ARTICLES ON Press Release

World Malaria Day is an international observance commemorated every year on 25 April and recognizes global efforts to control malaria. On the occasion of ‘World Malaria Day, Wockhardt Hospitals, Nagpur organized a drawing competition for children between the age group of 3 to 12 years. The campaign was conducted to raise awareness among the children about Malaria and its eradication.   The campaign was conducted online. Kids, not just from Nagpur, but also from various cities also participated in the event. Entries were also received from Indian National children from other countries like Australia validating the ‘Draw from Distance’.  “It is a difficult time for all of us physically as well as mentally. Children are confined at home which is important for their safety but also quite tedious. We initiated this activity to involve children in something creative”, said Mr. Abhinandan Dastenavar, Centre Head, Wockhardt Hospitals, Nagpur. “The idea behind this was to spread awareness while having fun and to overcome the current challenging situation going on in Nagpur as well as the country”, he added. All the participants were given goodie bags and a participation certificate as a token of appreciation. The top three entries will be posted on the social media pages of the hospital. The themes for drawings were Malaria awareness posters and the Role of Healthcare workers in an ongoing pandemic. Source: https://thelivenagpur.com/2021/04/29/world-malaria-day-wockhardt-hospitals-organize-draw-from-distance-awareness-campaign-for-kids/

Don’t say, ‘forget it!’ when you repeatedly forget. It demands brain imaging and some lab tests to see what’s messing with your memory—blood collection, tumor, thyroid, or simple B12 deficiency A septuagenarian couple was seated in my consulting room. The wife started to talk as soon as she caught her breath. “He’s been forgetting a lot of things these days,” she complained. “He doesn’t remember what he’s eaten this morning or how much money he withdrew from the bank the other day.” She sounded a tad exasperated about taking care of him. “Does he remember past events like which school he went to, his wedding date?” I questioned, hoping to give him some brownie points. “March 31, 1975,” he shot back, putting a gentle smile on her tired face. “He fumbles a little in his speech as well, I’ve been noticing.” I asked him to close his eyes and stretch his arms out straight in front of him, parallel to each other with palms facing the ceiling as I demonstrated the action myself. After a few seconds, I noticed his right arm drift downwards while his left was able to resist gravity. I explained to them that this was probably owing to something pressing down on the left side of his brain. “Do you drink?” I questioned innocently to postulate a diagnosis in my head. Husband and wife looked at each other and then at me. He shook his head sideways and she, up and down. “A few pegs a week doesn’t classify as drinking,” he reasoned. I asked them to get a CT scan done right away on the ground floor, and within the hour they were back at the clinic. “It shows exactly what I expected,” I said with slight cocky arrogance, even though most of the time that I order a scan for forgetfulness, it usually comes back normal. “You’ve got a chronic subdural hematoma,” I stated, describing it as a collection of blood between the bone and brain and probably responsible for his symptoms. “You must have bumped your head somewhere without realizing it,” I continued, explaining that this can happen in the elderly even without any definite trauma. The brain atrophies with age and if a tiny vein between the brain and its covering (the dura) snaps, it can cause blood to accumulate over time and cause this symptom. “It needs to come out,” I concluded, even before they could ask how we should go about it. The next morning with zealous quickness, we made two small incisions on his scalp and drilled two holes into the skull, a few inches apart, following it up with a cut into the dura. Dark altered blood emanated under high pressure. Although this is technically the easiest operation in our field and I must have done several hundred by now, I’m excited every single time I cut into the dura. With the delectation of a child, I’m eager to see what comes out. Each time the color of the blood has a varied hue of red, it jets out at a force that’s different every time, and the underlying brain is at disparate distances from the bone. I often joke with my dextrous orthopedic colleague that this is one neurosurgical operation I can teach him to perform because all it involves is drilling a hole into the bone. After ensuring that all the blood was out, we closed in the usual fashion. The next morning, his absent-mindedness was gone, and at dinner, he was crisply responsive about what he had eaten for breakfast and lunch. Dementia is a collective term used