What are the myths associated with Stent placement?

Stent Placement is popularly known as Angioplasty in medical terminology. The procedure is used to treat narrowed or blocked blood vessels, which can otherwise prove to be very fatal and lead to various life threatening heart problem including increased risks of heart stroke or heart failure. The stent is a small metallic tube which is placed inside the artery to treat Atherosclerosis. BLK Hospital which is considered to be the Best heart hospital in India has a team of specialists including the best heart doctor in india. The hospital has helped to cure many patient suffering from serious cardiovascular problems. The comfort and safety of the patience is the utmost priority of the staff. The hospital has imbibed all the latest technological advancements that have been taking place in the field of Medical Sciences so as to provide its patients treatments based on latest technologies. Stent Placement has become one of the most opted for heart surgeries in India but still there are many myths associated with the procedure. This is due to the lack of knowledge about the procedure and how beneficial it can prove to be for the patients.

The heart is most important part of the circulatory system which is responsible for the flow of blood throughout the body. The heart performs the charge of pumping blood to various organs of the body by network of blood veins, vessels and arteries. Arteries play a very crucial role in the circulatory system of the body and are responsible for the flow of blood from the heart to various other organ tissues. The arteries are further divided into pulmonary arteries (responsible for the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs) and coronary arteries. Sometimes the arteries might get blocked due to the excessive accumulation of plaque which is made up of unwanted fats, calcium and cholesterol, present in our blood as impurities. This can lead to conditions like pulmonary stenosis and coronary stenosis. As a result of face problems, the arteries lose their elasticity and create a barrier against the Free Flow blood. As a result of this, the blood circulation in the body is severely affected. 

The main symptoms of blockage in the arteries include difficulty in breathing, frequent chest pain ranging from mild to chronic, fluctuating body temperature, weakness, fatigue, anxiety, unconsciousness, nausea, waking up frequently at night etc. The diagnosis and treatment of blocked arteries is very crucial and should be done as soon as possible. If you feel any of the above mentioned symptoms, immediately consult your cardiologist and get all the tests and screenings done. If detected with the problem, the doctor will assess all your reports and device out specifit medical protocol to be bollowed. Some of the major techniques involve balloon valvuloplasty and angioplasty or stem placement. 

Stem placement is the technique of placing a tiny, tubular piece of metal inside the blocked artery so as to open the blockage. As soon as the stent is placed in the desired location, it inflates, pushing the walls of the damaged arteries. The stent can be either placed by an open heart surgery or minimally invasive methods. In minimally invasive methods the stent is placed inside a catheter fixed with a balloon. The catheter is then introduced inside the patient's body via a small incision made near the groin or on the chest. The catheter is then moved slowly and carefully towards the affected artery and once it is in position the balloon is inflated to oust the walls of the artery and make space for the stent which is then placed in its position. Once the stent has been fixed in the right place the balloon is deflated and removed along with the catheter via the same incision. 

The procedure is very safe and efficient but still there are various myths associated with it. One of the most common of these myths is that stent placement is not as efficient as bypass surgery. Since stent placement is relatively new method hence it is not as popular as bypass surgery. As a result of this many people believe that Bypass surgery is a better option. However the reality is that stent has been gaining momentum has already become quite popular amongst the present generations. Impact stent placement has proved to be more efficient than Bypass surgery in many cases. Especially in case of patients suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes, who usually do not meet eligibility criteria for heart bypass surgery, stent placement via minimally invasive methods has proved to be a saviour.

Another myth associated with stent placement is the that procedure is highly expensive and a waste of money. Although the procedure is quiet expensive but it is worth all the money you spend. Infact in case of a bypass surgery which is an open heart surgery, the person is left with a huge post operative scar on his chest that can be removed only by a plastic surgery. This involves a lot of money. However no such surgery is required in case of stent placement as the procedure is minimally invasive and the wound heals on its own. 

Also some people belive that the procedure can lead to serious infections as the ink used for taking x-rays may cause allergic reactions in such people. However the doctors conduct all the necessary tests and screenings prior to the operation, in order to ensure that the patient is not allergic to any of the substance or chemicals used in the procedure, hence cancelling out any chances of allergic reactions.

 

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What is liver Cancer? Is it treatable?

