K-Way Newsletter - November 2024

Message from the Editor

Our dearest K-Way Readers,

Happy to welcome you all to the gratitude month of the year – November!

This powerful word THANK YOU is meant to show our gratitude. Moreover, even if we have forgotten to say that to someone, here is the chance for it.

November is celebrated for its various special days and one among those days is Thanksgiving Day.

Why do we need to thank anyone?

“They are only doing their duty.”

“It’s not out of the way.”

“Are we not paying for it?”

“It’s only our right, isn’t it?”

Yes, all these lines may go through your mind. They may be correct too, but let me tell you a secret – do you know what is the most contagious action? It is a smile and it comes automatically when we show our gratitude and when we utter the word thank you.

CLICK TO VIEW OCTOBER 2024 HIGHLIGHTS

Loss of Domain Hernias: A Surgical Challenge

Greetings! I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the editors and readers of K-Way for allowing me the opportunity to discuss this complex and challenging condition. My aim is to raise awareness among the public and medical professionals about this difficult-to-treat disease. It is vital to understand that not all hernias are the same, and a tailored approach is essential to ensure the patient’s overall well-being, to live an uncompromised lifestyle and achieve the best possible outcomes.

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The Way Forward – Moving Towards Robotic Kidney Transplant Surgery

Kidney transplant is a procedure done to place a functioning kidney in a patient whose own kidneys are failing. The first successful kidney transplant was done in the year 1956 by Dr. Joseph Murray, between identical twins. The recipient or the twin that had the kidney transplant lived for another 8 years. This created a momentum which was only furthered by the advances and understanding of the immunosuppression protocols (anti-rejection medicines), making it simpler for transplants to take place between those without identical genetic material or even the same blood group. Right from the time of its inception, there have been several attempts to make kidney transplant a minimally invasive procedure. While laparoscopic renal transplant was not an astounding success due to the technical difficulties, robot assisted kidney transplant (RAKT) was met with a greater degree of enthusiasm and acceptance.

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CAPD (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis) – Boon to Patients with Kidney Failure Needing Dialysis

Dialysis is done when kidney failure is in the advanced stage – be it temporary or permanent. In hemodialysis, the blood is removed from the patient’s body and purified by passing it through a semi-permeable membrane (dialyzer).

Peritoneum is a layer that covers the intestines. The space in between the two layers is called the peritoneal cavity. Peritoneal dialysis involves instilling the purifying liquid inside the peritoneal cavity and cleaning the blood.

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Understanding Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Procedure

Aortic valve is the valve which maintains the outflow of blood from the left ventricular chamber of the heart into the aorta. In simple words, the aorta is the artery which carries blood to all the parts of the body, and the valve which protects the back flow of blood into the heart is the aortic valve. Sometimes, the aortic valve becomes thick and doesn’t allow free flow of blood. This in medical terms is called aortic stenosis. Patient will complain of fatigue and breathlessness and can complain of chest pain too.

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Bold and Beautiful - Braving Breast Cancer Therapy

99.6 percent of women diagnosed with cancer localised to the breast survive for 5 years or more with prompt and appropriate treatment. The reassuring numbers have not been put forth to downplay the seriousness around cancer, but only to inform about the real-time global statistics of breast cancer. Fear amidst a diagnosis of ‘cancer’ may be inevitable, but correct knowledge about the treatment options and their outcomes will help overcome the fear.

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Benign Breast Diseases: A Brief Overview

Breast cancer has garnered a lot of attention in the last decade, with a lot of information everywhere. It has also brought fear and anxiety. Most people do not realise that about 80% of the breast symptoms are attributed to benign (non-cancerous) conditions.

The symptoms in the breast may be common for both benign and cancerous conditions, which include breast lumps, nipple discharge or skin changes. The breast is made up of glands, fat, milk ducts and connective tissue. A variety of conditions can arise from any of these structures. Following are some common examples of benign breast conditions.

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Premature Canities/Premature Greying of Hair

Premature canities or premature greying of hair is defined as the early loss of pigment in hair strands, leading to a grey or white appearance. Typically, this occurs before the age of 20 for Caucasians, 25 for Asians, and 30 for African individuals. This condition can be distressing and may impact self-esteem and social interactions.

What Are the Causes of Premature Canities?

Premature canities are influenced by a variety of factors:

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Everything You Need to Know About Dialysis | Kauvery Hospital Chennai

Dialysis is essential for individuals with kidney failure, as it removes waste, balances electrolytes, and regulates pH levels. This life-saving treatment not only improves health but also enhances the quality of life for patients. It plays a crucial role in managing kidney dysfunction and supports those awaiting a transplant.

Dr. Balaji Kirushnan, Senior Consultant – Nephrology, Kauvery Hospital Alwarpet, provides a comprehensive explanation of dialysis in this informative video.

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Patient Experience

The staff were attentive and knowledgeable, and I appreciated the clean and comfortable environment. However, I did experience longer wait times in the emergency department. Overall, I would appreciate this hospital for pharmacy department staff always engaged.

Keep your tone respectful and focus on providing helpful feedback!

– B.K

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