to describe various symptoms of cognitive decline. Forgetfulness is a symptom that plagues all of us at all stages of our life. As physicians, we need to discern which patient needs an MRI, or more importantly, in which cases can this condition be reversed. As the French philosopher Montaigne pointed out, you can be knowledgeable with another man’s knowledge, but you can’t be wise with another person’s wisdom. Surgical wisdom is just as hard to attain as the spiritual one. In my opinion, any elderly patient who has recent onset of forgetfulness should have their brain imaged. While blood accumulation is not uncommon, on occasion, I have also found tumors in the frontal lobe—the area that aids in planning, execution, processing feelings, and memories. I’ve also picked up an extra accumulation of fluid in the ventricles, which, when drained, reverses these symptoms. More importantly, forgetfulness is commonly seen in those having deficiencies of Vitamin B12 and low thyroid levels and can be easily reversed by supplementing them. So, before we start prescribing pills for dementia, let’s try and take a look at what’s going on inside; also because there’s a high chance your patient won’t remember taking the pills! “How do I keep my brain sharp?” a lot of people ask me. “Clean living and keep moving” is my standard response. There is really no rocket science here. Exercising, healthy eating, a bedtime routine, sound sleep, yoga, meditation, and expressing gratitude is what every single self-help book will tell you. The other day, three lovely old ladies came to take the vaccine at my hospital. They were in their 80s and I had made arrangements for them to be taken care of, as one of them needed a wheelchair. I came down to visit them in the waiting area where they relaxed for the mandatory 30 minutes once they took the jab. “Hi!” I said, happy to see them dressed in nice floral skirts, their faces powdered in the characteristic way that elderly Parsi women step out in the afternoons. “Can you give me some medication for my memory, please?” the one in the center said. “I’m forgetting a lot these days.” “And she fumbles with her words too,” her friend added. “This COVID is driving us insane,” the first justified. “It’s so depressing. Plus, we live alone. What if we get it? There are no

So you have made it out of the storm! Covid-19 has been a storm that is taking away a lot of lives with it. But the good part is that there is a huge number who are getting through without any major complications. So let’s focus on the positive and see how you can get better post-Covid. Recovering from Covid-19 takes time, the duration of which is unknown. Mild cases usually take two weeks and severe cases may take up to a month or even more sometimes. And that is where the term long Covid has evolved. The current recovery rate in India is approximately above 90% which is again a good sign. Irrespective of whether you struggled with a mild or a severe infection, your body needs time to recuperate and rejuvenate. You have just come out of a deadly disease and your body needs a break. Lethargy and fatigue post-Covid is quite normal. You have gotten out of the disease but you need to be cautious about your health over the next few weeks. Here is a complete to-do list of post-Covid care for you: REST, RELAX, REPEAT Although your symptoms have disappeared, it is possible that you still have residual weakness and lassitude. Give yourself a break. Take some time off and help your body recover. When you are well-rested, your body can heal faster. Get your beauty sleep of 7-8 hours minimum to speed up your recovery. Avoid getting back to your old lifestyle of constant hurry. Do not immerse yourself into work right away. Stress and work can worsen your symptoms. EAT HEALTHY A healthy, nutritious, balanced diet is going to do you good. Food ensures that the path to recovery is smooth. Eat all healthy foods to gain strength and energy. Include plenty of liquids like soups, juices, coconut water in your diet. Eat a protein-rich diet to promote healing and repair. Include legumes, lentils, seeds, nuts, lean meats, and eggs for adequate protein intake. Eat 1 fruit a day and add lots of veggies to your diet. Your plate must be as colorful as the rainbow to ensure complete nutrient-packed meals. BRAIN EXERCISES Covid-19 is notoriously known to damage brain and neural cells. To prevent further damage and avoid future memory issues, it’s best to exercise your brain cells now. Indulge in some memory games like sudoku, mathdoku, jigsaw, crosswords, chess. Get your brain cells working and rack your brain to solve these puzzles daily. Take it slow but be consistent. It is necessary to regain your cognitive thinking abilities, memory, and increase your attention span. With these easy post-recovery care tips, it will make your convalescent-phase smooth and quick. While trying to recover, do not lose focus on your symptoms. Watch out for any symptoms that are uncalled for. Monitor your blood oxygen levels using your pulse oximeter and look out for any new symptoms that may arise as a part of Covid-related complications. If you experience shortness of breath, severe pain or tightness in the chest, warm flushes, or anything away from your normal, consult your physician right away. Source: https://thedailyguardian.com/post-recovery-care-for-covid-19-patients/

