From your question it sounds like you are not already in medical school (if you are you should really be talking to your dean!!)
so here is how it goes in the US, (it is very different in Europe)
after you graduate high school you have to get a Bachelor's degree (usually 4 years)
then you go to medical school for 4 more years
then residency depending on the field:
OB/GYN: 4 years
Family Medicine: 3 years
Internal Medicine: 3 years
Pediatrics: 3 years
Anesthesiology: 4 years (1 year internship + 3 years)
Psychiatry: 4 years
General Surgery: 5 years
-there are also some surgical fields which are separate like Orthopedic Surgery (5 years), Neurosurgery (6-7 years)

Lot of these fields have sub-specialties (fellowship) that you can do afterwards usually 1 or 2 years.

Good luck

Gynaecology or gynecology refers to the surgical specialty dealing with health of the female reproductive system. Gynaecology is typically considered a consultant specialty.

The gynecological problems encountered in children and adolescents are often both medically and psychologically complex and thus require a highly skilled and coherent approach. The adolescent, who is no longer a child but not quite an adult, poses a particular management problem to the traditional specialties.

Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology includes all aspects of clinical and basic science research in pediatric and adolescent gynecology, as well as molecular biology research as applied to the field. The Journal draws in expertise from a variety of disciplines including pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, reproduction and gynecology, reproductive and pediatric endocrinology, genetics, and molecular biology.

In the field of adolescent gynecology more than anywhere else, the medical attitude is often striking by its extremes: from a seemingly indifferent 'wait-andsee' policy (true indifference or ignorance?) to an overzealous interventionism – and this at a developmental moment requiring great sensitivity and tact.

Pediatric adolescent gynecologists:

Importance of adolescent gynecology:

Adolescents:
For adolescents, the first gynecologic examination provides a golden opportunity to educate young patients about the breast and pelvic exam, to answer questions about development, and to provide medical reassurances and information about issues of health and sexuality. The Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology provides abstinence counseling, as well as contraceptive counseling and pregnancy prevention strategies. Adolescents especially may benefit from counseling about the risks of sexual activity and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

Physician:
Division Director Dr Elizabeth Poynor, MD, PhD is considered a national expert in this field, and provides training in pediatric and adolescent gynecology for other physicians. She has received advanced training in the subspecialty practice of pediatric and adolescent gynecology.

You can visit: www.drelizabethpoynor.com

I would be more concerned with oxidation which would make the gloves friable.

Medical Transcription is one area of medicine which plays a very important role in its own way. A popular notion is that a lot of people tend to think that anyone can work as a medical transcriptionist. However, having a professional degree in medical transcription adds more value to the profession in terms of giving a quality output as well as a greater income generation. Moreover, employers prefer hiring transcriptionists who have completed some proper MT course.

A formal degree leads to interaction with the medical fraternity that in turn directs to a better understanding of how medical records management, health care billing & coding and medical transcription - the process of converting the physician's written and recorded notes into electronic files -  is carried out.

There are many online courses and certifications available on medical transcription. These have a duration that range from a 6-month to 2-year certificate, diploma or associate degree programs that will teach make you adept in a range of skills. Most of these courses include subjects such as:

For people who are already actively involved in the field, there are two certifications for available for them to become certified in medical transcription:

Having a MT degree will get an annual salary ranging from $33,000 and $40,000. Many MTs are paid on either hourly basis or on the volume of work they complete. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical transcriptionists can also go on to pursue careers like medical technicians, medical coders and other administrative workers.

The current economic scenario does not seem to have ebbed this particular industry as the BLS has predicted that medical transcription field will grow faster than the average occupation until at least 2014. Those planning to join an MT course need to thoroughly research the training companies, check their syllabus and job placement rates. Some "schools" are training centers that don't really teach what needs to be known to land a decent medical transcription job.

She may not be entitled to compensation. Sometimes cr@p happens and you don't get paid for it.

