What to do if you are choking and there’s no one around to help
Most people more or less understand what they have to do to if they see someone choking. But what’s the solution when we ourselves suddenly find our breathing is obstructed, and no one’s around to help?
Here we publish the instructions for how to respond in this situation. It’s definitely worth reading them – one day they may just save your life.
Jeff Rehman, a fire medic with 22 years of experience, came up with an effective way to save yourself in such difficult situations.
Here are the key points:
- Don’t panic. Remain calm as much as you possibly can.
- Kneel on the ground, with your body held vertically over the ground by your arms.
- Sharply pull away your arms and fall onto the ground hard with your torso. The hard blow to your chest will force out a large amount of air from your lungs, and at the same time expel whatever’s obstructing your air flow.
Here’s a video with Jeff’s instructions:
Source: https://brightside.me/article/what-to-do-if-you-are-choking-and-theres-no-one-around-to-help-13705/
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Difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest
People often think that a heart attack is the same thing as a cardiac arrest. This, however, is not true. In order to understand the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest, it is first necessary to understand what happens in both of these processes.
What is a heart attack?
The heart is a muscle, and like all muscles it requires an oxygen-rich blood supply. This is provided to the heart by coronary arteries. A heart attack occurs when there is a blockage of the coronary arteries. This is often caused by a blood clot. Such a blockage, if not quickly resolved, can cause parts of heart muscle to begin to die.
What is a cardiac arrest?
A cardiac arrest is different to a heart attack. In a cardiac arrest the heart actually stops beating; whereas in a heart attack the heart normally continues to beat even though the blood supply to the heart is disrupted.
Symptoms of a heart attack and of cardiac arrest
In addition to the physiological mechanism being different, the symptoms of a heart attack and a cardiac arrest also vary.
Symptoms of a heart attack include:
- Chest pain – this is often a feeling of tightness in the center of the chest which may last for several minutes and will not decrease upon resting (although the most common symptom of a heart attack, not all patients having a heart attack will experience chest pain)
- Spreading of chest pain to other areas, most commonly to the arms, jaw, neck, back and abdomen
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Feeling or being sick
- Anxiety
- Light-headedness or dizziness
- Sweating
- Weakness
- Palpitations (noticeable heartbeats)
Symptoms of a cardiac arrest include:
- Sudden loss of consciousness/responsiveness
- No breathing
- No pulse
The lack of pulse is caused by the heart actually stopping during a cardiac arrest. As a consequence of this, the organs of the body are deprived of blood – this can lead to death.
The following warning signs may also occur in the period before a cardiac arrest:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Palpitations
- Nausea
Causes of heart attacks and cardiac arrests
Cardiac arrests have several potential causes. These include:
- Ventricular fibrillation – an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) where the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles) beat irregularly
- Ventricular tachycardia
- Coronary heart disease
- Changes of the heart structure
- Pacemaker failure
- Respiratory arrest
- Choking
- Drowning
- Electrocution
- Hypothermia
- Dramatic drop in blood pressure
- Drug abuse
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- An unknown reason
A cardiac arrest can also be caused by a heart attack. In fact, according to the British Heart Foundation, the majority of cardiac arrests in the UK are caused by heart attacks.
A heart attack itself involves a cut off in the blood supply to part of the heart muscle. If a large enough portion of the heart is affected, then the heart may stop beating, i.e. a cardiac arrest may occur.
But what about heart attacks themselves? What causes them? Well, in contrast to cardiac arrests, heart attacks are generally caused by one main factor – coronary heart disease (CHD). CHD is a condition that is generally caused by fatty deposits building up in the coronary arteries, which provide oxygenated blood to the heart. This is also known as atherosclerosis. Those most at risk of CHD include:
- Smokers
- Those who eat an unhealthy diet – one that is high in saturated fat
- Those with high blood pressure
- Those with diabetes
- Overweight or obese people
- People who do not exercise frequently
- Older people, in particularly older men
- Those with a family history of heart disease
- People who have been exposed to air pollution, particularly traffic pollution
People with CHD may experience a heart attack if a plaque, (a raised patch on the artery wall) splits and causes a blood clot which in turn blocks the coronary artery.
