The liver is one of the most ignored organs in the body. But in reality it is  one of the most important.Performing close to 500 functions the liver is one  of the most hardworking organs of the human body. It clear toxins from  blood, it releases strength and energy, it fights infection and even regenerates itself!Learning about it is the first step to keeping your liver healthy.

The liver is a marvellously resilient and vital organ that plays an indispensable role in nurturing and protecting our body everyday with clockwork precision. It has several key functions to perform:

It helps filter and dispose of toxic materials from the blood
Feeds our body the energy it needs to function
Wards off viruses and infections
Produces blood-clotting factors
Regulates sex hormones, cholesterol levels and vitamins and mineral supplies in our body.

The liver performs over 500 and odd functions, far more than any other organ in our body!

The liver rarely shows symptoms which is why it's important to get them checked at aLiver Clinic. However tell tale symptoms that can be watched out for are:

Fatigue
Upper abdominal pain
Itchy skin
Yellow eyes

What are the main liver problems?

Fortis Hospitals Mulund recently treated a complicated case of colorectal cancer through Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS). At the time of the surgery, the patient had reached a critical phase where surgery was compulsorily needed to be performed.

Ms Anuprita, 64, experienced PR bleeding (rectal bleeding) with severe pain. She visited her family doctor who recommended few medicines which cured the bleeding and pain following which she visited Malaysia with her family.

While at Malaysia, she again experienced PR bleeding and had to come back to India to see the doctor. Family doctor recommended her to a surgeon who wrongly diagnosed it to be a case of piles and suggested surgery. She underwent surgery in October 2010.

Post surgery within two months she again experienced PR bleeding. Heavily dissatisfied from her previous experience, she started to look for the right and permanent answer to her problem.

She was referred to Dr Anil Heroor at Fortis Hospital who prescribed few tests to the patient that confirmed colorectal cancer. Later, Dr Heroor suggested the MIS approach as the cancer was in its initial stage. Post surgery the cancer was completely removed and the patient was discharged within six days.

According to Dr Anil Heroor, Consultant Onco-surgeon, Fortis Hospitals, “MIS is the best possible way to treat cancers in general and specifically to ones that affect the uterus and intestines”.

Although MIS hasbecome common today for many illnesses, it is not performed on a large scale in an area like cancer. “Right expertise is needed to treat cancer through minimally invasive approach as many oncologists are not trained for minimally invasive surgery or minimally invasive surgeons are not oncologists. Today there are very few hospitals and surgeons with the right expertise to operate cancer through a minimally invasive way. MIS is safer compared to open surgery as pain is less, hospital stay is shorter and there is quicker recovery,” added Dr Heroor.  ( source :Livemint)

Dr Ramana

Former Wockhardt Hospital, Kolkata ( Now Fortis Kidney Institute )has been the venue of several path-breaking surgeries in recent years. One unique feature has been the endoscopic approach to neck surgery performed by a team of doctors led by advanced laparoscopic surgeon Dr. B. Ramana.

Dr. Ramana removes thyroid and parathyroid glands without any cuts on the neck. But before we go into this, let us know a bit about the thyroid.

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the front of the neck. It commonly develops nodules or becomes very big. Its removal is complicated by the presence of multiple vessels, including the vessels supplying the brain and head, and nerves, which affect speech. Conventional operation leads to a long incision stretching from one side of the front of neck to the other side, the so-called collar incision. Bleeding and injury to the nerves of the voice box (larynx) are operative hazards.

Endoscopic approaches are being used recently world wide, as part of the minimally invasive revolution sweeping the world of surgery. Ramana uses the chest as well as the axillary approach, using three small nicks in the chest or the armpit (depending on the approach) to put in the instruments to take out the thyroid or parathyroid gland.

