My early start to life... - Apollo Bramwell Hospital

Newsletter: Issue 3 | January ’2012
I am Marine. I celebrated my first
birthday a few months ago and with all
the wisdom of a 19 months old toddler,
I can now tell you my experience of
having been born preterm . . .
My early
start to life...
inside
2nd Anniversary Celebrations
2
Heart Centre with a difference
4
New Alcohol Treatment Centre
My early start to life
6
7
Emergency Situations
8
Message from
the CEO
Apollo Bramwell Hospital
S
A few years ago, it became clear that Mauritius and
this part of the world desperately required advanced
healthcare. Many people were required to travel abroad
for high end treatment. Others would unfortunately suffer
a medical condition that could have well been treated if
they could afford the trip.
ince its operation, the private hospital has treated over 80,000
local and international patients. It has conducted 100,000
consultations and medical procedures, 4,000 complex surgeries,
20,000 examinations and interventions to emergency services, 325,000
laboratory tests, 50,000 diagnostics (radiology) and 4,000 preventive
checkups. Mr Dawood Rawat, Chairman of Seaton Investment, thanked
all the hospital’s staff for their dedication. “When people come to us, it is
because they are in distress. We need to show compassion towards them
and take care of them with dedication. This is not about making money”,
he said to the audience.
The vision to create a world class medical facility
here, in Mauritius, was not like any other vision. It was
to be one of the boldest contribution to the country’s
healthcare.
So what would the hospital be like? It wasn’t good
enough to create a clinic. Apollo Bramwell would not only
be state of the art but under the guidance of Chairman
Dawood Rawat and the expertise of Apollo Hospitals
India, it would be a leading-edge facility known for
exemplary, nationally and regionally recognised medical
care.
Two years have elapsed since their dream became
reality bringing unprecedented transformation to the
medical landscape of the country.
Since 2009, the hospital has been continuously
and successfully establishing pioneering benchmarks
in healthcare in Mauritius and the region. The hospital
boasts a great number of medical ‘firsts’ - stem cell
therapy and regenerative medicine, complex spinal
surgeries and advanced oncology surgical services to
name a few. I am happy to say that we are working on
many more ‘firsts’ which are in the pipeline for our third
year of operation.
He mentioned that Apollo Bramwell Hospital
wants to provide quality service as well as
ensuring comfort to the patients’ relatives in
the waiting room. He announced that British
doctors will soon join the team of Apollo
Bramwell Hospital as the French doctors did.
More than 80 million USD were invested in
this hospital project to meet international
standards.
According to Mrs. Valérie Rawat, CEO of Apollo
Bramwell Hospital, the success story of the
Apollo Bramwell Hospital began several years
ago. Two friends, Mr. Rawat and Dr. Reddy met
and had a common dream for Mauritius: to
fulfill the need of advanced medical services
previously unavailable in the region.
“Two years later their dream became a reality,
bringing an unprecedented transformation
in the medical sector of the country”, said
Mrs. Rawat before an audience of insurance
representatives, partners, suppliers and
medical and non-medical representatives.
Dr. Pratap C. Reddy, whose message was
read by its Chief Financial Officer, Mr. S
Venkataraman through videoconference,
discussed the work done by the hospital with
a state-of-the-art technology in just two years
of operation. He reiterated to continuously
share the expertise of his group with the
Mauritian hospital.
At the same time, as the management team of
Apollo Bramwell continues to escalate its commitment
to patient-centred care, the list of satisfied patients
continues to grow.
During the last 24 months more than 100,000
consultations and medical procedures have been effected,
over 4,000 complex surgeries have been performed, over
600 babies were given birth, over 300,000 lab tests have
been conducted, countless lives were saved.
We have celebrated a milestone. That of a heritage in
the making. And all of you have played a significant role
in the success and accomplishment of Apollo Bramwell.
This is about the dedication of the whole team of
Apollo Bramwell – doctors, nurses, technicians, front
liners and management. A big thank you as well to our
insurance partners and suppliers for your continued
support. Recognising the crucial role of referring doctors,
I wish to extend our heartfelt appreciation to each of
you for your support and collegial way you work with
us to help provide the best possible care to our patients.
