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All Posts Tagged: Digestive Surgery Clinic

doctor-patient relationship

The failing doctor-patient relationship! Why?

Now that the doctors nationwide are crying foul over the allegations against them by the media and the politicians, time has come to introspect into what went wrong between the doctor and the patient. It is necessary more than ever now, since a recent survey showed that the majority of the public perceives doctors as one of the corrupt community in the society.
The following developments have taken place over the last few decades that may have eroded this relationship. 

1. The major cause of conflict seems to be the cost. There are several reasons why the cost has spiraled up.

A. The local nursing home and the unimpressive clad doctor on the street has been slowly replaced by the cravat-wearing, polished and gadget friendly doctor inside a giant and expensive multi-specialty hospital. It’s a no brainer that the cost inputs in these establishments have translated into increasing the cost of treatment. It’s important to note that the fees of the doctors in majority of circumstances have not gone high commensurate to the hospital costs. This may come as a surprise to some of you. In a hospital I worked in earlier, I used to get 18000 Rs approximately for a 6 hour surgery and a 10 day postoperative care whereas the hospital expenditure was somewhere near 2.5 lakhs. Laymen, of course, have a misconception that doctors get a percentage of profits from the hospital bills. Nothing can be further from the truth!

B. The Governments worldwide, except for the Scandinavian countries, have failed in providing reasonable healthcare to the masses. They have realized how expensive and complicated it is to dispense medical care. Private healthcare wasn’t supposed to fill in this gap but unfortunately that’s what is happening. The majority of the lower and middle class society chooses private over state health institutions for want of better care but are not prepared to afford the bills of these hospitals.

C. There has been considerable progress in the technology and drugs used in medical science in the last few decades. CT scans, MRI, PET scan, angiography, laparoscopic technology,  stents, staplers, mesh, joint prosthesis, high end antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, robots- the list is endless. As a result, cost has gone up through the roof.

Given a choice, the insurance is not willing to shell more money on these gadgets.

D. Given the statistics, it is evident that the health care has become safer over the years (critiques, note). Complications from treatment have come down, surgeries have become safer, more accurate diagnosis and precision treatment is the order of the day. A large part of this success can be attributed to the improvement in imaging, lab tests, better understanding of the disease, multi-disciplinary approach and better drugs and procedures. For instance, a patient with gallstones three decades back would need a surgery with large wounds that entailed risk of wound infection, hernias and a 7-10 hospital stay. This, in present day, means a surgery with four tiny holes and a 24-48 hour stay. For this to happen, one needs the hospital to buy the instruments, doctors to undergo a rigorous training in laparoscopic surgery and anesthesia.  Ultimately, this means more expenditure.

2. The pharmaceutical and medical instruments industry have participated in a competitive race (sometimes unhealthy) to boost their sales. The accusations against doctors regarding unethical Practices perpetrated by the industry – sponsored vacations, paid conferences, unnecessary tests and procedures- have long been piling. It is acceptable to believe that where there is profit, there is corruption! However, nobody knows the extent of this industry driven problem. Although the critiques claim it is rampant, it’s probably blown out of proportion! In fact, the Medical Council of India also has laid down guidelines for ethical practice.

3. Medical science is poorly understood by the external world. Let me explain. There are three kinds of problems- simple, complicated and complex. Adding two plus two is a simple problem.

Complicated problem is like launching a rocket- difficult but possible by solving the issue bit by bit. Rearing a child on the other hand is a complex problem. It’s not a linear issue.  There are many factors that will influence the final outcome which ultimately will be unpredictable. Medical treatment is a complex issue. Biology is not linear, hence neither is treatment of diseases. It’s for this reason it is difficult to lay down a single approach for a medical problem.

Frequently, in the treatment of diseases, the course may not be predictable. There may be complications, surprises, aberrations all of which make for interesting discussions in the conference but hardly humors the patient or their relatives.

It is for the same reason that the definition of negligence is not clear cut. It is the absence of “reasonable care” that defines negligence. Since reasonable could be many approaches, it is fairly difficult to corner a doctor for a negligent act.

4. The reaction and tolerance of the patient and their family is changing, probably reflecting the general trend in the society. There is an increasingly intolerant reaction to complications arising out of medical care. This was unheard of a few decades back. People would accept death in a childbirth too assuming it to be an act of God. Not anymore! One hears acts of vandalism often after a death or media reports of accusations citing negligent medical practice. There are many reasons for these.

A. Frequently, there is lack of adequate counselling before the commencement of treatment regarding the potential risks and complications. The communication part is left to the doctor only who may be good in his craft but may not be proficient in this art. Nobody teaches communication skills in medical colleges!

