LAPAROSCOPY

Few years back Laparoscopy might have sounded so alien to many but thanks to advanced medical practice we’re here and moving with the rest of the world, but then, how many people know about Laparoscopy in its entirety? I know a lot of people who are freaked out by the word “surgery”, some are outrightly scared of the procedure itself while some worry about the surgical scar etc. In view of these I woke up this beautiful Saturday morning with the little inspiration to put together a few lines about Laparoscopy.

 Definition:

Laparoscopy is a type of Surgical procedure that allows a Surgeon to access the inside of the abdomen or pelvis without having to make large incisions in the skin. It’s also known as keyhole surgery or minimally invasive surgery. Laparoscopy is used to find problems such as cysts, adhesions, fibroids and infection. Tissue samples can be taken for biopsy through the tube (laparoscope).

How is it done?

The Surgeon makes one or more small incisions and using an instrument called the Laparoscope he is able to view the inside of the abdomen and pelvis. The Laparoscope has a light source and a camera which relays images of the inside of the abdomen and pelvis to a television monitor.
Laparoscopy is done to:

• Check for and possibly take out abnormal growths (such as tumors) in the belly or pelvis.
• Check for and treat conditions such as endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
• Find conditions that can make it hard for a woman to become pregnant. These conditions include cysts, adhesions, fibroids, and infection. Laparoscopy may be done after initial infertility tests do not show the cause for the infertility.
• Do a biopsy.
• See whether cancer in another area of the body has spread to the belly.
• Check for damage to internal organs, such as the spleen, after an injury or accident.
• Do a tubal ligation.
• Fix a hiatal hernia camera.gif or an inguinal hernia camera.gif.
• Take out organs, such as the uterus, spleen camera.gif, gallbladder camera.gif (laparoscopic cholecystectomy), ovaries, or appendix (appendectomy). Partial removal (resection) of the colon also can be done.
• Find the cause of sudden or ongoing pelvic pain.

During the Laparoscopy

Normal:

The organs are normal in size, shape, and position.

Adhesions, cysts, or abnormal growths, such as tumors, are not seen.

No signs of disease (such as endometriosis), inflammation (such as appendicitis), or infection are seen.

Abnormal:

An organ may be abnormal in size, shape, or position.

Adhesions, cysts, or abnormal growths, such as tumors, may be seen.

Signs of disease, such as endometriosis, or infection may be seen.

An ectopic pregnancy may be present.

Inflammation of an internal organ may be present, such as appendicitis, cholecystitis, or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Scar tissue may be seen on an internal organ, such as the fallopian tubes.

Advantages:

• Shorter Hospital stay and faster recovery. You can often go home within hours after the procedure. You may need to stay overnight depending on the procedure.
• Complications are rare.
• Less pain and bleeding after the operation.
• Reduced scarring.

Post Surgery:

You may have some bloating. There may be bruising around the incisions for a few days. You may have some pain around the incisions. Do not drink carbonated beverages for 1 to 2 days after the laparoscopy to lower your chance of gas pains and vomiting.

The gas used during the laparoscopy can irritate your diaphragm for a few days. You may have some pain or achiness in your shoulder for a couple of days after the laparoscopy.
Some of the gas in your belly may leak into your skin and cause a crackling sound if you rub the skin surrounding the stitches. This is not serious and will go away in a few days.

Call your doctor immediately if you have:

A large area of redness or swelling around the incisions.

Bleeding or drainage from the stitches.

Fever.

Severe belly pain.

Hoarseness in your voice that lasts more than a few days or gets worse.

    
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Ref: NHS

Read more about Laparoscopy at http://www.laparoscopysurgeon.org

Have a lovely weekend.

Ekpo, MD

ENDOMETRIOSIS

Hi guys, I promised I wouldn’t let this week roll by without dropping a topic so I had to make sure I got this done before heading home, we all know how that weekend vibe kind of takes your level of seriousness from 100 t0 10 real quick – I’m about to be a victim 😀

So…. one of my favourite drug reps stopped by my office a couple of weeks back and dropped some pamphlets on Endometriosis to give to my patients and I thought I should share their write up on Endometriosis with you guys on the blog as well. I love how they broke it down in very simple and easy to read manner.  I added a little extra to it, So here we go…….

