LIFE NEWS
Medical innovations and Life Healthcare news
FOLLOW YOUR MIND According to scientists at Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago, a diet rich in green, leafy vegetables, beans, berries, whole grains and wine can help to slow normal brain ageing and cognitive decline. The study showed elderly adults who strictly followed the MIND diet were 7.5 years younger, cognitively, over a period of nearly five years, than those who adhered the least. www.medicalxpress.com
Tyler’s team, from left to right: Dr Rinus Wiersma (paediatric surgeon); Dr André Botha (paediatrician) and Dr Jack Margolis (obstetrician/gynaecologist)
Baby Tyler in safe hands Tyler Walter Lloyd had no ordinary birth. When he was born at Life Westville Hospital, he had a surgical team ready and waiting to take him straight into an operating theatre. At 12 weeks, Tyler’s mother, Monique Boucher, 23, had a routine scan that revealed her baby had gastroschisis, a congenital birth condition. Tiny Tyler’s intestines had developed outside his abdominal cavity and required immediate surgery when he was delivered by caesarean section. ‘When I found out about Tyler’s condition, I was devastated,’ says Monique. ‘We weren’t sure what to expect and I cried about it until the day we met with our paediatrician, Dr André Botha, and paediatric surgeon Dr Rinus Wiersma. They made us feel very positive and explained the procedure in detail. We felt so much better after seeing them.’ Gynaecologist obstetrician Dr Jack Margolis delivered Tyler by caesarean section, attended by Dr Botha. Then it was Dr Wiersma’s turn to surgically repair the gastroschisis. Tyler spent two weeks in the NICU before he was able to go home. ‘He is now five weeks old and he’s doing so well,’ says Monique. ‘He sees Dr Botha every three weeks and the way things are looking, he won’t need any more treatment; his bowel is working perfectly.’ Monique says proudly, ‘Dr Botha says Tyler is a fierce, strong little man. The experience really made us stronger as a family’. 08
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A top-of-the-range angiography system, installed in Life Kingsbury Hospital’s vascular surgery theatre in April, has robotic capabilities, making it more user-friendly for staff. This means shorter surgery times and fewer patient complications. The new system gives surgeons a clearer, more detailed view of the workings of the vascular system while performing surgery. ‘The new theatre is cutting edge and cements Life Kingsbury Hospital as the place to go for relief from any problems affecting the veins and arteries,’ says Dr Philip Matley, a vascular surgeon at the hospital. These conditions include varicose and spider veins as well as deep vein thrombosis and a range of arterial problems. Dr Matley, however, says he and his partners are seeing a growing number of diabetics in the practice. ‘We expect the new equipment to help us save many diabetic limbs,’ he adds. www.cbn.co.za/component/k2item/2900-kingsbury-hospital–invests-in-3d-robotic-surgical-technology
LIFE PLUS If you’re feeling a little jittery after your second cup of coffee, you might want to consider switching to red espresso. It’s an excellent alternative to tea and coffee, and the Cancer Association of South Africa has awarded this frothy rooibos drink its Seal of Recognition. In addition to being caffeine-free, red espresso concentrates the antioxidants and health benefits of rooibos tea to a level where one serving (60ml) equals 10 times the antioxidants of traditionally brewed rooibos and five times that of green tea. www.cansa.org.za/cansa-seal-of-recognition
SPRING 2015
2015/09/03 2:19 PM
I M A G E S G ET TY/GALLO I MAG ES, JOH N E R I MAG ES; ISTOCK; SU PPLI E D; COM PI LE D BY M E LAN I E FAR R E L
X-ray vision gives surgeons the edge