Arteries Useful for Coronary Bypass Surgery

With over 500,000 operations performed each year, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) is one of the most common surgeries in the United States. As your coronary arteries get blocked, your physician may suggest treating the problem by making a new pathway for blood to reach the heart muscle. Therefore, a blood vessel is either removed or redirected from one area & placed around the area to “bypass” the blockage in order to restore normal blood flow.

Arteries Normally Used for CABG

Substitute blood vessels can either come from chest, arms or legs. Arteries within these areas are safer as there are other pathways supplying blood to the tissues. However, the surgeon would eventually decide on which graft to be used depending upon the amount & location of the blockage & size of the coronary artery.

Internal Mammary Arteries:

These are one of the most common bypass grafts used for CABG & which have proven to deliver best long-term results. Moreover, as they have self contained oxygen-rich blood supply can also be kept intact at their origin. The surgical procedure is also simpler. One end of the artery is sewn to coronary artery below the blockage site. Since the graft artery is also located in the chest, it can be accessed through the primary incision made for CABG.

Radial Arteries:

There are two arteries located in the lower part of the arm, namely Ulnar & Radial artery. Ulnar artery alone is good enough to provide adequate blood flow to the arms. If the Radial artery is removed to be used as graft, it will not have any side effects. Preoperative & intra-operative tests will only be able to determine if the Radial artery can come useful. However, if the patient is suffering from conditions like Raynaud’s, painful fingers in cold air or carpal tunnel syndrome, this type of graft may not be a good idea to access.                      

Saphenous Veins:

Saphenous veins are removed from the leg & then sewn from aorta to coronary artery below the site of blockage. Saphenous vein removal is minimally invasive thus resulting in less scarring & faster recovery.

Gastroepiploic artery to stomach & epigastric artery to abdominal wall are also used in CABG, although rarely. Three or four coronary arteries bypassed during surgery is a common practice. CABG can be performed with minimally invasive or traditional surgery. The surgeon will review diagnostic tests prior to surgery & decide if you are a good candidate for minimally invasive bypass surgery.

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Is Weight Loss Surgery Right for You

Weight Loss Surgery is fast turning out to be a popular solution to overcome your excessive weight problems. Especially when various other weight loss methods like diet, exercise & supplementation techniques have failed to yield positive results. Failure of these methods suggest that you are unable to maintain healthy weight, or sooner than later you regain the lost weight. Moreover, if these conditions are not dealt properly, excessive weight invariably leads to long term health problems like cancer, strokes or relative heart diseases and numerous musculoskeletal problems. Obesity in the next 25 years is set to become the biggest financial drain for families the world over. 

Weight Loss Surgery Options

Weight Loss Surgery basically includes a number of procedures performed on obese persons. Results are at times achieved by reducing size of stomach with implanted medical device called gastric banding or removal of a part of the stomach known as sleeve gastrectomy or a biliopancreatic diversion with a duodenal switch. Another method includes resecting & rerouting small intestine into a stomach pouch known as gastric bypass surgery. Studies show that these procedures cause significant long term weight loss. Recovery from diabetes, substantial decrease in cardiovascular risk factors & about 17% reduction in mortality rate are subsidiary benefits from Weight Loss Surgery.

Is Weight Loss Surgery Your Best Choice

Beyond doubt, if other methods to slim down with diet & exercise have failed, weight loss surgery needs to be given serious consideration. More so if you are obese or morbidly obese. Doctors will take a close look at your personality before suggesting you take up Weight Loss Surgery. If you are unwilling to do requisite pre-surgery diet & work, he may not elect to go ahead with the surgical procedure. To qualify for bariatric surgery you require to be morbidly obese. This means you should be 100 pounds overweight for a man or 80 pounds overweight for woman with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40+. 

Other Considerations

Weight Loss Surgery can be performed on anyone between the age group of 18 to 60 years. You are an ideal candidate if you do not have any other conditions for weight gain like tumors, hormonal imbalances or any other related diseases. You should have been obese for the past 5 years at least. You should have tried traditional weight loss methods without success. You should have no known or diagnosed addiction to drugs, alcohol & other controlled substances. Surgeons also want you to commit to changing lifestyle, diet & exercise habits in the future. In case you meet the above criteria, you are probably a right candidate to go in for Weight Loss Surgery.

TRAVCURE Medical Solutions for Weight Loss Surgery are cost-effective & specifically designed keeping your purse & medical conditions in mind. We are associated with some of the most reputed & internationally accredited hospitals within India. We intend giving you best medical treatment for your ailment at institutions run by extremely compassionate & competent medical authorities. Right from your arrival to a successful departure we will chart out a smooth flawless course designed to ensure you face no inconvenience. You can send your queries at: info@travcure.com. You can also make a phone call to us at: +91-8600044116.

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Benefits & Risks of Total Knee Replacement

Total knee replacement surgery is a perfect option for patients whose knee joints have either been damaged by progressive arthritis, trauma or by other destructive diseases of the joints. Severe osteoarthritis is the most common knee replacement reason in the United States.

What Is Total Knee Replacement?

A surgical procedure where the diseased knee joint if replaced by artificial material is called Total Knee Replacement. Our knee is basically a hinge joint which provides movement at a point where thighs meet lower legs. Femur, or the thighbone abuts tibia, or large bone of lower leg at the knee joint.

During a Total Knee Replacement surgery the femur bone end is removed & replaced with metal shell. The end of tibia is also removed to be replaced with channeled plastic piece with metal stem. Depending upon circumstantial conditions of kneecap portion of knee joint, a plastic-button may be added under the surface of the kneecap. Artificial components used in Total Knee Replacement are referred to as prosthesis. The posterior cruciate ligament which stabilizes each side of the knee joint is either sacrificed, retained or substituted with a polyethylene post in Total Knee Replacement surgery. Each design constituting Total Knee Replacement features particular risks & benefits.

When Should You Consider Total Knee Replacement

Patients suffering from progressively increasing pain & stiffness along with a fair amount of decrease in daily functions can consider Total Knee Replacement as an option. Decisions regarding Total Knee Replacement may not be all that easy, therefore understand & evaluate the risks involved before you make up your mind.

Risks Involved With Total Knee Replacement

Most common risks with Total Knee Replacement include blood clots in legs which can at times travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism). This may eventually cause chest pain, shortness of breath & shock. Some other risks involved with Total Knee Replacement are urinary tract infections,, nausea & vomiting largely related to pain medications, nerve damage, blood vessel injury resulting in bleeding at knee joint, & infection of the knee calling for re-operation. Risk from anesthesia administration include potential heart, lung, liver & kidney damage. 

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