Issue 30 of Connect
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FREE - PLEASE TAKE ONE Issue 30 News from University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust Penny’s life- saving decision Neonatal job is dream come true SPOTLIGHT for Emily ON MAJOR TRAUMA Aaron – WIN! survival An against iPod shuffle the odds mediamonitor the latest UHS news Welcome to issue Surgeons halve recovery time with 30 of Connect pioneering knee repair operation In this issue... UHS in the news 2 Surgeons at Southampton General would be required Op changes Vinny’s life 3 Hospital have pioneered an early- for up to six Major trauma special 4/5 stage operation to repair damaged weeks following Spouting off with Tim Underwood / knees without the need for a total full surgery. Research a life saver for Penny 6 replacement – halving recovery times. Professor David Barrett, a consultant Dream job for Emily 7 The technique, known as orthopaedic surgeon and the first in Dear Connect/Fundraising connection 8 bicompartmental knee resurfacing, the UK to perform the procedure, involves replacing only the areas of said: “While total replacements, Tell us what you think... cartilage affected by arthritis and which can last for up to 20 years, have Let us know what you think of Connect, avoids removal of the ligaments – always been and remain a suitable plus tell us what news and features you’d enabling more natural movement option for people over 65, they can like to see in future editions. immediately after surgery. wear out much faster in younger, Email [email protected] Using resurfacing, only the ligament more active patients but, until on the inside of the knee and the recently, there was no alternative Write to Communications, Mailpoint 18 kneecap are affected when a surgeon for them. Southampton General Hospital removes sections of damaged cartilage “Now, with increasing numbers of Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD and replaces it with plastic or alloy people in their 40s and 50s needing Telephone 023 8079 4853 metal implants. treatment, we are able to offer an Website www.uhs.nhs.uk The procedure sees patients leave alternative which extends the lifespan hospital after three days – less than of their knee and allows them to Connect is produced by UHSFT’s half the time it takes after total make a quick return to daily and communications team. replacement – without crutches, which sporting activities.” The Trust is delighted toMediaMonito r MediaMonitor media monitor: This story was covered by The Daily Telegraph, The Sun, the Daily Express, the Daily Mail, The Herald (Scotland), the announce that children’s Health Service Journal, The Independent, the Birmingham Mail, the Northern Echo, the Eastern Daily Press, the Yorkshire Post, the Western heart surgery will remain Morning News, the Romsey Advertiser and the Southern Daily Echo. at Southampton. Thank you to everyone who supported us throughout the campaign. Doctor calls for screening programme to cut liver death rate Revolutionary A top doctor based at Southampton’s will send things spiralling out of university hospitals is calling for the control,” said Dr Wright. device to combat introduction of a national screening “With advances in technology, programme to cut the rising death such as the FibroScan, we are in a bladder problems rate from liver disease. better position than ever to tackle Dr Mark Wright, a consultant this crisis head-on as we can quickly Experts at Princess Anne Hospital urgent desire to urinate. hepatologist, spoke out following the and accurately assess people early on, have pioneered the use of a Using VERV, patients can send high unveiling of a hi-tech ultrasound probe without posing device to help people overcome frequency signals from the patch to diagnose liver damage without the any risks to embarrassing bladder problems through the skin to stimulate the need for invasive biopsies and overnight their health at the click of a button – without nerves at the base of the spine and hospital stays. or requiring drugs, needles or surgery. control their bladder contractions. The FibroScan, which uses sound them to stay The VERV system, which involves a Consultant urogynaecologist waves to assess the degree of tissue in hospital, small patch placed on the lower back Ash Monga, who worked on the damage, takes around ten minutes then give and a remote control, is the first tool development for eight years, said: to complete and gives specialists an them the to halt the symptoms of overactive “For the first time, patients have a immediate overview of a patient’s liver support they bladder (OAB) syndrome from outside non-surgical, drug-free, discreet and health through computerised images. need to fend the body via wireless technology. effective option which allows them “Deaths have increased by a quarter off potential The condition causes sufferers to pass to get their lives back without having in less than a decade and we are sat devastating