Carotid artery angioplasty gives hope to 80-year-old
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 30
A rare procedure of angioplasty and stenting of both the major blood vessels in the neck supplying blood to the brain (Bilateral Carotid Artery Angioplasty and Stenting) in an 80-year-old woman was performed recently at Hero DMC Heart Institute, Ludhiana, by the team of cardiologists comprising Dr Gurpreet S. Wander, Dr Naresh K. Sood, Dr Bishav Mohan and Dr Naved Aslam.

The patient had repeated episode of paralysis involving left upper and lower limbs for the past about three months.

On investigations, she was found to have severe blockage in both the carotid arteries which are the major blood vessels in the neck supplying blood to the brain (right artery showing 95 per cent blockage and left artery showing 80 per cent blockage).

She underwent carotid artery angioplasty followed by stenting of both the vessels successfully. Initially, on June 20 angioplasty and stenting of the right carotid artery was done and about four weeks latter on July 26 the procedure was done on the left side also. Since then, the patient has been making good recovery.

Dr Naresh K. Sood, interventional cardiologist of the institute, who has performed such procedures in a number of patients told TNS that such a case involving both the carotid arteries is rare and the management of such cases is very challenging and in this case the age of the patient was an added risk factor.. The procedure of carotid artery angioplasty and stenting of both the carotid arteries is the first procedure of its kind performed at the institute.

The presence of significant blockage in the carotid arteries is responsible for a large number of non-haemorhhagic strokes. This blockage can be diagnosed by a simple investigation of doppler test of these vessels. This test should be performed in all patients presenting with a paralytic stroke or in high risk patients.

Dr Sood feels that more than 70 per cent blockage in any of the carotid arteries, even if asymptomatic, should be treated with stenting to prevent any major paralytic attack. However, if the patient is symptomatic, the stenting should be done if the blockage is more than 50 per cent.

The procedure of angioplasty is done under local anesthesia via the femoral artery (blood vessel in the groin). The procedure is very safe. There is, however, a small risk of thrombotic material going to the brain during the procedure which may sometimes result in a minor stroke. However, such an event can be prevented by using specially designed filters placed beyond the blockage. These filters were used in this patient on both the occasions.

Dr Gurpreet S. Wander, Chief Cardiologist of the institute, feels that though surgery can also be done in these patients yet the result of angioplasty are encouraging and equally successful. The patient remains awake during the procedure and can become ambulatory within a few hours and discharged within 48 hours.

The patient, Ram Piari, a resident of Jalandhar is convalescing at her home now and is able to carry out daily routine work, her husband Mr R.D Malhotra told TNS on telephone.

TB medicine distributed at camp
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 30
The Ludhiana Tuberculosis Eradication Society, an NGO comprising doctors and industrialists of the region, organised the 75th free TB medicine distribution camp at Nauhria Hospital here today. The camp was inaugurated by Mr Gurdial Singh, MD, Satnam Steels, and the chief guest was Mr Atul Mehta, MD, Mehta Engineering Limited.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Naveen Sharma, finance secretary of the society, urged industrialists to join hands with the society to eradicate this deadly disease.

Mr Atul Mehta appreciated the efforts of the TB society for starting dot therapy as per recommendations of an apex body of health professionals in January. He assured his full support to the society to serve needy patients.

He said entrepreneurs should be more actively involved in the process. Not only should they get their workers examined for the disease but also hold educational camps on their premises regarding the disease, its cause, treatment and prevention.

Dr Satish Nauhria, president of the society, said the society was earlier engaged in distributing TB medicines among poor patients who could not afford them and were not getting medicines from civil hospitals, where these were in short supply. He said the patients adopted by the society were given free medicines at monthly camps which started in June, 1997.

Mr Baljeet Sahi, organising secretary of the society, said dot therapy had been started in January and 30 patients had been adopted. Under this scheme, anti-tuberculosis drugs will be given to patients three times a week by health professionals, doctors and nurses as recommended by the WHO.

Ludhiana has been covered under free dot therapy since December, 2002. Many private hospitals have been authorised by the Civil Surgeon for the job, but the society is functioning with funds generated without any government aid.

Mr Ram Raj Garg, treasurer of the society, urged industrialists and other social workers to donate more money for needy TB patients. 

‘Eat healthy to keep off fat’
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 30
Dr S.K. Verma, Professor, Department of Sports Sciences, delivered a lecture on “Management of Obesity Through Diet and Exercise” at a seminar held in Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women, Ludhiana, today. He said the increasing incidence of obesity among Punjabis in particular and Indians in general is a cause of concern. Sedentary lifestyle and wrong dietary habits were the factors responsible for this situation, he said. Remedial measures like increased energy expenditure through aerobic exercises especially half-an-hour to 45-minute brisk walk were also suggested. He provided scientific guidelines for the development of individualised exercise programmes based on an individual’s physiological potential.

