Worlds First Double Leg Transplant

Spanish surgeons perform the world’s first double leg transplant…

Spanish surgeons at the Le Fe Hospital, Valencia, have successfully performed the world’s first double leg transplant. Should the patient’s body accept the donor legs, doctors hope the man could be walking again within 6 months.

The 14 hour operation was lead by Pedro Cavadas, the surgeon who performed Spain’s first face transplant and several arm transplants.

The patient, who lost is legs in a traffic accident and faced life in a wheelchair because prosthetic limbs proved unsuitable, is already out of intensive care and was said to have cried tears of joy when he awoke.

The man and his donor remain unmanned.

Doctors are now waiting to see if the nerves in his legs will grow, and estimate that if the legs are not rejected, the patient should be able to move his knees within one month, stand unaided in swimming poll within two, and hopefully walk again within six.

However, even if nerves begin to grow, there is a long road ahead. Undergoing transplants of such a nature can have a great impact on the patient psychologically.
The first person to receive a new hand in 1998, New Zealander Clint Hallam, opted to have it removed three years later saying it was unsightly and he felt mentally detached from it.

There’s also concern as to whether the new legs will even be able to support his bodyweight.

Nadey Hakim, who performed the world’s first hand and double hand transplants explained that transplanted arms only regain about 50 percent of their original function and strength.

Whey Protein Build Muscles 24 Hours After

Missed your daily protein supplement? Don’t worry; top up the next day by consuming whey protein…

A new study has suggested that whey protein may still aid the build-up of muscle even up to a day after a workout session. In a joint study between researchers at McMaster University, Canada and the a team at University of Nottingham, England, 15 men experienced in resistance training were recruited to test the rate of muscle building after consuming 15 grams of whey powder 24 hours after a workout session.

The men were asked to perform both light and heavy lifting exercises on a leg extension machine until they felt fatigued. They were also asked to perform the same exercise but made to stop before fatigue set in.

The participants then returned the next day and consumed 15 grams of whey protein – a common dairy constituent found in low-fat yogurt.

Whey Protein

Image Credit: Optimum Nutricion.

After analyzing the results, the teams found that no matter how heavy a load, muscle mass increased after eating whey protein, even though the protein was eaten 24 hours later.

As WebMD’s Bill Hendrick points out, “the findings suggest that muscles may make better use of dietary amino acids eaten 24 hours after exercise, regardless of exercise load as long as the exercise is being performed until fatigue.”

The researchers hope their findings will lead to a new understanding on how exercise translates into muscle building, which could hopefully lead to better weight building supplements.

Do Not Choose the Cheapest Doctors

Why not to choose the cheapest doctor you can find…

Making a purchase is often all about great value for money. But when it comes to cosmetic plastic surgery, great value is literally skin deep. What may at first appear to be the cheapest option, could end up costing you more in the long run. Any type of surgery, be it life-saving, reconstructive, or cosmetic comes with certain risks, and if theses complications occur it can often mean a trip back to the doctors, or even the emergency room.

All this follow up care comes at price, and as anyone with medical insurance will know, any elective cosmetic surgery, or any follow up care resulting from such surgery will not be covered by your provider.

Medical tourism is one option many American’s and Europeans are choosing to help cut the cost of their elective surgeries.

Choose Board Certified Plastic Surgeons

Image Credit: Best In Plastics, 2010.

Fortunately there are many well experienced and highly qualified doctors working in Thailand, India and other parts of Asia, and the lower living cost in these countries enable clinics and hospitals to offer first class service at an extremely competitive rates.

Nevertheless there are limits to how cheap high quality surgery can be offered, and many medical tourists overlook this when they decide to go with a surgeon in a clinic or hospital abroad. A general rule of thumb is to always go with a board certified plastic surgeon, with many years experience in the type of surgery you are opting for. If one turns up to be much cheaper than most others, you should immediately question why.

There’s no doubt that surgery is cheaper in countries such as Thailand and India, and with the added bonus of being able to enjoy a relaxing break and recovery in an exotic destination, there really is no better way to rejuvenate your body and mind. But always remember to be realistic about the cost of your surgery, and know you’re likely to get what you paid for.

There are many horror stories from patient’s who opted for the cheapest surgeon they could find. 40-year old Larissa Hersom, who wrote into the 33tv Texas news station to share her story, is one of those unfortunate people.