small amounts of urine before they can to face an operating theatre or make on a triple ticking timebomb of the threats reach a toilet or feel a frequent and regular trips for hospital treatment.” consequences of alcohol, obesity and to their hepatitis which, if we don’t intervene, health.” MediaMonitor MediaMonitor media monitor: This story was covered by the Daily Mail, The Independent, the Daily Mirror, the Chichester Observer, Crawley Observer, Shoreham Herald, the MediaMonitor MediaMonitor media monitor: This story was covered by The Independent, the Press Association, Portsmouth News, West Sussex County Times, the Sussex Express, the Petersfield the Aberdeen Press and Journal, the Yorkshire Post, the Birmingham Mail, the South Post and the Southern Daily Echo. Wales Evening Post, Heart South Coast, Wave 105, Unity 101, Capital FM and Jack FM. CONNECT When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it. Printed on environmentally friendly paper. 2 ISSUE 30 Her smile says it all This time last year, mum Esther Mullings had to watch helplessly as her son Vinny suffered painful spasms throughout his body. Left brain-damaged following a was carried out at the scene before swimming pool accident, Vinny was the toddler was rushed to hospital in constantly being sick and unable to Limassol, where he spent two days in a enjoy anything. drug-induced coma. Now, after an operation to implant A specialist team from Southampton’s a special pump and catheter to slowly paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) drip muscle relaxant directly into the flew out to the holiday island to bring youngster’s spinal cord, Vinny is pain- him home. free with a transformed quality of life. Esther said: “The Cypriots were For Esther, husband Keith, an RAF communicating with the neurological sergeant, and older son Dennis, ten, it doctors back in the UK and told us means they can finally start enjoying Southampton was top-notch for some time together as a family again. treatment and after-care. The new start is thanks to an operation “That reassured me and a plane carried out by consultant neurosurgeon was organised for us to fly into Girish Vajramani at Southampton Bournemouth. Vinny was blue-lighted all General Hospital. the way to PICU.” to be discharged and the family set “We were all holding our breath as Vinny, who turned five in May, now Vinny had suffered a severe brain up home in Chilworth, Southampton, Vinny started looking around the room goes to a special school five days a week. injury through oxygen starvation in where community nurses helped with his and held his head up by himself for the Esther, 37, of Marchwood, near the accident. rehabilitation. first time.” Southampton, said: “Vinny is a Scans and tests subsequently confirmed Vinny’s consultant, Professor Colin Although Vinny remains short-sighted, different boy. he had dystonia – uncontrollable and Kennedy, began talking to the family his hearing is 100%. He says “mum” and “He is so much more alert and loves often painful muscle spasms caused about intrathecal baclofen therapy (ITB) communicates yes and no by blinking. his environment. He is just a joy. by incorrect signals from the brain. to help reduce stiffness in his body. Now Vinny returns to hospital every “We are not constantly standing over few months to have his pump topped him and worrying. Having the operation up with medication. has calmed him right down, and he is “We were all holding our breath Esther said she and Keith, 41, would be finally in a routine of being awake in the as Vinny started looking around forever indebted to the doctors, nurses, day and sleeping at night.” physiotherapists and other staff who had She added: “The best thing is that the room and held his head up by helped Vinny. he no longer spasms unless he is ill or “I cannot even begin to express our very tired. The spasms were extremely himself for the first time.” gratitude to the team at Southampton distressing and made him hot and dizzy.” General Hospital,” said Esther. Vinny was two when he nearly Although no cure, the condition can ITB is a system of administering muscle “Everyone we have met has been drowned in a friend’s swimming pool be controlled. relaxant directly into the spinal cord via a absolutely amazing. They have always in Cyprus, where the forces family were Vinny spent two-and-a-half months in pump and catheter. reassured us and spoken to us in just the based at the time. intensive care before transferring to the In November 2011, Vinny underwent right way. Emergency resuscitation high dependency unit and eventually a the procedure at the hands of Mr “Vinny is always going forward now side room. Vajramani. and we are so grateful for that.” Many difficult months went past in a A pump the size of a hockey puck was Professor Kennedy said: “In spite of the blur of spasms, drugs, sickness, feeding implanted into Vinny’s abdomen, with severe difficulties Vinny has with stiffness challenges and a bout of pneumonia.