A person with ALS may live for about two to five years from the time of diagnosis On average, a person with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) may live for about two to five years from the time of diagnosis. This may vary as studies have shown that many people may live for five years or …

Most children can live a normal life after pacemaker surgery In most cases, most children can live a normal life after pacemaker surgery. An implanted pacemaker usually lasts around 10 years or more depending on the usage and the type of device implanted, after which the pacemaker would have to be replaced.  What is a pacemaker? A pacemaker or an …

Strictureplasty can be used to treat simple or short strictures. Strictureplasty can be used to treat simple or short strictures. In this procedure, the damaged portion of the intestine is cut open and reshaped. For long and complicated strictures, surgical removal of the affected part of the bowel (resection) should be considered. What are strictures? Strictures are narrowed parts in …

What is thyroid disease? Readers Comments 5 Share Your Story Hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid can be caused by a condition known as Graves’ disease, inflammation of the thyroid gland (known as thyroiditis), or by tumors that secrete thyroid hormones. Thyroid disease is common. Thyroid disease can result from conditions that cause over-or under-function of the thyroid gland. When the gland produces too …

The success rate of mitral valve repair surgery is around 95% With proper patient selection and timely intervention, the estimated success rate of mitral valve repair surgery is around 95%. Almost 95% of patients are free of reoperation for 10 years. At 20 years, around 90% of people do not need reoperation for mitral valve repair.  What is percutaneous mitral …

What is the difference between a rigid and flexible sigmoidoscopy? There are various differences between flexible sigmoidoscopy and rigid sigmoidoscopy Apart from the length, the flexible sigmoidoscope is more flexible to maneuver. Thus, it produces less discomfort. The rigid sigmoidoscopy has a lesser diagnostic yield than the flexible sigmoidoscopy.  Other differences between flexible sigmoidoscopy and rigid sigmoidoscopy are: Rigid sigmoidoscopy …

What Is Percutaneous Needle Technique Musculoskeletal Biopsy? The procedure provides a rapid way to diagnose cancers and noncancer conditions. Percutaneous needle technique musculoskeletal biopsy is a procedure to obtain a small piece of tissue (biopsy) from the muscles and/or the bones. It is performed by passing a special type of needle through the skin (percutaneously) under image guidance (e.g., computed …

A liver biopsy is a safe and quick procedure A liver biopsy is a safe and quick procedure that takes around five minutes to complete. You may, however, be asked to lie on the bed for two hours after the procedure and take it easy for the next 24 hours.  What happens during a liver biopsy? A liver biopsy is …

A shoulder arthrocentesis is a relatively quick procedure Sometimes, a shoulder arthrocentesis may be performed using radiological guidance because it may be required to confirm the presence of the fluid before aspirating. Radiological guidance can also be helpful in aspirating other deep and technically difficult joints such as the hip joint or spine. A shoulder arthrocentesis is a relatively quick …

What is insulin therapy? Insulin comes in many different formulations that may be short- or long-acting, prescribed depending on the person's diabetes condition. Insulin therapy is a treatment for keeping the blood sugar levels within the normal range. Insulin therapy is the mainstay treatment for managing type I diabetes and poorly controlled type II diabetes mellitus. Insulin is a natural …