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One of a series of films we produced to help patients, their families and carers learn more about some of the most common tests and procedures used to diagnose and treat blood diseases. Patients who have previously undergone these tests helped us to design the videos. Each film clearly explains what the procedure involves and addresses common issues and concerns including: Why your doctor recommended this procedure What you need to do to prepare What you can expect during the procedure What you need to do afterwards Not every patient will be referred for all of these tests and practice may differ slightly depending on where you are treated.
Liver transplantation is surgery to remove a diseased or injured liver and replace it with a healthy whole liver or a segment of a liver from another person, called a donor. People with either acute or chronic liver failure may need a liver transplant to survive.
Shoulder dystocia is a rare emergency that can happen during the end of the second stage of labour. It's all to do with how your baby moves down through your vagina and out into the world. Shoulder dystocia happens when your baby's head has been born, but one of her shoulders becomes stuck.
Limbal dermoid is a congenital growth on the eye that forms from germline cells that get trapped in this region during embryogenesis. The dermoid often has tissue from multiple germ layers including hair and fat. Dermoids on the eye can cause astigmatism and be unsightly.
A parasitic twin (also known as an asymmetrical or unequal conjoined twin) is the result of the processes that produce vanishing twins and conjoined twins, and may represent a continuum between the two. Parasitic twins occur when a twin embryo begins developing in utero, but the pair does not fully separate, and one embryo maintains dominant development at the expense of the other. Unlike conjoined twins, one ceases development during gestation and is vestigial to a mostly fully-formed, otherwise healthy individual twin. The undeveloped twin is defined as parasitic, rather than conjoined, because it is incompletely formed or wholly dependent on the body functions of the complete fetus. The independent twin is called the autosite.
Dr. Fizan Abdullah is head of the Division of Pediatric Surgery and vice chair of the Department of Surgery at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. His special interests include Chest wall deformities, pectus excavatum, abdominal wall defects, neonatal surgery, pulmonary and upper airway malformations, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, esophageal and gastrointestinal anomalies, hernia repair, tissue engineering, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), surgical safety protocols and surgical infections.
Learn more at www.luriechildrens.org
Pulmonary circulation is the portion of the cardiovascular system which carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart, to the lungs, and returns oxygenated (oxygen-rich) blood back to the heart. The function of pulmonary circulation is to exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen in the blood. It is the passage of blood from the heart to the capillaries of the lungs, where the gases are exchanged, and back to the heart to be pumped around the body.
Thalassemia (thal-uh-SEE-me-uh) is an inherited blood disorder characterized by less hemoglobin and fewer red blood cells in your body than normal. Several types of thalassemia exist, including alpha-thalassemia, beta-thalassemia intermedia, Cooley's anemia and Mediterranean anemia. Hemoglobin is the substance in your red blood cells that allows them to carry oxygen. The low hemoglobin and fewer red blood cells of thalassemia may cause anemia, leaving you fatigued. If you have mild thalassemia, you may not need treatment. But, if you have a more severe form of thalassemia, you may need regular blood transfusions. You can also take steps on your own to cope with fatigue, such as choosing a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
This test stimulates your acoustic nerve by delivering cold or warm water or air into your ear canal. When cold water or air enters your ear and the inner ear changes temperature, it should cause fast, side-to-side eye movements called nystagmus. The test is done in the following way: Before the test, your ear, especially the eardrum, will be checked. This is to make sure it is normal. One ear is tested at a time. A small amount of cold water or air is gently delivered into one of your ears. Your eyes should show an involuntary movement called nystagmus. Then they should turn away from that ear and slowly back. If water is used, it is allowed to drain out of the ear canal. Next, a small amount of warm water or air is gently delivered into the same ear. Again, your eyes should show nystagmus. Then they should turn toward that ear and slowly back. Your other ear is tested in the same way.
The menstrual cycle is the monthly series of changes a woman's body goes through in preparation for the possibility of pregnancy. Each month, one of the ovaries releases an egg — a process called ovulation. At the same time, hormonal changes prepare the uterus for pregnancy.
A talus fracture is a break in one of the bones that forms the ankle. This type of fracture often occurs during a high-energy event, such as a car collision or a high-velocity fall. Because the talus is important for ankle movement, a fracture often results in significant loss of motion and function. In addition, a talus fracture that does not heal properly can lead to serious complications, including chronic pain. For this reason, many talus fractures require surgery.
Colorectal surgeon Conor Delaney, MD, explains laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer, including how it works and what patients can typically expect before, during, and after the procedure.
Learn more about colon cancer at http://cancer.org/coloncancer
A ureteroscopy is an examination or procedure using a ureteroscope. A ureteroscope, like a cystoscope, is an instrument for examining the inside of the urinary tract. The urologist can insert small instruments through the cystoscope to treat problems in the urethra and bladder or perform a biopsy. For a ureteroscopy, the urologist passes the ureteroscope through the bladder and into a ureter.
One of the most common parasites to infect human beings is the yeast-like Blastocystis hominis, a single-celled parasitic organism that causes abdominal cramping, bloating, gas, and sometimes anal itching. Other common parasites are: Tapeworms, which can grow as long as 60 feet while living in the human intestines.