Definition:

Endometriosis is a condition where ”patches” of endometrium grow outside the uterus commonly in the abdomen or lower abdomen. That is, when tissue normally found inside the uterus grows in other parts of the body. Patches are often attached to the ovaries, fallopian tubes, large bowel, bladder or other internal parts. Many women with mild endometriosis have no symptoms whilst others may experience pain, heavy periods, problem with the bladder or bowel and sometimes infertility. Patches will increase in thickness during the woman’s monthly cycle, which is why most women with endometriosis will have more severe symptoms during their periods. Endometriosis occurs in approximately 1 in 10 women, develops between the ages of 12 and 50 with symptoms showing mostly between ages of 20 and 30. Doctors cannot predict who is likely to develop this condition.

Causes:

Although doctors have been able to diagnose endometriosis for more than 100 years the exact causes are still unknown. In nearly all women, small amounts of endometrium are inside the pelvic cavity and abdomen during a normal period. However, not all women have endometriosis. There have been several theories as to the cause of endometriosis, some say Hereditary plays a role and some endometrial cells may be present from birth at these sites outside the uterus. Another theory suggests that menstrual blood flows back through the fallopian tubes and into the pelvic cavity instead of out of the body. Another theory assumes cells could also move to the pelvic cavity by other ways such as during a C-section delivery and a faulty immune system may fail to get rid of the misplaced cells.

Symptoms:

Pain – Many women experience pain in the lower part of the abdomen or deep in the pelvic cavity that may begin a few hours before menstrual bleeding starts. However, pain may also begin days or a week before their period starts and last the whole period.

Pain  during and/or after sexual intercourse may be felt as an ache deep within the body. It may be more severe if sexual activity is vigorous or if it occurs just before the menstrual period.

Abnormal periods – Heavy or irregular bleeding is a common symptom of endometriosis but a few women experience lighter periods.

Bladder problems – A woman may have pain when urine is passed, feel the need to pass urine more frequently or even find blood in their urine.

Bowel problems – Some women may also have a bloated abdomen, diarrhoea, constipation or pain.

Just cramps or endometriosis?

Most women have some mild pain with their menstrual periods. They may get relief from over-the-counter pain medications. if the pain lasts more than 2 days, keeps you from doing normal activities, or remains after your period is over, tell your doctor!

Who is at risk?

The condition is more common in women who:

• Are in their 30s and 40s
• Have not had children
• Have periods longer than 7 days
• Have cycles shorter than 28 days
• Have a mother or sister who had endometriosis

The effects of Endometriosis

Infertility: Sometimes the first..or only..symptom of endometriosis is trouble getting pregnant. About 3 or 4 out of 10 women who have endometriosis will have difficulty getting pregnant. One of the causes is that the endometriosis damages or blocks the fallopian tubes. If the fallopian tubes do not work properly, fertilisation will be very difficult or not possible.

Another reason why a woman may be unable to get pregnant is that damage has occurred to her ovaries. This is caused by the patches of endometrium attaching to the ovaries so that an egg cannot be released.

Other effects – Pain will worsen over the years if the endometriosis is not treated because bleeding occurs from the patches during each period. This may lead to inflammation and scar tissue forming inside the abdomen and pelvic cavity. Over time, scar tissue may pull on other tissue, so the pain is felt during periods. Small cysts and blisters may also develop, which can attach to other tissue causing further pain.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis is usually based on a woman’s symptoms, a physical examination of the pelvic cavity, pelvic scans, an internal examination of the abdomen and pelvic cavity with an instrument called a laparoscope. The procedure is called a ”laparoscopy”

Laparoscopy – Laparoscopy is the only sure way to determine if you have endometriosis. A laparoscope is similar to a small telescope, the doctor inserts it through the wall of the abdomen, via a small cut near the navel. It makes it easy for the doctor to see patches, these may be few and small or larger and numerous. The Doctor may carry out some treatment during the laparoscope and take small tissue(biopsy) for a lab to examine and confirm diagnosis.

Treatment:

The choice of treatment is an individual decision and will depend on:

• severity of the symptoms
• how much endometriosis was found during the laparoscopy
• age of the woman
• the woman’s plan to become pregnant.

If the woman has no or few symptoms and she has no problem falling pregnant, a ”wait and see” approach can be taken. However, if this approach is taken, your condition should be closely monitored by your gynaecologist.

Treatment includes – Pain medications, Hormonal therapies, Surgical treatment.

for enquiries on terms used, info on laparoscopy and where you can get it done send an email to terrybliss85@yahoo.com, I’ll find out about laparoscopy facilities around and link you up. Also mail me topics you want me to write about next week. for unrelated topics, mail me as well. looking forward to reading from you guys. stay safe. xx

Yours truly.

Ekpo, I. B (MD)

Credit – #AstraZeneca

UNKNOWN PATIENT AT NATIONAL HOSPITAL ABUJA

Unknown patient

National Hospital Abuja just put out this press release. the victim is said to have been found in the bush by a police officer. Please kindly share this around till it gets to his friends and relatives.

