Interesting Facts about a General Surgeon

General surgeons require a wide range of knowledge and skills to perform any form of surgery, often in emergency situations.

Some of them include:

• Kidney, pancreas and liver transplantation.
• Surgical conditions of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Certain skin conditions.
• Initial assessment of patients.
• Breast conditions.

The field of general surgery is not limited. They also should have additional knowledge and experience in the following categories as well:

• Related disciplines, including anatomy, physiology, immunology, and pathology.
• Clinical care domains, including wound healing, infection and antibiotic usage, metabolism and nutrition, minimally invasive intervention and pain management.

In case there are any unusual circumstances, the certified general surgeon may provide care for patients with problems in fields such as obstetrics and gynecology, urology, etc. Despite the term ‘general’, surgeons that practice general surgery is highly skilled surgeons. They can usually be found practicing multiple surgeries and their broad-based nature of education makes it possible for them to perform many procedures. Some may opt for a specialty, some might enjoy the variations and practice a wide assortment of procedures. They are also trained to maintain flexibility when it comes to working in a variety of settings, with many types of medical teams and patients. While having a surgical specialty requires more training, the general surgeon also holds a very important position in the healthcare team and is essential in the treatment of common illness. The General Surgery Department at the NU Hospitals is equipped with the latest technology and infrastructure, supported by top-notch general surgery specialists in Bangalore. Patients are assured to receive a specialized assessment by our general surgeons along with post-operative measures, medications and regular follow-up. 

Things You Need To Know About Chronic Kidney Disease

As per reports, 30 million people in the United States are living with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The term ‘chronic kidney disease’ means lasting damage to the kidneys that can get worse over time. This is commonly called kidney failure, or end-stage renal disease. In case your kidneys fail, you’ll need dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to survive.

1. What causes chronic kidney disease?

Anyone can get chronic kidney disease. Risks vary from person to person. 

Some of the things that can increase the risk include:

• High blood pressure (Hypertension).

• Diabetes.

• Heart Disease.

• Hereditary factors.

• Being over 60 years old.

 2. Symptoms of chronic kidney disease:

chronic kidney disease usually gets worse with time and symptoms may not appear until your kidneys are inadequately damaged. In the later stages of chronic kidney disease, you may get to see symptoms that are caused by waste and extra fluid building up in your body.

Some of the symptoms are :

• muscle cramps.

• itching. 

• nausea and vomiting.

• swelling in your feet and ankles.

• trouble sleeping.

3. Treatments for chronic kidney disease:

Kidney damage is usually permanent. Although the damage cannot be treated, you can take steps to keep your kidneys as healthy as possible.

Some of the ways are:

• Keep your blood sugar under control.

• Follow a low-salt, low-fat diet.

• Make sure to exercise at least 30 minutes.

• Keep a check on your weight.

• No use of tobacco nor consuming alcohol.

NU Hospitals has been pioneering in Nephrology. Aided by a team of top Nephrologists in Bangalore, we offer optimal treatment options for the entire spectrum of kidney diseases. For those who are suffering from Nephrological problems, consider consulting with the best nephrologists for thorough and ethical diagnosis.

Urinary Tract Infection- Symptoms and Treatments

A urinary tract infection, commonly known as UTI, occurs when microbes get into any part of the urinary tract, be it the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. In severe and rare cases, however, UTI can also happen in the upper urinary tract.

Now let’s get to know what are the causes and risk factors of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI):

• Dehydration, since the body is not getting enough water to discard the bacteria
• Sexual intercourse with an infected partner
• Constipation
• Using dirty sanitary pads during menstruation
• Holding urine for a long time allows the bacteria to grow

Urinary Tract Infection can have specific symptoms depending on which part of the urinary tract has been infected:

Symptoms of Kidney Diseases:

• High Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Frequent and painful urination

Symptoms of Bladder Infection:

• Blood urine
• Burning sensation while urinating
• Pain in the lower back and abdomen
• Pain during sex

Symptoms of Urethra Infection:

• Burning sensation while urinating
• Frequent need to urinate
• Blood in semen or urine in men
• Discharge from the vagina in women

In case, you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above repeatedly, you need to visit a urologist for further evaluation. You’ll be asked to take a couple of tests to have a better understanding. If you are confused about how to get the right diagnosis at the right time, look no beyond. NU hospitals have the best set of Urologists in bangalore to help you get through this.