In order to collect - the medical center has to be negligent. They have to have done - or not done -something that caused her injury. If there was no defect in the tiles and she fell -- most likely she is not entitled to any compensation at all.

Although I am in the US - I suspect that proof of the medical centers negligence will still be required to prevail.

Vaginismus is a condition in which there is an involuntary tightness of the vagina during an attempted sexual intercourse. This tightness is usually caused by the involuntary contractions of the pelvic floor muscles that surrounds and protects the vagina.

In this condition, the woman does not directly control the tightness. She doesn't have the will to control the tightness to occur. She may not also be aware of her condition, she might not know that her response to the penetration is causing the muscles to tighten and cause a problem.

Complications with Vaginismus

Nonetheless, vaginismus causes discomfort and problems for the partners. Some of them may include:
 
1.Severe pain during intercourse

2.Burning pain during intercourse

3.Stinging pain during intercourse

4.Unconsummated relationships

5.Unable to insert the penis during intercourse
   
Severity varies from woman to woman and usually the condition stops whenever the sexual attempt is stopped and intercourse must be halted too in the process.
   
Types of Vaginismus
   
There are basically just two types of vaginismus. These are the primary vaginismus and secondary vaginismus.
   
Primary vaginismus. This occurs when the woman has never been able to have any kind of penetrative sex or sexual experience without the pain. This condition is commonly found on women that use tampons, had early pre-marital sex and those who have undergone a Pap smear. These women may not be aware of their condition unless they have attempted the vaginal penetration. There are many things that causes primary vaginismus and the list below is just among the many that have been proven:
 

1.    Physically invasive trauma
 
2.    Knowledge of the sexual abuse of others
 
3.    Fear of pain that is associated with penetration
 
4.    Domestic violence and conflicts at home
 
5.    Sexual abuse
 
6.    Rape
 
Secondary vaginismus occurs in women who previously have been able to achieve penetration. This development may be caused by:
 

1.    Psychological causes
 
2.    Trauma during child birth
 
3.    Physical causes like yeast infection
 
Treating Vaginismus
   
There are two different ways to treat vaginismus. It depends primarily on the causes of the condition. The two types of causes are psychological and physical causes. It is important to know that each case is very different and it requires a different approach when it comes to treating the conditions.
   
Psychological treatment of those that have undergone trauma and fear of painful sex  requires consultation with a good psychiatrist. Those who have this condition because of trauma need to see the psychological aspect as well. The woman may choose to address and provide solution to the problem on her own, but she can use the services of a therapist as well. Women who suffer from vaginismus often suffer from low self esteem, fear, and depression.
   
Physically treating this condition may include innovative treatments from the medical group. Some of the common treatments include the following.
 
1).Using vaginal dilators
2).Exploring the vagina through touch
3).Sensate focus exercises
4.)Use of Botox

If he looks inside you ear and it looks normal and hears normal then it probably isn't your ear. Yes, it can be caused by TMJ and grinding but usually it is more of a ringing and stuffed up feeling. Also could be sinus. No big deal if no pain, just irritating.

Simple Toothache or Sinus Infection?

When you have a toothache, the first thing that comes to mind is that you might have tooth cavities, abscesses or other dental problems. Immediately, you visit a dentist for professional help. But did it ever happen to you where the dentist didn't find anything wrong with your teeth? If this is the case, another possibility you might want to consider is having a sinus infection. How can this be? The connection can be found between the upper teeth and maxillary sinuses. The roots of the upper teeth, called maxillary molars, extend into the maxillary sinuses. So when there is infection in the maxillary sinuses, one of the symptoms manifested is pain in the upper teeth, along with facial pain and swelling. At the same time, there are also cases when a worsened dental infection of the gums or teeth can lead to sinus infection as well. Because of the close connection, differentiating dental pain from sinus infection can be very confusing at times.