And finally, thank you to all Mauritian and international
patients who have and continue to trust us as your
preferred provider of medical care.
Looking ahead, we know our responsibility is to
continually seek out new ways to improve everything
we do as a world class organisation. My commitment to
you is that we are driven by sustainable progress and will
continue to work tirelessly to Apollo Bramwell’s continued
success through its third and many years to come.
Thank you
SOME FACTS
Mrs Valerie Rawat, CEO
No. of treatments
No. of Consultations and medical procedures
We welcome suggestions for future
articles from patients, visitors and
business partners. Please email your
suggestions to info@apollobramwell.com.
No part of this newsletter may be
reproduced without the written
permission of Apollo Bramwell Hospital.
All rights reserved 2011 by British
American Hospitals Enterprise Limited.
2
Apollo Bramwell Hospital Pulse | Issue 3, October’11
No. of Complex surgeries
No. of Examinations and interventions to emergency services
No. of Laboratory tests
No. of diagnostics (radiology)
No. of preventive checkups
80,000
100,000
4,000
20,000
325,000
50,000
4,000
celebrates its 2nd anniversary
Interview with
Dr. Pratap C. Reddy,
Chairman,
Apollo Hospital, India
A
pollo Bramwell Hospital celebrates its
two years of operation. How did this
facility improve the standard of medical
care in Mauritius and the region?
Apollo Bramwell Hospital has developed
high-level hospital services in the region.
With internationally recognized consultants
in their specialties, the impact of Apollo
Bramwell was immediate through the
provision of advanced clinical care - that
hospitals in the region would most likely
want to do. Apollo Bramwell Hospital has
created a new standard that will contribute
significantly to support the growth of quality
healthcare benefits.
“Super specialists” from Apollo India
regularly visit Mauritius for surgery
or advanced training sessions. Why is
this continued sharing of expertise and
experience important?
Ongoing sharing of clinical expertise is
essential to the strengthening of such
programme. The Apollo Hospitals Group,
with expertise in over 28 advanced
specialties, is a pioneer in research and
application of procedures, techniques
and latest technology whose results are
consistent with international standards.
The new facilities forming part of the
Apollo Group has the advantage of
benefiting from the experience of super
specialists. For them, the Apollo structure is
advantageous because it allows them the
rapid establishment of their own clinical
programme. There is no need to start from
scratch. There are existing procedures
and protocols, implemented under the
supervision of renowned consultants, which
give clinical outcomes.
Mauritius aspires to become the medical
hub of the region. According to you,
what will be the role of Apollo Bramwell
Hospital in this project?
Apollo Bramwell Hospital, like all hospitals
under the management of Apollo India, is
built on four pillars of medical excellence:
clinical care, patient care, high technology
and values. This recipe was the initial success
of Apollo Hospitals, which has emerged as
a preferred international destination for
medical care. I have no doubt that Apollo
Bramwell will become an excellent centre of
reference in the region, leaving evidences in
clinical excellence at international level.
Apollo Bramwell Hospital Pulse | Issue 3, October’11
3
HEART CENTRE WITH A DIFFERENCE
T
he Heart Centre at Apollo Bramwell Hospital is one of the most
advanced in the region. We offer seamless, integrated, complete
cardiac care ranging from comprehensive preventive checks to
major interventional surgeries.
Cardiac Emergency Services
Apollo Cardiac Emergency offers expedient
and high quality emergency cardiac care
to the patient. It is designed to provide
immediate medical attention to individuals
with symptoms suggestive of heart disease.
We have established Golden Hour Protocols for
the care of critical patients and the principles
of Advanced Cardiac and Life Support (ACLS)
are applied for the prompt and efficient
treatment of cardiac patients. Our Emergency
Ambulances are equipped with:
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electrical stimulation for cardiac arrest or
severe bradycardia (slow heart rate).
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in case of insufficient respiration or
respiratory failure.
t"TQFDJBMJTFEQIZTJDJBOBOEXFMMUSBJOFE
medical personnel in coronary emergency
care and transportation.