In these tough times when we are all worried about the health of our family members and that of ourselves, the Solid Waste Management team of the health department, along with other frontline workers, is working day and night for a safer environment. As a part of its Corporate Social Responsibility activity, on the occasion of ‘World Health Day’, Wockhardt Hospitals in Nagpur has distributed necessary PPEs to the frontline workers. Dr. Vaibhav Agrawal, Consultant, Internal Medicine and Critical Care, Wockhardt Hospital, Nagpur interacted with the staff on how to protect themselves while at work and keeping themselves and their family ‘Corona free’. The event was also attended by senior NMC officers- Dr. Pradeep Dasarwar, Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Gajendra Mahhale, Veterinary Doctor and Mr. Rohidas Rathore, Divisional Health Officer. They appreciated the initiative and conveyed their best regards to team Wockhardt. “While working in conditions like this, it is important that someone takes the responsibility and educates them about safety measures to be followed. The work they are doing is worth admiring and highly commendable”, said Dr. Vaibhav Agrawal, Consultant, Internal Medicine and Critical Care Wockhardt Hospital, Nagpur. “Being vigilant towards taking proper precautions are not just necessary for the team but also for their family members, to whom they go back after work”, he added. “We really respect the contribution this section of Health Department has made during this pandemic in keeping environment safe. As a token of our admiration we have distributed basic PPEs to them so that they can keep themselves safe. We have also tried to educate them about what steps they can take to safeguard them from getting infected while working in vulnerable conditions”, said Abhinandan Dastenavar, Centre Head, Wockhardt Hospitals, Nagpur. Source: https://thelivenagpur.com/2021/04/10/wockhardt-hospital-nagpur-celebrates-world-health-day-with-nmc-frontline-workers/

Varicose veins are commonly seen even in younger patients. A team headed by Dr Himanshu Shah, Chief Senior Varicose Vein Consultant, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road successfully treated a 16-year-old college boy with Advanced Stage Varicose Veins by performing minimally invasive laser surgery. The patient was 17 years old discharged next day and has resumed his daily routine. Varshil Shah, a college student from Santacruz was jolted out of his normal life due to leg pain, fatigue, and leg cramps for two consecutive months. This made it difficult for him to attend his online classes as sitting or standing for long hours wasn’t possible. Moreover, he was also unable to do his real-world activities with ease. The patient and his family members were worried and constantly looked for solutions. However, the patient approached Wockhardt Hospitals in Mira Road wherein he could stand on his feet again. Dr Himanshu Shah, Chief Senior Varicose Vein Consultant, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, highlighted, “On arrival, a simple Color Doppler ultra sound test confirmed that the patient suffered from advance stage varicose veins both legs. Varicose veins can be described as painful, swollen, twisted, and bulging veins that are blue and dark purple in Color under the skin.  The causes in children can be hereditary, doing activities jumping or running and obesity. It is a commonly occurring problem in children and I have successfully treated around 100 cases of very young age in the age group 18-25, since last few years. This patient required minimally invasive laser surgery as early as possible for the Varicose veins. Dr. Himanshu Shah added, “In this patient’s case, there were many additional (varicose) veins parallel to the normal structure of veins. This involves applying heat from a laser to fade away the appearance of varicose veins. This procedure tends to shrink and close the varicose veins to allow the blood to easily flow to the other veins that are present nearby. The leakage of the veins has to be treated by laser surgery.  