Patient Information Leaflets - G
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The information leaflets on this internet site are intended to advise and benefit patients who intend to use, or are using, the clinical services provided by St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The Trust does not accept responsibility for using the information contained in the leaflets for any other purpose than that described within them.
If you are concerned about your clinical condition you should seek qualified medical advice from your GP or the relevant clinical team at the hospital.
- Gastroenterology
Title - Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
Description - You have been advised by your GP or hospital doctor to have an investigation known as a flexible sigmoidoscopy. This procedure requires your formal consent and this booklet has been written to enable you to make an informed decision in relation to agreeing to the investigation.Title - Having a nasogastric feeding tube
Description - A nasogastric tube (NG tube) is a fine tube that is passed through your nose, down the back of your throat and into your stomach. They are usually placed to allow liquid food to be given to you directly into your stomach. We often use NG tubes because you may have problems swallowing food properly. They are also sometimes used to drain fluid from the stomach.Title - Pancreatic cyst (IPMN)
Description - Pancreatic cysts are fluid or mucous filled sacs that develop in or around the pancreas gland. Most small pancreatic cysts do not require any treatment other than surveillance with scans and blood tests. These cysts are not cancerous, however a very small percentage of them do change and grow and then require further investigation. These cysts are usually identified incidentally and picked up when scans are done for another reason. There are more of these being picked up as the quality of scans improve. They do not usually cause any symptoms.Title - Transnasal Gastroscopy
Description - You have been advised to have an investigation known as a transnasal gastroscopy (TNG). This procedure requires your formal consent and this booklet has been written to enable you to make an informed decision in relation to agreeing to the investigation. If you are unable to keep your appointment, please notify the department as soon as possible and they will be able to arrange another date for you. - Gynaecology
Title - Colpocleisis
Description - This operation is an option for the treatment of a large vaginal prolapse. It has a lower complication rate than other alternatives and does not use any plastic mesh. Also, it can be a good choice for women who need to avoid long operations and recovery for health reasons.Title - Colposuspension
Description - To stop leakage of urine, the muscles that make up your urethra (water pipe) and the ones around your bladder neck must be able to tighten under ‘stress-related’ conditions e.g. when you cough, sneeze, exercise or lift heavy items. If you have a weakness of these muscles, you may not be able to tighten them sufficiently to stop urine leaking out. Stress incontinence is common in women after childbirth but can also be seen in women who have not had children. A lack of oestrogen, and the effect ageing may have on you (although this is not a direct cause), can also be contributing factors. If you have a severe cough, like bronchitis, are overweight or if you are constipated the leakage may be worse.Title - Coping and Management of an Incomplete Miscarriage
Description - Miscarriage can be a very frightening, unhappy and lonely experience. It can be even more upsetting when the miscarriage is incomplete and more treatment is needed. The Buchanan Suite staff are here to support you at this difficult time.Title - Endometrial Ablation
Description - Endometrial ablation is the destruction of the uterine (womb) lining in order to treat heavy periods. If medicines do not reduce your menstrual bleeding, then your doctor may suggest endometrial ablation as an alternative to major surgical options, such as hysterectomy.Title - Haematuria (Blood in the urine)
Description - What is Haematuria - This is defined as the presence of blood in the urine. It can be there for a range of conditions from mild inflammation due to a urine infection, up to bladder or kidney cancer. Blood that you can clearly see in your urine is known as “Macroscopic haematuria” – this will need an urgent referral to the urology team to investigate for a bladder cancer once we are sure that it is not coming from the vagina. Blood that you cannot see in your urine but shows up on one of the “urine dip tests” is known as “Microscopic haematuria”. This is much more common and has a wider range of causes.Title - Having Robotic Gynaecological Surgery
Description - Traditionally, the main approaches for gynaecological surgery include keyhole (laparoscopic) or open operations. Robotic surgery is a recent development to enhance surgical outcomes for women with specific conditions. This leaflet explains what you need to know about Robotic Gynaecological Surgery.Title - Laparoscopically Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH)
Description - Hysterectomy is the removal of a woman's uterus (womb) and cervix surgically. An LAVH is the removal of the womb using both keyhole surgery and vaginal surgery. It is performed for a variety of reasons and is a less invasive alternative to open surgery.Title - Overactive Bladder
Description - Many women have symptoms of what is commonly called a “weak bladder”. For some, this means that they cannot hold much urine in their bladder before they must rush to the toilet. It is caused by the bladder muscle suddenly tightening and trying to empty when you do not want it to. If you have an overactive bladder, you will often need to rush to the toilet, pass urine very frequently during the day and wake up several times each night to pass urine too.Title - Painful Bladder Syndrome