Since cardiac problems cannot be treated
in isolation, we use a multi-disciplinary
approach that monitors the patient in every
aspect before proceeding with a method
of treatment. At the Heart Centre, you will
have access to the latest state-of-the-art
diagnostic tools, all under one roof, while
our experts, and well trained staff ensure
that you are in the safest hands.
We specialise in the management and
treatment of heart attacks, coronary artery
and valvular diseases and arrhythmias. We
perform the entire spectrum of cardiac
surgeries. Our highly skilled surgeons
perform complicated coronary artery bypass
(CABG) operations, surgery for all types
of valvular heart disease and infant and
neonatal heart surgeries.
Our Heart Centre is equipped with the
latest innovations in cardiology that aid in
accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
It houses advanced technology such as
a 64-slice dual source CT scanner, a flatpanel cardiac catheterization lab (Cath
Lab), a 3-D eco-cardiography and a 1.5 T
MRI. The combination of our state-of-theart technology, expert cardiologists and
cardiovascular surgeons enables us to
provide broad treatment options, including
recommendations for lifestyle modification.
Cardio Thoracic Surgery
Our cardiac surgeons have performed
thousands of cardiac surgeries at a worldclass success rate. Our skilled surgeons are
experts in the following fields:
· Coronary artery disease
· Elective or emergency surgery for aortic
aneurysm
· Surgeries for lung & mediastinal diseases
· Peripheral vascular surgeries
4
· Heart failure, Marfan Syndrome and other
less common conditions.
· Arrhythmia surgeries
· Valve repairs and replacements, isolated
and also with Coronary Artery
Bypass grafting (CABG) and carotid
endarterectomy (isolated and with CABG).
Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery –
Beating Heart Surgery
With expertise in all aspects of minimally
invasive approaches which provide access to
direct visualization of all vascular zones and
internal anatomy, our cutting edge tools and
techniques allow our surgeons to perform
minimally invasive beating heart operations
for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG). Our
surgeons are committed to ensuring longterm patency of grafts thereby reducing the
need for repeat surgeries.
Interventional Cardiology
The range of diagnostic and therapeutic
procedures offered at Apollo Bramwell
Hospital includes coronary and peripheral
angioplasty and stenting with drug-eluting
stents; balloon valvuloplasty; nonsurgical
closure of holes in the heart for conditions
such as Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), Ventricular
Septal Defect (VSD) and Patent Ductus
Arteriosus (PDA); and interventional
cardiac procedures such as implanting an
Implantable Cardiverter Defibrillator (ICD).
Our team of Cardiologists have performed
thousands of diagnostic procedures and
interventional procedures.The Heart Centre’s
world-class facilities, such as the Cath
Lab, Critical Care Units and Intensive Care
Units make us a leading Centre of Cardiac
Excellence in the region.
Apollo Bramwell Hospital Pulse | Issue 3, October’11
Preventive Heart Check Packages
Apollo Bramwell Hospital offers
comprehensive Cardiac Health Check
Packages. Recommended for anybody or in
circumstances with possible cardiac risk, our
Apollo Bramwell Cardiac Check (ABH CC) and
Apollo Bramwell Advanced Cardiac Check
(ABH ACC) include a comprehensive set of
tests providing complete information on the
status of one’s cardiovascular system and
include a consultation with a cardiologist.
The Apollo Bramwell Advanced Cardiac Check
includes every test in the ABH CC package as
well as a cardiac scan using the 64-slice dual
source CT angiography, making it the ultimate
heart check.
FACTS AND FIGURES
As per Mauritius, Non-Communicable
Diseases Survey 2004, the prevalence of
diabetes among those aged 30 years and over
was found to be 19.3%. On the other hand,
the prevalence of hypertension in
the age group 30 years and above was around
30%.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity in
2004 was 35.7 % with more women than men.
Overall, 35.9% of males and 5.1% of females
(aged 20-74 years) were current smokers in
2004.
The prevalence of abusive alcohol intake in
males was 19.1% in 2004 and the prevalence
of adequate (moderate or heavy) physical
activity in the age group 35-54 years was
24.5% among males and 9.5% among females.
Take care of your heart so
that it can take care of you!