 

Liver cancer is caused by the abnormal secretion and accumulation of cancerous cells on the liver tissue. The problem severely affects the liver and if not treated on time, it can lead to liver failure or even death. BLK Hospital should be the first choice for people looking for the best liver hospital in India. The Hospital is known for his state of art infrastructure and world class facilities and has a team of some of the leading doctors and surgeons including the  best liver doctor in India. The doctors not only aim at the treatment but also the rehabilitation of the patients and help them to cope up with the whole treatment procedure which involves both surgical and non surgical methods like chemotherapy, radiation therapy etc. The doctors use latest technology to counter any problem and give the patients a better chance at life. The comfort and satisfaction of the patients is the utmost priority of BLK hospital and this is why it is the most trusted medical centers in the whole country.

Liver is the largest organ of the human body. It is an endocrine gland and plays a major role in the digestive system. It helps in the breakdown of complex fats by secreting digestive enzymes like bile. Liver cancer is caused the accumulation of abnormal cells on the liver tissue and the problem is incurable. However there are various different ways of keeping the problem at bay. Once the malignant tumor starts to form it spreads to the whole liver very fast and the hole organ gets involved in no time. Liver cancer can be primary or metastatic, which means that the cancer either starts in the liver itself or spreads to the liver from some other organ. Liver cancer leads to the formation of malignant hepatic tumors in or on the liver. The patient suffering from liver cancer have comparably a low survival rate hence it becomes very important to detect and treat the problem as soon as possible.

Liver cancer can be caused by a no of factors, the most common of which is consumption of alcohol. Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to cirrhosis which is the major cause of liver cancer. Apart from this, liver cancer can also be triggered by prevailing medical conditions like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, hemochromatosis, and type 2 diabetes. Family history may also contribute to the problem. Long term exposure to Long-term exposure to aflatoxis which are found in groundnuts, corn, soya beans etc can also lead to liver cancer. Obesity is another important factor that triggers liver cancer. Obese people are very prone to develop liver problems like fatty liver which ultimately triggers the formation of malignant cells. Liver cancer is more common in males than in females owing to the fact that males tend to consume more alcohol as compared to females.

The various symptoms associated with liver cancer include jaundice, severe pain in the abdomen, considerable weight loss, change in the size of liver due to inflammation, nausea, pain in the back, especially lower back, unexplained itching and irritation, fluctuating body temperature.

Liver cancer has four different stages just like any other cancer. These are mentioned below

Stage I - this is the initial stage of the cancer when the tumour has not spread to the whole liver or any other part of the body.

Stage II - during this stage the cancer has proceeded further and small  tumors start developing at various different sites on the liver. Some cancer cells may also penetrate into the blood channels.

Stage III - the tumors become quiet large during this stage and the cancerous cells enter the main blood vessels. The metastasis of the cancer to the gallbladder may also take place.

Stage IV - this is the final stage of the cancer in which the cancer has completely metasized and spread to various other parts of the body and once it reaches the brain, there is nothing that can be done.

The major treatments involve partial hepatectomy and liver transplant.

Partial hepatectomy - it is the surgical removal of the tumor in the initial stages of the cancer. The treatment can prove to be quiet complicated in people suffering from cirrhosis. Since the procedure may lead to the removal of some healthy tissues as well and in case of cirrhosis, hepatectomy needs to leave behind enough healthy tissue for the proper functoning of the liver, or else the patient might collapse. Even if the doctors have planned to perform the surgery, the can stop it mid way if they feel any threat to the life of the patient. The procedure is suitable only for people who have an otherwise healthy liver so that they can sustain the loss of some healthy tissues.

Liver transplant - in case of liver transplant, the size of the tumor has to be kept in consideration and it shouldn't be larger than 5 cm. It greatly reduces the possibility of developing the cancer in future. The patient needs to get some part of his liver replace with a healthy liver. The donor can be the patients close family member or any person whose blood group matches with that of the patient and wants to donate the liver on his own will. Since the liver has regenerative properties, the donor grows back the donated part of his liver within no time.

In case the cancer is incurable, the life expectancy of the patient can be increased by certain procedures like chemotherapy, ablative therapy and radiation therapy. These may help to add several more years to the life of the patient.

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