Contact number: 08037879543
Tayo Haastrap, Spokesperson National Hospital Abuja.

Dr Ima.

Opening at Westcare Specialist Hospital

Company:Westcare Specialist Hospital
Location(s):Lagos
Specialization:Medical/ Health
Industry:Healthcare / Nutrition
Deadline: 01 September, 2015
Job Type:fulltime
Experience:10-15 year(s)
Courses:
Share on Twitter Login to Apply

Job Details

Westcare Specialist Hospital, located in Lagos State, is currently seeking to employ suitably qualified candidate to fill the position of:

Job Title: Matron
Location: Lagos

Job Requirements

Requirements:
Experienced Nurse/Midwife with 10 years post qualification.

Application Closing Date:
1st September, 2015.

How to Apply:
Interested and qualified candidates should send the application and detailed CV’s

Medical Jobs (Consultant Paediatrician)

Company:Westcare Specialist Hospital
Location(s):Lagos
Specialization:Medical/ Health
Industry:Healthcare / Nutrition
Deadline: 01 September, 2015
Job Type:fulltime
Experience:1-3 year(s)
Courses:
Share on Twitter Login to Apply

Job Details

Westcare Specialist Hospital, located in Lagos State, is currently seeking to employ suitably qualified candidate to fill the position of:

Job Title: Consultant Paediatrician
Location: Lagos
Job Requirements

Requirement:
Candidate should possess relevant medical qualification.

Application Closing Date:
1st September, 2015.

How to Apply:
Interested and qualified candidates should send the application and detailed CVs

Note:
Accommodation is available for this position
Doctors outside Lagos can also apply.

Flibanserin – Female “Viagra” approved by FDA

Female “Viagra” Hits the Market.

Has anyone ever wondered about the female version of Sildenafil (Viagra) ? well, the US Food and Drug Administration(FDA) has approved the first ever drug aimed at boosting female libido. Good news innit? 😀

Flibanserin also known as ”Female Viagra” or ”Pink Viagra” is approved to treat premenopausal women and will be marketed by Sprout Pharmaceuticals.

The drug provides an approved treatment option for women distressed by their low sexual desire.

 

 

Dr Ima.

PUBLIC NOTICE BY MDCN ON INTERNSHIP TRAINING

Strict Adherance to MDCN guidelines on Internship Training & Full Registration by training Institutions, supervising Consultants & Interns
                                                                                                PUBLIC NOTICE

Strict Adherance to the MDCN guidelines on Internship Training & Full Registration by training Institutions, supervising Consultants & Interns.

The attention of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has been drawn to:

a) The failure of some accredited training institutions and supervising consultants to effectively coordinate and ensure strict adherence to the Council’s guidelines on internship 

      training and supervision.

b)  The failure of some medical/dental interns to ensure that their internship training conforms/meets the minimum standards set by the Council, especially on the approved duration

      of training in each posting, timely submission of their internship sign off forms and application for full registration with the Council.

 For the avoidance of doubt, the Council expects as follows:

i)   Chief Medical Directors (CMD’s) of the training institutions must accompany applications / sign off forms with authority letters duly signed by the CMDs or their representatives.

ii)  Each of the four (4) postings is to be performed by the interns for an uninterrupted twelve (12) weeks. Where posting is interrupted for any reason (e.g. Industrial actions, ill health,

      maternity leaves or any form of leave) the intern on resumption will repeat in full the interrupted rotation. Consultants should not sign any intern off if the required uninterrupted 

     12 weeks rotation is not met.

iii) Formal approval and releases must be obtained from the relevant institutions when internship training will be performed at more than one training institutions. Council should be

      duly notified either during the training or soon after the conclusion of the training.

iv)  Council views as serious offence and punishable by law (under the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act) any practitioner or institution which engages any medical/dental

       practitioner without sighting and verifying that such practitioner or person holds a valid and genuine registration     with the Council.

Council hereby reiterates its stand that no practitioner will undertake NYSC programme without obtaining his/her MDCN full registration certificate. Council on its part is committed to speedy processing and release of full registration certificates. All doctors can now register and make payments electronically once they log on to the Council’s website (www.mdcn.gov.ng) where they are expected to update their personal data and could proceed to make payments where required.

All approved internship training institutions, the CMDs, the Consultants and the medical/dental interns to take note of these regulations and ensure strict compliance. Equally, the Council appreciates your continued efforts at ensuring high standards of training of the interns and solicits for your continued support and understanding to sustain the standards.

via mdcn.org.ng