B. Advertisements over promise the results and raise the expectations.

C. Complications imply more cost. And the costs may be manifolds. An ICU care may cost anywhere between 30000 to 100000 rupees a day in a corporate hospital depending on the requirements of a patient. The bill payer of the unfortunate patient is torn between hope and frustration due to the unpredictability of the situation. Some go bankrupt or sell property to pay the bills, some get angry and violent and some plead for stopping treatment unable to bear the financial burden.

Some doctors let go off their fees in these cases to help the patient but that acts as a drop in the ocean.

Death arising out of a complication is an unfortunate incident that scars both the doctor and the family of the patient. Sometimes, the patient’s family accuse the doctors and hospital for negligence and refuse to pay the bills. The bills are usually settled after negotiations and sometimes with the letters from a local politician.

The reality is that complications are an inevitable event in few cases. The risks are taken by the patient and the family prior to initiating treatment. In a climate of trust, it’s accepted graciously albeit with a heavy heart. However, in a climate of mistrust, as seen in recent times, any negative outcome is equated as negligence and frequently leads to disgruntlement and even violent protests.

5. A large part of image building of any individual, organization, product or service lies with the Media. In the last decade, the media has reported adverse outcomes, negligence and deaths from medical and surgical treatment. It’s probable that the success stories and the prolonged training needed to be a doctor has largely gone under reported leading to a biased, negative and unsympathetic perception by the general public.

6. The areas like trauma and emergencies are the bane of modern healthcare. The infrastructure and logistics needed to deliver this type of care is expensive and needs a lot of human resource management. It’s not difficult to imagine therefore why most of the Governments across the globe, especially the less affording nations, is unable to provide a decent facility for Accidents and Emergencies. The private healthcare on the other hand invests a lot in this area because of the demand and the scope of enormous profits from it, too.

However the human nature of the medical profession forbids not dispensing emergency care for lack of payment. And this is where there has been recent conflicts between the healthcare providers and the patients. Some patients get the A&E care for days and then are unable to pay the hospital bills leading to a deadlock situation. In the Indian context, politicians have entered to solve this deadlock mostly with a bias to rein the hospitals. This has led to ugly situations and represented the entire flock of medical professionals and institutions in poor light.

7. There exists a lot of difference in opinion amongst medical professionals. This can be due to feasibility of various options for a particular disease and difference in training that again depends on the geographical area and biology of individuals. Difference of opinion leads to the confusion in the mind of the patient and results in health shopping. This only adds to more confusion and inability to take a decision.

Conclusion

The repercussions of a failed doctor- patient relationship can be extremely detrimental to the society. The effects can be numerous. Many bright students may shy away from taking this profession, doctors may not want their children to enter their profession, there could be migration to other regions, there may be more cases in the court, complaints and even acts of vandalism.

Therefore, we need to examine the reasons for this phenomenon and rectify them.

Much of it is due to the lack of understanding of the complexity and the evolution of medical science which in recent times, like other scientific disciplines, is moving at a rapid pace. Treatment has definitely become safer but unfortunately, at the expense of increased cost. Education and awareness has to increase amongst the general public regarding the same.

However, there are many specific areas in medical profession that needs to be addressed more objectively and immediately – cost, ethics, advertising, communication, corporatization of health sector, infrastructure of the government hospitals, legislation to curb negligence, etc. Whereas some decisions are executive/ legislative, some are about ethics. And ethics cannot be legislated or enforced. Doctors will have to look inside them and their community and prevent malpractices. Expelling a few rotten apples can be exemplary and will be a confidence building measure for the society.

The government and the media can take a responsible role in this area to repair the burnt bridges. Planting the seeds of mistrust in the minds of the patient will be detrimental to the entire society at large since medical practice cannot exist in the environment of fear and paranoia. The media has to refrain from passing verdicts on doctors and hospitals before a fair investigation.

No society can exist without health care professionals. We, as a responsible society, need to do whatever it takes to clean the system and restore the faith back to the doctor-patient relationship.

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Dr._Sarfaraz_Baig

What Do Real Masters Of Surgery Have In Common?

I travel the World a lot for seeing the masters of their discipline. And there are many things in common to all of them.  They all have passion, focus and open- mindedness!

Superficially, it may seem that these characteristics have nothing to do with surgical skills that I write about, but it’s actually these attributes that translates into a master.

In my last trips to the USA, I had the privilege to meet Dr. Yuri Novitsky, Dr. Igor Belyansky, Dr. Phil Schafer and Dr. Parks, all surgeons who have made their names in field of hernias, bariatric and reflux disease. It is their work that has shown new and future directions in these disciplines.

What is striking about these masters are that they are not afraid to think freely in the interests of the patients. They executed their innovative strategy with good intention, recorded their results and shared it with their colleagues with an open mind to accept criticism.

So, what can we learn from them that can improve patient care?

