Who is at risk of developing neonatal jaundice?
Neonatal jaundice is a common condition in newborns and is caused by an excess of bilirubin, a yellow pigment produced during the breakdown of red blood cells. While it is a normal and often temporary occurrence, some infants may be at a higher risk of developing neonatal jaundice.
Risk factors may include premature birth, blood type incompatibility of the mother and baby, suboptimal breastfeeding, birth trauma, infections, conditions like cephalohematoma (collection of blood between the baby's skull and periosteum) or history of a previous sibling with neonatal jaundice.
Neonatal jaundice is a self-limiting condition. However, if bilirubin levels become excessively high, it can lead to a more severe form of jaundice called kernicterus, which can cause neurological damage. Treatment options may include phototherapy or, in severe cases, exchange transfusions. Parents should communicate any concerns about jaundice with their paediatrician for appropriate evaluation and management.
How are choledochal cysts treated?
Choledochal cysts are congenital cystic dilations of the bile ducts, and they can pose a risk of complications such as infection, stone formation, and an increased likelihood of developing bile duct cancer. The standard and most common treatment for choledochal cysts involves the complete removal of the cyst. The affected portion of the bile duct is resected, and the remaining healthy bile duct is reconstructed to restore normal bile flow. After removing the cyst, the surgeon often performs a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. This involves connecting the remaining bile duct to a loop of the small intestine (jejunum). This procedure allows the bile to flow from the liver into the intestine, bypassing the area where the cyst was located.
What is the Whipple procedure and what does it involve?
The Whipple procedure, also known as pancreaticoduodenectomy, is a complex surgical procedure used to treat tumours and other diseases affecting the pancreas, as well as adjacent organs such as the duodenum, bile duct, and sometimes part of the stomach. The surgery is named after American surgeon Dr. Allen Whipple, who first performed it in the 1930s. The Whipple procedure entails the excision of the pancreatic head, the duodenum, the gallbladder, and the bile duct. After removing these structures, the surgeon reconstructs the digestive tract to allow for the flow of digestive juices and bile into the small intestine. The remaining portion of the pancreas is then attached to the digestive tract.
The Whipple procedure is a challenging surgery and is usually performed by experienced surgical teams. The goal is to remove the diseased tissue while preserving as much normal pancreatic and gastrointestinal function as possible. The procedure can be curative for some patients with pancreatic cancer or other localized diseases, but it requires careful postoperative management and long-term follow-up.
When is a liver transplant indicated?
Liver transplantation is indicated when a person's liver is severely damaged or failing to the extent that it can no longer perform its essential functions. The most common reasons for a liver transplant include:
End-stage liver disease
Liver cancer
Acute liver failure
Biliary atresia and paediatric liver disease
Metabolic liver diseases
Severe liver damage due to chronic infections like hepatitis B or C
What is split liver transplantation?
Split liver transplantation is a surgical procedure in which a single donor liver is divided into two separate grafts, which can then be transplanted into two different recipients. This technique aims to maximize the use of available donor organs and increase the number of liver transplants performed to more Patients in the view of limited Organ Availability.
The liver is a unique organ with the ability to regenerate. This characteristic allows surgeons to split a donor liver into two parts: the larger portion, typically the right lobe, is transplanted into an adult recipient, while the smaller portion, usually the left lobe, is transplanted into a pediatric recipient or small size adult. Both portions of the liver will regenerate to near-normal size within a few weeks to months after transplantation.
List the top five neurological disorders globally?
Headaches and migraine
Stroke
Dementia
Neuropathies
Epilepsy
Can neurological problems be cured?
Unfortunately, most neurological disorders cannot be cured but can only be managed with the latest medical technology.
Which type of vitamins are the best for nerve function?
The different types of B vitamins are essential for good nerve health.
Which is one of the most painful nerve conditions?
Trigeminal neuralgia is one of the most painful nerve conditions.
Which test helps to record the brain's electrical Activity?
EEG or electroencephalogram is a test done to record brain electrical activity.

