RadioFrequency Ablation (RFA) (2)

4. How soon after RFA can I return to normal activity?

Walking immediately following the procedure is encouraged and normal daily activity can be resumed immediately. For those into sports and heavy lifting, a delay of 5-7 days is recommended.


5. What are the key benefits of RFA?

RFA can be performed entirely under local anaesthesia in most cases. It is applicable to the majority of patients including those with pre-existing medical conditions or medications preventing the administration of a general anaesthetic. Cosmetic outcomes from RFA are far superior to stripping. Patients report minimal bruising, swelling or pain following the procedure. Many return to normal activities immediately.

6. Is RFA suitable for all varicose veins?

The majority of varicose vein can be treated with RFA. However, the procedure is mainly for large varicose veins. It is not suitable for veins which are too small or too tortuous, or with an atypical anatomy. There are many other alternatives for treating varicose or spider veins. Our specialists can help you choose the best option.





Reference information: http://veno.com.hk/radiofrequency-vein-ablation.html
It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

RadioFrequency Ablation (RFA) (1)

1. What is the Radiofrequency Ablation of Varicose Vein?

RFA a minimally invasive treatment alternative to the traditional vein stripping surgery for varicose veins and gives better cosmetic results with less scarring. The principle is that by removing the abnormal vein by applying radiofrequency energy inside the vein (‘endovenous’) to destroy (‘ablate’) it.

2. How is RFA done?

The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis with the patient awake. The entire procedure is done under ultrasound visualisation. After a local anaesthetic is injected into the thigh area, the laser fibre is threaded into the vein through a small puncture hole. Then radiofrequency energy is released which heats up the wall of vein and causes it to collapse. Radiofrequency energy is released continuously as the fibre moves along the whole length of the diseased vein, resulting in the collapse and ablation of the varicose vein. Following the procedure, a bandage is placed over the entry site, and additional compression is applied. Patients are then encouraged to walk and resume all normal activities

3. How is RFA of varicose vein different from conventional surgery?

RFA does not require general anaesthesia and is a less invasive procedure than vein stripping. The recovery period is also shorter than surgery. Patients usually have less post-operative pain, less bruising, faster recovery, fewer overall complications and smaller scars.

..........cont'l



Reference information: http://veno.com.hk/radiofrequency-vein-ablation.html
It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

靜脈曲張會引起什麼問題？

靜脈血管瓣膜閉鎖不全會導致靜脈系統的血壓上升，令患者出現腳痛、心悸、皮膚痕癢及有「腳重重」的感覺，而曲張的靜脈亦容易受傷出血及發炎。靜脈曲張除了因為腫脹的血管影響外觀外，靜脈曲張的患者亦會有腳腫、腳跟皮膚變深色，甚至是抽痛的感覺。由於腫脹的血管會擠壓到附近的神經線，於是患者會感到腳痛。如果血管腫脹的情況惡化，腳跟及足踝位置的皮膚有機會出現潰痬。長期站立/坐下均會導致病情惡化。

使用漸進式壓力襪可有效改善靜脈曲張，詳情請瀏覽漸進式壓力襪

http://veno.com.hk/compression-stockings-hkm.html

如何選擇適合自己的壓力襪? 請瀏覽選擇壓力襪。

http://www.podi.com.hk/compression-stocking.html

資料來源: www.veno.com.hk/varicose-veins-symptoms.html
以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，
應向醫生查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

香港是醫療品牌

經常有香港境外的病人,特地來香港求醫做手術,有的是在國內工作的外籍人士、有的是國內居民、澳門居民、也有些是已經移民外地的香港人,即使山長水遠、長途跋涉,費用也不特別便宜,他們也要選擇香港作為他們動手術治病的地方,把健康與生命交托,原因為何?

香港的手術醫療水平,是否世界頂尖、傲視同儕、我不敢說,但可以肯定的是沒有「落後大市」。香港作為國際城市,外科醫生要接觸世界先進的醫療技術及知識,可說是易如反掌,在香港舉行的國際醫學會議,多不勝數;差不多每位外科醫生都曾到其他國家觀摩學習,眼光及思想都是國際化的。而香港的醫療語言,仍是以英語這國際語言為主,故醫療水平要與國際接軌,絕不困難。這些我們行內習以為常,看似芝麻綠豆的東西,看在病人眼中,就是信心的來源。

即使醫生信得過,那醫院呢?打針的護士呢?化驗室的技術員呢?注射的抗生素呢?手術室的儀器呢?醫療系統環環相扣,莫說是行外人,即使是醫生也沒可能事事過問,親力親為。這些事情,病人信任的就是「香港」這個品牌,他們印象中這品牌下的各行各業,無論是法官丶警察、醫生、護士或記者都是專業、廉潔及可信的。這品牌的正面形象,並非一朝一夕而成,是源自長久以來香港健全的社會體制,一點一滴地建立的。希望日後的社會改革,不會影響這品牌的形象。

外科專科醫生
謝卓華

新聞來源: AM730
以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，
應向醫生查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

Causes of Goiter

Goiters are not equivalent to hyperthyroidism. Goiter describes hyperplasia of the thyroid gland which most commonly due to problems with the immune system. However, the increase in size of the thyroid gland does not have any relationship with the amount of hormone to be secreted.