Of course, the treatment depends on the severity of your condition. At NU Hospitals, which is considered to be one of the Best Urology Hospitals in India, our team is thoroughly dedicated to catering to patients with utmost sincerity and medical expertise.

The Curious Tale of the Toiling Kidneys

The Curious Tale of the Toiling Kidneys

KIDNEY DISORDERS

Your kidneys may be small, but they perform many big and vital functions. However, we often forget the existence of this pair and with that ignorance, you may suddenly realize you've got acute or chronic disorders. In certain serious cases, there even may be the need for kidney treatments like dialysis or kidney transplant to stay alive.

Kidney disorders come under the medical bracket of Nephrology. Nephrotic syndrome, acute nephritic syndrome, acute renal failure, chronic renal failure, and diabetic nephropathy are some of the common albeit serious disorders we treat and cure at NU Hospitals. 

Nephrotic syndrome: You may not even know that you have nephrotic syndrome until you’ve got a urine or blood test. This syndrome isn’t a disease, but a group of symptoms indicating at kidneys that aren’t working right.

SYMPTOMS OF NEPHROTIC SYNDROME

• Cloudy urine
• Tiredness
• Swelling in legs, feet, ankles and sometimes hands and face
• Loss of appetite

Acute Nephritic Syndrome: It’s an immune reaction prompted by an infection or another disease. A doctor’s appointment and tests can show an enlarged liver, high blood pressure, abnormal heart and lung sounds, enlarged veins in the neck.

SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE NEPHRITIC SYNDROME

• A dark shade or cloudy urine
• Blurre vision
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness and aches 

Acute Renal Failure: This disorder tends to occur rapidly. There are three main categories of causes of acute renal failure, prerenal (caused by the low blood supply to the kidneys), intrinsic (harm caused by chemicals, illegal drugs or even prescribed ones), postrenal (kidney failure caused by problems in the urinary tract, bladder, urethra)

SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE RENAL FAILURE

• Vomiting, fatigue, and loss of appetite
• Irregular heartbeat
• Muscle weakness
• Loss of consciousness

Chronic Renal Failure: It is a slow and steady decline of the kidney functions. It usually is caused by another serious medical condition. It occurs over months as the kidney slowly stops working. 

SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE

• Increase urination, especially at night
• Decreased urination
• Blood in urination
• Cloudy urination

Diabetic Nephropathy: As the name suggests this kind of kidney disorder is caused Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. In worst case scenarios there even may be a need for a transplant. 

SYMPTOMS OF DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY

• Tiredness
• Swelling of hands, feet, eyes, legs
• Worsening of BP control
• Loss of appetite
• Increased urination

In NU Hospitals there are treatments available for many kidney diseases, though these disorders can often be prevented with regular doctor’s check-up and advice. Our kidney doctors have specialized many innovative procedures that allow our patients to receive quality treatment, making one of the top Nephrology Hospitals in India. However, before you let your body down think of all the consequences you’d have to face for it.

Kidney biopsy: Who would need it and why

A renal kidney biopsy is a medical procedure that requires extracting a small piece of kidney tissue for examination under a microscope. It’s usually a pathologist; a clinician specializing in diagnosing diseases—who examines the sample kidney tissue in a laboratory. From the diseased tissue, the pathologist can find out signs of a potential kidney disease or infection. If the patient has undergone a kidney transplant recently, doctors will perform a biopsy to figure out if the operation is successful, and if not- look into the reasons behind the failure of the procedure. The kidney tissue collected from the patient can show scarring, signs of infection, inflammation or unusual deposits of immunoglobulin. If a patient has chronic kidney disease or any other condition that leads to decreased kidney function over a given period of time—a renal kidney biopsy will reflect the pace at which the disease is progressing.

