Tag Archives: children’s health

An Ancient Chinese Practice Is Proving As Effective As Pre-Surgery Sedatives In Reducing Stress Levels In Child Patients Undergoing Anesthesia

During recent tests, doctors placed small plastic acupressure beads, encased in an adhesive pad, on the Extra-1 acupoint between the eyebrows of a test group of children prior to surgery. The effects were dramatic, lowering stress and allowing the patients to avoid the nausea and prolonged effects from anesthesia that the sedatives can cause.

The patients whose beads were placed on the Extra-1 point showed a significant decrease in stress levels as compared to no noticeable difference in a control group that had the beads placed on a spot above the left eyebrow, not known as an acupressure spot.

The successful use of the beads to reduce stress is in keeping with the kind of treatment that one anesthesiologist says can help to make recovery times shorter.

Dr. Armen Ketchedjian, author of the book Will it Hurt? A Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery, says that pre-surgery anxiety has a negative effect on a child’s body and how it recovers from the stresses of surgery.

“It’s been shown that children that have lower stress levels prior to surgery have better outcomes,” says Dr. Ketch, as his patients call him. “It’s absolutely critical that parents contribute to this process by finding ways put their kids at ease.”

In his book, Dr. Ketch emphasizes the use of soothing words and honest communication as part of the overall effort to keep children calm. Efforts that can include acupressure beads or regular sedatives.

“One of the most important factors is the parent. If the parents are stressed, the child is going to mirror that,” says Dr. Ketch. “Parents can do their child a great service by learning what they can about the surgery so that their own fears are alleviated.”

Dr. Ketch hopes that his book will contribute to increased attempts by surgeons and other caretakers to reduce stress in pre-surgical patients. His advice includes:

¤ Accompany your child into the operating room if allowed
¤ Taking advantage of any specially designed waiting room that has a fish tank or toys for your child
¤ Making sure your child is well rested and has followed the surgeon’s pre-surgery instructions to the letter
¤ Bringing games or stuffed animals to the hospital to help your child feel more at home

“Children are better off the more relaxed they are. Anything that can be done to help them relax is a step in the right direction, and I encourage parents to ask their doctors about the day of the surgery and what can be done to provide for their child’s state of mind,” says Dr. Ketch.

Will it Hurt? helps educate parents about pediatric surgery. It is an easy-to-read resource that will give you, your child and your family the help and reassurance you need to make the surgical experience as stress-free as possible.

Listed in The Guide to America’s Top Anesthesiologists by the Consumer Research Council of America, Dr. Ketch trained at Cornell Medical Center, with a fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and a pain management elective at Boston Children’s Hospital. He has also worked to help develop new techniques in ambulatory anesthesia, taught medical students and residents, and cared for more than 10,000 patients.

Dr. Ketch is also the author of the children’s book Golden Apples (winner of the 2008 Reviewer’s Choice Award), a beautifully illustrated book that aims to help educate children about the dangers of drug abuse.

For more information, contact the author directly at support@dr.ketch.com.

WARREN ENTERPRISES, LLC and author Dr. Armen G. Ketchedjian chose Arbor Books, Inc. (www.ArborBooks.com) to design and promote Will It Hurt? A Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery. Arbor Books is an internationally renowned, full-service book design, ghostwriting and marketing firm.

(Will It Hurt? Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery by Dr. Ketch; ISBN: 0-9815373-0-8; $14.95; 172 pages; 5½” x 8 ½”; soft cover book with illustrations; WARREN ENTERPRISES, LLC)

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As More And More Adults Turn To Various Forms Of Surgery To Deal With Their Obesity, The Question Arises Whether Or Not The Same Medical Procedures Are Suitable For Overweight Children

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over nine million children in the United States are now considered overweight or obese. But as more and more adults turn to various forms of surgery to deal with their obesity, the question arises whether or not the same medical procedures are suitable for children.

Weight-loss surgery can be an effective option for some severely obese adults who have been unable to lose weight using conventional weight-loss methods. However, as with any type of surgery, there are risks and potential long-term complications.

Perhaps more importantly, the long-term effects of weight-loss surgery on a child’s future growth and development are largely unknown.

Some parents are convinced that weight-loss surgery may be the only solution for their child’s obesity. However, there is no guarantee that your child will get down to a normal healthy weight or keep off the weight in the long run.

Dr. Armen Ketchedjian, author of the book Will It Hurt? A Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery, cautions against this radical approach when it comes to pediatric dieting and weight loss. 

“I don’t believe that this kind of surgery is necessary or practical for children,” says Dr. Ketch, as he is known to his patients. “I think that proper diet and behavioral modification are much more appropriate in this case. Teaching your child to follow a healthy lifestyle makes a lot more sense.”

Here are some tips Dr. Ketch recommends for parents who want to help their children lose weight and become healthier:
• Make sure the child is physically active every day
• Have the child plan and cook healthy meals with the parents
• Avoid trips to fast-food restaurants
• Stock the pantry with healthy snacks
• Avoid buying and keeping junk food in the house 

Dr. Ketch’s book, Will It Hurt?, is intended to educate parents about pediatric surgery. It is an easy-to-read resource that will give parents, their children and their families the help and reassurance they need to make any surgical experience as stress-free as possible.

Listed in The Guide to America’s Top Anesthesiologists by the Consumer Research Council of America, Dr. Ketch trained at Cornell Medical Center with a fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and a pain management elective at Boston Children’s Hospital. He has worked to help develop new techniques in ambulatory anesthesia, taught medical students and residents and cared for more than 10,000 patients.

Dr. Ketch is also the author of the children’s book Golden Apples (winner of the 2008 Reviewer’s Choice Award), a beautifully illustrated book that aims to help educate children about the dangers of drug abuse. 