In the more underdeveloped countries, goiters could be caused by iodine deficiency, as patients may not be able to intake enough iodine from seafood to fulfill their body needs. This causes the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 in the blood to be lower than normal, prompting the pituitary glands to continuously secrete TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormones), stimulating growth of the thyroid glands.

Amazing Seaweed – Nutritious, Low in Calorie and Prevent Goiter

 

Seaweed, which grows in the ocean, has excellent source of minerals especially iodine that can possess powers to prevent goiter. Goiter refers to over-production of thyroid hormones, leading to enlargement of the thyroid glands. Iodine is essential to maintain proper functioning of thyroid glands, which helps to regulate body’s metabolism, growth, temperature, heart rates etc., and deficiency in iodine can lead to a disease called goiter. Large and thick neck resulted from goiter that affects nearby organs such as esophagus and trachea may lead to dysphagia and breathing difficulty, while stunted growth and mental retardation can be seen in children with goiter due to hypothyroidism.

Seaweed is categorized into three main groups, and they are red, green, and brown seaweeds. Brown seaweed has the highest iodine content, with dry kelp contains 1500-8000 ppm (parts per million), while red and green seaweeds have lower contents, about 100-300 ppm in dried seaweed, but still considered as high when compared to other land plants. Adults and children who are actively growing are recommended to have a daily intake of 150 µg and 90-120 µg iodine respectively, which is actually covered by very little amount of seaweed, as only one gram of dried brown seaweed can already provide 500-8,000 µg of iodine. Thus, just a tablespoon of seaweed is already enough for recommended daily intake.

In addition to iodine, seaweed is also an excellent source of calcium and iron, which is especially suitable for vegetarians who avoid dairy and meat products. Therefore, seaweed is highly recommended to be included in our diet. This can be done by sprinkling kelp flakes onto a salad or soup, wrapping rice or vegetables using nori sheets or having seaweeds snacks during tea time. Although iodine intake may be related to the situation of Goiter, other factors can also lead to Goiter. Thus, it is recommended to seek a doctor immediately for medical check when the problem of thyroid enlargement arises.




Reference information: http://www.thyro.com.hk/goiter-thyroid.html
It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

糖尿病可致糖尿足

每年的11月14日是「世界糖尿病日」，目的是喚起大眾對糖尿病的關注。 根據香港糖尿聯會的資料顯示，現請本港約有70多萬名糖尿病患者，即每10個人便有一人為患者，患者數目亦有上升趨勢。糖尿病可帶來很多併發症，包括影響眼部、腎臟、心臟甚至周邊血管病變，引致「糖尿足」。

現時普羅大眾對糖尿病的認識日漸增多，但對糖尿足的認知卻不大了解。周邊血管疾病最常發生於糖尿病、高血壓和高血脂的病人身上。糖尿病有可能引發全身血管病變，患者血管容易硬化，因而影響血液循環，當發生在腳部時便會形成糖尿足。

另外，糖尿病患者的血糖持續於高水平，亦會降低腳部神經線的敏感度，令皮膚感覺變差。即使患者的腳部有輕微損傷，他們亦可能察覺不到，令傷口變大: 又或是穿鞋時，即使鞋子不合適亦不知道，增加弄傷機會。而且糖尿病患者的軟組織特別容易受到感染，令細菌滋生，就算是微細傷口亦會容易令感染蔓延，使病情惡化。

糖尿足分為數個階段，病發初期沒有明顯症狀，漸漸患者走路遠一點會感到小腿疼痛，即間歇性跛行。這階段是治療的黃金期，可用微創血管內手術把收窄或閉塞的血管擴張或打通。手術成功機會極高。若病情嚴重，下肢不動時也會感到痛楚，甚至腳部皮膚出現潰瘍、壞疽，這個時候手術是必須的，仍然可嘗試以微創手術打通血管，若不成功便須以開放式手術重建血管，但通常由於堵塞的血管範圍比較廣，手術的效果便容易出現變數。再嚴重的話甚至需要截肢保命。

要避免糖尿足，要嚴格控制血糖、血壓及膽固醇水平，除了依從醫生指示服藥外，亦要改善飲食習慣及做適量運動，保持健康生活。

外科專科醫生謝卓華

資料來源: 信報
以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，
應向香港醫生查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