Toothache vs. Sinus Infection

So the big question is how do you differentiate a simple toothache from maxillary sinus infection? There are simple steps you can undertake to determine the condition correctly. You can safely rule out dental problems if you are already experiencing other sinus infection symptoms such as clogged and runny nose, headaches, sore throats, post-nasal drip or facial pain. Also, if you have history of sinus infection, it is possible that you are having another bout of infection again.

To get accurate diagnosis, it is recommended to seek professional help, especially when your condition does not improve in a few days. A dentist can evaluate your teeth and identify possible dental problems using a percussion test. In this test, the dentist gently taps on your teeth to see which ones hurt. Pain in a single tooth usually indicates dental problem while pain in all of the teeth is a symptom of sinus infection. When the latter is experienced, it is time to visit an ENT specialist who will identify the cause of sinus infection and prescribe the right course of treatment.

Relieving Toothache and Sinus Infection

Toothache due to dental problems can be easily eliminated. You just have to work closely with your dentist and undergo procedures to get rid of the dental problem. Some of the most common procedures are tooth extraction, dental prophylaxis, or root canal therapy. It is important to follow your dentist's advice immediately as waiting too long can only lead to more complications.

Compared to simple toothache, sinus infection is much more complicated to treat. More bad news is that this condition is usually accompanied by pain, discomfort and misery. However, relief is still possible as long as you follow your doctor's advice and take your medications religiously. Herbal and home remedies are also helpful in eliminating the infection. Taking good care of the body and boosting the immune system is also advised to prevent sinus infection.

About the Author

For more information, visit http://sinusinfectionproblems.com/

Optometrists (Optometry) are people who are trained to fit you for glasses. they are not doctors.

Ophthalmologists (Ophthalmology) are doctors. they can prescribe medicines, do surgeries, and are generally much more educated than Optometrists.

We all want to find the best doctor available to us when we have a = medical=20 problem of any kind. But, what does this really mean? The bottom line is = that=20 the best doctor for you is the one who is the most qualified to help you = and=20 treat your condition while making you feel the most comfortable. = Ophthalmology=20 is the branch of medicine that deals with diseases and surgery of the = visual=20 pathways including the eyes, brain, and areas surrounding each eye as = such as=20 the lacrimal (tear) system and the eyelids. The word =93ophthalmology=94 = comes from=20 the Greek root words =93ophthalmos=94 meaning =93eye=94 and =93logos=94 = meaning =93word,=20 thought, or discourse.=94 So the word literally means =93the science of = eyes.=94 Since=20 ophthalmologists perform operations on the eyes, they are classified as=20 physicians and surgeons. An ophthalmic surgeon is a medical doctor = who=20 specializes in the medical and surgical care and treatment of conditions = and=20 diseases of the eye. Some ophthalmologists also provide general vision = care=20 services which include prescribing eyeglasses and contact lenses.

General ophthalmology may be just the beginning of>

There are many reasons due to one has to visit an eye clinic. One can = visit=20 an eye=20 clinic for cataract. A cataract is formed when the natural lens of = the eye,=20 responsible for focusing light and producing sharp images, becomes = cloudy and=20 hardens, resulting in a loss of visual function. People suffering from = cataract=20 are not only adults, but children also suffer from cataract. So, there = are=20 different types of cataract treatments, cataract treatment for adults = and paediatric cataract = treatment. =20 People visit the eye clinic for corneal = diseases also.=20 The cornea is the main refracting surface of optical system of an eye. = There are=20 a lot of corneal disorders, but most of it includes the fact that the = corneal=20 stroma (the middle part of the cornea) develops visualy significant = opacity,=20 iregularity or edema. The corneal treatment is possible through cornea=20 transplantation. The corneal disorders treatment is = also=20 possible by stem cell transplantation or amniotic membrane = transplantation.=20 Glaucoma is one of the eye diseases which lead to blindness. It becomes = very=20 necessary to visit the eye hospital for glaucoma = treatment in=20 the intial stage of this disease. The optometrists at an eye clinic can = diagnose=20 and treat eye diseases and give you a better chance at preserving sight. = Early=20 detection of any eye disorder at an eye hospital is the best chance that = anyone=20 can have at treating the disease. Many people would agree that sight is = probably=20 our most precious sense. Unfortunately, in most cases, sight is = impossible to=20 recover, even when it is only partially lost. So, it is very necessary = to take=20 care of the precious eyes by going for treatment of eyes regularly. Some = people=20 are blind by birth, they need cornea transplant. Corneal=20 transplantation can be done only after cornea donation, the = important part=20 of the eye anatomy.