Source: http://www.news-medical.net/health/Heart-attack-and-cardiac-arrest-difference.aspx
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Suicide prevention
Magnitude of the problem
Suicide is among the top 20 leading causes of death globally for all ages. Every year, nearly one million people die from suicide.
Risk factors
Mental illness, primarily depression and alcohol use disorders, abuse, violence, loss, cultural and social background, represent major risk factors for suicide.
Prevention
Restriction of access to means of suicide, such as toxic substances and firearms, identification and management of persons suffering from mental and substance use disorders, improved access to health and social services, and responsible reporting of suicide by the media are effective strategies for the prevention of suicide.
Here are some common myths and facts about mental health.
Myth: There’s no hope for people with mental illnesses.
Fact: There are more treatments, strategies, and community supports than ever before, and even more are on the horizon. People with mental illnesses lead active, productive lives.
Myth: I can’t do anything for someone with mental health needs.
Fact: You can do a lot, starting with the way you act and how you speak. You can nurture an environment that builds on people’s strengths and promotes good mental health. For example:
- Avoid labelling people with words like “crazy”, “mad”.
- Learn the facts about mental health and share them with others, especially if you hear something that is untrue.
- Treat people with mental illnesses with respect and dignity, as you would anybody else.
- Respect the rights of people with mental illnesses and don’t discriminate against them when it comes to housing, employment, or education. Like other people with disabilities, people with mental health needs are protected under mental health rights.
Myth: People with mental illnesses are violent and unpredictable.
Fact: In reality, the vast majority of people who have mental health needs are no more violent than anyone else. You probably know someone with a mental illness and don’t even realize it.
Myth: Mental illnesses cannot affect me.
Fact: Mental illnesses are surprisingly common; they affect almost every family in America. Mental illnesses do not discriminate-they can affect anyone.
Myth: Mental illness is the same as mental retardation.
Fact: The two are distinct disorders. A mental retardation diagnosis is characterized by limitations in intellectual functioning and difficulties with certain daily living skills. In contrast, people with mental illnesses-health conditions that cause changes in a person’s thinking, mood, and behavior-have varied intellectual functioning, just like the general population.
Myth: Mental illnesses are brought on by a weakness of character.
Fact: Mental illnesses are a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. Research has shown genetic and biological factors are associated with schizophrenia, depression, and alcoholism. Social influences, such as loss of a loved one or a job, can also contribute to the development of various disorders.
Myth: People with mental illnesses cannot tolerate the stress of holding down a job.
Fact: In essence, all jobs are stressful to some extent. Productivity is maximized when there is a good match between the employee’s needs and working conditions, whether or not the individual has mental health needs.
Myth: People with mental health needs, even those who have received effective treatment and have recovered, tend to be second-rate workers on the job.
Fact: Employers who have hired people with mental illnesses report good attendance and punctuality, as well as motivation, quality of work, and job tenure on par with or greater than other employees. Studies by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) show that there are no differences in productivity when people with mental illnesses are compared to other employees.
Myth: Once people develop mental illnesses, they will never recover.
Fact: Studies show that most people with mental illnesses get better, and many recover completely. Recovery refers to the process in which people are able to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities. For some individuals, recovery is the ability to live a fulfilling and productive life. For others, recovery implies the reduction or complete remission of symptoms. Science has shown that having hope plays an integral role in an individual’s recovery.
Myth: Therapy and self-help are wastes of time. Why bother when you can just take one of those pills you hear about on TV?
Fact: Treatment varies depending on the individual. A lot of people work with therapists, counselors, their peers, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and social workers in their recovery process. They also use self-help strategies and community supports. Often these methods are combined with some of the most advanced medications available.
Myth: Children do not experience mental illnesses. Their actions are just products of bad parenting.
Fact: A report from the Mental Health research showed that in any given year 5-9 percent of children experience serious emotional disturbances. Just like adult mental illnesses, these are clinically diagnosable health conditions that are a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, social, and sometimes even genetic factors.
Myth: Children misbehave or fail in school just to get attention.
Fact: Behavior problems can be symptoms of emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders, rather than merely attention-seeking devices. These children can succeed in school with appropriate understanding, attention, and mental health services.
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World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day raises public awareness about mental health issues. The day promotes open discussion of mental disorders, and investments in prevention, promotion and treatment services. This year the theme for the day is “Depression: A Global Crisis”.