周邊血管疾病微創治療

腦血管或心血管硬化所衍生出來的腦中風或冠心病等嚴重疾病，讓大眾聞之色變；而隨着都市人「三高」（高膽固醇、高血壓、高血 糖）日趨嚴重，加上吸煙及年紀老化等風險因素，實際上我們全身血管均有可能出現不同程度硬化現象，血管逐漸缺乏原有彈性，血管壁逐漸變厚、鈣化甚至閉塞。 所謂的「周邊血管疾病」就是指心與腦血管以外，身體其他血管疾病所帶來的健康問題，血管硬化便是最常見成因。


臨床上，最常受影響的是下肢動脈，隨年紀增長，加上上述各高危因素，導致患者下肢血管壁逐漸變厚，血管亦因此變得狹窄，嚴重時 甚至可完全閉塞，令血液供應不足，引起「間歇性跛行」，即患者行走一段距離後便出現下肢疼痛，最常出現於小腿肌肉，通常休息一會便可紓緩，但隨着病情惡 化，走路距離愈來愈短，甚至連靜止不動下肢亦感痛楚，嚴重者更可出現不癒之潰瘍及壞疽，若仍未有妥善處理，約5%患者最終可能因下肢壞死而截肢。


統計顯示，六十歲以上的人口中，有15%出現間歇性跛行情況，到了七十歲，比率更上升至30%。外科醫生可根據患者的病情，安排合適的治療。早期個案，醫生可透過藥物改善病徵，再鼓勵病人透過適量運動，保持外圍並行血管的血流暢順，但已有問題的血管，仍然是閉塞或狹窄的。


因此病情中度至嚴重者需透過介入性治療處理，除傳統開放性手術，醫生亦可通過微創介入治療，以球囊或支架擴張狹窄或已閉塞血管，恢復腿部血液供應。對比於開放式手術，微創介入手術傷口細，可局部麻醉進行，復原較快。


一般球囊透過導管進入目標血管內，靠壓力擴張狹窄段，使阻塞的血管恢復下肢血液供應；但因大部分病人血管已產生病變，有報告指 約六至七成病人在十二個月內會有「翻塞」現象；現時較新式的「滲藥性球囊」，比一般球囊多一層藥物，會在擴張後在血管內壁內發揮藥效，目的是延長血管暢通 及血液流動，從而達到直接改善下肢血液供應目的，減少復發。

作者為香港大學外科學系榮譽臨床副教授、血管健康基金會會長



外科專科醫生
謝卓華
 

資料來源: 信報

以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，

應向醫生查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

治療複雜腹部主動脈瘤

我們的身體滿布血管，當中最大的要算主動脈，位於人體的胸腔及腹部，不停地隨看心跳擴張收縮，運送血液由心臟到全身各器官。若主動脈壁不正常地擴張便會形成主動脈瘤，較常出現於腹部主動脈。其風險是一旦主動脈瘤破裂，便會大量出血，病人會於短時間內失血致死。

因此，大多數患者會接受微創血管腔内手術醫治腹部主動脈瘤，但一些形狀較複雜的血管瘤未必適合用微創手術而需接受開放式手術，開放式手術創傷性較大，一些身體狀況較差的患者未必能承受。幸而，現時有些鞏固儀器能於微創血管控內手術時使用，令一些本來不能用微創手術又不適合開放式手術的患者受惠。

腹部主動脈瘤患者多為年長人士，男性及有家族史的人患病風險亦較高。現時，醫學界仍未真正了解其成因，但主要與血管退化有關。年齡增長，動脈粥樣硬化及主動脈壁產生過多的溶解酵素等都會令血管壁失去彈性而慢慢擴張，最終血管壁會抵受不住正常血壓而破裂。

大部分腹部主動脈瘤都沒有徵狀，多數於接受超聲波或電腦掃描檢查時偶然發現，若出現腹部及背部痛是則可能是爆破先兆，應立即求醫。


現年60多歲的何先生(化名)曾患有肺癆及接受「心臟通波仔」手術，所以肺功能及整體身體狀況都較差。他於身體檢查時意外發現一個頗大的腹部主動脈瘤，且有爆裂風險。理論上他要盡快接受手術，但由於其血管瘤形狀不能穩固放置支架，故不適合微創手術，他身體狀況又接受不了開刀手術，進退兩難。

幸好在新技術配合下，如今也有辦法。醫生首先在血管内植入支架，即使血管瘤的形状不理想，支架不穩固，但新穎的血管腔內鞏固裝置，就好像螺絲釘般把支架固定於血管壁，何先生於術後3日已出院。

外科專科醫生謝卓華



 





資料來源: 信報
以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，
應向醫生查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。