Description - Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS) is a condition where the sufferer has a collection of symptoms that have been lasting for more than three months. Over the years, PBS has had a range of names including Interstitial cystitis, Hypersensitive bladder and Hunner’s lesion disease. It is also often mixed up in the diagnosis of recurrent UTI’s because many of the symptoms overlap. Pain symptoms in particular may fluctuate on a day-to-day basis with many women describing having “good and bad days”.Title - Patient Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU)
Description - PIFU puts you in control of making an appointment when you need it and provides you with direct access to guidance when you need it. The majority of patients with stable long-term conditions, do not require regular follow-up appointments by the hospital team. Research has shown that regular visits do not necessarily help to prevent your condition returning or identify new problems. Instead of being offered regular clinic visits and routine check-ups with your consultant, PIFU patients can make their own appointment only when they need it e.g. when you experience a flare-up of your condition – reducing the unnecessary anxiety, travel and time spent waiting for a routine follow-up.Title - Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Description - PID is an inflammation of the pelvic organs. It is an ascending infection that spreads above the vagina and cervix to infect the upper parts of the female reproductive tract – uterus (womb), fallopian tubes, ovaries and pelvic area. If the infection is severe, this can result in a collection of pus (abscess) within the pelvis.Title - Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
Description - Also known as UTIs, urinary tract infections occur when bacteria pass into the urinary tract (usually the bladder) and increase in number to cause an infection. They can vary in severity from a mild cystitis (stinging or burning feeling when you pass urine) that lasts a couple of days and goes away on its own, to a high temperature and infection that rises into the kidneys and requires admission to hospital with antibiotics through a drip.It is relatively common to get a UTI and it is normal to have one or two mild ones per year. If you have three or more UTIs in a one-year period, then this is classed as “Recurrent UTIs” and requires further investigation and treatment.Title - Sacrospinous Fixation
Description - This leaflet has been written to try and answer questions you might have about sacrospinous fixation, however, it is not intended to replace the personal contact between you and the doctors and nurses. It should be read together with the leaflet about prolapse in which available treatments are described and compared.Title - Stress Urinary Incontinence
Description - What is stress incontinence? This is when someone leaks urine due to an increase in pressure on their pelvic floor. Usually it is due to coughing, sneezing, vomiting and exercise such as lifting, running or jumping. Each leak is usually quite small, however, lots of small leaks can add up to an overall large amount of urine loss, so it can affect women to very different levels depending on their activity levels, job etc.Title - Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy (TLH)
Description - This is a gynaecological surgical procedure performed under general anaesthetic which involves removing the uterus and cervix using a keyhole (laparoscopic) technique and removing it through the vagina. You might also need ovaries/fallopian tubes to be removed, your doctor will discuss this with you.Title - Treatment with Ulipristal Acetate (Esmya)
Description - Esmya is a medicine that helps partially block the progesterone hormone from working on certain tissues in the body. Progesterone is a hormone produced, in part, by the ovaries. In certain circumstances, progesterone can stimulate the growth of fibroids within the uterus (womb). Fibroids are non-cancerous growths of the muscle layer of the uterus. By blocking the progesterone, Esmya can help reduce the size of the fibroids.Title - Vaginal NOTES hysterectomy- (using keyhole surgery to remove your womb vaginally)
Description - This leaflet explains Vaginal NOTES hysterectomy. The aftercare and other general information regarding hysterectomy will be the same as for vaginal hysterectomy that is provided along with this leaflet. NOTES stands for natural orifice trans luminal endoscopic surgery. In this type of hysterectomy, vaginal hysterectomy is performed using keyhole instruments as they improve access and visibility.Title - Vaginal Prolapse Repair
Description - A prolapse of the vagina occurs due to a weakness in the supporting tissues to the vagina. This weakness can cause symptoms of a bulge that appears from the vagina. It is usually worse on straining, walking and lifting. Commonly symptoms are worse in the evening.Title - Word Catheter (Drainage of a Bartholin’s Cyst)
Description - You have been diagnosed with a painful swelling of the Bartholin's gland (cyst). If this has become infected it is called an abscess. A Bartholin’s cyst or abscess has a typical appearance at the entrance to the vagina. No test is needed to make the diagnosis. Normally the glands produce lubrication that enters the vagina. But when the gland becomes blocked it causes a painful swelling. Symptoms may include tenderness, pain, fever, and sometimes discomfort walking or sitting. - Gynaecology Oncology
