The Covid-19 pandemic in Serbia lasts more than a month and a large part of the health system is functioning in this new situation. However, there are many patients whose treatment requires surgical intervention. This applies to people with various chronic illnesses that are exacerbated as well as those who have had fractures during this period, a dislocation of injury for whose care doctor was needed, especially those who needed a surgeon. The Atlas General Hospital provides medical assistance to all those who have come under these emergency conditions.
In the Atlas team we have Professor Dr. Srbislav Knežević, master of Serbian surgery, an internationally recognized expert in hepatobiliary pancreatic surgery. He tells us what the medical conditions in general surgery that cannot wait are.
Prof. dr Srbislav Knezevic – My patients very often cannot wait because we would lose valuable time and this can be devastating.
Prof. dr Srbislav Knežević: “There are some urgent things in medicine and in surgery, that must be done regardless of the general situation and epidemiology. Specifically for hepatobiliary surgery, these are obstructions of the main bile ducts most commonly caused by a pancreatic tumor when the patient turns yellow, when you have to intervene. Also there are cancers. Every patient diagnosed with cancer, whether the condition can wait ten, fifteen or a month, has its burden and wants to end it as soon as possible. ”
Such patients were taken care of at Atlas Hospital during this period. As we were told by Prof. Dr. Knezevic, the amount of operations was not as large as before the epidemic, but pancreatic cancer and biliary surgery were performed.
Prof. dr Srbislav Knežević: “I think that in the future, not only in Atlas-type hospitals but also in other hospitals, urgent tests should be performed for rapid identification of Coronaviruses, because in the world and in our country we do not have much experience in how patients with this infection will endure the surgery treatment. Some acute conditions cannot be avoided. It doesn’t have to be just surgery. Some acute conditions in surgery and in other branches cannot be treated at home or by phone, you must receive a patient (specifically with acute cholecystitis or pancreatitis) you will not have surgery immediately but you must receive him in hospital, the patient must be under medical supervision”.
The professor has had several surgeries in the last month and tells us why they were urgent.
Prof. dr Srbislav Knežević: “These are very intense – yellow patients. They became yellow due to obstruction of their bile ducts. Which is the case with choledocholithiasis-stones in the common bile ducts that are neglected. Also two cancer patients that we had to operate because of jaundice. Progressive jaundice leads to intoxication of the patient.
If you do not intervene in any way (now there are endoscopic methods) and we felt that in this situation it would be better to do surgery because we would lose valuable time. ”
Was the patient in life threatening condition
Prof. dr Srbislav Knežević: “Literally, at that moment, life was not threatened, but the progression of the whole process at one point would lead to vital emergency.”
Employees of Atlas General Hospital adhere to the instructions and instructions of epidemiologic experts and apply all proposed measures to protect themselves and patients.
What are the preventive measures when it comes to surgery
Prof. dr Srbislav Knežević:” This is the usual protection of both the surgeon and his medical staff that existed before. It’s surgery, you have to have a mask, gloves, all sterile conditions. This is common practice for all surgical institutions. ”
Anyone with any acute problems can seek help at Atlas Hospital.
What are the symptoms in patients with need for hepatobiliary pancreatic surgery
Prof. dr Srbislav Knežević: “ This is a common way: The patient reports for a checkup. I think there is no reason now for some phone selection in advance. Pain is one of the main warning symptoms in all patients. It is not logical to take analgesics so easily. It is not logical that if the pain lasts longer than 24 hours, the doctor should not look at that patient. After checkup he is to decide if it is for analgesics. Sometimes there are also some very difficult things to hide behind, which, if lost, can also be devastating for the patient. ”
Although the pandemic is ongoing, life has not stopped, as well as the various diseases that cannot wait. Any patient with disabilities may report to the Atlas General Hospital. The Atlas team will provide him with the best medical service in completely safe conditions.
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