Doctor of the Week: David Laird, M.D.!

laird.jpg

Dr. David Laird, who is board certified in general surgery, is a medical graduate of Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. His internship in general surgery was at Methodist Hospitals of Memphis; his residency was at the UT School of Medicine in Memphis. A major in the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Laird moved to Jackson after serving as the Chief of Surgical Services at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, N.M. His experience includes the full scope of general surgery and extensive endoscopy experience. He also had indepth trauma training at the Presley Memorial Trauma Center in Memphis.

The employees of Jackson-Madison County General Hospital selected Dr. Laird as the 2007 Guest Excellence Doctor of the Year. The award is based on the physician's care and concern for patients, professionalism, integrity, respect for other health care professionals, and willingness to go beyond the scope of duty. 

Doctor of the Week: Dean Currie, M.D.

download (5).jpg

After graduating magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a degree in biomedical engineering and mathematics, Dr. Dean Currie earned his medical degree at UT Center for the Health Sciences in Memphis. His internship and residency were at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio where he was the Chief Surgical Resident.

The employees of Jackson-Madison County General Hospital selected Dr. Currie as the 2008 Guest Excellence Doctor of the Year. The award is based on the physician's care and concern for patients, professionalism, integrity, respect for other health care professionals, and willingness to go beyond the scope of duty.

Hernia Surgery

Hernia repair has been around for a long time. That means traditional techniques have been perfected while new options and materials have been developed. While not every technique is right for every hernia, they all have common goals: to provide the strongest repair and least chance of recurrence with the least possible discomfort and quickest recovery.

Thyroid Problems? Check Here!

Your doctor may recommend that you consider thyroid surgery for 4 main reasons:

  1. You have a nodule that might be thyroid cancer.
  2. You have a diagnosis of thyroid cancer.
  3. You have a nodule or goiter that is causing local symptoms – compression of the trachea, difficulty swallowing or a visible or unsightly mass.
  4. You have a nodule or goiter that is causing symptoms due to the production and release of excess thyroid hormone – either a toxic nodule, a toxic multinodular goiter or Graves’ disease.

What to expect with PAD!

"Your balloon angioplasty or stenting procedure will be performed in the hospital, in a specially-equipped room called a catheterization ("cath") lab. The procedure will be done by a physician who specializes in angioplasty and stenting. Your care team will also include nurses and cath lab technicians.

Your doctor will decide which site on your body would be the best place to access one of your arteries – typically your groin area, arm, or foot. The selected area will be cleaned, shaved and numbed with a local anesthetic.

Your doctor needs to know what other medications you are taking. In most cases, you should take any medications that you usually take, especially blood pressure medications. Check with your doctor about which ones to take and which ones not to take.

Also, be sure to tell your doctor if you:

  • Cannot take aspirin
  • Have any allergies
  • Have a history of bleeding problems
  • Are planning to have any other surgeries or dental work soon

Your doctor may instruct you take aspirin and other medications for several days before your procedure. These medications will help prevent blood clots from forming during the procedure.

You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for a period of time before your procedure. If your doctor wants you to take your regular medications, you may take them with a little water."

For more information, please click on the link below! 

http://www.medtronic.com/us-en/patients/treatments-therapies/pad-balloon-angioplasty/getting-therapy/surgery-what-to-expect.html

Breast Cancer Myths

Only a small percentage of breast lumps turn out to be cancer.  But if you discover a persistent lump in your breast or notice any changes in breast tissue, it should never be ignored. It is very important that you see a physician for a clinical breast exam. He or she may possibly order breast imaging studies to determine if this lump is of concern or not. 

Breast Cancer Surgery

Surgery is a common treatment for breast cancer, and its main purpose is to remove as much of the cancer as possible. There are different types of surgery. You may have a choice about which type to have. Or your doctor may recommend a certain operation based on your breast cancer type and your medical history. It’s important to know about your options so you can talk about them with your doctor and make the choice that is right for you

Understand Diverticulitis

"A previously healthy 45-year-old man presents with severe lower abdominal pain on the left side, which started 36 hours earlier. He has noticed mild, periodic discomfort in this region before but has not sought medical treatment. He reports nausea, anorexia, and vomiting associated with any oral intake. On physical examination, his temperature is 38.5°C and his heart rate is 110 beats per minute. He has abdominal tenderness on the left side without peritoneal signs. How should his case be managed?"

To learn more, please click on the link listed below! 

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp073228#t=article

Abdominal Aortic Surgery

  • In one approach, you will lie on your back. The surgeon will make a cut in the middle of your belly, from just below the breastbone to below the belly button. Rarely, the cut goes across the belly.
  • In another approach, you will lie slightly tilted on your right side. The surgeon will make a 5- to 6-inch (13 to 15 centimeters) cut from the left side of your belly, ending a little below your belly button.
  • Your surgeon will replace the aneurysm with a long tube made of man-made (synthetic) cloth. It is sewn in with stitches."

Carotid Endarterectomy

"Also known as carotid artery surgery.

Carotid endarterectomy is surgery that removes plaque buildup from inside a carotid artery in your neck. This surgery is done to restore normal blood flow to the brain to prevent a stroke if you already have symptoms of reduced blood flow. Carotid endarterectomy also may be performed preventively if a diagnostic test such as carotid ultrasound shows significant blockage that is likely to trigger a stroke. Carotid endarterectomy is not a cure. Your arteries can become blocked again if your underlying condition, such as high blood cholesterol, is not controlled and causes new plaque buildup."

To finish reading this article, please follow the link listed below! 

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/carend/

What Are The Signs?

"The signs and symptoms of varicose veins include:

  • Large veins that you can see just under the surface of your skin.
  • Mild swelling of your ankles and feet.
  • Painful, achy, or "heavy" legs.
  • Throbbing or cramping in your legs.
  • Itchy legs, especially on the lower leg and ankle. Sometimes this symptom is incorrectly diagnosed as dry skin.
  • Discolored skin in the area around the varicose vein.

Signs of telangiectasias are clusters of red veins that you can see just under the surface of your skin. These clusters usually are found on the upper body, including the face. Signs of spider veins are red or blue veins in a web or tree branch pattern. Often, these veins appear on the legs and face.

See your doctor if you have these signs and symptoms. They also may be signs of other, more serious conditions."

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/vv/signs

Deep Vein Thrombosis

"Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein deep inside a part of the body. It mainly affects the large veins in the lower leg and thigh, but can occur in other deep veins such as in the arms and pelvis."

Need more information? Click the link below to get caught up!

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000156.htm