Hersom wanted to undergo bariatric surgeon to reduce her 300 lbs weight. After being told her medical insurance would not cover the weight-loss surgery, and realizing the high cost or surgery in the U.S., she began hunting on the Internet for a cheap deal in Mexico. Talking with 33TV she explained:

“In the United States the lowest quote I got was $24,000.00 for the surgery and in Mexico. I was getting quotes of $12,000.00 to $14,000.00 and I ended up paying $12,500.00.”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before there were complications – Hersom had to visit the emergency room three times in as many months, and was eventually told that without another surgery, she will die.

And she’s not alone, Dr. Nicholson a bariatric surgeon at the Forest Park Medical Center, said he sees many patients like Larissa:

“Unfortunately we see this problem all too frequently as a matter of fact in our practice, we see this about once a week.”

Hersom, knowing she is far from the only one who has experience such medical malpractice, wanted people to take away this msg:

“You have to have money set aside for possible complications as well as the initial surgery. And if you have enough money for that – than why not get a competent US doctor (with US protections) in the first place? I feel like a complete fool. I gambled, and lost.”

Engineer Develops His Own Life-Saving Heart Valve

A British process engineer who was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome has developed his own heart implant which has not only saved his life, but also those of 23 others, and potentially thousands worldwide.Tal Golesworthy, from Tewkesbury, UK, was told that his aortic root had expanded to almost 5cm and was in serious danger of splitting. The diagnosis left him with only two choices; undergo surgery to implant a mechanical valve and start a course of the drug Warfarin, a blood-thinning medication that carries the risk of severe bleeding; or risk a sudden and possibly fatal heart attack.

Around 12,000 people in the UK alone are thought to have the condition which causes problems with the spine, joints, eyes and the heart. In serious cases the main arterial conduit from the heart can dilate excessively and may eventually rupture. In some case patients are offered Bentall surgery, a heart-lung bypass which involves replacing the damaged section of artery with a mechanical valve. But Golesworthy, not satisfied with these options, set about designing his own.

Artifical Aorta Valve Developed by Tal Golesworthy

He realize the by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer aided design (CAD) he could develop a custom-made valve to keep his aorta in place. With little time to develop the device, Golesworthy turned to Prof Tom Treasure, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Guy’s Hospital, and Prof John Pepper, a surgeon from the Royal Brompton Hospital, for help.

Golesworthy’s concept of the device was pretty straight forward; scan the heart; use CAD to map out dimensions; then build a new valve to fit. But they quickly realized that getting accurate dimensions of the heart was not going to be easy. Because the heart is always moving, the team had to devise a scanning protocol that took images at the exact same time in the cardiac cycle to ensure consistent measurements.

Once the information had been gathered it was processed with CAD and converted in a life-size replica of the aorta. But finding the right material to create the valve wasn’t as simple as they thought it might be. The team looked into various rapid prototype (RP) techniques but quickly realized that these would not be able to produce the final model. In the end the team used RP to develop a scaffold from a standard medical polymer, polyethylene terephthalate, then they used a technique called selected laser sintering (SLS), to form a mesh over the device. The development of the new heart valve took just two years from start to finish, and in May 2004, Golesworthy became the first to receive his own implant at the Royal Brompton Hospital.

Since then 23 other patients have undergone the surgery and there are already more on the waiting list. Golesworthy hopes the technique will soon replace the Bentall procedure and could be used to treat other heart conditions.

Scientists Lower Blood Pressure Using Radio Waves

Scientists have developed a radical new technique to treat high blood pressure by blasting radio waves at the kidney to disable nerves that are associated with high blood pressure.

Although many cases of high blood pressure can be controlled with medication, the new procedure offers hope to the 50% of patients who do not respond to drugs.

An Australian team led by Professor Murray Esler at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, has been working with 24 centers worldwide to test the effectiveness and safety of the new treatment.

In trials involving more than 100 patients, the team found that after six months, 41 of 49 patients who underwent the procedure had reduced blood pressure levels of at least 10mmHg.

While 10mmHg is not enough to return blood pressure level to normal, it is sufficient to greatly reduce the health risks associated with the condition.

Furthermore, the team has yet to find any side effects, save recovering from the slightly invasive operation.