Medical assistance to
International and local
runners at the “Dodo Trail
2011”
the benefits. But, even moderate-intensity
activities help if done regularly and long
term. Physical activity can help control blood
cholesterol, diabetes and obesity, as well as
help lower blood pressure in some people.
To gain most benefit you should do at least
30 minutes of exercise very often (at least five
days a week).
tObesity and overweight - People who
have excess body fat - especially at the waist
- are more likely to develop heart disease
and stroke even if they have no other risk
factors. Excess weight increases the heart’s
work. It also raises blood pressure and blood
cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and lowers
HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels. There is also
a risk of developing diabetes. Losing even
as few as 10 pounds, can help lower heart
disease risk.
What Is Coronary Artery Disease?
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), also called
Coronary Heart Disease, is a condition in which
plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries
which prevents oxygen rich blood to be
supplied to the heart muscle.
Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol calcium,
and other substances found in the blood.
When plaque builds up in the arteries, the
condition is called atherosclerosis.
t Body Mass Index (BMI) is a relationship
between weight and height that is associated
with body fat and health risk. The BMI can be
used to know your ideal weight.
t%JBCFUFTNFMMJUVT - Diabetes seriously
increases your risk of developing
cardiovascular disease. Even when glucose
(blood sugar) levels are under control,
diabetes increases the risk of heart disease
and stroke, but the risks are even greater if
blood sugar is not well controlled. About
three-quarters of people with diabetes die of
some form of heart or blood vessel disease.
If you have diabetes, it’s extremely important
to work with your healthcare provider to
manage it and control any other risk factors.
The Dodo trail, recently organised by
the Dodo Travel & Tours, a running trail
linking two fabulous tracks crossing the
island from the South to the West.
What are the major risk factors you can
modify, treat or control by changing your
lifestyle or taking medicine?
Three trails were set: an ultra 80-km
mountain race departing from La Cambuse
public beach, 33-km Ti-dodo trail from Pétrin
and a 10-km mini-dodo trail from Yémen.
Out of 350 subscriptions from international
and local runners including Rodrigues,
320 runners aged between 6 to 68 yrs old
participated in this 1st edition international
trail. In collaboration with Vertical World Ltd,
Apollo Bramwell Hospital emergency and
medical team was proud to assist the whole
trail at different strategic places.
tTobacco smoke - Smokers’ risk of developing
coronary heart disease is 2-4 times greater
than non-smokers. Cigarette smoking is a
powerful independent risk factor for sudden
cardiac death in patients with coronary
heart disease. However, exposure to smokers
increases the risk of heart disease for nonsmokers.
Participation in IOSHM
(Institution of Occupational
Safety & Health Management)
2-Day Exhibition
Plaque narrows the arteries and reduces blood
flow to the heart muscle. Blood clots are more
likely to be formed in the arteries. Blood clots
can partially or completely block blood flow.
t)JHICMPPEDIPMFTUFSPM - As blood
cholesterol rises, so does risk of coronary
heart disease. When other risk factors (such
as high blood pressure and tobacco smoke)
are present, this risk increases even more. A
person’s cholesterol level is also affected by
age, sex, heredity and diet. We advise to have
a cholesterol check if aged 40 or more, or if
you have a strong family history, it is advised
to have a check.
t)JHICMPPEQSFTTVSF - High blood pressure
increases the heart’s workload, causing the
heart to thicken and become stiffer. It also
increases risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney
failure and congestive heart failure. When
high blood pressure exists in parallel with
obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol
levels or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or
stroke is higher. Treatment is advised if your
blood pressure remains high and regularly
check your blood pressure at least every 3-5
days.
t1IZTJDBMJOBDUJWJUZ - An inactive lifestyle is a
risk factor for coronary heart disease. Regular,
moderate-to-vigorous physical activity helps
prevent heart and blood vessel disease.
The more vigorous the activity, the greater
Eat a healthy diet. Briefly this means:
t"UMFBTUöWFQPSUJPOTJEFBMMZNPSFPGB
variety of fruit and vegetables per day.
