HEALTH

Doc attends ‘Global Update on Pain’
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 18
Dr Shikha, a consultant at the Mohan Dai Oswal Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation, here, recently attended the third International Conference on 'Global Update on Pain' in Mumbai. She also presented a paper dealing with post-operative pain relief at the conference.

In her comprehensive presentation, Dr Shikha, who is managing the 'Pain Clinic' at the hospital, cited case histories of a number of patients suffering from intractable pain especially of cancer. She told that by means of nerve blocks and pharmacological treatment, she had successfully managed to help such patients who were earlier suffering both from mental and physical anguish. Such patients had found a fresh lease of pain-free life and were continuing with their routine work.

According to Dr Shikha, one of her patients, Mr Ram Lal, afflicted with cancer of the pancreas, was in great pain. He was not taking food and was unable to sleep because of persistent severe pain. After he was given a neurolytic coeliac plexus block, the patient was now pain-free, taking his food regularly and leading a relatively good life.

Similarly, another patient - Ms Uma was having cancer of the mouth. She was constantly in severe pain, and could not take her food properly and was even unable to open her mouth. "Medication failed to help her and depression had set in for which she was put on further medication. Even radiation did not help. Ultimately, a neurolytic mandibular nerve block relieved her of her symptoms. She is now well and going about her daily work," Dr Shikha said in her paper.

Facilities at DMCH impress US docs
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 18
A team of doctors from the US, led by Dr Balasubramaniam, Associate Professor of medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, which was on a day-long visit to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, here, today observed that facilities in the ICU's and some other departments in the hospital were comparable to the best in the world.

The visitors were impressed with the patient care and treatment modalities being extended by the institution.

Dr Balasubramaniam, a hepatologist, was accompanied by his colleagues, Dr Sanjeev Jairath, Assistant Professor in clinical medicine and gastroenterologist, and Dr Aarti Pandya, Professor of paediatrics and genetics.

Both Dr Balasubramaniam and Dr jairath evinced keen interest in the endoscopy unit at the DMCH and worked with Dr Rajoo Singh Chhina, Professor of gastroenterology on some of the latest and innovative procedures like 'double balloon enteroscopy and ERCP'. Later, they were shown round the intensive care units of the hospital. During intensive interaction with faculty members and students, they also discussed several issues like Hepatitis C, alcoholic liver disease, Hepatitis E and their management.

The US-based doctors of Indian origin said there was huge scope of joint research on GI problems and exchange of technology which ought to be explored to make available international-level medical care to patients in this part of India.

Dr Aarti Pandya, who has significant research work on paediatrics to her credit, had a round of the paediatric ICU and also saw the patients in Thalassemia section. She was shown round the wards by Dr Praveen C. Sobti, Professor of pediatrics. Dr Sobti apprised Dr Pandya with various facilities available at the ICU and the work being done for the Thalassemic children by the hospital.

Dr Pandya later remarked that screening and pre-natal testing for these haemoglobin pathies was very impressive and had made a great impact on the well being of the patients.