「三高」令周邊血管硬化 新球囊減「翻塞」現象

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。有外科專科醫生表示，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。

外科專科醫生謝卓華表示，臨牀上，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」，患者行走一段距離後便出現下肢疼痛：「此症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，走路距離會愈來愈短，甚至連靜止不動下肢亦感痛楚，嚴重者更可出現不愈之潰瘍及壞疽，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，60歲以上的人口中，有15%出現間歇性跛行情況，到了70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。

微創治療恢復血液供應

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，復元較快。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12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。

謝卓華
外科專科醫生

資料來源:  http://www.metrohk.com.hk/?cmd=detail&id=303211
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。

長途機易有靜脈栓塞 亂按壓可致命

俗稱經濟艙症候群的深層靜脈栓塞(DVT)是因血栓阻塞血液流動引起，與水腫不同，只會單腳腫痛甚至「鴛鴦腳」，除搭長途機久坐不動有機會發病，更有整晚盤腿「煲劇」人士煲出禍！有外科專科醫生提醒，遇到類似症狀要盡快求醫，切勿胡亂按摩或按壓患處，因處理不當有機會令血栓在靜脈脫落，再經血液流走到肺部，引起肺栓塞致命。

動脈負責將血液由心臟送往各器官，靜脈則負責將血液由器官帶回心臟。下肢靜脈主要分表淺靜脈和深層靜脈，前者在表皮與脂肪之間，深層靜脈則位於肌肉間，負責將含二氧化碳及廢物血液，送到肝及腎過濾，再帶回心臟。

外科專科醫生謝卓華指，深層靜脈栓塞是指靜脈中現血塊，最常在小腿位置出現，小腿並因長期積聚血液而紅腫。若病發位置較近大腿或盆腔，栓塞情況或更嚴重，腫痛加劇。更可怕是，一旦靜脈將帶血栓的血液回流至心臟及肺部，可能會塞住肺部血管，病人將呼吸困難、胸口痛及休克，甚至死亡。

除肥胖、懷孕、曾接受手術人士高危，搭長途機久坐不動再加飲水不足，亦有機會形成血栓。謝卓華更透露，曾有臨床個案，患者因整晚盤腿「煲劇」發現腳部腫痛遲久不散，到求診才確定是DVT。此外，癌症患者也高危，因他們的血液較常人凝固，而部分盆腔受壓相關特殊病都可引致嚴重DVT，惟病例較少。

遇上DVT，有病人誤以為只是肌肉腫痛沒有求診。謝提醒，一旦發現只是單腳腫痛，而自己又是曾接受手術或坐過飛機的高危人士，求醫前切勿用任何形式按壓患處，因有機會因按壓刺激血栓脫落，最終引發肺栓塞。

診斷DVT，醫生會透過超聲波或電腦掃描先找出血栓位置，再處方三至六個月的薄血藥，阻止血凝固擴散，令血栓自然分解，一般復發機會微。不過，因癌症或特殊盆腔問題引致的DVT，服薄血藥時間需更長，如發現血管收窄，更需考慮植入支架或以微創手術將血栓吸出體外。

外科專科醫生謝卓華

資料來源: 東網
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。

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Infographic series (2)

What are the symptoms of AAA?
 
AAA is usually symptom free before it ruptures, which makes it difficult to detect at an early stage. Some patients may feel a pulsatile mass in their tummy. Any symptoms of abdominal or back pain in an AAA patient is suggestive of rupture aneurysm. Urgent medical assessment is necessary.

Who will have AAA?
 
Smoking, aging, diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension are the major risk factors of developing AAA and males are at greater risk than females.

 
How to diagnose AAA?

 
Despite the difficulty of detecting AAA at an early stage, a simple ultrasound scanning of the abdomen can already accurately diagnose AAA. Further detail imaging with CT scan, MRI, or angiogram are only necessary when surgical intervention of the AAA is necessary. Although the mortality rate of a ruptured AAA is high, it is still preventable. Quitting smoking, controlling high blood pressure, regular exercise and a healthy diet will contribute to reducing the risks of developing AAA.

When & how to treat AAA?
 
Surgical intervention of the AAA is necessary when the size of the aneurysm is > 5cm in diameter. We want to fix the aneurysm before it ruptures.

There are currently 2 treatment options for AAA. Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) is a minimally invasive surgery involving only small wounds at the groins. It is associated with less pain, faster recovery, and is safer compared with open surgery.

The traditional open repair of AAA involves large abdominal wound. Although it is more durable, it is more invasive and is currently reserved for cases with anatomy not suitable for EVAR.

