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General Surgery : Blunt Abdominal Trauma

May 30, 2015 Posted by admin Uncategorized 0 comments

BLUNT ABDOMINAL TRAUMA
1. Name of the condition: Blunt abdominal trauma
2. When to suspect/ recognize?
a. Introduction: Blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) is an increasingly common problem encountered in the emergency department. The usual causes of BAT include vehicular accident, assault, falls, sports injuries and natural disasters.
b. Case definition: BAT is suspected in any patient involved in above situations and presents with abdominal pain, distention or shock. It should be looked for in patients of polytrauma.
3. Incidence of the condition in our country: One study has reported 2.1% incidence of BAT amongst all surgical patients admitted to a tertiary hospital during 1 year.
4. Differential diagnosis:Abdominal trauma forms adifferential diagnosis of any patient presenting with acute abdomen.
5. Prevention and counseling: Use of appropriate safety measures during various activities associated with BAT can significantly reduce its incidence.
6. Optimal diagnostic criteria, investigations, treatment and referral criteria:
a. Situation 1 At Secondary Hospital/ Non-metro situation: Optimal standard of treatment in situations where resources are limited
I. Clinical diagnosis:This is based on
a. High level of suspicion of intra-abdominal injury
b. Presence of wounds/ bruising on the abdomen
c. Abdominal guarding/ tenderness
d. Presence of free gas/ fluid in the peritoneal cavity
e. Presence of fracture of lower ribs and/ or pelvis increases the likelihood of intra-abdominal injury
f. Note should be made of altered mental state, drug or alcohol intoxication and distracting injuries which may mask the features of BAT
g. Repeated examination increases the accuracy of diagnosis
II. Investigations:
a. All hemodynamically stable patients with suspected BAT should undergo Focused Abdominal Sonography in Trauma (FAST)or Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage (DPL)
b. Urgent laparotomy is indicated in patients with evidence of BAT who remain hemodynamically unstable despite initial resuscitation
III. Treatment (Standard operating procedure):
a. Inpatient:

i. All patients should have initial cervical stabilization and resuscitation, if required
ii. Initial fluid resuscitation should be done with 2L warmed Ringer Lactate solution infusedrapidly through 2 peripheral lines
iii. A nasogastric tube and a Foley catheter should be put
iv. Laparotomy should be done, if indicated on the basis of clinical features, FASTor DPL
v. Laparotomy should be done through a long midline incision
vi. Bleeding should be controlled by clamping/ packing till definitive control is possible
vii. Hollow viscus should be repaired
viii. In case the intra-abdominal injuries are extensive, patient is very sick and OT facilities/ surgeon’s experience is suboptimal, Damage Control Surgery may be done. Definitive surgery should be done subsequently under improved circumstances or at a higher center.
b. Outpatient: Not indicated
c. Day care: Not indicated
IV. Referral criteria: After Damage Control Surgery if the local facilities are inadequate.
b. Situation 2 At Superspecialty Facility in Metro location where higher end technology is available
1. Clinical diagnosis: Same as 6a
2. Investigations:
a. Same as 6a
b. CECT abdomen is preferred investigation in all hemodynamically stable patients with BAT
c. Angiography and angioembolization may be considered in hemodynamically stable patients with solid organ injury who are suitable for non-operative management
3. Treatment (Standard operating procedure):
a. Inpatient:
i. Same as 6a
ii. In case the intra-abdominal injuries are extensive, patient is very sick and surgeon’s experience is suboptimal, Damage Control Surgery may be done. Definitive surgery should be done subsequently under improved circumstances
iii. Angiography and angioembolization may be considered in hemodynamically stable patients with solid organ injury who are suitable for non-operative management
b. Outpatient: Not indicated
c. Day care: Not indicated
4. Referral criteria: Not indicated
5
7. Who does what and timelines:
a. Doctor: Does initial evaluation, subsequent monitoring, decision regarding investigations and therapeutic intervention.
b. Nurse: Assists in resuscitation, monitoring, investigation and treatment.
c. Technician: Assists in resuscitation, investigation and treatment.
8. Further reading/ references
a. Udeani J, Steinberg SR. Blunt abdominal trauma. URL: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/433404-print
b. Joint theatre Trauma System Clinical Practice Guideline: Blunt abdominal trauma.

