HEALTH

Tumour removed through endoscopic surgery
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 20
“Endoscopic surgery,” the technique of managing diseases and tumours, was recently employed on a 36-year-old female patient to remove a massive tumor from the lower portion of her brain, internally through nose, at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) by a team of doctors comprising Dr Manish Munjal, ENT department, DMCH, and Dr Rakesh Kaushal, neurosurgery department, DMCH.

The traditional methods of surgery for these tumours require entry into the brain through the top of the head after removing the bone of the skull, which is time-consuming, disfiguring and expensive.

The endoscopic surgery has many advantages over the conventional surgery for the removal of such brain tumours. Through endoscopic method, the surgery is completed in half an hour, while by conventional procedures the removal of such tumour takes more than five to six hours. Through endoscope, the surgery can be undertaken under magnified vision, with total clearance of tumours, minimal loss of blood, less likelihood of complications, hospital stay etc.

Ms Amarjit Kaur (36) from Bathinda was diagnosed to be carrying a tumour in her brain. The tumour was giving her severe headaches for the past four years. Moreover, hormonal changes were noticeable on her body. She had started developing masculine features, excessive body hair, enlarged feet and hands with pigmentation of her skin.

The CT scan showed a massive tumour of the pituitary gland, a small bean-shaped gland that lies at the lower portion of the brain, and is responsible for hormone regulation of body functions. The gland lies in the vicinity of major blood vessels of the brain and the nerves of the eye and it requires extreme dexterity to identify and remove the tumour.

The doctors offered the woman the option of undergoing the operation using this new endoscopic surgical modality. The operating surgeons mentioned that the tumour was arising from the lower part of the brain and was in relation to the floor of the skull. The woman was discharged on the fifth day without any bulky dressings and cosmetic disfigurement and she had resumed her daily activities.

HEALTH TIPS
Ways to avoid heartburn, indigestion

More than 50 per cent of the population suffers heartburns. It is more common during pregnancy. One in every four women complains of it at some point of time during pregnancy.

Acid indigestion is a similar burning discomfort, but in the pit of your stomach. It can be caused by acid action on the stomach lining or duodenum. Acid indigestion is believed to happen not just because of too much acid, but also because of too little protection from the mucus lining of the stomach.

Prevention and remedies

Never lie down immediately after taking a meal. Allow two to three hours between eating and bedtime.

Take your breakfast, lunch and dinner in time. Delay can lead stomach problems.

Do not smoke.

Avoid alcohol. It affects stomach and esophagus and may make your symptoms worse.

Control your diet and avoid late-night snacks.

If you are overweight, try to lose weight.

Prop up the pillow side of the bed by placing blocks under the legs of the frame.

Avoid tight-fitting clothes.

Try to stay upright for at least two to three hours after each meal.

Don’t take anti-inflammatory drugs without doctor’s advice. These can damage your protective stomach lining.

Avoid food items that contain alcohol or caffeine. Chocolate, orange, tomato, juices, peppermint and spearmint-flavoured foods, fried foods and carbonated drinks may make heartburn worse.

If heartburn persists for one to two weeks, consult your physician.

Dr Anil Dheer

Free cardiac camp
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 20
A free cardiac check-up camp will be organised at Fortis Heart Emergency Centre, Gurdev Hospital, tomorrow. The timings will be from 9 am to 4 pm. People can benefit by interacting with renowned cardiologist Dr R.P. Singh and avail themselves of the facility of free consultation on heart ailments. ECG, blood sugar and blood group tests will be conducted free of cost. Mr Daljit Singh, chief executive officer (operations) of Fortis Healthcare, said, “Through such initiatives, we aim to raise the level of preventive healthcare in the region and bring world-class medical treatment within the reach of people.”

Dr R.P. Singh, consultant (invasive cardiology), said, “Coronary artery disease, which used to affect middle-aged persons, is now affecting younger patients in the age group of 35 to 43 years. The reasons that have contributed to the spread of this disease are erratic lifestyles and total disregard to physical fitness. The problem aggravates as many people who suffer from cardiac diseases are not even aware of the ailment until it progresses to a level leading to heart attack. In such a scenario, it becomes imperative to generate required preventive awareness. We hope that through such camps, we will be able to benefit people by educating them about healthcare management.”

Ambulance mobike service from next month
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 20
Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) is embarking on a project which is unique in India. Ambulance Mobike Rescue Services (AMARS) is being launched in the city from next month. This was stated by Dr Rajeev Kapoor, Deputy Medical Superintendent and Professor of Surgery at the CMCH.

Motor vehicle-related incidents were among the most common causes of road accident deaths. India had the highest accident rate in the world-142/10,000 vehicles, whereas in the European countries, it was only 2/10,000 vehicles. Thus, auto-accidents presented a real public health problem. The surgeons facing trauma must be prepared for the inevitable complications of delay in reaching hospitals and poor initial management, said Dr Kapoor.

Trauma care had made great strides worldwide in recent years, especially in more affluent countries, as the importance of pre-hospital care had been recognised. A large number of non-brain traumatic deaths was said to be potentially reversible. A significant part of the critical period was often spent in pre-hospital environment. Little attention was being paid to pre-hospital trauma care in the country. The AMARS was especially tuned to take care of the “First Golden Hour of trauma”.

The appropriate training of emergency service personnel and the proper equipping of their vehicles were key components of effective pre-hospital care. The CMCH had taken the help of the UK Ambulance services to run a special course for team members involved in the care of these injured patients. “This is a six-week training programme and is currently underway in the CMCH. Ms Zena Hart and Mr Adam from the UK are here to do the needful. The team is being taught skills relevant to trauma, namely airway management, oxygen therapy, fluid resuscitation, spinal immobilisation, monitoring, extrication and maintenance of normal body temperature. The UK team will be visiting regularly for training purposes and intends to adopt the CMCH as a model for developing ambulance services in countries not having these services”.