Reference information: http://esteemmedical.com.hk/aortic-aneurysms.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. 

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Infographic series (1)

What do you need to know about Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is becoming more and more common in Hong Kong and is known as a “silent killer” due to its asymptomatic nature. The prevalence of this disease is global. U.S and U.K have seen 15,000 deaths [1] and 6,000 deaths [2] respectively caused by ruptured AAAs. In Hong Kong, more than 1,000 new cases of aortic aneurysm are reported every year. It’s important to increase public awareness and understanding around the disease.


The series will look into:
1: What is Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)?
2: How common is AAA?
3: How dangerous is AAA?
4: What are the symptoms?
5: Who will have AAA?
6: How to diagnose AAA?
7: When & how to treat AAA?

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is an abnormally dilated area in the lower part of the aorta within the abdomen [3] . The fact that it is asymptomatic means the aneurysm is often left unnoticed and unattended promptly.

 
How common is AAA?

How dangerous is AAA?

When the aorta becomes dilated, it behaves like blowing up a balloon. When the balloon is too excessively blown up, it will rupture. Usually when the size of aneurysm is >5cm, there is significant risk of rupture. Rupture AAA can cause massive bleeding within short period of time.

The overall mortality rate of a ruptured aneurysm can be as high as 100% and the risk of rupture increases as the size of the aneurysm expands. Once internal bleeding is caused by the rupture of aneurysm, it becomes a life-threatening condition.

 .......cont'l




Reference information: http://esteemmedical.com.hk/aortic-aneurysms.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. 

小腿痕抓破皮傷口3年不癒 婦人小腿發黑揭患靜脈曲張

長期久站的人士，如出現腳部痕癢、傷口久久不癒，可能是患靜脈曲張的徵兆。內地一名56歲婦人因工作需長期站立，3年前抓癢時小腿不慎抓破皮，傷口不斷潰爛不癒、小腿變黑，求診揭患靜脈曲張。有外科專科醫生表示，血液長期積聚腿部靜脈，會使靜脈血管變形，形成靜脈曲張，惡化後皮膚或會變黑、痕癢，甚至潰爛。

患靜脈曲張 傷口潰爛小腿發黑 

據《武漢晚報》報道，一名56歲的王姓婦人在河南做早餐生意，每天凌晨3、4時至下午4、5時一直站立工作。10年前她突然小腿痕癢，曾被診斷患皮膚瘙癢症。而3年前王婦在抓癢時抓破皮，原本針眼大小的傷口不斷潰爛，形成一個如鵪鶉蛋大小的坑，整隻腳亦開始變黑，有如穿上黑色皮靴。

至上月王婦求診揭患上靜脈曲張，醫生指她雖沒出現典型的「蚯蚓腿」症狀，但檢查顯示出現血液嚴重倒流。王婦於本月15日進行微創手術，透過射頻將有問題的靜脈消融封閉，腿部現已癒合結疤。

主診的肝膽胰及血管外科醫生鐘若雷表示：「皮膚痕癢潰爛是靜脈曲張引起足部供血不足所致。」又提醒腿部色素沉着、痕癢、傷口久久不癒，除了糖尿病外，還有可能患上靜脈曲張，尤其因職業需經常久站和有靜脈曲張家族史的人士。

4種治療方法

外科專科醫生謝卓華表示，當表層靜脈無法發揮正常功能，瓣膜出現問題不能正常閉合造成血液倒流，血液長期積聚於腿部靜脈，便會使靜脈血管變形，形成靜脈曲張。典型患者早期會出現腳血管突起、彎曲腫脹，惡化後皮膚會變黑、痕癢，甚至潰爛。一般而言，醫生會清除「壞血管」（影響血液循環之血管）治療靜脈曲張，例如：

（1）傳統外科手術：透過開刀切除整條壞血管

（2）微創手術：將導管放入壞血管，透過釋放射頻或激光封閉壞血管

（3）注射黏合劑：像利用膠水直接將靜脈的內壁黏合

（4）藥物治療：封閉壞血管

資料來源:  https://skypost.ulifestyle.com.hk/article/2506151/%E5%B0%8F%E8%85%BF%E7%97%95%E6%8A%93%E7%A0%B4%E7%9A%AE%E5%82%B7%E5%8F%A33%E5%B9%B4%E4%B8%8D%E7%99%92%20%E5%A9%A6%E4%BA%BA%E5%B0%8F%E8%85%BF%E7%99%BC%E9%BB%91%E6%8F%AD%E6%82%A3%E9%9D%9C%E8%84%88%E6%9B%B2%E5%BC%B5
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。