There is lot of controversy relating to eye donation. Someone can see = this=20 colorful world through your eyes even after your death. You can enrich a = visually impaired individual=92s life, a precious gift without costing = you=20 anything. Retrieval of corneal tissue from a dead person is not an = offence=20 unless the person has openly declared on a public platform that his eyes = should=20 not be removed after death. Earlier position on the subject was that a = person=20 had to pledge his cornea and the relatives gave the consent for = retrieval of=20 corneal tissues after the death of individuals.

Dr. Abhay R Vasavada, a renowned ophthalmic surgeon in India = with twenty=20 five years of dedicated practice behind him, is the Medical and Research = Director of Raghudeep Eye Clinic. Raghudeep Eye Clinic is a premiere eye=20 care center in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Their treatment services = include=20 adult cataract, pediatric cataract, corneal disorders treatment, corneal = transplantations, cornea diseases research, stem cell transplantation, = amniotic membrane = transplantation,=20 glaucoma examinations, glaucoma surgeries, glaucoma laser surgeries, = glaucoma=20 research activities, direct ophthalmoscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, = visual=20 acuity assessment, optometry services, anaesthesia. This center is also = an eye=20 donation center in India , which is dedicated towards eye banking = and eye=20 donation services.

Raghudeep Eye Clinic -a ophthalmic hospital in India = and Iladevi=20 Cataract and IOL Research Centre are affiliated with S K Red Cross Eye = hospital,=20 Dholka town. This clinic is into all kinds of eye treatments and eye = surgeries=20 after deep research and training. So, if you are searching for an ophthalmologist for eye = diseases, this=20 clinic is the best place for you where a dedicated team of = ophthalmologists,=20 anesthetists, scientists and paramedics are committed towards the = progress of=20 the institute.

You can always do emt and surgical tech

I have a friend that started as a surgical tech and now is an anethesiologist tech (makes a lot more money) and didnt have to go to school too much longer

Resume Makeover - Improve Your Resume With A 5-Point Makeover

Does your resume break mirrors and have dogs barking? Alright, so it's ugly. You can live with that. But if it's also failing to generate job interviews, something has to give. Let's take a fresh look at that old resume, and see if it can't be tweaked into better shape. Here's help in the form of a 5-point resume makeover.

_____

Got a resume that's a beast? Does it need a leash when you take it out of the house? Maybe it's time to consider a resume makeover. After all, creating a good first impression is pretty much what a resume is all about. If yours isn't doing that, it's not doing its job.

I've compiled five key things you can do to quickly improve your resume, creating a better look and a better first impression of this most important document - and thereby increasing the odds of an interview invitation.

Resume Makeover - 5-Points To A Better Looking Resume

1 - Lose the self-centered objective. If the first line of your resume objective reads like: "To work for a company offering advancement opportunities and salary commensurate with..." you are dead to every hiring manager in the free world. Replace that self-centered objective with something that hints at your worth to the company. Something like: "Position as Territory Manager to advance a proven track record for identifying new business opportunities and delivering bottom line results."

2 - Drop-kick the mundane job descriptions. If you're a Registered Nurse, we don't need to hear that you dress patients' wounds, hook up IVs and maintain charts. The basic stuff is a given. We do need you to tell us the degree of your responsibility ("Charge Nurse on a Medical-Surgical Unit with supervisory responsibility for a staff of 5"). And we do need to know any achievements of note ("Served as Preceptor for new employees." "Selected to teach IV Therapy Program to nursing students and EMT-A's" "Member of Code Blue Team.").