First, the approach is to improve regularly and not to stay in the comfort zone. This can be achieved by reading, thinking, retraining and self-reassessing frequently. Secondly, keeping a mentor and asking for help is an important strategy to improve. The Masters have mastered this trait. Asking for help, keeping ego aside, will translate into pursuing excellence ultimately. Finally, the conservatives and the society at large is always resistant to change in the beginning. The proponents of change are always looked as disrupters and challengers rather than free thinkers. It is probably common to all disciplines and from times immemorial. However, the passion of these masters seem to be undeterred, in speaking what they think is right, with these upheavals. The Masters can somehow ignore individual interests and short term goals and can look at the BIGGER picture with clarity.

Personally, travel and meeting these greats has made an enormous impact on my life. It has brought humility, passion, focus and clarity in my work as a surgeon. I question myself more often in how I decide and operate, everyday and introspect on self-improvement.

It has also led me to believe that a hospital may not be the best way to dispense health. But that topic is best left for another day!

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Gastric Reflux (GERD)

A Brief Guide to Gastric Reflux (GERD)

Gastric Reflux (GERD) refers to the regurgitation of acid stomach contents into the esophagus. The most common clinical manifestation of GERD is heartburn and acid regurgitation.

Symptoms of GERD includes heartburn, difficult or painful swallowing, sour taste in the mouth and frequent belching. Less typical features include chronic cough, hoarseness, sore throat and a sensation of fullness.

Obesity is thought to be a potential predisposing factor to gastro-esophageal reflux. Maintenance of ideal weight may help in reducing the symptoms.

Diet and nutrition are key factors for those who suffer from acid reflux or gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), a severe, chronic form of acid reflux. One can prevent or relieve your symptoms from gastro esophageal reflux (GER) or gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) by changing ones diet. One may need to avoid certain foods and drinks that make the symptoms worse. Other dietary changes that can help reduce symptoms include decreasing fatty foods, eating small, frequent meals instead of three large meals and avoiding very spicy food.

Seema Poddar
DSC – Nutritionist

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Hernia Surgery Kolkata

TAR Comes as Blessing for The People Suffering from Severe Hernia

New surgery (TAR) for failed hernia repair gives new life to frustrated patients.

Hernia surgery has undergone a sea of change. The surgery depends on the hernia. It is no longer acceptable to treat all hernias by one strategy.

Although smaller defects can be managed laparoscopically (with tiny holes in the abdomen) with ease, Complex Hernias– failed hernia repairs (sometimes 5-6 times), very big gaps and poor condition of overlying skin are best treated by a surgery called TAR. This surgery has given new life to some frustrated patients where conventional surgery is doomed to fail.

This technique is unique in the sense that it covers the entire weak abdomen with a mesh and also restores the functionality of the abdominal muscles better than any other procedure. Plainly put, a mesh cannot behave like normal human tissue and may interfere with normal movement of the abdomen. This is in contrast to TAR where the defect is closed with the mobilised muscles of the patient and hence the patient is able to perform movements at the torso level more efficiently.

For patients and surgeons struggling to repair difficult hernias, TAR procedure for hernia is the right option. As with all advanced procedures, it should be performed only by experts for optimum results

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Transversus Abdominis Release

Transversus Abdominis Release – Treatment for Large Hernia Defect

I am sure once in a while you stumble into a large defect hernia that fails to all the conventional repair.

It’s frustrating!

Typically, these hernias have huge lateral displacement of the rectus abdominis and a consequent contraction thus making it impossible to reinforce the midline or perform safe mesh placement. Add to it the collagen weakness and an obese patient, and the possibility of failure looms large.

These hernias would not be served well with a laparoscopic hernioplasty because of a high failure rate and mesh expulsion. Neither would an open onlay hernioplasty serve due to high wound complications. Retromuscular Stoppa repair may bridge the defect but is unlikely to approximate the midline.

In these circumstances a posterior component separation technique with transversus abdominis release (TAR) would be a great alternative. The surgery has become increasingly popular in recent times due to its efficacy and decreased wound complication rate.

Here is how we do it!

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hernia surgery India

Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair – Overcoming Incisional Hernia

Hernia surgery is undergoing continuous change in technique to improve results and to meet high expectations of the patient.

No more is one surgery held as treatment for all and neither is one technique. Each case is evaluated and strategy tailor made. Thus, we now perform open Stoppa repair, component separation procedure, laparoscopic IPOM to name a few. In some cases, a prior weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery) is even done to optimise results.

Here is a case of post pelvic surgery incisional hernia which had been repaired 3 times by open technique. We repaired it laparoscopically.

Some of the critical steps of the procedure that are crucial to good outcome such as careful adhesiolysis, raising of peritoneal flaps, suture closure of the defect, large mesh and strategic fixations are shown.

Watch the video right here:

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