Depression affects more than 350 million people of all ages, in all communities, and is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease. Although there are known effective treatments for depression, access to treatment is a problem in most countries and in some countries fewer than 10% of those who need it receive such treatment.
Mental Health refers to a broad array of activities directly or indirectly related to the mental well-being component included in the WHO is definition of health: “A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease”. It is related to the promotion of well-being, the prevention of mental disorders, and the treatment and rehabilitation of people affected by mental disorders
What Is Mental Illness?
Mental illnesses include such disorders as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic and other severe anxiety disorders, autism and pervasive developmental disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, borderline personality disorder, and other severe and persistent mental illnesses that affect the brain.
These disorders can profoundly disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, moods, ability to relate to others and capacity for coping with the demands of life.
Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character, or poor upbringing.
Mental illnesses are treatable. Most people with serious mental illness need medication to help control symptoms, but also rely on supportive counseling, self-help groups, assistance with housing, vocational rehabilitation, income assistance and other community services in order to achieve their highest level of recovery.
Here are some important facts about mental illness and recovery:
- Mental illnesses are biologically based brain disorders. They cannot be overcome through “will power” and are not related to a person’s “character” or intelligence.
- Mental disorders fall along a continuum of severity. The most serious and disabling conditions affect five to ten million adults (2.6 – 5.4%) and three to five million children ages five to seventeen (5 – 9%) in the United States.
- Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability (lost years of productive life) in the North America, Europe and, increasingly, in the world. By 2020, Major Depressive illness will be the leading cause of disability in the world for women and children.
- Mental illnesses strike individuals in the prime of their lives, often during adolescence and young adulthood. All ages are susceptible, but the young and the old are especially vulnerable.
- Without treatment the consequences of mental illness for the individual and society are staggering: unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, suicide and wasted lives; The economic cost of untreated mental illness is more than 100 billion dollars each year in the United States.
- The best treatments for serious mental illnesses today are highly effective; between 70 and 90 percent of individuals have significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life with a combination of pharmacological and psychosocial treatments and supports;
- Early identification and treatment is of vital importance; By getting people the treatment they need early, recovery is accelerated and the brain is protected from further harm related to the course of illness.
- Stigma erodes confidence that mental disorders are real, treatable health conditions. We have allowed stigma and a now unwarranted sense of hopelessness to erect attitudinal, structural and financial barriers to effective treatment and recovery. It is time to take these barriers down.
DEPRESSION
Depression can affect anyone and it is one of the most widespread illnesses, often co-existing with other serious illnesses.
According to the World Health Organization, unipolar depressive disorders were ranked as the third leading cause of the global burden of disease in 2004 and will move into the first place by 2030.
Depression is a common mental disorder, characterized by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of tiredness, and poor concentration.
Depression can be long-lasting or recurrent, substantially impairing an individual’s ability to function at work or school or cope with daily life. At its most severe, depression can lead to suicide. When mild, people can be treated without medicines but when depression is moderate or severe they may need medication and professional talking treatments.
Depression is a disorder that can be reliably diagnosed and treated by non-specialists as part of primary health care. Specialist care is needed for a small proportion of individuals with complicated depression or those who do not respond to first-line treatments.
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Life After Kidney Transplant
The Technological advances in transplantation have enabled thousands of procedures that benefit organ and tissue recipients worldwide. Transplantation benefits patients who need solid organs, tissues and cells by means of the development and improvement of surgical techniques, inputs, equipment and immunosuppressive drugs needed to this therapy. The number of kidney transplant performed has increased significantly.
In most situations these procedures are presumed as the only resource for sustaining life. However, this treatment option is not always available for those who are waiting for organ transplantation because it requires a donation.
Kidney transplantation requires compatibility between tissues obtained for the Human Leukocytes Antigen typing (HLA).While waiting for a donor, the chronic renal disease patients have other forms of Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) which allow the maintenance of their life and also justify the increasing number of patients registered on the waiting list for kidney transplantation.
Renal Insufficiency and the complications associated with its treatment constitute a serious public health problem worldwide, with social and financial burden resulting from increasing rates of young patients with renal function failure.