c. M. Swarnkar, P. Singh & S. Dwivedi : Pattern Of Trauma In Central India: An Epidemiological Study With Special Reference To Mode Of Injury. The Internet Journal of Epidemiology.

abdominal truama -laproscopic diagnosis injury by sharp weapon

 

By

Dr Sanjay Gupta
Professor, Department of Surgery
University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi

May 29, 2015 Posted by admin Uncategorized 0 comments

General Surgery

The Department of General and Minimally Invasive Surgery is a full-fledged healthcare facility providing complete evaluation, diagnosis, and surgical treatment for a wide variety of disorders. The department uses an integrated

approach to deliver superb care and compassion. In India uses the most advanced minimally invasive surgical innovations and technology to cure the patients.

ct-scanfluoroscopymemmographybone-densitometryx-ray cath-lab

Risk factor and Prevention of Cancer

May 28, 2015 Posted by admin Uncategorized 0 comments

Risk factor and Prevention of Cancer:

The old saying, “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure”, holds true not only for infectious diseases but also for cancer.

Why cancer prevention is important?

Most cancers are lifestyle-related risk factors. In India, tobacco-related cancers account for 48% of the total cancer cases and cervical cancers form the bulk (36%) of cancers in females.

Primary Prevention

Primary prevention refers to a reduced or to eliminate exposure to carcinogens.

Primary prevention includes:

  • Compulsory education about tobacco related cancers, unhealthy sexual habits and cancer preventive diet.

Modifiable cancer risk factors:

  • Tobacco causes cancers at many sites. Alcohol consumption is associated with oral, oesophageal and other cancers;
  • Obesity associated with increased risk of colon, breast and other cancers.
  • Balanced mixed diet can prevent several cancers.

Chemoprevention

This includes the use of natural or synthetic substances to reduce the risk of developing cancer or its recurrence.

Eg: Selective oestrogen receptor modulators (tamoxifen), NSAIDs, (COX-2 inhibitors) for colon cancer, Retinoids (cis-retinoic acid) for primary cancers of the head and neck and Finasteride, an alpha-reductase inhibitor that can lower the risk of prostate cancer. Vaccines are used to prevent infection by oncogenic agents against hepatitis B for cancers of liver and Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for prevention of Cervical Cancer.Genetic testing with BRCA1, 2 has lead to prophylactic oophorectomy and mastectomy for Breast & Ovarian Cancer, prophylactic colectomy in adenomatous polyposis gene mutation.

Diet and Cancer

Diet is one of the aetiological factors in carcinogenesis. Epidemiological studies (study done by Doll and Peto) have shown that 35% of cancers are associated with diet.

Fat present in red meat modifies DNA synthesis, alters the microflora and induces the production of oestrogens, associated with breast and colon cancers.

Micronutrients and cancer

Micronutrients – vitamins and minerals, non-nutrients such as proteins (legumes), monoterpenes (citrus fruits), polyphenoles (tea and spices) and allium (onion and garlic) have protective effects and prevent cancer. They act through metabolic, antioxidant, differentiation and immune modulation.

Dietary recommendations

  • Increased intake of vegetables and fruits (minimum of five servings per day)
  • Intake of 55% carbohydrates, <30% fats and 20-30g of fibre
  • Avoidance of salt-cured and smoked food
  • Limitation of alcohol.

Secondary prevention includes screening programmes.

Recommendations for the early detection in asymptomatic persons

Screening programmes are:

  • Opportunistic, in which the population seeks medical professionals.
  • Organized, in which medical professionals approach the public.

Nuerosurgery

May 27, 2015 Posted by admin Uncategorized 0 comments

spine

Neurosurgery (or neurological surgery) is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system.

Main divisions of neurosurgery

General neurosurgery involves most neurosurgical conditions including neuro-trauma and other neuro-emergencies such as intracranial hemorrhage. Most level 1 hospitals have this kind of practice.