To perform the procedure doctors insert a catheter – a thin piece of stainless steel surgical tubing – into an artery in the groin and up into the kidney. The catheter is connected to machine that generates radio frequency energy, and these radio waves are used to ‘knock out’ the tiny nerves that line the arteries of the kidney.

By disabling the signals these nerves send, the procedure effectively reduces blood pressure.

Nearly one-third of adults in the U.S., and England suffer from high blood pressure. The condition puts an extreme a strain on the heart and can lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, as well as other health problems.

The new treatment is undergoing testing, but experts are hopeful that the procedure could one day help hundreds of thousands of patients.

The new study is described in The Lancet medical journal.

Degenerative Disc Disease

What is degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative disc disease is not actually disease as such, but rather a term used to describe the changes that happen to spine as we age.

Our spines are made up of 24 vertebrae (not including the sacrum and coccyx) which are separated by soft spinal discs. These discs act as shock absorber for the spine, allowing it to twist and bend in various positions.

Degenerative disc disease can happen anywhere in spine but it typically occurs most often in the lower back (lumbar region) discs, and the neck (cervical region).

Degenerative disc disease can result in:

• Back Pain
• Neck Pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Herniated Disc
• Spinal stenosis – narrowing of spinal canal

These conditions can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, leading to pain and in more severe cases, impaired nerve function.

What is Degenerative Disc Disease?

What causes degenerative disc disease?

As with all things natural and manmade, our spinal discs begin to wear down with age. This natural process can happen earlier in some and symptoms of pain and impaired functions often differ from patient to patient.

Common causes of degenerative disc disease include:

• The loss of fluid from spinal discs which reduces the discs ability to absorb shock
• The loss of fluid which narrows the distance between the vertebrae can make the spine less flexible
• To combat the reduced space between the vertebrae, the body produces bone spurs known as osteophytes
• Acute injury leading to herniated disc or repetitive strain syndrome can also begin the degradation process
• Small cracks in the outer layer (annulus or capsule) of the disc resulting from injury or strain may allow the jellylike material inside (nucleus) to leak, which can cause the disc to rupture, break or swell

Degenerative disc disease is more likely to occur in people who smoke cigarettes, are obese, or those who do heavy physical work (such as repeated heavy lifting).

Degenerative Disc Disease Symptoms

Neck Pain & Back Pain

The amount and location of pain experienced as a result of degenerative disc disease varies from patient to patient. Some people may fell little pain at all, while other experience chronic pain that can limit their activities.

Although the location of pain varies depending on the location of the problem, an affected disc in the neck region can cause pain or numbness in the arm, and an affected disc in the lower back can result in pain or numbness the leg or buttocks.

Depending on the severity of the affected disc/s, pain can often get worse when performing movements such as twisting the upper body, bending over, or reaching up.

Diagnosing Degenerative Disc Disease

To diagnose degenerative disc disease your doctor will perform a physical examination and check your medical history. They will ask you about your symptoms, previous injuries or illnesses, as well as any hobbies or activities you may have that could be causing the pain.
During the physical examination the doctor will:

• Check the affected area and the resulting pain caused by movement
• Check for areas of tenderness, numbness and weakness
• Test your reflexes
• Check for other conditions such as bone fractures, joint damage, tumors and infections

If your examination reveals no sign of a serious condition, it is likely the imaging tests such as X-ray will not help either.

However, imaging test may be used if your symptoms develop following an injury, if your doctor suspects nerve damage, or if your medical history puts you in the high risk category for bone disease, tumors or infections.

How to Treat Degenerative Disc Disease

To help relieve pain, you can apply an icepack or heat pack (whichever you prefer) to the affected area. Over the counter-drugs such as acetaminophen, paracetamol (Tylenol); or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including aspirin (Bayer), ibuprofen (Advil); or naproxen sodium (Aleve) can also help to relieve symptoms.

For more severe pain, your doctor may prescribe stronger pain-killers.

WebMD warns not to give aspirin to anyone younger than 20 because of the risk of Reye syndrome.

Further treatment largely depends on whether the damaged disc has lead to other conditions, such as a herniated disc, osteoarthritis, or spinal stenosis.

Doctors commonly recommend physical therapy and exercises for strengthening and stretching the back. However some cases may require surgery.

Surgery for degenerative disc disease typically involves removing the damaged disc. In some cases, the bone is then permanently fused to protect the spinal cord.