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based foods (such as cereals, wholegrain
bread, potatoes, rice, pasta), plus fruit and
vegetables.
t"WPJEGBUUZGPPETVDIBTGBUUZNFBUTDIFFTFT
full-cream milk, oily food, butter (use low fat
spreads) and so on.
t*ODMVEFQPSUJPOTPGöTIQFSXFFLBUMFBTU
one of which should be ‘oily’.
t*GZPVFBUNFBUJUJTCFTUUPFBUMFBONFBUPS
poultry such as chicken.
t*GZPVEPGSZDIPPTFBWFHFUBCMFPJMTVDIBT
sunflower, rapeseed or olive oil.
tLimit your salt intake - Adults should eat
no more than 6g salt a day. This is about a
teaspoon of salt. About three quarters of the
salt we eat is already in the foods we buy. By
simply checking food labels and choosing
foods with lower salt options, it can make a
big difference. Also, try not to add salt to food
at the table.
The Apollo Bramwell Hospital participated
in the IOSHM exhibition “Safety Excellence
through Integrated Management Systems”
at Caudan Waterfront as a foremost partaker
and player in the promotion of occupational
safety and health in Mauritius.
The exhibition stretched over 2 days where
11 governmental and non-governmental
organizations took part. It was good a
opportunity to showcase Apollo Bramwell
Hospital’s expertise in health safety and to
interact with health and safety professionals
and the general public. The exhibition
was marked by the public eagerness and
willingness to learn about health and safety
issues and the hospital services.
Apollo Bramwell Hospital Pulse | Issue 3, October’11
5
News
ALCOHOL TREATMENT
CENTRE LAUNCHED
Dr Bhaya at congress
The largest medical exhibition and medical
conference of Africa, “ Africa Health Congress
2011” was held at the Johannesburg Expo
Centre, Nasrec South Africa in May 2011.
This was a major 3-day exhibition and
congress presenting a diverse range of
topics relating to healthcare in Africa, and
which has attracted thousands of healthcare
professionals from the region and around
the world to its doors. Dr. Anil Bhaya,
Chief Radiologist, and Director Advanced
Diagnostics & Digital Heath Care at Apollo
Bramwell Hospital was invited as a faculty
member at this conference. The faculty
comprised of leading experts from France,
South Africa, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Uganda and
Namibia. He delivered three presentations
highlighting the importance and relevance
of Imaging in investigation of Urinary
Tract Disorders, Jaundice and commonly
encountered Sports Injuries.
t last, Mauritians with alcohol
problems can now be cared
for in a state-of-the-art facility
which shows they deserve as
much support and respect as those with
other types of health issues. This new service
will offer advice, support and treatment for
people with alcohol-related problems.
Apollo Bramwell proudly announces the
signing of an agreement between Vanbreda
International and Apollo Bramwell Hospital.
Vanbreda International has been taking
care of the expatriates community since
1958. The company is a market leader in
the development and administration of
cross-border health insurance and employee
benefits programmes. Vanbreda has built
up a network of 10,000 medical service
providers across the globe, bridging the
gap between cultures, languages and
borders, enabling plan members access to
quality health care wherever they are. By
becoming a Vanbreda International partner,
Apollo Bramwell has access to 330,000 plan
members worldwide. This partnership gives
us the opportunity to expand our visibility to
a new international patient base.
Since alcohol addiction affects more than
just one part of the body or life, a treatment
solution is more than ever needed.
Therefore a holistic approach is necessary to
help treat this addiction for good.
The ABSA Cape Epic 2011
This event was Africa’s greatest mountain
biking meet with over 400 participants.
Apollo Bramwell Hospital proudly sponsored
the Mauritian team that finished 177th
overall and 119th in men’s category. The
participants covered a total track of 707km
in more than 40 hours of riding during 8
days through beautiful, arid and hostile
landscapes of Africa.
6
A
Apollo Bramwell
Hospital Partners with
Apollo Bramwell Hospital Pulse | Issue 3, October’11
Indeed at our new Alcohol Treatment
Centre, patients can get the individualized
treatment and support they need to heal
their body, mind and spirit - ensuring that
the road to recovery is a permanent one.
We have already conducted 22 successful
alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation
cases by providing our clients with a high
quality, comprehensive treatment process
that is cost effective and centered on their
particular needs.