After successfully performing the surgery for one-and-half hours and the patient was shifted to the normal ward. And was discharged the next day. The patient is recommended to take precautions like exercising every day to prevent the appearance of new varicose veins. Walking will ensure sufficient blood supply to the legs and prevent varicose veins. Maintaining an optimum weight, avoiding standing or sitting for a longer time, wearing compression stalking, and a controlled diet for overweight will prevent varicose veins. “My life was disrupted and I couldn’t concentrate on my studies owing to the unbearable leg pain. I would just lay down on my bed the entire day. After undergoing the laser surgery, I have resumed my daily routine, started exercising, and avoid sitting or standing for a longer time. My family and I are happy with the prompt treatment offered by the doctors and thank them for their cooperation and support. I also go for regular follow-ups to make sure that the veins do not appear again,” concluded the patient Varshil Shah. Source: https://www.newzopedia.com/2021/04/a-17-year-old-college-student-with.html

When the word Surgery is heard, big incisions, stitches, bleeding, excruciating pain, longer recovery time, and longer hospital stay, all these things have made spaces in the minds of the patients till now. But in this new era, based on the technological advances in the medical field and the skills of the surgeons, Wockhardt Hospital Nashik has worked to break this equation by introducing a new reliable technique of surgery called “4S Surgeries”. With the introduction of “4S surgeries”, now the surgeries for hernia, gallbladder, and appendix became more easier and effective. State-of-the-art technology is used in these surgeries, which includes surgery through a Laparoscope. Equally important is the skill of the Surgeon performing the surgery. This surgery, performed through a laparoscope is done through 3 or 4 tiny holes. As a result, there is no need for large incisions, no stitches, no more bleeding happens, no pain, no scar remains after surgery because there is no incision, and the patient’s recovery (rehabilitation) becomes faster after the surgery. The patient is fed and made to walk on the same day within 24 hours after surgery, and based on this rapid recovery, they are happily discharged home within 24 hours. “4S surgeries” are intended towards reducing the hospital stay of patients and improving the quality of healthcare. Apart from this, strict protocols are followed during and after the surgery, and priority is given to faster recovery of the patients and maintaining the highest quality standards in healthcare services which leads to happy and satisfied patients. For surgery, now no need to panic at all, as advancements in science have made it easier to perform sutureless surgeries of hernia, gallbladder, and appendix with a reliable technique called “4S surgeries”. This allows patients to resume their routine soon after the surgery. In the end, for the benefit of the patients, I would like to say that if you need to undergo any surgery for the digestive system including hernia, gallbladder, and appendix, you must consider “4S surgeries” at Wockhardt Hospitals, Nashik. Dr. Sandeep SabnisMS, DNB (Surgical Gastroenterology)Consultant – MIS, Surgical Oncology, Surgical Gastroenterology, HPB and Bariatric SurgeryWockhardt Hospitals, Nashik

In a bid to make patients feel at home while being away from home on this holi, Wockhardt Hospitals, Nagpur took an initiative and served food to its patients with a splash of colors and health. All the patients admitted in COVID as well as Non-COVID hospital were served a plate full of colorful food. Health experts say that eating food containing various colors has several health benefits. It is not only pleasing to the eyes but contributes to overall body fitness. A management team also visited the patients and wished them a happy holi. “We know that it is very difficult to stay away from your loved ones especially on a festival like holi when everyone celebrates with their family members. Keeping in mind the health of patients and making them feel at home, we carried out this initiative. We also wanted to let the patients know that they are a part of our family and they are not alone”, said Abhinandan Dastenavar, Centre Head, Wockhardt Hospitals in Nagpur. Wockhardt Hospitals are a recognized name in the city. Medical facilities like Cardiology, Brain & Spine, Ortho & Joint replacement, Laparoscopic Surgery, Dialysis & Kidney Transplant, ENT, Cancer Care, Gynecology, Critical Care, General Surgery, Expert COVID care & vaccination, Ambulance facility, 24×7 emergency services and 24×7 Pharmacy service can be availed under one roof. Source: https://thelivenagpur.com/2021/03/30/eat-colors-on-your-plate-wockhardt-hospitals/