Also, artificial discs can also be used to replaces ruptured discs.

Cost of Surrogacy in India

The cost of surrogacy in India can be as low as 50% of what it costs in the US, Canada, or other countries in Europe. The price difference is so huge that couples wanting to have their own baby are travelling to South Asia to avail the services of India’s foremost surrogacy experts and well-screened Indian surrogate mothers. There is no question that surrogacy now adds a huge chunk of success to India’s medical tourism industry.

Types of Surrogacy

Traditional Surrogacy – Also called “Natural Surrogacy” – this is when the male’s sperm is used (thru IVF) to inseminate the surrogate, resulting to a baby that is genetically related to the male parent and the surrogate mother, but not to the intended mother.
Gestational Surrogacy – The most common type of surrogacy because it results to a baby genetically related to a male-female couple. Their own eggs and sperms are used in the fertilization process, then the embryo is transferred to the surrogate’s womb for her to carry the baby for the duration of the pregnancy.
Couples who need an egg donor can bring their donor along, or may opt to also pay for an Indian egg donor for IVF procedure.

Why Low Cost for Surrogacy in India?

The usual impression of low-priced services or goods is that they are of low quality. However, India’s leading surrogacy clinics can boast of success rates that are at par, or even higher, than those in its first-world counterparts. Couples from around the world seek the services of India’s surrogacy doctors, with their impeccable qualifications and long history of working with patients of different nationalities.
The main reason they are able to offer much lower prices is just the over-all lower cost of living in their country compared to countries in North America and Europe. Travelers to India also find that hotel accommodation rates, transportation, food, and even shopping cost much lower in this country.

Surrogacy Packages in India

Aside from the already affordable costs, many surrogacy clinics have also started to offer packages that include the different procedures that have to be done in the surrogacy process. Packages for surrogacy in India may include: surrogate mother fees, lab tests, work ups, pregnancy costs, delivery costs, medical fees, legal documents, the IVF process costs, etc.

The surrogacy cost in India may be the lowest in the world. With the excellence of their success rates and the way they treat their patients as partners throughout the journey, it is not hard to see why thousands of couples are going there to seek the help of Indian surrogacy clinics to help them start a family.

Worlds First Complete Face Transplant

Spanish surgeon carryout most complex full face transplant to date…

On March 20th, a team of 30 doctors from the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital operated for almost 24 hours to complete what is said to be the world’s first full face transplant.

The man, who was left unable to breathe, swallow or talk properly following a shooting accident 5 years ago, received the entire face of a donor – skin, muscles, cheekbones, lips and teeth.

The man is now recovering well and is said to happy and calm with his new appearance.

Dr. Joan Pere Barret, the lead surgeon at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona said:

“It is a little bit like the movie [Face-Off], if you look him in the face, you see a normal person, like anyone else we have as a patient in the hospital,”

In a four-hour operation, veins, arteries, skin, muscle and bone were taken from a donor cadaver. Halfway through that surgery, the recipient was anesthetized and his previous skin grafts were removed. Using microvascular surgery, doctors spent the next day stitching the donor’s blood vessels into the recipient’s.

Worlds First Full Transplant

1. Patient lost jaw, nose and other parts of his face in shooting accident.
2. Donor’s facial skin, muscles, nose, cheekbones, teeth and jawbone used to rebuild patient’s face. Metal plates used to support new facial structure, which included reconstructing the roof of the mouth.
3. Donor’s nerves, blood vessels and skin connected to patient. Patient will have to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his life.

Since 2005 approximately 10 face transplants have been carried out across the world, but this is believed to be the most complex to date. Hospital spokesperson Bianca Bont said:

“This is the first total face transplant…There have been 10 operations of this kind in the world – this is the first to transplant all of the face and some bones of the face.”

Click here to read our previous articles on the World’s First Face Transplant Patient>>>and America’s First Face Transplant Patient>>>

A spokesperson for the UK’s Facial Transplantation Research Team, which has ethical permission to carry out a full face transplant, said it was “a tremendous achievement”.

“This appears to be the most complex facial transplant operation carried out so far worldwide,” he said.

“It once again shows how facial transplantation can help a small number of people who are the most severely facially injured and for whom reconstructive surgery cannot and has not worked.”