Set in a comfortable and discrete
surrounding, our Alcohol Treatment
Centre offers a more serene and soothing
environment. It attracts clients from all over
the country and from abroad.
Our team consists of Physicians, Psychiatrists,
Psychologists, Specialist Nurses, Counsellors
and Dieticians. Dr Anil Jhugroo, Consultant
Psychiatrist, has worked in various Alcohol
Treatment Centres in London and, with the
help of Australian Addiction Specialists,
has pioneered new treatment of addiction
in Mauritius. Our Physicians include Dr
Vikrant Sibartie, Consultant in Internal
Medicine and Liver diseases, Dr Jai Kant
Mishra, Consultant in Internal Medicine
and Dr Manish Jambavalikar, Consultant in
Gastroenterology and Liver diseases.
The Alcohol Treatment Centre has
been set up to help patients overcome
the devastating effects of alcoholism.
Alcoholics and their families often feel
isolated. This is just one of the problems
associated with alcoholism. We understand
what alcoholics and their families go
through and stand ready to put together a
series of treatment options and techniques
to help them achieve happiness and success.
We offer a variety of treatment options for
alcoholics and their families. Our goal is
to assist our patients to make them lead a
better life that is free of alcohol addiction.
At the Alcohol Treatment Centre, we
assist our patients, through passion and
commitment, to help them find the courage
to choose a life of recovery from alcohol
addiction. We welcome clients from all walks
of life and we address an array of problems.
We work with children at risk, support
clients in recovery, and offer a wide range
of treatment options for adults and teens.
We lead individuals and families affected
by alcohol addiction from disruptive to
productive lives.
Types of Alcohol Treatment:
t*OQBUJFOUBMDPIPMUSFBUNFOUJTGPSUIPTF
who have had serious alcohol problems for
some years, have already tried but failed to
get sober or who feel that they would not
have the support or strength to complete
an out-patient programme.
t0VUQBUJFOUBMDPIPMUSFBUNFOUJTJEFBM
for patients who have less severe alcohol
addictions, insufficient time to participate
in an in-patient programme or possibly
who are on the second stage of recovery
after an in-patient programme.
If you are in need of immediate assistance
or would like more information, call our
Alcohol Treatment Centre on 605 1000.
A patient recently mentioned: “Receiving
treatment in an environment as bright and
welcoming as the Alcohol Treatment Centre
will be a massive boost to those in need.”
By Dr. Jhugroo,
Consultant Psychiatry
I am Marine. I celebrated my
first birthday a few months ago
and with all the wisdom of a 19
months old toddler, I can now tell
you my experience of having been
born preterm . . .
MY EARLY START TO LIFE
I
took my mummy by surprise on
30th May 2010. She had started with
stomach ache the night before and
thought it was some indigestion.
She knew I was not due to be born until
end of July. But little did she know that I
had developed a sudden urge to see the
outside world! As her pain got more and
more severe, she knew that I was up to some
mischief and took herself to that brandnew world-class hospital in Moka. Once
she got there her Obstetrician confirmed
that, well, my mind was made up and there
was no stopping me! Mummy was given an
injection and she was told, this is to help
my lungs mature so that I will not have any
breathing difficulty at birth.
a lot – and I could sense everybody was
relieved when I gave that oh so expected
cry. I have a vague memory of some ladies
in pink outfits rubbing me dry soothingly
and then all of a sudden Aie! It was my turn
to have an injection now. What on earth
was that for? Of course I yelled like mad
and I later understood it was an injection
of Vitamin k given to all newborn babies to
prevent bleeding problems. Ok, fair enough.
I was then taken to a special room full of
fancy equipment called the NICU (Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit) where I got weighed.
Wait for it – 1.875kg I was! By the expression
on everybody’s face, I could sense I was a
wee bit too small. I was then placed into
a strange cot with doors and windows,
designed just for little babies like me. I am
told it is called an incubator and designed
to keep me warm. Of course, it was not as
comfortable as being in mummy’s womb
but I felt quite safe in it.
