Revolutionary Approach to Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Staging

Until recently, lung cancer diagnosis and determining a patient’s stage of cancer relied on CT and PET scans, as well as a biopsy, which often required an invasive operation. Interventional Pulmonologist Matt Salamonsen from Murdoch Chest says the introduction of Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) has revolutionised the field of respiratory medicine. “EBUS is a non-surgical procedure …

Knee Arthroscopy Shows Benefits For Many

A recent study has found knee arthroscopy procedures for knee joint meniscal injuries give patients improved function and less pain, despite recent publications questioning the value of this procedure. Some recently published reviews have raised concerns about the effectiveness of knee arthroscopy, particularly in patients who have knee osteoarthritis. A retrospective study conducted by orthopaedic …

For your comfort and wellbeing

If you are going into hospital for a procedure, chances are, you will meet an anaesthetist. Anaesthetists are doctors who specialise for a further five years on completion of their medical degrees. Anaesthetist and Director of Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine at St John of God Murdoch Hospital, Dr David Borshoff, says he and his colleagues …

What to eat after bowel surgery

There are a number diet changes that are advisable to make to quicken your recovery after surgery. Senior Dietitian Preeti Chauhan at St John of God Murdoch Hospital recommends: Reducing dietary fibre soon after surgery to allow your bowel to rest Reintroduce gradually fibre into your diet four to six weeks after surgery Avoid caffeine, artificial sweeteners, alcohol and spicy foods which may make stools …

Excessively tired? Cranky?

Do you have a general feeling of being unwell? Constantly tired with no real explanation? A little moodier than usual? It could be something you hadn’t thought about before… You might have hyperparathyroidism – a condition that affects 1-2% per cent of us and tends to go under the radar due to the vague symptoms that present. Endocrine, Breast and …

Knee replacement surgery

Knee replacement surgery is a technique that removes an arthritic knee joint and replaces it with an artificial joint, known as a prosthesis. Surgeons perform total or half replacements, depending on the extent of the damage to the knee. Who needs a hip or knee replacement? The most common reason for patients to need a knee replacement is severe osteoarthritis. Other conditions might include: …

Surgical patient admissions

The majority of St John of God Murdoch Hospital’s surgical patients are admitted through the Day Procedure Unit (DPU), not directly to their room on a ward. Patients are then transferred to theatre and their ward bed after surgery. Day Procedure Unit Manager Margaret Knowles says the process improves the unit’s ability to care for their patients appropriately. “This way, patients are armed …