Bi-lateral Hip Replacement Simultaneously vs Staged

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Bi-lateral Hip Replacements: Simultaneous vs Staged

Hip Replacements occur most commonly due to degenerative problems from osteoarthritis.  Some individuals have this in both hips and require both of them to be replaced.  There is always the question as to whether or not they can be done at the same time, a simultaneous bi-lateral hip replacement, or if they need to be done at different times, a staged bi-lateral hip replacement.

In a properly selected patient, there are benefits to having a simultaneous bi-lateral hip replacement.  Those benefits would include: one hospital stay, only being put under anesthesia one time, and the ability to rehabilitate both hips at the same time.  There are, however, disadvantages.  Those could include a longer hospital stay as opposed to an out-patient procedure and a more intense period of rehabilitation.  Most often, you can go home on the same day after your surgery, however, some patients might have to be admitted directly to a rehabilitation facility or stay a day or two in the hospital.

In a staged bi-lateral hip replacement, the advantages are: a lower stress level for the cardiovascular system and lower risk of blood transfusion.  The disadvantages of a staged bi-lateral hip replacement include: being put under anesthesia two times and additional time required before you can return back to work or normal day to day activities.  The average time in between the surgeries is typically 3 months.  That means, it could be 6 months before you return back to work.

Ultimately, the success rate for a bi-lateral hip replacement done simultaneously vs staged has the same outcome as long as there are no post-operative complications.  It all comes down to the surgeon’s opinion on whether or not you are a good candidate as well as the surgeons experience and efficiency in doing them.  

Only a skilled surgeon should do a bi-lateral hip replacement.  If they take 3.5-4 hours to do a uni-lateral hip replacement, then they are not the right surgeon because the longer you are under anesthesia, the more complications, such as blood clots, can occur.  The surgeon needs to have a track record of completing a uni-lateral hip replacement in approximately 1-1.5 hours, or it might not be in your best interest.  Additional things they consider when selecting the proper candidate are the patients age, BMI, previous and current medical history, and activity level prior to surgery.  Being younger and healthy are the criteria for the best candidates.  

 

Health Vantis

www.healthvantis.ca

info@healthvantis.com

877-344-3544

How Does Health Vantis Work?

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Health Vantis is a full-service concierge medical facilitation company.  We help Canadians navigate their way through the private surgery process.  So how does it work?  It’s just five easy steps!

 

Step 1:  We listen to understand your needs and provide feedback on what we think will be involved with your case.  If you wish to have Health Vantis manage your case, we start the process by having you sign our informed consent and release form as well as our client agreement so we can act on your behalf.

 

Step 2: We take a detailed medical history, obtain your medical records and complete all necessary paperwork to be submitted to one of the facilities.  It takes, on average, 3-7 business days for them to review. Fees for Health Vantis and surgeon review with consultation do apply.

 

Step 3:  Once the facility has reviewed your medical records and done a consultation with you, we communicate all of the information such as the exact cost and surgery dates available. We make sure all of your medical questions are answered by the surgeon and any non-medical related questions are answered by us.

 

Step 4:  You decide whether or not you wish to proceed.  If you do proceed, we quickly get to work and begin making all the arrangements for your appointments, surgery, and travel.  If you do not proceed, there are no further fees or obligations to Heath Vantis or the surgery facility.

 

Step 5:  During the final stage, we will provide you with an information packet that includes all of the important details such as your surgeon’s resume, facts about the facility, general pre and post-op instructions, flight itinerary, rental car, and hotel accommodations and border patrol letters.  You will receive reminders about your upcoming surgery and we will be in close contact with you throughout the entire process. We will be your main point of contact.

 

See, very easy because we do all of the work for you.  Give Health Vantis a call today to get the process started in getting your health and life back! 877-344 3544 or info@healthvantis.com

Hysterectomy for Gender Affirmation or Transition Surgery

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Hysterectomy for Gender Affirmation or Transition Surgery

We get a lot of inquiries about having a hysterectomy as a way of transitioning or gender affirmation.  Unfortunately, this is not as simple as it seems, therefore, we are unable to assist in most cases.  Hysterectomy is a major, life-altering surgery, therefore, it is something you cannot take lightly, especially if you are under the age of 35.