A number of diseases are capable of destroying renal function in all age groups. The most common causes for renal disease leading to kidney transplantation are the following:
Diabetes -31%
Chronic glomerulo nephritis -28%
Polycystic kidney disease -12%
Nephrosclerosis ( Hypertensive)-9%
Systemic lupus Erythematosus (SLE)-3%
Interstitial nephritis -3%
Thus, measurement of the patient’s quality of life after kidney transplantation is a relevant topic for many individuals who are on dialysis and receive care in a dialysis center.
Renal transplantation is the best therapeutic option for patients with chronic kidney disease. The surgical procedure is relatively simple, and post transplantation certain actions are necessary such as the use of immunosuppressive drugs and the outpatient follow-up. Therefore for these patients, the clinical management, the evaluation of treatment results and impacts on quality of life are important issues.
Health –related quality of life contains multiple aspects of health related issues from the patient’s perspective including physical, psychological and social functioning and overall well being. Numerous clinical trials have established the importance of health related quality of life in various diseases and it is increasingly popular to evaluate disease specific health related quality of life as a measure of patient’s subjective state of health.
Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for end stage renal disease (ESRD). Advances in renal transplant procedures and immunosuppressive therapies have increased dramatically the survival over the last decades, one year allograft survival rates are currently over 90%.
The major goal of transplantation is the achievement of maximal quality and quantity of life while minimizing the effects of disease.
In renal transplantation the costs are not only limited to the transplant procedure but also to the evolving costs to treat adverse events, some of them caused by the immunosuppressive therapy.
Since the first successful kidney transplantation as early as the early 1950s, immunosuppressive therapies improved considerably, the most revolutionary development being the introduction of cyclosporine in the early 1980s. The introduction of new immunosuppressive agents has further increased the therapeutic options for immunosuppressive combination therapies in transplanted patients.
In parallel to better patient care and new immunosuppressive regimens the median survival of renal allograft improved continuously. Hand in hand with these achievements, greater attention has been given to long term quality of life. It is generally accepted however, that patients with a functioning renal allograft have a improved health-related quality of life as compared to patients on dialysis.
Summary Points:
· The global burden of End Stage Renal Disease is increasing.
· Renal transplantation increases patient survival and quality of life and reduces the cost of care for patients with End stage renal disease.
Longer life with a transplant
On the other hand, patients who receive a kidney transplant typically live longer than those who stay on dialysis. A living donor kidney functions, on average, 12 to 20 years and a deceased donor kidney from 8 to 12 years.
· Most donor kidneys come from ‘brain death’ or ‘cardiac death’ donors, but donations from living donors are increasing.
· Pre-emptive transplantation from a living donor is the best treatment choice for patients with end stage renal diseases and has been associated with improved allograft and patient survival. ***
· Long term outcomes in kidney transplantation are improving
· Better Quality of life
Even though kidney transplant is major surgery with a phased recovery period, it can, in comparison to dialysis, offer you the opportunity for a longer, more satisfying life. Most patients who have been on dialysis and then had a transplant report having more energy, a less restricted diet and fewer complications with a transplant than if they had stayed on dialysis. Transplant patients are also more likely to return to work after their transplant than dialysis patients.
*** Data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network for transplants performed in 2002-2004 show that the 1-year survival rate for grafts from living donors is approximately 95% and the rate for deceased donor grafts is approximately 89%. The half life for grafts from living donors increased steadily from 12.7 to 21.6 years.
Preemptive transplantation refers to kidney transplantation before a patient needs to start dialysis therapy. Patients who get a preemptive transplant receive their kidney when their health is generally good, which can improve new kidney function and enhance overall health and life expectancy.
Epidemiological data from the past decade suggest that the global burden of the patients with renal failure who receive renal replacement therapy exceeds 1.4 million and that this figure is growing by 8% a year.
Transplantation is the renal replacement modality of choice for patients with diabetic nephropathy and pediatric patients.
PRETRANSPLANT EVALUATION:
Candidates for renal transplantation undergo and extensive evaluation to identify factors that may have an adverse effect on outcome.
Mostly, all transplant centers have a committee that meets regularly to discuss the results of evaluation in a patient and select medically suitable candidates only to place on the waiting list.
