Wednesday, June 29, 2016

An Insight into Bypass Surgery in India

Unknown 12:02 AM
Bypass Surgery in India costs a fraction of what it does in developed countries. This does not mean that the quality is compromised. Cardiac surgeons in India are well renowned and hospitals offer the latest in technologies.

What is Bypass Surgery?
Bypass Surgery is a critical operation where the clogged arteries of the heart are bypassed. Blood vessels from another part of the body are taken and used to reroute the blood away from the damaged arteries.

                                              
When is it required?
The blockage is mainly due to fatty deposits called 'plaques.' Since there is not enough blood flow to the heart, the muscles fail to pump. This is particularly critical if the blood flow to the left ventricles has lessened due to the clogged blood vessels. The left ventricle is a heart chamber, which mainly supplies blood to the whole body. So the reduced blood supply can lead to a major heart attack, which can be fatal.

Types of Bypass Surgeries:
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting or CABG is the more commonly used term for bypass surgery. The different types of surgeries are
  • Conventional CABG,
  • Beating Heart Bypass Surgery,
  • Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery and
  • Trans Myocardial Laser Revascularization.
Of these various procedures, the last two use latest technology and are now being performed in renowned City hospitals in India.

Conventional CABG
In conventional CABG, the patient is put under anesthesia for 2-3 hours. Then a cut is made on the leg and a length of vein is removed. The length of this vein depends on the number of bypasses being performed. If it is a double bypass operation, then the length of the vein required is lesser than that of a triple bypass surgery. The number, of course, refers to the number of arteries being bypassed.

 The surgeon cuts open the main breast bone called as the sternum. A heart-lung machine is used to supply blood to the rest of the body, while the heart is stopped for operation. The left internal mammary artery (LIMA) is grafted with the left anterior descending artery. After the operation, the patient is kept under observation for 4-5 days.

 Beating Heart Bypass Surgery
The Beating Heart Bypass Surgery does not use the heart-lung machine to provide oxygen-laden blood during the operation. The beating might be slowed down with the help of a stabilization system, but never completely stopped. This is done with the help of a heart positioner and a tissue stabilizer.

 Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery is done with the least amount of scarring as a very small incision is made. This is much preferable to an open heart surgery, as it is performed without the heart-lung machine and the length of the incision is very small compared to conventional CABG. The length is 3 to 5 inches compared to 10 to 12 inches. The post-operation pain is also significantly less, as well as less scarring. 

 Trans Myocardial Laser Revascularization
If the patient is not eligible for open-heart surgery, Trans Myocardial Laser Revascularization may be performed as a last resort. This procedure aims to increase blood flow to the areas of the heart where blood flow is less; even after receiving conventional treatment. A computerized CO2 laser is used to create channels in the heart, to improve blood circulation. The number of channels to be created is decided on by the surgeon.
Bypass surgery in India is high quality and low cost, compared to the rest of the world. This has led to “medical tourism” where people from the rest of the world, who cannot afford to pay for such an expensive treatment in their own countries, come to India for treatment.
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Tuesday, June 28, 2016

India's health care system: An overview

Unknown 11:24 PM


Going back to the Ayurvedic era of medicine and comparing it with today's modern medication and treatment facilities, the health care industry in India has definitely crossed numerous milestones. Historians claim that Indian health care system has played a pivotal role in enhancing overall health and lifestyle of the entire Asian population.
However, despite the rapid pace at which this system is growing, there are still a number of domains at which it is restricted and requires expansion. Considering the ever expanding population of India, the health industry needs to go a long way at ensuring health and welfare of individuals living in any part of the country.
Moving ahead, let us have a look at areas where the Indian health care system needs to bring about an immediate and substantial modification, so as to make health care easily accessible for all and not leave it as a far-fetched luxury.



Missing doctors and multiplying patients:

One of the recent health care surveys made some appalling revelations. The report said that although India is producing 30,000 doctors and 18,000 specialists annually, there is only one doctor for every 1700 individuals across the country.
In addition, the aging population of the country is rising. This further necessitates the need for more and more doctors who can ensure good health condition for every individual belonging to any age group.
Rising diseases that lack instant and effective cure, as in cases of Cancer or HIV, also play huge obstruction towards enhanced health care services. The difference between the ratio of specialists treating such diseases and number of cases across the country is simply incomparable. To meet this huge gap is one of the biggest challenges for this health system today.

The Urban Rural Divide: 

It is not only the shortage of doctors that is making health care very distant to access. It is also the unwillingness of doctors to move to rural setups and render services to people living in remote areas. It is unfortunate that even though more than half the population comprises the rural belt, this scenario persists; despite of mandatory rules where doctors need to serve in a rural area for a definite and considerable time.

Health care centers in interior villages have number of positions for general physicians, specialists or care givers. However, most of these remain vacant for number of years. Employees working in these facilities remain absent for indefinite period.
When talking about specialist doctors and vital services such as ambulance, the situation is all the more grim and difficult. Let alone rural zones, urban set ups don't have enough and accessible specialists too.
When it comes to ambulance facilities for emergency cases, the situation is extremely depressing. Private cars are the only means of taking serious patients to nearby hospitals. Despite abundant fatal cases accounting to unavailability of ambulance when required; the situation has not seen any noticeable change for betterment.

Shortage of adequate medical insurance plans: 

Another setback to growing Indian Health care system is the lack of structured payment mechanism and insurance support.
Only five to seven percent of Indian population comes under health insurance policies. And this only includes the urban and high income population. The rest are forced to make huge payments that drive them towards the poverty line.
Well, all is not bad and there are thousands of reasons to celebrate the growth and development of Indian Health care system. Private hospitals render unmatched services. Indian doctors are of the potential of being the most efficient and skilled professionals if supported by sufficient technical advents and quality infrastructure.
Today, India is the best medical destination for people abroad as it offers impeccable services at very affordable prices as far as tourists are concerned. Fighting the above mentioned drawbacks will definitely make India the largest and the best health care industry globally.
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