Specialized branches have developed to cater to special and difficult conditions. These specialized branches co-exist with general neurosurgery in more sophisticated hospitals. To practice these higher specialization within neurosurgery, additional higher fellowship training of 1–2 years is expected from the neurosurgeon. Some of these divisions of neurosurgery are:

  1. Vascular and endovascular neurosurgery
  2. Stereotactic,functional and epilepsy neurosurgery
  3. Oncological neurosurgery
  4. Skull-Butt Surgery
  5. Spine neurosurgery
  6. Peripheral nerve surgery
  7. Pediatric neurosurgery

Neuropathology

The pathology confronted by neurosurgeons could be either congenital, acquired, traumatic, due to infection, or neoplastic or degenerative conditions. Conditions like congenital hydrocephalus, pediatric tumors and myelomeningocele are encountered in children. Trauma with head or spine injury and bleeds due to arteriovenous malformation are encountered in young adults. Degenerative spine disease, aneurysm bleeds and Parkinson’s disease are encountered in much older patients. The science of neuropathology is a well developed branch of pathology.

Neuroanesthesia

Neuroanesthesia is a highly developed science that is linked to neurosurgery. This branch of medicine plays a very important part in day-to-day neurosurgery.

Neurosurgery methods

1. Vascular and endovascular neurosurgery.

2. Stereotactic, functional and epilepsy neurosurgery

3. Oncological neurosurgery

4. Skull- Butt surgery

5. Spine neurosurgery

6. Peripheral Nerve surgery

7.Pediatric neurosurgery

 

 

y plays a key role not only in diagnosis but also in the operative phase of neurosurgery.

Neuroradiology methods are used in modern neurosurgery diagnosis and treatment. They include computer assisted imaging computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and the stereotactic radiosurgery. Some neurosurgery procedures involve the use of intra-operative MRI and functional MRI.

In conventional open surgery the neurosurgeon opens the skull and uses a large opening to access the brain. Techniques of using smaller openings and using microscopes and endoscopes were developed later. With these smaller openings in conjunction with high-clarity microscopic visualization of neural tissue, excellent results can be obtained. However, the open methods are still used in trauma or emergency situations.[10] Principles of Neurosurgery-Rengachari, Ellenbogen, [11] Neurotrauma and Critical Care of the Brain-Jallo, Loftus .’

Microsurgery is utilized in many aspects of neurological surgery. Microvascular techniques are used in EC-IC by-pass surgery and in restoration carotid endarterectomy. The clipping of an aneurysm is performed under microscopic vision. Minimally invasive spine surgery utilizes microscopes or endoscopes. Procedures such as microdiscectomy, laminectomy, and artificial disc replacement rely on microsurgery.[5]

Using Stereotaxy neurosurgeons can approach a minute target in the brain through a minimal opening. This is used in functional neurosurgery where electrodes are implanted or gene therapy is instituted with high level of accuracy as in the case of Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease. Using the combination method of open and stereotactic surgery, intraventricular hemorrhages can potentially be evacuated successfully.[6]

Minimally invasive endoscopic surgery is commonly utilized by neurosurgeons when appropriate. Techniques such as endoscopic endonasal surgery are used in pituitary tumors, craniopharyngiomas, chordomas, and the repair of cerebrospinal fluid leaks. Ventricular endoscopy is used in the treatment of intraventricular bleeds, hydrocephalus, colloid cyst and neurocysticercosis. Endonasal endoscopy is at times carried out with neurosurgeons and ENT surgeons working together as a team.

Repair of craniofacial disorders and disturbance of cerebrospinal fluid circulation is done by neurosurgeons who also occasionally team up with maxillofacial and plastic surgeons. Cranioplasty for craniosynostosis is performed by pediatric neurosurgeons with or without plastic surgeons.

Neurosurgeons are involved in Stereotactic Radiosurgery along with Radiation Oncologists in tumor and AVM treatment. Radiosurgical methods such as Gamma knife, Cyberknife and Novalis Shaped Beam Surgery are used as well.

Endovascular Neurosurgery utilize endovascular image guided procedures for the treatment of aneurysms, AVMs, carotid stenosis, strokes, and spinal malformations, and vasospasms. Techniques such as angioplasty, stenting, clot retrieval, embolization, and diagnostic angiography are endovascular procedures.

A common procedure performed in neurosurgery is the placement of Ventriculo-Peritoneal Shunt (VP Shunt). In pediatric practice this is often implemented in cases of congenital hydrocephalus. The most common indication for this procedure in adults is Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH).

