall attention and care taken by the hospital staff is good. Timely attention was given by attending doctors and staff. Hospital is clean. Total Experience is good.”
– U.S

“We Feel Good to be here. Maintenance and Doctor service were too good.”
– A.G

“Hospital takes care of patients and we feel at home.”
– B.S

“Special care was taken by Filomina. Appreciated. Overall all the staff are very courteous.”
– N.R

“Thanks for taking care of my Mom. Thanks for all the nurses who are caring and very supportive.”
– R.D

“The Major feedback which I would like to pass on is the manner in which the consulting Doctor (Dr.RBS) interacted with us and took pains to explain the nature of the ailment and the treatment prescribed. It is highly appreciated. I would like to add that the attending nurses also took good care of my Mom.”
– K.A

“Thanks to Ms.Pauline, Phelomin for the their support. The confidence given by Dr.Mukunth and the Anesthetists was great.”
– R.K

“I am treating my father for the past one year for dialysis and I am completely satisfied with the treatment and the cooperation given by all the departments in the hospital. I like to personally thank Dr.Balasubramaniam and his dedicated team for the excellent work they do for me and all the patients. I also like to thank the Reception Staff Ms.Suganya, Mr.Vincent, Mr.Walter, Mr.Sam, Mr.James, the driver Mr. Rajesh and Ms.Anita, Nursing supervisor for all the help they have rendered to me. I sincerely wish Dr.Aravindan Selvaraj and his team success in all their endeavours. I like to thank Mr.Sridhar from insurance department also. Wish you a grand success Kauverians. God Bless You all.”
– J.V

Recipe Corner

Healthy Antioxidant Salad

Adding a salad to your daily diet is a great way to develop healthy and nutritious eating habits. Here is one that is easy to make and uses easy to procure ingredients. This is a perfect example of how healthy does not mean tasteless and bland. After you have tried this recipe a few times, you can start experimenting with different ingredients change the taste.

Ingredients

1 medium head Broccoli
1 small zucchini
1 small purple cabbage
3 to 4 lettuce leaves
1 clove fresh garlic
1 tablespoon flax seeds
1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt and fresh black pepper to taste

Preparation

Wash all the raw ingredients and place them in a colander to drain.
If the lettuce leaves remain excessively damp, spin them to remove any remaining moisture. This will ensure that they remain crunchy and add texture to the salad.
Place the leaves in a salad bowl to form the base of the salad.
Break the broccoli florets into approximately 2 inch size pieces and place them in a pan of hot water. The water should be hot but not boiling.
Do not peel the zucchini as this will reduce the nutrition value. Cut it lengthwise into 2 inch long pieces and place them in the same pan as the broccoli.
Cut the cabbage into 2 inch size pieces.
The flax seeds can be used raw or toasted, depending on personal preference.

The Dressing

Pour the lemon juice into a small bowl. Crush the garlic clove and add it to the juice. Add salt and pepper to taste and allow the mixture to rest for a few minutes.

Assembly

Drain the broccoli and zucchini and place them on top of the lettuce leaves in the bowl. Place the cabbage on top. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss until all the ingredients are coated with the dressing. Pour the flax and sunflower seeds on the top and serve.