It was totally see-through and everybody
was peeping at me. So no privacy at all
there but the purpose is so that my doctors
and nurses can keep a very close eye on me
and my every move. Not that they did not
trust me, but more just in case I stopped
breathing again or if I got into any mischief
and started pulling off my tubes. And mind
you, there were lots of tubes everywhere on
me. A tube in my nose to give me oxygen,
one in my hand to give me fluids and
medication, another one in my mouth for
feeding, little leads attached to my chest to
continuously monitor my heart beat and
respiration.
I was in such a rush to come out that I came
out legs first, unlike most babies. Quite
a thrill that was, but the expert hands of
mummy’s Obstetrician guided me out
safely. Of course I was so exhausted by this
experience that I totally forgot to cry or
breathe! Luckily my Paediatrician was there
to get me breathing – not the usual slap
on the bum you see them do in Movies, of
course not. She has a special contraption
that helps to inflate my lungs until I start
breathing on my own. Breathing on my own
turned out not to be as hard as I expected –
the injection mummy received really helped
kangaroo care – which I must say works
wonders for maintaining my temperature
and promote the bonding between mummy
and me.
I was a real fighter and made progress in
leaps and bounds. By the time I was 6 days
old, I was able to maintain my temperature
and was able to come out of my incubator. I
was placed in a cot (just like the big babies)
and all my tubes were removed. I felt a lot
more relaxed then. You know what I mean, I
could stretch my legs to my heart’s content
without fear of dislodging anything now!
I eventually started to breast feed and that
was total bliss! Mummy seemed to have an
unlimited supply of that wonderful stuff. I
am told her excellent milk production has
something to do with Grandma Therese
Coq-au-Vin recipe! I really got a different
strength in me then and I could not wait for
the day when I would finally go home.
And that day finally came. I was then 8
days old. My doctors and nurses were very
happy with my progress. There were lots of
emotional good-byes, with mummy being
given plenty of advice of how to cope with
me at home. Everything went well at home
and I had to come for regular visits to have
my weight and development checked. I was
such a good feeder, if not a bit greedy, that
my doctor was always very pleased with my
weight gain. Of course I was very good at
taking my daily vitamins too. I also had visits
with the eye specialist and for a brain scan.
Luckily I got the all-clear from all of them.
It was quite funny when the monitor
alarmed. All my doctors and nurses would
jump to attention and check me over to
make sure my breathing and heart beat was
fine. So I really had to be extra careful not
to dislodge any of these leads and tubes, or
else my nurses would get annoyed at me.
So that’s me, Marine, now aged 19 months.
My doctor says that looking at me now,
nobody would guess I was born preterm. I
can do all the tricks that are expected from
me for my age, and even more, such as
emptying nicely piled drawers and dumping
everything on the floor, which usually gets
aunt Marie pulling her hair out!
The best part of the day for me was
undoubtedly when mummy and daddy
came to visit me. I could see their concerned
faces through the glass, but they would
smile bravely for me and then would open
the incubator window to hold my hands.
As I got stronger, my nurses would take me
out of the incubator for a cuddle and some
By Dr. Faeza Soobadar,
Consultant Paediatrics and Neonatalogy
Apollo Bramwell Hospital Pulse | Issue 3, October’11
7
Emergency Situations: What you need to know!
By Dr. Rao Koteeswara Narasimhalu, Consultant Emergency Medicine and Family Physician.
tStroke - If the person experiences sudden
onset of weakness, numbness, loss of
function of hand, arm or leg, slurred
speech, facial droop or severe abrupt
headache. Complete recovery of illness is
possible the earlier the patient is rushed to
the hospital.
tSevere headache - Sudden onset of
unusual kind of throbbing headache, with
or without loss of function of arm or leg. It
could be a case of internal bleeding inside
the brain.
tMotor vehicle accidents - If you think
someone has been injured call the
Ambulance even if a person is breathing
or conscious after the accident. It is better
to check with a medical specialist as there
could be hidden injuries to the brain,
cervical spine, liver spleen as so on.
A
pollo Bramwell provides a hi-tech
“Hospital on wheels” Ambulance
service 24 hours /day. Whenever
there is an emergency do not
hesitate to call our Ambulance hot line “132”.
The Ambulance team will be available at
your door step anytime anywhere you are!
When to call an Ambulance?