Supported by a team of top renal and transplant pathologists in Bangalore, NU uses two main ways of performing a renal kidney biopsy. The first one is called the percutaneous procedure where using ultrasound, a needle is used to collect kidney tissue. The second option is an open biopsy where, just like general surgeries- the skin is cut open to extract tissues from the diseased kidney. Besides providing some of the best kidney transplants in India, NU Hospitals also offer optimal post-operative care where the success of the transplant is monitored through kidney biopsies and other cutting-edge procedures. The team at NU has some of the best kidney transplant doctors in Bangalore who come with years of advanced medical practice.

Recovering from a renal kidney biopsy could depend on a number of factors. Having some of the most well experienced renal and transplant pathologists in Bangalore, NU offers the best kidney biopsies in the city. According to your physical fitness, immunity, and medical history, your doctor will recommend either an open biopsy or a percutaneous one. The open biopsy is generally offered to patients who have had problems with bleeding or blood clotting in the past or those who have only one active kidney. Patients are usually provided with a general anesthesia when they’re having an open biopsy. Post-biopsy, it’s normal to have some amount of blood in your urine and mild belly pain for up to 24 hours after the procedure. You should report to your physician straightaway if the condition persists for more than three days. The patient is allowed to resume their normal diet and usual daily activities within a week of the biopsy. The team at NU is backed by some of the best kidney transplant doctors in Bangalore who will provide you the most hassle-free, high-end biopsies at economical rates. 

Common signs of infertility in women & men

Infertility is a reproductive health condition that is diagnosed when impregnation of the woman fails to take place despite the couple having regular, unprotected sex for more than twelve months. More often than not, the condition is diagnosed late, as infertility doesn’t have any external symptoms. Most of the signs and symptoms of a couple being infertile are related to preexisting medical or lifestyle conditions. One of the premier hospitals in the city, NU has the best infertility center in Bangalore. Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and a team of select infertility specialists in Bangalore, NU Hospitals provides world-class infertility treatments within affordable rates.

Signs and symptoms of infertility in both men and women can vary up to a great extent. In women, the most usual symptoms of bad reproductive health are- irregular menstruation (periods that does not occur every month), extremely heavy or painful periods (potential sign of endometriosis), absent periods, other ovulatory problems and hormonal fluctuations- (low estrogen/high androgen etc.) which manifest in thinning hair, low libido, weight gain around the abdomen, acne breakouts or excess facial hair growth. Many women suffering from infertility will also experience vaginal dryness and painful intercourse.

The fertility team at NU Hospitals has on board some of the best infertility doctors in Bangalore. Our facility offers the most advanced and innovative fertility diagnoses and services along with individualized counseling for each couple. Age is perhaps the most important factor that one has to keep in mind when it comes to beating infertility. Once a woman crosses her thirties, her ovum quality starts facing a gradual deterioration. Just like in females, infertility in men is also tied to the hormonal factor. A drip or inadequate production of testosterone usually leads to changes in the man’s virility. Infertility in males will result in symptoms like testicular swelling, low sex drive, impotence, difficult or painful ejaculation and small/firm testicles.

Among some of the best infertility centers in Bangalore, NU Hospitals specializes in doling out cutting-edge treatment options for the whole gamut of infertility conditions. Some of our services include IUI, IVF, egg/sperm freezing, frozen embryo transfer, blastocyst transfer, and ovulation induction, among others. Keeping in mind the evolving needs of fertility treatment, NU Hospitals upholds and administers the best-in-class choice of treatment for both male and female infertility in Bangalore.