To ensure rapid evacuation and transport of such injured persons to hospital, the CMCH has currently procured two ambulances and two mobikes at the cost of Rs 10 lakh. These ambulances and mobikes have equipment like defibrillator, pulse oximeter, cardiac monitors, portable suction, oxygen cylinders, central air-conditioning system, portable ventilator and specially designed stretcher-cum-trolleys at a further cost of Rs 14 lakh. All emergency medical drugs, dressing splints, spine boards and cervical collars are also being stocked in these ambulances and mobikes.

“The District Administration has given assurance to provide all cooperation for the success of this project”, said Dr Rajeev Kapoor.

SPORTS

Preparations for Punjab Games on
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, September 20
The preparations for the forthcoming Punjab State Women Games to be organised by the Punjab Sports Department at Guru Nanak Stadium and other venues from October 1 to 3 are going on a war footing.

A meeting to review these preparations and constitute various subcommittees to conduct the games successfully was held here at the conference hall of the Guru Nanak Sports Complex on Friday evening. The meeting was attended by Mr D.S. Bains, Secretary (Sports), Punjab, Mr Kartar Singh, Director (Sports), Punjab, Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinder Pal Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr S.K. Sharma, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Mr Jorawar Singh Chouhan and Mr Rakesh Minhas, Deputy Director (Sports) and Officer on Special Duty with the Director, respectively, Mr Sohan Lal Lotey, District Sports Officer and other civil and police officials.

Mr Kartar Singh said around 1,500 participants, including officials, would be in the city during the mega event. The accommodation arrangements for players and officials would be made at different college hostels in the city.

He said during this sports extravaganza, competitions in athletics, hockey, kabaddi, handball, volleyball, kho-kho, lawn tennis, badminton, gymnastics, table tennis and basketball would be conducted. A cultural programme would also be organised on the opening and closing day.

Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, would be the chief guest of the opening ceremony. He would declare the games open. Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, Sports Minister, would preside over the concluding function and distribute prizes to the winners, he said.

Performance during these games would be taken into consideration while selecting the Punjab women teams for the National Women Sports Festivals, which would be organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), in Andhra Pradesh, (basketball and gymnastics); in Jalandhar, (hockey, handball and lawn tennis); in Orissa, (athletics, table tennis and badminton); and in Karnataka, (volleyball, kabaddi and kho-kho).

The selected players would attend coaching camps at different places prior to their participation in the National Sports Festivals, he said.

Similarly, Punjab teams for the All-India Rural Sports Tournaments, to be organised by the SAI in Pondicherry (athletics, kabaddi, kho-kho); in Ranchi (football, volleyball and weightlifting), would be picked up on the basis of players’ performance in the state-level tournaments to be held at Jalandhar and Sangrur next month.

Mr Kartar Singh expressed hope that Punjab, the current overall champions in the National Women Sports Festival and the All-India Rural Sports Tournaments, would be able to defend the titles.

CBSE table tennis tourney begins
Our Correspondent

Mandi Gobindgarh, September 20
The Cluster XII (Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir) CBSE Table Tennis tournament 2003, was inaugurated by Mr Kartar Singh, Director (Sports), Punjab, at GPS campus here today.

Mr Swaranjeet Singh, president of the Gobindgarh Educational and Social Welfare Trust, lauded the achievements of Mr Kartar Singh and urged the young players to take inspiration from the achievements of the chief guest. Besides the staff and students, Mr Sarwan Singh DSP, Mr R.P. Bhatia, Mr N.K. Khanna, Mr Pawan Sharda, Mr Suresh Goyal and Mr Sat Dev Saggar were also present on the occasion.

As many as 120 teams of boys and girls from CBSE-affiliated schools of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir are participating in the tournament.

Mr Kartar Singh said children should get more time for sports and recreational activities. Mr R.P Bhatia, chairman of the school management committee, presented a memento to the chief guest. Mr Bahadar Singh, Principal of the school, spoke on the achievements of the school.

The tournament will conclude on September 23. Mr P.I. Sabu Regional Officer, CBSE, Chandigarh, will be the chief guest at the concluding function, said Mr Bahadar Singh.

The following were the results of the first-round matches of boys in the under-14 category: GGS-Sangrur beat Ajanta School-Amritsar, 3-0; Shiv Jyoti School beat MGN-Kapurthala, 3-0; Bhawan SL Public beat GTPP-Dhuri, 3-0; Appejay School-Jalandhar beat CT Public School-Jalandhar, 3-1; YS-Barnala beat Jesus Saviour School-Sirhind, 3-0; OP Bansal-Gobindgarh beat Seth Mukat Public School-Rajpura, 3-0; LSD-Fazilka beat Hukam Chand-Jalandhar, 3-0; MGN-Jalandhar beat Spring Dale Public School-Amritsar, 3-1; Alpine International- Ludhiana beat Spring Dale Public School-Amritsar, 3-0; Innocent Heart-Jalandhar beat DAV Public School-Amritsar, 3-0; Appejay Public School-Jalandhar beat GPS-Gobindgarh, 3-0; Guru Amar Dass-Jalandhar beat Sri Arobindo Public School-Patiala, 3-0; Green Land Public School-Ludhiana beat DAV-Amritsar, 3-1; Guru Harkrishan Public School-Amritsar beat Alpine International School-Ludhiana, 3-2; Innocent Heart-Jalandhar beat DAV Public School-Ludhiana, 3-1; Green Land Public School beat Shiv Jyoti Public School-Jalandhar, 3-1; and Appejay Public School-Jalandhar beat Guru Amar Dass Public School-Jalandhar, 3-0.