The following situations need Ambulance
Service immediately:
tUnconscious person - Who doesn’t wake
or respond when shaken or called.
tChest pain - Especially if it is crushing pain
on centre of the chest or feeling of unusual
indigestion which lasts more than five
minutes. The pain may spread to arms and
jaw. Beware it could be heart attack.
tBreathing difficulty - Especially if the
person is unable to speak more than a few
words or has blue lips or mouth.
tBleeding - That does not stop after at least
10 minutes of continuous pressure.
tBurns - Which are bigger than the size of a
hand and/or cause severe pain that is not
relieved with simple painkillers or if the
person has difficulty in breathing.
tChoking - Especially if the person is unable
to talk, cry or breathe.
tConvulsions or fitting - Call the
ambulance for all type of convulsions or
fitting particularly if they have no history
of convulsions (for example Epilepsy ) It
could be damage, bleeding or tumour in
the brain.
tDrowning, near drowning, diving or
scuba accident - The Ambulance should
be called even if the person is conscious as
there may be fluids in the lung which may
endanger the person soon.
tIndustrial accidents - Any type of
industrial accident where a person is
injured, trapped, or has inhaled smoke.
tSevere vaginal bleeding - Any type
of uncontrolled vaginal bleeding with
possible or confirmed pregnancy.
tSevere pain after a fall or injury - When
the person is unable to sit up, stand
or walk. It could be a fracture or spinal
cord injury. Ask the patient not to move
unnecessarily as it may cause more severe
damage to the spinal cord or bone.
tHaemorrhages - Major uncontrolled
bleeding from any part of he body, nose,
rectum, mouth as so on.
tAbdominal pain - Severe abdominal
pain particularly lower right side of the
abdomen, it could be Appendicitis , or also
Ectopic pregnancy in case of females.
tDrug overdose or poisoning - Whether
you know for sure or suspect an overdose.
tDiabetes - if the person is not fully awake,
excessively sweating or not behaving
normally. It could be low or high blood
sugar both are dangerous to the patient.
tHypothermia or heat stroke - Particularly
children and old age people who are not
able to tolerate hypothermia and heat
stroke
tSevere back pain - After a fall or sudden
onset of back pain if over 50 years. It
could be spinal cord injury or vertebral
column fracture, try not to move until the
ambulance team arrives.
If you’re not sure, call anyway!
Remember, if you are unsure what is
happening to a person in a real Emergency
situation you can always phone “132” for
an Ambulance rescue , our Ambulance
team will guide you or come and assess the
situation at your door step. Our Ambulance
paramedics and experienced doctor
will quickly assess and start emergency
treatment on the spot. Patient will be
brought to the hospital safely and quickly for
further investigation and management.
What should you do before the
Ambulance arrives?
1. Approach the patient safely (your safety
comes first).
2. Move the patient to a safe area (if needed)
for e.g. moving the patient from oil spill,
fire area, middle of the busy traffic and
so on. Do it cautiously without further
damage to the patient in critical condition.
3. Shake or call the patient. If the person is
not responding, call for help.
4. If you are trained in BLS (Basic Life
Support), start chest compression and if
possible do mouth to mouth breathing.
5. If there is severe bleeding due to any type
of injury, try to apply direct pressure on
the bleeding site.
When a life and death situation arises, every
second counts! Call the Apollo Bramwell
Ambulance Hot line number “132”. Our
expert Ambulance team is available 24 / 7
with our “Hospital on wheels”.
tAllergic reaction - Especially
with breathing difficulty or loss of
consciousness, itchy, increasing patchy rash
spreading all over the body , or someone
about o collapse soon ,the the ambulance
should be called without delay.
tElectrical shock - Of any kind.
tTrauma - Severe trauma (Injury), especially
to the head, neck, chest or abdomen - for
example, if the person was stabbed, shot or
hit by an object.
tMeningococcal disease - If you see
symptoms like rash, headache, vomiting ,
having difficult to see light ,neck stiffness
with or without fever.
For any queries or for more information, Please call us on: (230) 605 1000 | Fax: (230) 6051100
or email us on info@apollobramwell.com
Apollo Bramwell Hospital, Royal Road, Moka, Mauritius | www.apollobramwell.com
A member of the Bramser Group
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