In addition to a thorough medical evaluation the committee also evaluates the social background of the patient to determine conditions that may interfere with the outcome of transplantation, such as financial and travel restraints or a pattern of noncompliance.
| Laboratory Studies in transplant candidates | Infectious profile in transplant candidates |
| Blood Chemistries | Hepatitis B And C serology’s |
| Liver function tests | Epstein –Barr Virus, serology (IgM and IgG) |
| Complete Blood Count (CBC) | Cytomegalovirus (CMV) serology’s (IgM and IgG) |
| Coagulation Profile | Varicella –zoster virus, serology’s (IgM and IgG) |
| Rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test for syphilis | |
| HIV | |
| Purified protein derivative (PPD)- tuberculosis skin test |
Urine analysis, Urine culture and cytospin should be ordered when indicated.
A complete cardiac workup and immunologic evaluation (ABO blood group determination, Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) typing, serum screening for antibody to HLA phenotypes, cross matching) are also done.
Management
In addition to the surgical transplantation procedure itself, management includes the following:
· Organ procurement
· Provision of immunosuppressive therapy to the recipient
· Short and long term follow-up to look for indications of renal allograft dysfunction and other complications
Organ Procurement
· Identification of potential donors
· Assessment of donor suitability
· Determination of donor brain death
Immunosuppressive therapy after transplant
All kidney transplant recipients require life-long immuno suppression to prevent a T-cell alloimmune rejection response. The goals are as follows:
· Prevent acute to chronic rejection
· Minimize drug toxicity and rates of infection and malignancy
· Achieve the highest possible rates of patient and graft survival
The critical considerations in medical follow up are as follows:
· Rejection
· Nephrotoxicity of calcineurin inhibitors (i.e. cyclosporine, tacrolimus)
· Recurrence of native kidney disease
Transplant recipients tend to be highly experienced patients. Many dealt with their chronic illness for years have been treated and examined by innumerable doctors, have undergone dialysis and its attendant intrusions on their lifestyle, have managed a complicated regimen of medications and have (in many cases) developed a certain expertise related to their own care.
Such patients are invariably grateful for any recognition or acknowledgment of their ordeal. Thus, it is advisable that they are educated about and encouraged to participate actively in their disease management to the fullest possible extent. That said, these patients problems are often complex and decisions regarding their care should be made after consulting the appropriate transplant team.
It is worthwhile to mention-
· Till date, more than 250,000 kidney transplants have been performed in United States alone.
· In 2007,6037 kidney transplants were performed from living donors and 10,082 from deceased donors.
· Currently more than 100,000 people in the United States are living with the functioning kidney transplant.
This number represents 27% of the nearly 350,000 persons enrolled in the US ESRD program.
In1973, congress enacted Medical entitlement for ESRD treatment to provide equal access to dialysis and transplantation for all patients with ESRD in the Social security system by removing the financial barrier to care.
Currently, the main obstacle is donor organ shortage. An increasing rise in ESRD coupled with a lack of donor organs has resulted in an average waiting time of more than 4 years for a deceased donor renal transplant.
The social factors and the perception of the complications of donation by the donor, family members or even the recipient can affect the act of voluntary donation. In India, the Human Organ Transplantation Act of 1994 and its amendments discourages unrelated transplant due to ethical reasons and to avoid exploitation of the financially disadvantaged people.
The latest statistics says that the donors volunteer themselves for transplant evaluation in 28% of the cases and in the rest, it is either requested by the recipient or suggested by the recipient’s physician.
Of all the donors who come for evaluation, 46 (22%) report at least one instance of an attempt to discourage donation and donor’s spouse is the commonest (47.8%) identified cause. Similarly the commonest cause for some of the possible donors declining to even come forward for donor evaluation is again the spouse refusing to give consent.
This emphasizes the fact that the donor’s spouse is always a part of decision making along with the donor to alley some of the fears associated with donation.
It takes courage to ask others for help- and there’s no bigger ask than asking for a kidney and it is always good to help others and there is no greater help than donating an organ and giving a new lease of life to someone.
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WHAT HAS CHANGED IN REGARD TO JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY?