Neurosurgery of the spine covers the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. Some indications for spinal coed surgery include spinal cord compression resulting from trauma, arthritis of the spinal discs, or spondylosis. In cervical cord compression, patients may have difficulty with gait, balance issues, and/or numbness and tingling in the hands or feet. Spondylosis is the condition of spinal disc degeneration and arthritis that compresses the spinal canal. This can often result in bone-spurring and disc herniation. Power drills and special instruments are often used to correct any compression problems of the spinal canal. Disk herniations of spinal vertebral discs are removed by Kerrison pitiutary rongeurs. T

his procedure is known aa a discectomy. A laminectomy is the removal of the Lamina portion of the vertebrae of the spine in order to make room for the compressed nerve tissue. Radiology assisted spine surgery is a minimally-invasive procedure and includes the techniques of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty in which certain types of spinal fractures are managed.

Surgery performed in order to produce spinal analgesia are also often performed by neurosurgeons. Some of these techniques include implantation of deep brain stimulators, spinal cord stimulators and pain pumps.

Surgery of the peripheral nervous system is also possible, and includes the very common procedures of carpal tunnel decompression and peripheral nerve transposition. Numerous other types of nerve entrapment conditions and other problems with the peripheral nervous system are treated as well.

 

 

 

Triplets born to Omani Nationals

May 26, 2015 Posted by admin Uncategorized 0 comments

Triplets born to Omani Nationals Mr. Khamis & Mrs. Aisha after successful IVF treatment from Lifeline Multispeciality, Hospital, Kerala. Mr. Khamis traveled all the way from Oman to Lifeline to share his overwhelming Joy with Dr. Pappachan and Staff. We congratulate and salute the proud parents for their efforts.

Cosmetic Surgery

May 25, 2015 Posted by admin Uncategorized 0 comments

Cosmetic Surgery: Definition

The goal of cosmetic surgery is to improve a person’s appearance and, thus, self-esteem by changing the way she or he looks. Cosmetic surgery can be performed on any part of the face and body.

Types

The Face

The Body

Critical Care Unit

May 22, 2015 Posted by admin Uncategorized 0 comments

critical care unit (CCU):

It is a specially equipped hospital area designed for the treatment of patients with sudden life-threatening conditions. CCUs contain resuscitation and monitoring equipment and are staffed by personnel specially trained and skilled in recognizing and immediately responding to cardiac and other emergencies. See also intensive care unit.

About Critical Care Nursing

Definition of Critical Care Nursing:

Critical care nursing is that specialty within nursing that deals specifically with human responses to life-threatening problems. A critical care nurse is a licensed professional nurse who is responsible for ensuring that acutely and critically ill patients and their families receive optimal care.

Definition of a Critically Ill Patient:

Critically ill patients are defined as those patients who are at high risk for actual or potential life-threatening health problems. The more critically ill the patient is, the more likely he or she is to be highly vulnerable, unstable and complex, thereby requiring intense and vigilant nursing care.

Where Critical Care Nurses Work:

According to “The Registered Nurse Population” study, 56.2% of all nurses work in a hospital setting, and critical care nurses work wherever critically ill patients are found — intensive care units, pediatric ICUs, neonatal ICUs, cardiac care units, cardiac catheter labs, telemetry units, progressive care units, emergency departments and recovery rooms.

Increasingly, critical care nurses work in home healthcare, managed care organizations, nursing schools, outpatient surgery centers and clinics.

What Critical Care Nurses Do:

Critical care nurses practice in settings where patients require complex assessment, high-intensity therapies and interventions and continuous nursing vigilance. Critical care nurses rely upon a specialized body of knowledge, skills and experience to provide care to patients and families and create environments that are healing, humane and caring.

Foremost, the critical care nurse is a patient advocate. AACN defines advocacy as respecting and supporting the basic values, rights and beliefs of the critically ill patient. In this role, critical care nurses:

Respect and support the right of the patient or the patient’s designated surrogate to autonomous informed decision making.
Intervene when the best interest of the patient is in question.
Help the patient obtain necessary care.
Respect the values, beliefs and rights of the patient.
Provide education and support to help the patient or the patient’s designated surrogate make decisions.
Represent the patient in accordance with the patient’s choices.
Support the decisions of the patient or designated surrogate, or transfer care to an equally qualified critical care nurse.
Intercede for patients who cannot speak for themselves in situations that require immediate action.
Monitor and safeguard the quality of care the patient receives.
Act as a liaison between the patient, the patient’s family and other healthcare professionals.

The Roles of Critical Care Nurses

Critical care nurses work in a wide variety of settings, filling many roles including bedside clinicians, nurse educators, nurse researchers, nurse managers, clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners. With the onset of managed care and the resulting migration of patients to alternative settings, critical care nurses are caring for patients who are more ill than ever before.

