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TODAY’s Al Roker is back at work, less than two weeks after knee replacement surgery. Al reveals the rigorous course of physical therapy that helped get him back on his feet so quickly. He says the procedure has improved radically since his first knee replacement 15 years ago.
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Inside Al Roker’s Road To Recovery After Knee Replacement | TODAY
To understand congenital heart defects, it's helpful to know how a healthy heart works. Your child's heart is a muscle about the size of his or her fist. The heart works like a pump and beats 100,000 times a day. The heart has two sides, separated by an inner wall called the septum. The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen. The left side of the heart receives the oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and pumps it to the body. The heart has four chambers and four valves and is connected to various blood vessels. Veins are blood vessels that carry blood from the body to the heart. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to the body.
What is hemodialysis and how does it work? Who needs it? How do you prepare for it? In the United States, over 30 million Americans have kidney disease, and sometimes, kidney disease progresses to kidney failure or end-stage renal disease. When this happens, you cannot survive unless you have a kidney transplant or some form of dialysis. So today we're going to talk about hemodialysis.
Your kidneys are the two kidney bean-shaped organs that are located in your lower back, or in your flanks. And the kidneys are responsible for filtering out or cleaning your blood. They get rid of excess waste, excess toxins, and excess fluids. If your kidneys stop functioning, then you develop renal failure or end-stage renal disease.
What is Hemodialysis?
Hemodialysis, or blood dialysis, is the filtering of your blood outside of your body. So, if your kidneys stop working properly, the hemodialysis acts as a substitute kidney. Now it's important to note that hemodialysis does not actually correct your own kidney function. It does not fix or treat your kidneys.
#hemodialysis #drfrita
What is The Dialyzer?
The dialyzer is actually the filter. It's the main powerhouse of the hemodialysis system, and it is what actually acts as the substitute kidney. In the dialyzer, you have these hollow fibers that run through it, and these fibers are bathed in something called dialysates, or dialysis fluid.
How Often Are Patients Treated With Hemodialysis?
Most patients who are on hemodialysis are on it between three and six hours, about three days a week, especially if they go to a center.
How Does Hemodialysis Work?
So when you are on dialysis, how does your blood get from your body to the hemodialysis machine and then back to your body? Well, it does so through tubes, and those tubes are connected to your access, and we'll talk about access in just a moment. But as far as the tubing, the tubing is connected to your body.
Types Of Hemodialysis Access
Arteriovenous Fistula or AV Fistula
The AV fistula is the gold standard as far as hemodialysis access is concerned because it gives you the most efficient hemodialysis and it is the least likely to be infected.
Arteriovenous Graft or AV Graft
The AV graft is very similar to the AV fistula in that you still have a surgically connected artery and a vein, usually in the arm, but in the case where if you have veins that are rather thin or arteries that are thin and maybe too weak in order to really give you a properly functioning, substantial AV fistula, then the vascular surgeon may opt to add an artificial material in order to make that shunt a little stronger, or little more durable. And so, an AV graft is another option for dialysis access.
Catheter
If you're in a situation where you need temporary dialysis, or if you have acute kidney injury, then you may have a temporary Vascath placed, and it's usually placed in a vein of the neck, the internal jugular vein, or it can be placed in the groin, or in the femoral vein.
Who Needs Hemodialysis Treatment?
How do you know if you need hemodialysis, and when is it time to prepare? Well, if you follow up with your kidney doctor (nephrologist) regularly, he or she will be watching your labs. They'll be able to see those signs of your kidneys not functioning properly.
M. Patrick Lowe, MD, renowned robotic surgeon and gynecologic oncologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, will demonstrate the use of robotic surgery to treat endometrial cancer.
Dr. Lowe, director of the robotics and minimally invasive surgical program for the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, was among the early adopters of robotics to treat gynecologic malignancies, citing precision, improved dexterity and superior patient outcomes among the benefits.
"Women diagnosed with a gynecologic malignancy want the shortest route leading back to a degree of normalcy post treatment," says Lowe. "Robotic surgery offers the path of least resistance, combining shorter recovery times with superior outcomes."
Nosebleeds common. Most often they are a nuisance and not a true medical problem. But they can be both. Nosebleed care Sit upright and lean forward. By remaining upright, you reduce blood pressure in the veins of your nose. This discourages further bleeding. Sitting forward will help you avoid swallowing blood, which can irritate your stomach. Pinch your nose. Use your thumb and index finger to pinch your nostrils shut. Breathe through your mouth. Continue to pinch for five to 10 minutes. Pinching sends pressure to the bleeding point on the nasal septum and often stops the flow of blood. To prevent re-bleeding, don't pick or blow your nose and don't bend down for several hours after the bleeding episode. During this time remember to keep your head higher than the level of your heart. If re-bleeding occurs, blow out forcefully to clear your nose of blood clots and spray both sides of your nose with a decongestant nasal spray containing oxymetazoline (Afrin, Mucinex Moisture Smart, others). Pinch your nose again as described above and call your doctor. When to seek emergency care The bleeding lasts for more than 20 minutes The nosebleed follows an accident, a fall or an injury to your head, including a punch in the face that may have broken your nose
University of California, Berkeley engineers have built the first dust-sized, wireless sensors that can be implanted in the body, bringing closer the day when a Fitbit-like device could monitor internal nerves, muscles or organs in real time.