3 - Organize info - especially accomplishments - into bulleted lists. Big blocks of text are difficult to read. And when a hiring official has to plow through 300 resumes, you do not want yours to be difficult to read. Lead off a section with a sentence or two, then organize the balance of information in a bulleted list. That creates white space, and makes comprehension of that data far more likely and pleasant.

4 - Pick out and highlight those qualifications, skills and accomplishments that speak to the position you're seeking. If you're been in retail sales all your life but are seeking a job in management, you'll want to point out not only that you increased counter sales 150% of quota but that you "Set up and organized stock room and new store-wide filing system, and were "Selected to assist in new store opening, with accountability for stocking and merchandising."

5 - Cut the clutter. If you've been to college, drop any mention of high school and elementary school. Scrap the dates on college extracurricular activities. Remove mention of any hobbies, sports and interests. Relegate professional references to a separate sheet. Indeed, if you're pressed for space, you don't even need the sentence "References Available Upon Request" at the bottom of the resume. It does make a nice closing statement and signals to the reader that he or she has reached the end of the resume. But if your resume needs to be de-cluttered, it's expendable.

And that glamour photo in the upper right had corner? OK, if you've got a photo on your resume, here's what you do. First, send a copy to your mother. She'll appreciate it. Now feed the rest of those photo resumes through the shredder.

I know it's tough. But better you than the hiring official.

About the Author

Providing resume help on a number of sites, former recruiter David Alan Carter reviews the Web's most popular resume writing services at the website http://TopResumeServices.com, comparing quality of workmanship, spelling out pricing, and giving each a star ranking.

My cousin broke a bone in his wrist last February (2007) and needed a bone stimulator after it didn't heal 8 weeks after he got the cast off. It DID work because the specific bone be broke gets very little bloodflow and doesn't heal well. I'm not sure the model, but I know it worked for him and he's now back to almost normal.

Human Growth Hormone for Children

Human growth hormone is usually a hormone produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. As one grows older it starts to get diminished. Human growth hormone acts on the liver and other tissues to stimulate production of insulin-like growth factor. Human growth hormone for children is very important because many children's growth gets stunted due to little amount of growth hormone produced by the pituitary gland.

It might be possible that your child suffer from many diseases or many effects on to the body due to the deficiency of human growth hormone. In that case a doctor must be consulted to guide you in supplying artificial human growth hormone to your child in order to prevent from other diseases or side effects. It has been found out that children with short stature may have growth hormone deficiency.

Well in order to give your child different types of growth hormone to prevent from diseases and other harmful effects you may go for different types of ways to supply that human growth hormone. Some of the ways include human growth hormone therapy, Human growth supplements or human growth injections.

Let's talk about human growth hormone injections. These human growth hormones when taken as injections show side effects; some of the side effects being ear infections, abdominal pain or bloating, headache, changes in the vision, vomiting and nausea, itching, rashes, carpel tunnel syndrome, join pain, enlargement of breasts, swelling of hands, fatigue, and many more.

One important point to remember is that if you give human growth hormones to the children with normal growth then some serious side effects may engulf your child. This is because the levels in the body become too high. Some of such serious side effects include Diabetes, abnormal growth of bones and internal organs like kidneys, liver and heart.

In fact according to one research it can also lead to colorectal cancer in the later part of your life. If you are giving your child over doses of human growth hormones then it may result in the symptoms of acromegaly, exuberant bone growth.

The treatment of the human growth hormone in children lasts until children reach an acceptable height. However the injections work timely and show results within 3-4 months. The human growth hormone injections improve appetite, and reduce fat of the body.