Managed care has also fueled a growing demand for advanced practice nurses in the acute care setting. Advanced practice nurses are those who have received advanced education at the master’s or doctoral level. In the critical care setting, they are most frequently clinical nurse specialists (CNS) or acute care nurse practitioners (ACNP).

A CNS is an expert clinician in a particular specialty — critical care in this case. The CNS is responsible for the identification, intervention and management of clinical problems to improve care for patients and families. They provide direct patient care, including assessing, diagnosing, planning and prescribing pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment of health problems.

ACNPs in the critical care setting focus on making clinical decisions related to complex patient care. Their activities include risk appraisal, interpretation of diagnostic tests and providing treatment, which may include prescribing medication

Cataracts

May 21, 2015 Posted by admin Uncategorized 0 comments

What are the different types of cataracts?

Age-related cataract: Most cataracts are related to aging.

Congenital cataract: Some babies are born with cataracts or develop them in childhood, often in both eyes. These cataracts may not affect vision. If they do, they may need to be removed.

Secondary cataract: Cataracts are more likely to develop in people who have certain other health problems, such as diabetes. Also, cataracts are sometimes linked to steroid use.

Traumatic cataract: Cataracts can develop soon after an eye injury, or years later.

What are the different treatments available?

Choose No needle – No stitch – No patch Cataract surgeries by Phacoemulsification with Foldable IOL implantation ,
State of the Art Technology includes;

* Latest Whitestar Signature Phaco system
* Ellips SX Headpiece * HIR – 900 Microscope
* Motorised Slit lamp with EBIOS system
* Micro incision Phaco Surgery with Monofocal / Multifocal / Toric IOL implants

WHITESTAR COLD PHACO Technology of Signature system is clinically proven to produce clearer corneas on post-op day 1. This is one of its types as it can perform Phacoemulsification and Posterior Vitrectomy with the same system.

10 MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS

May 20, 2015 Posted by admin Uncategorized 0 comments

Nobody knows if innovation is infectious, or can be learnt. But the year 2009 saw a wave of creative, inspired approaches from the nation’s medical fraternity. No, not big bang innovations, but more the Tata Nano variety. With government expenditure on health as a percentage of total health expenditure at 17.9 per cent, one hardly expects the Indian state to play a major role. Nor so much the booming drug companies, who spend 12 to 15 per cent of their outlays on research and 30 per cent on marketing. The true leaders of innovation this year have been the nation’s surgeons.

Technology has been their driving force, minimally invasive the gold standard and precision the mantra. And armed with new machines and new skills, surgeons have accessed parts of a patient’s body as never before, used tools and techniques in a whole new way, changed how some types of surgery are performed, hastened the healing process for many and practically created new milestones for the range of patients they can help.

“Modern surgery might not yet feature Star Trek-ian techniques and equipment, but in some regards, they are on their way,” says Dr Naresh Trehan, the cardiologist who pioneered robotic surgery of the heart in the country. But that’s not all. From discovering new drugs and genes, new business models, new use of technology to designing hospital furniture keeping the Indian reality in mind-simple innovations have been the flavour of the season. “The knowledge economy is an innovation economy,” they say. Our doctors and researchers this year have certainly provided a roadmap for turning new ideas into long-term successes.

1. Sizing up the brain

Gene behind brain disorder found

This is what happens when the best brains come together to size up the brain. Geneticist Arun Kumar of the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) and psychiatrist Satish Girimaji of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore worked together for nine years. The outcome? Finding a key gene that causes microcephaly-a disorder marked by smaller-than-normal brain size and mental retardation. Until now only four genes were known to cause this hereditary disorder that develops in the foetal stage. This is the first time a fifth gene, named STIL, has been detected. The new gene is particularly valid for India, where one in every 50,000 to 1,00,000 live births ends up with microcephaly.

2. Beating cancer

Research and technology bring new hope

Medics link the HPV virus to cervical cancer, especially in sexually active women. In India, it kills about 76,000 each year. This year, biochemists, microbiologists and gynaecologists at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences sent a message of hope by detecting the most common HPV types that cause havoc in India. More good news: the Apollo Speciality Cancer Hospital in Chennai launched the CyberKnife technology, a first in India. A pocket-pincher, but it promises precise radiation to cancer cells, avoiding healthy tissue. A noninvasive option that caters to the quality of life of a cancer patient.

