Non-Invasive Valve Replacement

Invasive surgeries invariably cause a lot of fear among patients. However, now due to the advancements in medical technology, a lot of invasive procedures are being replaced by non-invasive ones. Dr A. B. Gopalamurugan, a senior interventional cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Kauvery Hospital, specializes in using minimally invasive techniques to treat heart diseases.

Dr A. B. Gopalamurugan explains one such procedure that has replaced the traditional open-heart surgery.

                                                 

The Heart Valve Disease

This disease often afflicts the elderly. As people age, their heart valves shrink. One of the most important valves, the aortic valve also shrinks with age. The blood from the heart reaches the different body parts through this aortic valve. Hence, shrinkage of this valve is a cause for concern. Earlier there was only one method of treatment for this disease and that was valve replacement; other than that, there was no other option available. Therefore, for a really long time in the past, patients suffering from this disease had to undergo an open-heart surgery. After surgery, hospitalization of nearly 10 days followed by rehabilitation was the norm. A return to normal life took patients nearly 1 ½ - 2 months.

Trans-Catheter Aortic Valve Implantation or TAVI

For the past 15 years, aortic valve disease has been treated using TAVI without the patient having to undergo open-heart surgery. This is not the only benefit of TAVI. There is now evidence from world-over that suggests that TAVI is indeed the preferable procedure for high-risk and intermediate-risk patients. Thus, for elderly patients, patients with lung disease and for patients who have a problem with general anesthesia, performing valve replacement using TAVI would be the preferred choice. TAVI not only yields the same result as open-heart surgery but the quality of life too is better after surgery. The risk of the patient suffering a stroke lessens considerably with TAVI and the recovery period is as short as 2-3 days.

Kauvery Hospital performs the maximum number of TAVI procedures in India to non-invasively replace the aortic valve.

Watch Dr A.B. Gopalamurugan enumerate the benefits of TAVI here 

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Lasers for the Treatment of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones have always been a major cause for concern. Dr S Senthilkumar, a urologist at Kauvery Hospital, throws light on the advancements in the treatment of kidney stones. 

Lasers to the Rescue

The usage of lasers for treating kidney stones has had a tremendous impact, both in terms of treatment time as well as recovery period. Earlier, patients suffering from painful kidney stones had to undergo an invasive surgery; this surgery would involve them having to spend at least a week in the hospital post-operatively. Even after this, rest for around a month was advised. But now, with the usage of lasers for treatment, the patient arrives at the hospital in the morning and the procedure is performed in the afternoon. The next day the patient can be discharged from the hospital and after resting at home for around 2 days the patient can resume all normal activities.

Even kidney stones that are big in size have been treated successfully with lasers. An endoscopic procedure called RIRS is used to remove the stones from the bottom of the kidney. Powerful lasers like Holmium and Thulium are employed for the process. These lasers powder the stones and the powdered stones are excreted during urination.

Thus, thanks to the advancements in medical technology, what was once considered an elaborate treatment process has now been simplified. As a result, the patient experience too has improved by leaps and bounds.

Watch Dr S Senthilkumar explain the usage of lasers for the treatment of kidney stones here 

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Donate Plasma – Save a Life

COVID-19 – when will it end? Unfortunately, no one knows the answer to that right now. While the countries of the world are all racing against time to find a vaccine for it, plasma donation seems to be the way out at least until a vaccine becomes available.

What Is Plasma Therapy?

Plasma therapy, though it is still in the research stage, has shown promising results. This therapy involves separating the plasma of patients who have recovered from COVID-19. This plasma is then given to COVID-19 patients to help them fight the disease.

Dr S. Prabakaran, a transfusion medicine consultant at Kauvery Hospital - Trichy, explains how it is possible for every COVID-19 survivor to make a difference in other COVID patients’ lives. He explains that a person’s blood is made up of white blood cells, red blood cells, blood platelets and plasma. This plasma is what contains the antibodies to different diseases. So, a COVID-19 survivor’s plasma will contain antibodies that fight against that infection.

Read Also Difference between the common flu and COVID-19.

Time Is of Essence

The sooner a hospital starts plasma therapy for a COVID patient, the greater his chances of recovery and survival. It is also to be noted that the plasma taken from one recovered patient can be used for two COVID-19 patients, effectively helping save two lives in the process. So, from when can a COVID survivor start plasma donation? Dr Prabhakaran explains that 14 days after recovery from COVID-19, a person can start donating plasma.

Fear Is What We Need to Beat

A lot of people fear going to the blood bank to donate blood. This is understandable as they have just recovered from a pandemic that is ravaging the world. However, if they can overcome this fear and donate plasma, they will be making a huge difference to many families – they could possibly save a mother, a father or a child in a family and earn the family’s undying gratitude. If every survivor was to decide that he/she will help save others by donating plasma, it will indeed make a world of difference to many COVID-19 patients!

Words From a COVID-19 Survivor

Mr Subbaraman was an asymptomatic COVID-19 patient. He was treated successfully at Kauvery Hospital and discharged. Mr Subbaraman urges all COVID survivors like himself to donate blood to save the thousands of patients who are suffering in hospitals.

Make a difference; donate plasma and save lives!

Watch Dr Prabhakaran explain plasma therapy -