The advantages of this approach are the total invisibility of the scars and the clear, magnified images seen during the endoscopic operation. The safety of the operation rested largely on the superb quality of the images captured on the world’s latest and best endoscopic, high-definition camera.
This is part of the huge cache of high tech laparoscopic instruments in the hospital for providing the state of the art, world-class laparoscopic surgery.
The scarless endoscopic approach involves creating a space in the chest and neck via a tiny cut over the chest or the armpit through which a balloon is introduced and inflated. Two more 5 mm cuts are made to introduce instruments to dissect the thyroid gland. Sophisticated instruments like Ligasure and Harmonic Scalpel are used to seal the arteries and veins of the gland, preserving the nerves to the larynx. The operation is almost totally bloodless. The procedure time is an hour or so.

Post-operatively, the patients recover well, with most people going home in a day, and joining work soon after.
Thyroid swellings, called goiters, are a major health care issue not only in India, but in Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand as well. The sub-Himalayan belt of states, stretching 2400 kilometres from Kashmir to the Naga Hills in the east, is the world’s largest goiter belt. It includes states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and all the North-East states. However, no state in India is considered exempt from this problem of endemic goiter. In the 1960s it was said that 9 million people were affected by it, but the current figures are close to 6 crores. Around 15 crore people are estimated to be living in goiter endemic areas in the country. 
Endemic goiter occurs from dietary iodine deficiency. It results in abortions, babies being born as cretins, children developing low intelligence levels, speech disorders, etc.

Considering the fact that a large number of goiters needing surgery occur in young and middle aged women, there is a major role for endoscopic surgery in the modern management of this disease. The superior cosmetic and possibly equivalent functional results of endoscopic thyroidectomy as compared to conventional surgery.

Dr Rammana will be available for Consultations at the New Anandapur,EM Bypass Hospital at Kolkata and also at the ” Fortis Kidney Institute . For appointments , please click here

Fortis Hospitals ( Former Wockhardt Hospitals,) Cunnigham Road now makes Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) a routine

Fortis Hospitals , Cunningham Road Bangalore  has consistently begun to use an advanced surgical technique in the field of laparoscopic surgery called ‘Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery’ (SILS). The team led by Dr. Aashish Shah, Consultant Gastrointestinal and Laparoscopic Surgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals, has performed 10 Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgeries which includes Cholecystectomies (removal of the gallbladder) and Appendicectomies (removal of the appendix).

Globally, Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery has only gained popularity over the last one to two years and this surgical technique is mainly offered at major laparoscopic centers. In India, the procedure is relatively new as most hospitals lack the expertise and equipment required for the procedure.

SILS is an advanced minimally invasive surgical procedure in which the surgery is done through a single entry point i.e. the navel. A 20mm incision at the umbilicus is all that is required for the surgery. A scope is inserted that can be moved around in the body and return images form various angles giving the surgeons a larger field of vision for the surgery and the instruments used to perform the surgery are flexible thereby enabling extra reach and maneuverability.

“SILS involves the use of flexible instruments and a higher level of laparoscopic expertise. Currently we have been using this technique for uncomplicated Gallstone Disease and Appendicitis. All of our ten patients have been discharged in 24 hours after surgery and have been ambulant within 3 to 6 hours of the surgery. In fact, in one of our patients’ both the gallbladder and appendix were removed using SILS and she was discharged within 24 hours and was back to routine activity in three days post surgery, thus highlighting the advantages of SILS” said Dr. Aashish Shah Consultant Gastrointestinal and Laparoscopic Surgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals.

Earlier, patients had limited choices when it came to surgery i.e. conventional open surgery or laparoscopic with multiple incisions, laparoscopic surgery being the preferred choice. However now with the introduction of Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery, patients can undergo surgical procedures with just a single incision (approx half an inch) in the belly button and that too with a number of benefits over conventional procedures such as less pain, quicker recovery, less blood loss, less complications and minimal scarring and helping patients getting back to work faster.

“SILS is the next big step in laparoscopic surgery worldwide. It offers a huge cosmetic advantage and also enables much quicker recovery for the patient compared to conventional lap surgery. For the patient it is extremely appealing to be offered surgery through a single small cut, than through multiple incisions” Dr. Aashish Shah adds.

SILS is an excellent option for all patients who need laparoscopic surgery more so for uncomplicated Gallstones, Appendicitis and Hernia operations. At Wockhardt Hospital, Cunningham Road, as a routine, SILS is being offered to all suitable patients.