3. Gumming the eye

Using glue in eye surgery

For the first time, the entire front part of a patient’s eye-cornea, sclera, iris, pupil and lens-was transplanted at Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital & Eye Research Centre, Chennai. It followed the technique that was used here in 2007 to fix intraocular lens with fibrin glue (generally used to arrest bleeding and seal tissues in surgery) in a patient’s eye where lenses could not be implanted by normal procedures. “Earlier, the treatment of damaged IOL was a challenge for ophthalmologists and in most cases nothing could be done,” says Agarwal. “With this glue technology, we can now treat patients where intraocular lens capsules are missing.”

4. Lend me a hand, robot

Milestone robotic surgeries of chest and stomach

It was the year of surgeons using third-generation robots to reach a range of organs. The first such surgery on the thorax was done by Dr Arvind Kumar of AIIMS, Delhi, in June. Last month,Dr Jaydeep Palep did the first stomach surgery at Care Hospital, Hyderabad.”It’s almost like shrinking one’s hands and putting them in places they would never fit,”says Kumar.

5. The sweet switch

A rare surgery for diabetes

Surgery for diabetes? That’s exactly what Dr Surendra Ugale of Kirloskar Hospital in Hyderabad and Dr Ramen Goel of Bombay Hospital tried out through the Ileal Transposition (or small intestinal switch). The procedure shortens the intestinal tract between the stomach and terminal ileum, shifts it into an upper area and puts it in line again. The fallout? A biochemical process that facilitates insulin secretion in the presence of undigested food and controls Type II diabetes-a metabolic disorder that is marked by the failure to absorb sugar and starch due to lack of the hormone insulin.

6. Sing a different tune

iPhone used to stave off blindness

Who would have thought that the pricey Apple iPhone could help India’s rural masses? But doctors at the Narayana Nethralaya Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Bangalore, are doing precisely that to diagnose vision loss in infants from remote areas. Over 8 per cent of India’s 27 million infants each year weigh less than 2 kg and run the risk of Retinopathy of Prematurity. So long just a handful of city doctors had the know-how. Now with the iPhone and a software developed by the i2i TeleSolutions, the good doctors are busy saving lives across the country.

7. Business unusual

A low-cost luxury hospital

Free market mantra to tackle poverty? Think LifeSpring maternity hospital,Hyderabad. The no-frills chain of small hospitals offering world-class care to low-income clients at 30-50 per cent of market rates is winning kudos for its business model.Set up as a joint venture of Hindustan Latex Ltd and Acumen,US, last year, six hospitals have rolled out, with 30 more on the cards by 2010. Success mantra?With over 1,500 customers a month, optimising resources and leveraging economies of scale.

8. Propped up in style

A homespun hospital bed addresses Indian needs

Between the hand-cranking metal beds and super-expensive motorised ones, Indian hospitals had little choice. Then came Onio, the design firm in Pune set up by two ex-NID-ians, whose unique design won them the Design Brilliance Award. “Indian beds imitated Western designs,” says Prakash Khanzode, who mentored the project. “We spoke to hundreds of doctors, nurses and patients to come up with a design suitable for India.” Plastic on all exposed surfaces, quick-shifting, totally adjustable, the Vita Bed is ready for ICUs. Godrej is about to market it.

9. At your finger tips

Ancient medical skills online

Thousands of years of accumulated medical knowledge at the click of a mouse. Thanks to the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research and the Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health, the world’s first traditional knowledge digital library took shape this year. With over 200,000 ayurveda, siddha and unani formulations across 30 million pages in five international languages, it will hopefully put an end to the rampant misappropriation of time-honoured medical knowledge and practices-a growing concern.

10. Power-packed pill

A five-in-one capsule for the heart

Lifestyle moderation is the key to prevent chronic diseases. Yes, we all know that. But in this age of lifestyle excesses, those who forget to look after their cardiovascular health, a preventive pill is about to come handy. It’s a five-in-one drug combo meant to keep blood singing through your veins and simmer down raging cholesterol and blood pressure. Designed by a team of doctors from Bangalore’s St. John’s Medical College and McMaster University, Canada, the polypill-a first in the world-is likely to reduce coronary heart disease by 62 per cent and stroke by 48 per cent.

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