Consultant is first in county to use new method for treating gallstones

4:00pm Tuesday 10th April 2012 in Bradford by Claire Lomax

a doctor in Bradford has become the first in Yorkshire to use a new technique to shatter gallstones in patients.

Gallstones are stones, usually made of cholesterol, that form in the gallbladder. in most cases they do not cause any symptoms. however, in a small number of cases, gallstones can become trapped in a duct, which leads to a range of symptoms, including a sudden intense pain in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting and jaundice.

Risk factors include obesity and age, with older people more likely to develop gallstones.

Women are also two to three times more likely to develop gallstones than men.

Traditionally, patients needing treatment for gallstones, many of them elderly, have faced major surgery and hospital stays of up to ten days, or frequent visits to hospital for treatment to put in stents.

Health bosses in Bradford have now invested £50,000 in new equipment called SpyGlass from a company called Boston Scientific.

it consists of a baby endoscope – a tiny flexible tube and eye piece to see inside the body – which can pass up a standard endoscope and into the bile duct to directly visualise abnormalities.

tiny forceps can then be used by the doctor to take a biopsy, to aid diagnosis and management of disease or a lithotripter – a device which emits electrohydraulic shock waves – can pass up the baby scope to shatter gallstones.

it will be used on patients who have stones which can’t be removed surgically or using standard endoscopic techniques.

Dr Conrad Beckett, a consultant gastroenterologist at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, was the first to use SpyGlass, making Bradford one of only eight other centres in the country carrying out the procedure.

Dr Beckett, who has 18 years experience, trained in the technique in Aintree, Liverpool.

he said: “It is a procedure which is lower risk for the patient and can be done as a day case. it takes about an hour-and-a-half for a big stone and because it is not comfortable for the patient it is done under general anaesthetic.

“The first procedure went very well and we crushed a big stone nicely. hopefully the patient won’t have to come back again.

“We are talking about doing a couple of cases a months and will start with the backlog of our own patients and will then be happy to take referrals from across Yorkshire.”

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The gallbladder is a pouch that sits just beneath the liver. The liver, of course, is located in the right upper quadrant. The gallbladder measures approximately 3 to 4 inches in length and about that in diameter. The gallbladder form part of the digestive system and it is used to sequester bile. Bile is used in the digestion of food.

The gallbladder functions generally with no problem for the lifetime of the person.

When the gallbladder becomes infected, it will cause pain. The gallbladder is also known to form gallstones. The gallstones are due to an accumulation of cholesterol. They are crystalline-like formations that when they occur is an abnormal occurrence and sometimes they will cause an obstruction of the gallbladder.

When this occurs, there is intense pain in the right upper quadrant of the person. The stones can also lead to an inflammation of the pancreas.

When a gallbladder becomes infected, then there is severe pain, fever, and in many cases, nausea and vomiting.

This condition sometimes will go away on its own, but most times it will require surgery.

If a person is experiencing pain that is in the right upper quadrant of their body and is associated with fever, nausea, vomiting, then this could be their gallbladder. If a person does experience these type symptoms, they should see their family doctor for a complete evaluation.

Once the gallbladder becomes inflamed, infected, or distended, then it needs to be removed.

Today, the procedure that most surgeons use is a minimally invasive procedure. most times after the gallbladder is removed, minimally invasively, then the person can go home in a relatively short time. because the procedure is minimally invasive, many can go back to work in an extremely short period of time.

Prior to minimally invasive surgery, if a person had their gallbladder removed, they would remain in the hospital for a minimum of seven days. This is not the case today.

If a person is experiencing any type of abdominal pain that does not go away in a reasonable length of time, they should see their family doctor.

This especially holds true if a person is experiencing fever and nausea with vomiting.

Dr. Gordon J. Rafool is a specialist in Family Practice and Geriatrics at Gessler Clinic, Winter Haven.

Arthritis in the neck can be described as an ailment, which affects the joints in the neck area, leading to stiffness and intense pain. this condition is also known as cervical arthritis, neck osteoarthritis, arthritis of the neck & cervical spondylosis. in most cases, neck arthritis symptoms are more evident in people who are over the age of 40. While both men and women are prone to arthritis neck pain and discomfort, it has been seen that women, especially those who are pre-menopausal, are at a slightly lower risk in comparison to men. unfortunately, the chances of suffering from arthritis of the neck and cervical spondylosis pain are much higher in women after menopause.

What are the causes of arthritis of the neck?

There are several causes of arthritis in the neck and some are more common than the others. There is one main factor that could lead to this condition, which is the inflammation of the cartilage in the neck. however, a person could also suffer from neck arthritis, because of other conditions, which include osteoarthritis. it has also been seen that people who have suffered a prior injury or trauma to the neck area may be more prone to the development of this ailment. Other factors that could possibly lead to arthritis in the neck are genetics as well as excessive amounts of stress.

What are the symptoms of arthritis of the neck?

There are two main symptoms that have been associated with arthritis in the neck, which are intense pain and stiffness. The severity of these two symptoms may vary, however, based on how serious the problem is. Studies also indicate that they symptoms and discomfort caused by neck arthritis is likely to worsen, if the person spends a long period of time standing. The main cause of this is the force of gravity, on the spinal cord. Since the muscles are relaxed when a person sleeps, they are not capable of providing any extra support to the spine. Therefore, it has been seen that most people feel that the arthritis neck pain is a lot more intense, when they just wake up from sleep. Though the problem is in the neck area, it is not uncommon to feel overall numbness, weakness, as well as a tingling sensation in certain parts of the body, which include the arms, forearms and hands. in severe cases, people may experience headaches and dizziness. it is imperative for people to consult a doctor in case they experience either arthritis in neck and dizziness or even arthritis in neck and headaches.

What is the treatment of arthritis of the neck?

Arthritis neck pain treatment depends on several factors, which includes the actual neck arthritis symptoms and causes, as well as the severity of the condition. in case a patient requires medication, the doctor may recommend over the counter painkillers, as well as certain prescription medication. There have been several instances, where patients have responded favorably to neck arthritis exercises that have been taught to them by a qualified and experienced physician. Some patients may be advised to wear a brace or a collar, especially during the course of the night. Just like in the case of most other medical conditions, arthritic patients should be very careful about the diet that they follow. Some of the remedies that have been recommended by health experts include massage therapy, heat therapy and ice therapy.

Arthritis of the neck can be quite a serious problem, in case it is not checked and investigated by a doctor. hence, people suffering from this condition are strongly advised to consult a doctor as soon as possible

Do you have a lot of pain right away or is there some little inkling that happens for a while and then it builds up to more intense pain?

Also, where exactly is the pain? Near the middle of the chest? On the right side under the rib?

extremem pain pretty soon after eating a meal with ( oarticularly a lot of ) fat in it. the gall bladder secretes bile to digest the fat and it is the waves of contraction against the stone that cause the pain. you are about right with the positions of pain