If your parents are planning to skip round two of the covid-19 vaccine then hear what a doctor has to say about it. It has been reported that after the first shot of the covid-19 vaccine, people become so carefree that they either let go of precautionary measures or they don’t even go for the second dose. Currently, there’s a lot of debate around when to go in for the second shot of the vaccine. Nonetheless, you’re not fully protected until and unless you’ve completed the course. Therefore, getting both shots is mandatory to get the desired protection against the novel coronavirus. But, can the second shot be delayed? Let’s ask an expert We talked to Dr. Bipin Jibhkate, Consultant Critical Care Medicine at Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai to understand the importance of the second dose of covid-19 vaccine. He said, “There is no doubt that taking the second shot of a vaccine is of utmost importance for the vaccine to function properly.” But, can the second shot be delayed? Dr Jibhkate said, “Yes, there is no issue if the second vaccine shot is delayed for a week but I would recommend not to delay it any further.”  The doctor informed us that the first shot of the vaccine is not enough to make you immune and you definitely need to go in for the second shot after a gap of 28 days. “You can get the second shot as early as on the twenty-eighth day after getting the first shot and can delay it maximum by a week,” he recommended. What if someone doesn’t take the second shot or delays it for a long time? “If someone delays the second shot by three to six months of getting the first vaccine shot then they may have to take the first shot again. That’s because due to an incomplete course, the immunity level of the person goes back to what it was,” explained Dr Jibhkate.  According to Dr. Jibhkate, the covid-19 vaccine is the best way of protecting yourself against the illness. He said, “There are some minor side-effects of this vaccine which are totally manageable and therefore, it is safe.” He added, “In the future, single-shot vaccinations might be available but as of now, a two-shot vaccine is the only solution to safeguarding yourself against coronavirus.” So, it is pretty clear that you need to complete the course which constitutes two doses of the coronavirus vaccine. Source: https://www.healthshots.com/health-news/a-new-study-suggests-that-drinking-coffee-before-exercise-increases-fat-burn/

Nagpur: The city is emerging as a medical tourism hub, domestically as well as internationally. Recently, a three-and-a-half-month-old boy from Uganda, born with serious heart-related deformities, was operated upon at Wockhardt Hospital. Micah Sekakoni had an 11mm hole in his heart. Pediatric cardiac surgeon Dr. Sandeep Khanzode cured it. “The baby had a complex heart disease known as ‘endocardial cushion defect’ and ‘AV septal defect,” said Dr. Khanzode. Endocardial cushion defect (ECD) is an abnormal heart condition. The walls separating all the four chambers of the heart are poorly formed or are absent. Also, the valves separating the upper and lower chambers of the heart have defects during formation. ECD is a congenital heart disease since birth. “The baby’s mitral valve was straddling a problem which makes surgery difficult. The surgery was done with several minute vigilances and the baby made a very quick recovery,” added Dr. Khanzode. Parents said they decided to bring their child to India for post-operative care because Uganda does not facilities for such a high-end pediatric surgery. Local authorities advised them to get the surgery done at Wockhardt Hospital. “When we started contacting the team of Nagpur’s Wockhardt hospital, we felt quite assured in bringing our child here and getting him treated. This assurance increased even more once we reached the hospital,” said Charlie Sekakoni, father of Micah. “We had our own concerns regarding coming to a different country all together where we don’t know anybody and our child is to undergo a major surgery. But the doctors and staff made us feel at ease,” he said. “We are trying to achieve new milestones in healthcare. Nagpur has already achieved a status where we provide treatment at par with metro cities,” said Abhinandan Dastenavar, Centre Head, Wockhardt Hospitals in Nagpur. Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/ugandan-infants-heart-mended-in-nagpur/articleshow/81639516.cms

Cricket statistician and scorer Ramesh Parab opens up on his close match with COVID-19 and how he made it back to the cricketing greens Mumbai Cricket Association’s (MCA) scorer and statistician, Ramesh Parab, 65, has tracked many fighting innings from his scorer’s seat at matches across all levels of the willow game. But in the COVID-19 pandemic, he played one himself, albeit on a different pitch – the hospital bed. He was even unconscious for 28 days, ravaged by COVID-19, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), and pneumonia last June and July. But he fought his fears, conquered the pain, and emerged from a near-helpless situation to do what he loves doing, and does best – cricket scoring. Within six months of his recovery, Parab was back, scoring for the India versus Australia Brisbane Test from the Doordarshan studio in Delhi in January. Parab was admitted to Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai Central on June 12 and got discharged on July 17. When he returned to his home at Vishwas Niwas in Parel, he told mid-day that he would serve cricket and MCA till his last breath. When top-grade club cricket resumed in the city with the Police Shield last month, Parab made himself available to score. “I don’t know what happened in those first 28 days because I was unconscious and was being treated for the novel Coronavirus and other diseases. I am alive just because of Dr. Kedar Toraskar and his team (Dr. Ravindra Zore, Dr. Gurudas Pundpal, Dr. Mahesh Dhokre, and others.) Their treatment worked wonders for me. A special thank you to Dr. Kushesh Sharma,” said Parab. “Support and blessings from family members as well as friends in the cricketing circles were significant too. But, I think my willpower and strong desire to be back on cricket grounds played a huge role in my rebirth,” remarked Parab. Parab, who has scored in 26 Tests, 100-plus ODIs, 80 IPL matches, and countless first-class games, wasn’t just thinking of himself as he took his recovery steps. “As soon as I returned to my senses after 28 days, a scene appeared in mind. It was about a young fast bowler traveling with his kit bag on a local train from Nalasopara to Churchgate for a selection trial. He had not been picked in the first trial but was giving himself another chance through sheer determination and passion. I felt something should be done for the boy, who was undertaking a long journey just to get picked, to make something of himself. I kept thinking about him, about his strong will, big heart. He had that, but what could I do for him occupied my mind space. Maybe this reflected my affection for the game. Probably this boy was me in a way, trying to make that second chance count,” remarked Parab. It’s hard to find perspective when one is laid low by a monstrous illness. Parab decided on a path and paved it with positive layers. He opened up on the scary moments when he was on ventilator support for 15 days. “I can imagine today how tough it was for my family members (wife Aparna, daughter Neha, and son Rajdeep.) I later learned how they received updates on my condition from the doctor, who used to call my home twice a day. They were also told that I had only a 10 percent chance of recovering. Every call was received with trepidation; fear gripped them at the end of each conversation,” revealed Parab. Parab, whose last scoring assignment before the lockdown was the India Legends v Sri Lanka Legends T20 game in the Road Safety World Series at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on March 10, 2020, recalled how mindful he was about the virus, “I started doing some exercises at home. Apart from that, I used to walk every day for an hour in the morning and two hours in the evening on the terrace of my building till the first week of June. But I too got infected.” Forgot All Health Issues He now celebrates the fact that those dark days are behind him. Apart from his family, doctors, and the hospital staff, he has many in the cricketing fraternity to thank for the hand they extended to be pulled out of the trenches. “I am grateful to cricket from all levels, Prof Ratnakar Shetty, Dr. PV Shetty, MCA secretary Sanjay Naik, treasurer Jagdish Achrekar, Apex Council member Nadim Memon, ex-managing committee member Ganesh Iyer, CEO CS Naik, other MCA officials, match referees, umpires, BCCI and MCA scorers, Veena Paralkar, Uday Gharat, Pritam Parab, Deepak Joshi, Kishor Lawne, Hemali Desai and Sangita Purohit, scorers from all over India, my students and of course friends from the media,” acknowledged Parab. We asked him about his ‘international comeback’ experience of scoring for Doordarshan during the Brisbane Test that India won by three wickets to clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1 in January. “It was very cold in Delhi and I had to wear three sweaters to do my job in the studio. If you are a die-hard cricket fan, you forget all your problems and health issues. And what a Test match it was! There was something new and thrilling happening every session. As a statistician, the enthralling Test allowed me to provide many interesting pieces of information to the listeners,” he remarked. Parab has battled great odds, dealt with pace, and bounce on the pitch of life. But now he is deservedly picking up the accolades. And he will carry the ‘scoresheet’ of his fantastic innings everywhere he goes. Who is a Scorer? A scorer enters all runs scored, balls faced, and other details into a scorebook or computer.  In earlier days, a scorer used to accompany Indian cricket teams when they played abroad. Hence, the scorebook, which provides proof of a conducted match, and the scorer are a vital part of the game. Source: https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/doctors-had-given-me-just-10-per-cent-chance-of-recovery-mumbai-cricket-association-scorer-23163218