For more information, contact the author directly at support@dr.ketch.com.

WARREN ENTERPRISES, LLC and author Dr. Armen G. Ketchedjian chose Arbor Books, Inc. (www.ArborBooks.com) to design and promote Will It Hurt? A Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery. Arbor Books is an internationally renowned, full-service book design, ghostwriting and marketing firm.

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A Breakthrough Surgery Is Offering Hope To Children That Suffer Nerve Damage In Their Arms And Hands

Just five years ago, a child that suffered damage to brachial plexus nerves, the nerves that pass signals between the brain, hand and arm, would have been hard pressed to recover fully because surgical techniques couldn’t provide a fix without pulling nerves from another part of the body, leaving a numb spot. 

Now a new surgery pioneered at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital is offering hope to these kids through a revolutionary process that cuts the ends off the damaged nerves and attaches them to healthy but lightly taxed nerves allowing a child to recover some, if not all, movement.

Dr. Armen Ketchedjian, author of the book Will it Hurt? A Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery, says that parents of children in need of surgery are often drawn to new surgical techniques in the hope of finding a way to help their child. He recommends parents find trusted sources of information and ask the advice of their child’s doctor prior to making a major decision about treatment. 

“Surgeons are able to do wonderful things to help children heal,” says Dr. Ketch, as he is known to his patients. “But parents should understand that new surgeries are but one option that they need to explore when their child has been injured.”

In his book, Dr. Ketch recommends that parents interested in finding a new surgeon or exploring a new surgical technique follow a simple guidelines first, including:

• Visit the medical facility where a prospective surgeon works to see if it is child friendly

• Find trusted medical journals that may have information about a new procedure

• Ask other parents whose children have undergone the same surgery

• Find any support group that may have information for parents whose children have a specific birth defect or injury

“The more parents know the better off they’ll be,” says Dr. Ketch. “New technologies and procedures are being developed all the time, so parents have a lot to learn in a short amount of time following a child’s injury.”

Unfortunately parents are often the ones managing a child’s medical portfolio and scouting for new treatments, according to Dr. Ketch, who says, ““Unfortunately, because of the hectic pace and complexity of the modern healthcare landscape, parents are sometimes in a better position to keep track of their child’s treatment and care better than physicians.”

Will it Hurt? helps educate parents about pediatric surgery. It is an easy-to-read resource that will give you, your child and your family the help and reassurance you need to make the surgical experience as stress-free as possible.

Listed in The Guide to America’s Top Anesthesiologists by the Consumer Research Council of America, Dr. Ketch trained at Cornell Medical Center, with a fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and a pain management elective at Boston Children’s Hospital. He has also worked to help develop new techniques in ambulatory anesthesia, taught medical students and residents, and cared for more than 10,000 patients.

Dr. Ketch is also the author of the children’s book Golden Apples (winner of the 2008 Reviewer’s Choice Award), a beautifully illustrated book that aims to help educate children about the dangers of drug abuse. 

For more information, contact the author directly at support@dr.ketch.com.

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Study Says That Young Children Exposed To Anesthesia May Be More Prone To Developing Behavioral And Developmental Disorders Than Their Peers

A study released this week by Columbia University researchers found that young children exposed to anesthesia may be more prone to developing behavioral and developmental disorders than their peers, though researchers said the study was limited.

One prominent anesthesiologist says he believes that parents can help alleviate their fears about anesthesia by forming a solid relationship with their child’s surgeon.

Dr. Armen Ketchedjian, author of the book Will It Hurt? A Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery, says that parents are often in the dark about what their child will experience while under general anesthesia and what risks may be associated with the drugs used during surgery.

“The risks to children undergoing surgery with general anesthesia are slightly higher than they are in adults” says Dr. Ketch, as he is known to his patients. “Children have smaller windpipes than adults and that makes the procedures a little more complex. It’s important for parents to talk to their child’s doctors to better understand what the procedure involves and what their child may experience.”

Research into the link between anesthesia and developmental disorders was first established using rats, and the anesthesiology community has been conducting further research since then on a recommendation from the FDA.

“We in the medical profession are held to a higher standard and so we can’t take anything for granted,” says Dr. Ketch.

Dr. Ketch’s book is a guide for parents whose children need surgery and a big part of the book’s message is the importance of education for parents. “Education,” says Dr. Ketch, “is a great way to help dispel myths and help parents make more informed decisions.”

Will It Hurt? is an easy-to-read resource that will give parents, their children and their families the help and reassurance they need to make any surgical experience as stress-free as possible.

Listed in The Guide to America’s Top Anesthesiologists by the Consumer Research Council of America, Dr. Ketch trained at Cornell Medical Center, with a fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and a pain management elective at Boston Children’s Hospital. He has worked to help develop new techniques in ambulatory anesthesia, taught medical students and residents, and cared for more than 10,000 patients.

Dr. Ketch is also the author of the children’s book Golden Apples (winner of the 2008 Reviewer’s Choice Award), a beautifully illustrated book that aims to help educate children about the dangers of drug abuse.

For more information, contact the author directly at support@dr.ketch.com.

WARREN ENTERPRISES, LLC and author Dr. Armen G. Ketchedjian chose Arbor Books, Inc. (www.ArborBooks.com) to design and promote Will It Hurt? A Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery. Arbor Books is an internationally renowned, full-service book design, ghostwriting and marketing firm.

(Will It Hurt? A Parent’s Practical Guide to Children’s Surgery by Dr. Ketch; ISBN: 0-9815373-0-8; $14.95; 172 pages; 5½” x 8 ½”; softcover with illustrations; WARREN ENTERPRISES, LLC)

Via EPR Network
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