Dr D.P. Bhatnagar, Professor in the Department of Human Biology, and Chairman of Board of Studies in Food and Nutrition and former Director Research and Development of Punjabi University, Patiala, delivered a lecture on “Growth and development of children with special reference to physiological maturity”. He outlined the importance of studying growth and development of children. In his talk, he gave the various methodologies to study the physiological and maturity of children and various factors that influence these processes. This knowledge will help in monitoring the growth and development of children.

Mr Inderjit Singh and Ms Gagandeep Kaur were also honoured on this occasion. Mr Swaran Singh, President of the managing committee, welcomed the guests. Dr (Ms) Madanjit Kaur Sahota proposed a vote of thanks to the speaker for giving useful tips. The seminar was organised by home-science and physical education departments of the college.

DMC doctor to chair session at neonatology conference
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 30
Dr BK Jain of the Department of Pediatrics, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, has been invited to chair the scientific session to be addressed by eminent doctors from North India at the Annual National Conference of the National Neonatology Forum (NNF), to be held in Jalandhar tomorrow.

A large number of pediatricians from all over the region will be attending this one-day annual event.

The students of Pediatrics Department of DMCH will also accompany their teacher to participate in a pediatric quiz. Six teams from medical colleges of North India, DMCH, CMCH, PGIMER, GMCH (Chandigarh) .GMC (Amritsar) BDS PGIMS (Rohtak) will take part in the competition . Dr Daljit Singh, HOD , Pediatrics Department will conduct the quiz. 

Oral health programme launched
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 30
The Indian Dental Association (IDA) launched an oral health programme for school students at BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, here today.

Dr Rajan Jairath, secretary of the IDA, said the programme was meant for teachers and schoolchildren. He said teachers and students would be made aware of various aspects of oral health.

The secretary said more than 50,000 students would be covered under the programme in which oral check-up would be held, suitable measures suggested and printed leaflets distributed among children and their parents.

SPORTS

BVM school wins cross-country meet
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, August 30
Student of Bharitya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Udham Singh Nagar, stole the limelight by bagging team championship in the boys as well girls section in the Zonal Cross-Country Competition (PAU Zone) organised by the Education Department here today. The distance for girls was 3 km while boys ran 5 km along the canal from Ferozepore Road towards South City.

In the girl’s section, GGN Public School and Khalsa Girls Senior Secondary School, Civil Lines, finished runners-up and at third position, respectively. The second and third position in the boys section was secured by Government Senior Secondary School, Hambran, and Government Model Senior Secondary School, Punjab Agricultural University.

Priya Bawa of Bhartiya Vidya Mandir School clocked 11.47 seconds to finish ahead of others and won the first position in the girls section, while in the boys section, Harpreet of Government Senior Secondary School, Hambran, came out triumphant to win the first position.

The first 10 individual positions were : Girls — Priya Bawa (Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Udham Singh Nagar) first; Ganga Gautam (Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Udham Singh Nagar) second; Gurmeet Kaur (Khalsa Girls Senior Secondary School, Civil Lines) third; Noleena (Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School) fourth; Harpreet Kaur (Khalsa Girls Senior Secondary School, Civil Lines) fifth; Manisha Gupta (Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School) sixth; Pavneet (GGN Public School) seventh; Vishali Bawa (Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School) eighth; Annum (GGN Public School) ninth; and Kamalpreet (GGN Public School) tenth.

Boys: Harpreet (Government Senior Secondary School, Hambran) first; Harpreet Singh of Government Model Senior Secondary School, PAU) second; Deepak Kumar Gautam (Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School) third; Maneet Kumar (Bhartiya Vidya Mandir School) fourth; Mukesh (Government Senior Secondary School, Hambran) fifth; Dalpreet Singh (Bharitya Vidya Mandir School) sixth; Kamalpreet (Government Senior Secondary School, Hambran) seventh; Damanvir Kaushal (Government Model Senior Secondary School, PAU) eighth; Sukhjeet Singh (Bhartiya Vidya Mandir School) ninth; and Manik Viz (Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School) tenth.

Mr Baljeet Singh, sports in charge, BVM School, said on the basis of their performance in the competition, the first six runners in the boys and girls sections had been selected to represent the PAU Zone in the Ludhiana District Inter-Zonal Cross-Country Race scheduled to be held here on September 5.