Technically, you can consent to a hysterectomy at any age, however, it has to be medically justified.  It is very unlikely a doctor will do one unless it is absolutely necessary for your well-being and all other options have been exhausted.  One of the main reasons is due to the possible physical and emotional risks associated with it, not to mention the complications that can occur.  

Complications could include infection, hemorrhaging, bladder and/or bowel damage.  These are normally short term risks, however, there are long term risks that physicians are most concerned with.  Having a hysterectomy can increase your chances of stroke, bone loss, heart attack, urinary issues and early onset menopause for younger women.  It can impact sexual interest as well as the ability to have a biological pregnancy, which can cause depression or psychological stress down the road, as it is not a reversible procedure.

In Canada, there are no facilities that offer a private hysterectomy.  This is something you would have to go to the US for.  The US has strict guidelines in who they will perform a hysterectomy on because there are great legality risks if they do a hysterectomy without a medical reason to do so.  Wanting to have a hysterectomy for gender affirmation or transition does not fall in that category unless you have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria.  It is the only option for someone to have a hysterectomy if they do not have a medical reason such as having bleeding, fibroids, cancer, etc. to do so.  It also has to be performed by a specialized surgeon who works with gender dysphoria.

Getting the diagnosis gender dysphoria can take time and you must meet specific criteria.  It is a complex process that involves multiple medical, psychiatric and psychological evaluations, medical therapies and behavioral trials with a specialized surgeon.  This is to ensure that surgery is an appropriate treatment choice for the individual.   The process can take 6 months to 2 years and beyond.

If this is something you are interested in doing on a private basis, there are facilities in the US that can assist you.  Keep in mind that it will take time and can be a long, expensive and emotional process.  If you do decide to proceed, surround yourself with those that care about you and your well-being, and possibly join a support group such as The Canadian Centre for Gender + Sexual Diversity: https://ccgsd-ccdgs.org/.  It will make all the difference having someone on your side for the process.

 

Health Vantis

www.healthvantis.ca

info@healthvantis.com

877-344-3544

Private Spine Surgery

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The spine is a very complex part of your body.  It has disks, nerves, a spinal cord, and 33 vertebrae divided into 5 sections: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum and coccyx.  There are joints, ligaments, tendons and muscle surrounding it.  The spine supports your body to walk, twist and move.

Back issues are one of the most common chronic conditions in Canada. 4 our of 5 adults will experience back pain. When it comes to treating it, one size does not fit all. The cause of spinal pain is not always apparent. The complexity in treating it requires great skill, incredible knowledge of all spinal parts and how they affect one another. 

From our experience helping Canadians obtain a timely private spinal surgery, every single case was unique. So, what do you need to get started?

A recent MRI is a must. It assists the surgeon in seeing what is creating pain. Specialists’ notes, EMG and flexion and extension X-rays are also often required. 

A pain questionnaire has to be completed. It asks specific questions about the type of pain you are having, where you feel it and when.  Knowing how and where the pain is produced in other areas of the body is vital to correctly diagnose and determine the treatment plan. All this information will be tested and verified during an in-person physical exam prior to surgery.

Surgery is not always necessary and most definitely not the first treatment plan in the majority of cases. Non-invasive methods should be tried first: physiotherapy, cortisone injections, facet joint blocks, rhizotomies to name a few. The goal is to attempt and repair the damage without surgery.  Surgery is always a last resort.

Spine ailments are tricky and can take awhile to determine what is going to work best for you. Most treatment plans need to be tried for a minimum of 6-12 weeks before trying something else.

If you are a candidate for spine surgery and do not want to wait, contact us to have your case evaluated by one of qualified spinal surgeons. You can reach us at info@healthvantis.com or 877-344-3544.

If you are a candidate for spine surgery and do not want to wait, contact us to have your case evaluated by one of qualified spinal surgeons.

If you are a candidate for spine surgery and do not want to wait, contact us to have your case evaluated by one of qualified facilities we work with.

 

Health Vantis

www.healthvantis.ca

info@healthvantis.com

877-344-3544