Total Knee and Total Hip replacements are highly successful operations that can dramatically improve the quality of life of a person riddled with end- stage arthritis. An increasing number of people are having these now as the technology and expertise has become easily available across our country. At the same time, the rapid expansion of the Healthcare industry in India has led to mushrooming of several facilities, all of which market their wares quite aggressively. In this scenario, it is possible that the opinion seeking patient is offered the solution that is available within the premises of the particular healthcare facility rather than the treatment which might be best suited for that patient’s specific needs. It is therefore important that one is aware of the options available when at the receptive end of this gamble.
First of all, replacement surgery works for severe arthritis that has caused significant pain and disability. If there are symptoms from early or mild arthritis, there are a variety of non- surgical treatments like exercise, medications and injections which must be explored. A thorough consultation with a specialist helps decide which option is the best suited for a particular individual. Similarly, Total Joint Replacement works well in people over the age of 60 years. At younger ages with severe arthritis, surgical options like bone re-alignment and Partial Joint Replacement exist.
Joint Replacement is an elective procedure and must never be decided upon in a hurry. It must never be forced upon an individual or the success and satisfaction will be less, as any operation involves going through pain and risk. At the same time, new developments have enabled many of the previous myths associated with such procedures to wane.
For patients wanting to undergo such surgery, there are good services available in most Indian cities. There are an increasing number of dedicated firms doing exclusive work, where the standards are bound to be better. At the same time, I would discourage people from travelling too far to have these procedures undertaken at the more famous centres, as travelling back home soon after such surgeries is not without risk. Similarly, one must be in a position to manage stairs within three to four days of surgery too, unless one has not been doing stairs at all before. Only with a reasonable amount of independence, usually achieved within four to five days of surgery is a patient deemed fit to leave hospital, as we cannot guarantee good rehabilitation with the currently available infrastructure of home care services. The cost of surgery varies a lot with the city and set up. However, it does not mean that increased cost would guarantee important things like theatre standards (having a separate theatre for clean planned cases), water impervious drapes, etc. What materials are being used should be transparent and patients must demand for records of what is implanted into their bodies.
Patients in our country are given a choice of “Indian” or “Imported” prostheses. There is however a large armamentarium of prostheses available from across the world. We have some very good quality prostheses manufactured in India now. Similarly, there are ones manufactured abroad with less sound engineering. Every joint replacement surgeon should ideally be comfortable using a range of prostheses. The question to tackle is the disability experienced by the individual person leading to joint replacement. Design of prosthesis should be selected as per that very need. Differently manufactured prostheses are based on different engineering. The pattern of movement allowed by each prosthesis is thereby slightly different. Different designs of prostheses can hence be chosen to suit the individual patients’ specific needs and to match their pattern of arthritis. The price often depends on an individual companies marketing strategies. Expensive pricing certainly does not equate with better design always.
Even though an operation of this nature is a large attack on the body, there is worldwide evidence that shows better results when patients are made to get up and walk right from the day of surgery. With the patient visiting the toilet on the day, urinary catheterisation can be avoided. Patients even manage stairs in a couple of days. Hospital stay and complications like infection thereby are much reduced. Modern techniques of pre- operative medication and anaesthesia combined with sound surgical measures make this ‘Enhanced Recovery’ possible. As these procedures are planned, we have the opportunity to optimise the patient’s status before the surgery.
The technique of making a patient walk early has been used in reputed centres worldwide for the last three to five years with documented success and decreased complication rates as compared to the conventional technique. At the same time, marketing sometimes go over the top and advertise Joint Replacement as ‘day surgery.’ A technique is good and viable when it can be reproduced easily for most patients undergoing Joint Replacement, not for a select few younger and fitter ones. Even in a smaller setup in Mangalore, we have employed this over the last six months, and 100% of our patients of ages between 62 and 79 have stood up and taken a few steps on the day of surgery.
Elective surgery is an entirely different ball game as compared to emergency or traditional fracture related orthopaedic operations. It is a matter of changing the quality of somebody’s day- to- day life. Seemingly small alterations in technique can hence make a large difference in rehabilitation of a patient into their desired life activity following joint replacement procedures. With the increasing scale of these operations across our country, it is imperative that dedicated units offering such services incorporate the best standards of care and rehabilitation.
The author Dr. Yogeesh D. Kamat is a Consultant Hip & Knee Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon. He practises exclusively in Joint Replacement, Arthroscopy and Sports Injury related to the lower limb joints and is available at KMC Hospital
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