If you want to know any information related to human growth hormone then the advisable thing is to visit an endocrinologist or a researcher. These people will supply all the necessary information regarding the different types of human growth hormones present in the market and any other related information.

After researching it has been found out that human growth hormones injections have prove beneficial to many people that encounter the deficiency of growth hormone/s. Having said so, one has to be judicious in the usage of the same with regard to the dose as well term. Long-term use and consumption of higher than recommended doses will prove worse than the deficiency per se.

Related Articles:

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About the Author

Many patients travel from United States of America and UK to get low cost of Crow's Feet Wrinkle Removal - Surgical surgery in India. One of the most frequently asked questions when considering Crow's Feet Wrinkle Removal - Surgical surgery is "how much?" and “what is the price of surgery in India?”

Oftentimes, patients choose their surgeon on the basis of price.
The cost of Crow's Feet Wrinkle Removal - Surgical surgery is very affordable in India and costs are much lower when compared to the United States, UK and other countries. However, since the success of your surgery is largely dependent on your choice of surgeon, cost should not be your main consideration for your decision to undergo Crow's Feet Wrinkle Removal - Surgical surgery in India.

I checked out the website of Forerunners Healthcare –which is the premier most medical tourism company in India offering low cost surgery in India to International Patients. They have served more than 400 International patients from across the globe (specially US and UK) to get low cost affordable surgery in India at the best Hospitals and Medical Institutions. And the general price of the Crow's Feet Wrinkle Removal - Surgical surgery is as follows-

The Cost of Crow's Feet Wrinkle Removal - Surgical surgery in India is $ 1,500.

http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com

In India, any licensed medical doctor can perform Crow's Feet Wrinkle Removal - Surgical surgery. To avoid unsatisfactory results, it is best to choose a surgeon who has completed an accredited residency-training program in Crow's Feet Wrinkle Removal - Surgical surgery. He should have extensive experience in the procedure you will undergo. That’s when Forerunners Healthcare come into picture-helping you get the best surgeon for your surgery at the most affordable prices in the best Hospitals of India.

Your surgeon's skill can make all the difference between a good and an average result. Thus, although it is understandable that price is one of the considerations in your choice of surgeon, it is important to remember that the main consideration should be your surgeon's professional qualifications and experience.

Besides that you should look into other issues related to traveling abroad, which is your visa, passport, climate, cultural issues and language barrier. Although language is not a problem in India –as most of the people are well verse in English. But you should make sure that you have a reliable hand holding person to guide you through the various steps of getting medical treatment and surgery in India.

Hope this helps.

Sleeve gastrectomy surgery is one of the safest and rapid weight loss procedures for higher risk obese patients. It is relatively a new approach for those with a body mass index over 50 and is ideal for patients with anemia and other medical complications.

Sleeve gastrectomy surgery is the process of reducing the size of the patient's stomach permanently. It helps you lose weight by restricting the amount of food that can be eaten at one time.

The amount of weight loss after a sleeve gastrectomy is dependent upon the size of the sleeve created. In general, a person may expect to lose between 30 to 35% of their initial body weight or roughly 40 pounds in a year.

Procedure

This procedure is performed laparoscopically and under a general anesthetic. Your surgeon will make 4 to 5 small incisions in the abdomen. He then inserts a series of instruments along with a camera. This camera is able to relay what it focuses onto a large video screen outside. This screen enables the surgeon to have a closer view and also useful for the placement of the instruments and stapling of the stomach. The stomach is restricted by stapling and dividing it vertically and removing more than 85%.

The remaining stomach is shaped like a very small banana and measures from 1-5 ounces depending on the patient.

No interference with small intestine and no changes to the normal digestive function of the stomach. You have a much smaller stomach, for which patients feel full after eating very small amounts of food.

Along with the large portion of the stomach, your hunger hormone 'ghrelin' is also removed. This hormone is responsible for stimulating your appetite that means no hunger experience any more.

