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Primary sclerosing (skluh-ROHS-ing) cholangitis (koh-lan-JIE-tis) is a disease of the bile ducts, which carry the digestive liquid bile from your liver to your small intestine. In primary sclerosing cholangitis, inflammation causes scars within the bile ducts. These scars make the ducts hard and narrow and gradually cause serious liver damage. In most people with primary sclerosing cholangitis, the disease progresses slowly and can lead to liver failure, repeated infections, and tumors of the bile duct or liver. Liver transplant is the only known cure for primary sclerosing cholangitis. The search for other treatments to slow or stop primary sclerosing cholangitis is ongoing, and scientists have turned up many promising leads. Until better treatments are proved safe and effective, though, care for primary sclerosing cholangitis focuses on monitoring liver function, managing symptoms and, when possible, doing procedures that temporarily open blocked bile ducts.
Priapism is a prolonged erection of the penis. The persistent erection continues hours beyond or isn't caused by sexual stimulation. Priapism is usually painful. Although priapism is an uncommon condition overall, it occurs commonly in certain groups, such as people who have sickle cell anemia. Prompt treatment for priapism is usually needed to prevent tissue damage that could result in the inability to get or maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction). Priapism is most common in men in their 30s.
Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When your mood shifts to mania or hypomania (less extreme than mania), you may feel euphoric, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly. Episodes of mood swings may occur rarely or multiple times a year. While most people will experience some emotional symptoms between episodes, some may not experience any. Although bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, you can manage your mood swings and other symptoms by following a treatment plan. In most cases, bipolar disorder is treated with medications and psychological counseling (psychotherapy).
For this surgery, your doctor makes a large incision in the abdomen to expose the aorta. Once he or she has opened the abdomen, a graft can be used to repair the aneurysm. Open repair remains the standard procedure for an abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).
Rehabilitation time for a meniscus repair is about 3 months. A meniscectomy requires less time for healing — approximately 3 to 4 weeks. Meniscus tears are extremely common knee injuries. With proper diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, patients often return to their pre-injury abilities.
Superior capsule reconstruction (SCR) is a promising alternative treatment for irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears (Figure 1). It utilizes a graft from the superior glenoid to the greater tuberosity to stabilize the humeral head. In a study by Mihata and colleagues of 23 patients who underwent SCR with a fascia lata autograft at a minimum of 2 years follow-up, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score improved significantly from 23.5 preoperatively to 92.9. Postoperative MRI showed 83% of patients had intact reconstructions with no progression of muscle atrophy.
Although individual surgeons and centers employ different methods to insert a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), the fundamental concepts remain true for all. That is, most devices use the apex of the left ventricle (LV) as the inflow site to the pump, which subsequently gives off an outflow graft to the aorta, thus bypassing the ailing LV. Currently available devices do not differ significantly with regard to general implantation technique. The sequence of implantation can vary also from patient to patient, depending on the particular situation. In some cases, concomitant procedures may be performed in conjunction with LVAD implantation without adversely affecting outcome.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) involves an immune-mediated process in which an abnormal response of the body’s immune system is directed against the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS is made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.
For blunt trauma patients lying supine, drains should be placed anteriorly in the chest. This pevents a tension pneumothorax developing if the chest tube is blocked by dependent lung tissue. Normal movement of the lungs will allow drainage of a basal haemothorax through an anterior chest tube
The obstetric examination is distinct from other examinations in that you, the clinician, are trying to assess the health of two individuals – the mother and the fetus – simultaneously. From the initial history, you should be able to judge the health of the pregnancy, any risk factors that need to be addressed, and any concerns from the parents. The history is an opportunity for you to find out how much the parents know about pregnancy, labour and delivery and if they have any preferences to which these events are carried out. A carefully taken history will also direct your attention to specific signs during the examination. As such, it is important that you develop a concise and systematic method of taking the history and carrying out the examination so that you do not miss any important information. This article focuses primarily on the examination. Pregnancy is a sensitive issue, especially for the primigravida’s. Therefore, extra care is needed when you approach a pregnant woman. Always obtain expressed informed consent before examining her and have a chaperone accompany you throughout the examination. A walk-through of what you will be doing is a good way of reassuring the patient and allows the examination to go on smoothly. It is also important to let your patient know that if the examination is too painful, she can stop at any time she wants. Finally, before you begin, you should always wash your hands, especially at an OSCE station.