Haemorrhoids, also called piles, are caused by swelling of the blood vessels in or around the anus and rectum. Haemorrhoid veins are located at the bottom of the rectum and anus. Sometimes these blood vessels swell, resulting in thin and stretched walls. This causes severe irritation while passing faecal or bowel movements. Haemorrhoids are usually…
A hydrocele is a disorder that causes swelling of the scrotum due to an abnormal buildup of fluid in the scrotum. The accumulated fluid surrounds the testicles. This is one of the most common physiological diseases in newborns under one (congenital hydrocele). Strangely, in infants and children, this disease automatically goes away without treatment. Hydroceles…
Gastric acids and ingested fluids can affect the lining of the stomach tissue. Acid flow into the oesophagus due to acid reflux (backflow or acidic fluid movement upwards) can also cause irritation and pain in the oesophagus lining. Inflammation, pain, and erosion of the digestive system’s lining due to stomach acid are classified as gastritis…
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland. The thyroid is located in the centre of the lower neck, below the voice box and around the front half of the windpipe. It looks like a fly just above the collarbone and has two halves (lobes) connected by a small piece of tissue (isthmus). The thyroid is…
Gallbladder disease is one of the most common procedures performed in India. Before 1991, the open technique was the standard procedure for cholecystectomy. This usually involves doing an intraoperative cholangiogram if having CBD stones and the patient usually stays at home 2 to 6 days postoperatively. With the advent of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the gold standard…
The appendix is a small worm-like structure attached to the cecum, the initial part of the large intestine, in the lower right corner of the stomach. In the first few years of life, the appendix acts as part of the immune system but has no known function. Sudden inflammation of the appendix is known as…
Obesity is linked to many endocrine disorders associated with hormonal imbalance and resistance. Some of these disorders are thought to contribute to the development of obesity, while others are considered secondary effects of obesity and usually resolve after weight loss. Hormones play an important role in appetite, metabolism, body fat distribution, and excess energy storage…
The world is dealing with a new virus known as Coronavirus Disease 19 or COVID-19. COVID-19 spreads rapidly from person-to-person via contact. It can stay alive and become infected on surfaces for several days. COVID-19 is causing our hospitals and health systems to be burdened by the number of people who are critically ill. If…
According to WHO guidelines, if the BMI is greater than 35, then a person is morbidly obese. Bariatric surgery is an operation that helps obese people lose weight. The cost of bariatric surgery in India ranges between Rs. 2 to Rs 5 lakhs, and the implants alone cost around Rs. 1.25 lakhs. Overcoming obesity may…
More than 600,000 surgeries are performed in India each year to treat various intestinal diseases. Patients undergo colon surgery for several conditions, such as colon cancer, polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and diverticulitis. Removing a piece or the entire colon is known as a colectomy. Colon cancer remains the second leading cause…