After surgery

You will only be allowed to drink water in the first 24 hours after surgery. This will make sure that there are no problems with you consuming liquids or fluids. Following that, you will go on a liquid diet for next few days, then this will be followed by semi-solids and then solid foods gradually.

Unlike other forms of bariatric surgery, the outlet valve and the nerves to the stomach remain intact. The stomach continues to function normally and so there are fewer restrictions on the foods after surgery. However, it is the responsibility of the patient to reduce the quantity of food to be eaten.

Benefits

Not only is it a one-time procedure, one of the greatest advantages of this surgery, which includes removal of the part of the stomach and elimination of hunger stimulation hormones from your body.

You will experience dramatic weight loss in the first twelve months after surgery. Again, it will reduce your risks of developing co-morbidity such as heart disease, stroke or lever disease and diabetics. Other important benefits include improved confidence level, healthy lifestyle and a more positive outlook on life. It is also considered much safer.

Disadvantages

Though the risks are known to be much lower than other forms of bariatric surgery, one of the major disadvantages of this kind of surgery is that it is not reversible.  Some higher BMI patients may need to have a second stage procedure later to help lose the rest of their body weight.And like any surgical operation, sleeve gastrectomy also has possible complications like leakage, bleeding etc.

Infection of the pleura can sometimes lead to an excess of fluid or air build-up in the pleural cavity. A chest tube/drainage kit is used to remove the build up from the body and promote healing. In order to understand how a drainage kit works, it helps to have a mind's-eye picture of the pleura and its purpose and of the pleural cavity in general.

The lungs are covered with a thin membrane known as the pleura. This transparent membrane also lines the insides of the chest walls. The pleura is actually two layers of one sheath which folds over on itself. The layers of the pleura have a very thin space between them. The space is filled with pleural fluid. The pleura protects the lungs and the chest cavity from harmful viruses and bacteria and thus are a barrier to illness.

The problem is that sometimes the pleura itself becomes irritated by bacteria or viruses. When this happens, it can result it pleural effusion, or a condition known as pleurisy. Pleurisy most often results from some type of lung infection, though it can also ensue in cases of lung cancer and other lung problems or as the result of inhaling certain contaminants/pollutants.

Pleurisy causes an abnormal build-up of either air or fluid in the pleural cavity. The pleural cavity refers to the area that is inside the chest cavity (rib cage) and surrounds the lungs. Because the lung's pain sensors are located in the pleura, an inflammation of the membranes can lead to mild to extreme pain, which is usually exacerbated by coughing or sneezing.

When the pleural cavity becomes filled with fluid or air bubbles, the air or liquid must be released in order to keep the lungs from collapsing. A drainage kit (the Pleurx Drainage Kit is one example) is used to help get this excess fluid or air out of the body and protect the lungs.

A drainage kit consists of a long tube (the chest tube, also known as a tube thoracostomy.) The tube is typically made of a type of flexible plastic. The tube is inserted through the skin through a surgical procedure known as thoracotomy. The end of the tube rests inside the pleural cavity. A probe and/or camera is sometimes inserted through the tube during surgery to ensure that the end of the tube has been placed correctly so that drainage will be effective.

The tube is then sutured to the surrounding skin surface to keep the tube from shifting. The entire area is covered with a sterile dressing to protect the incision from infection.

The drainage kit also contains a vacuum bottle. The other end of the chest tube is inserted into the vacuum bottle. This bottle is used to aspirate, vacuum or "suck out" the excess fluid. The contents of the bottle are then disposed of as medical waste.

Drainage kits may come with vacuum bottles in varying sizes. (For example, the Pleurx Drainage Kit bottle has a 1000 ml. capacity.) Drainage kits usually come with items like sterile dressings, gauze and alcohol swabs. Some, like the Pleurx Drainage Kit, include gloves and clamps.

Jenny Schweyer is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest. She writes on health and business topics. Medical Mega: Your medical mega store, carrying a full line of quality medical supplies, including Pleurx drainage kits.