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That burning sensation in your chest might be more than just occasional heartburn. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) affects one in five Australian adults and can profoundly impact quality of life when left untreated.

in an interview where Dr Gavin Nimon (Orthopaedic Surgeon and host) interviews A/Prof Harsh Kanhere, Head of Upper GI Surgery at Royal Adelaide Hospital, takes us beyond the common understanding of reflux to explore its true complexity. While heartburn remains the hallmark symptom, many patients experience atypical presentations including respiratory issues, chest pain that mimics cardiac conditions, and even iron deficiency anaemia that can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment.

The conversation delves into the fascinating protective mechanisms that normally prevent reflux and how they fail. A/Prof Harsh Kanherer explains the critical role of the lower oesophageal sphincter and how anatomical disruptions like hiatus hernias create the perfect conditions for acid to travel where it shouldn't. This understanding forms the foundation for both medical and surgical approaches to treatment.

Weight gain, smoking, and excessive caffeine emerge as the unholy trinity of reflux risk factors, with obesity particularly significant in our current health landscape. A/Prof Harsh Kanhere shares practical insights on management strategies ranging from lifestyle modifications to medication options and surgical interventions. The modern laparoscopic approach to anti-reflux surgery has transformed what was once a major operation requiring lengthy hospital stays into a procedure some patients can recover from in just a day.

Perhaps most valuable is the discussion of Barrett's oesophagus – the potentially pre-cancerous condition that can develop from chronic reflux – and strategies for monitoring and prevention. Whether you're experiencing symptoms yourself or treating patients with this common condition, this episode provides essential knowledge delivered with clarity and practical wisdom.

Listen now to understand the science behind your symptoms and discover the most effective approaches to finding relief from this common but potentially serious condition.

Aussie Med Ed is sponsored by -HealthShare is a digital health company, that provides solutions for patients, General Practitioners and Specialists across Australia.

Aussie Med Ed is sponsored by Avant Medical Indemnity: They state that they offer holistic support to help the doctor practice safely and believe they have extensive cover that's continually evolving to meet your needs in the ever changing regulatory environment.

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The silent revolution happening in healthcare often goes unnoticed by patients, but medical registries have fundamentally transformed how medicine is practiced—particularly in orthopaedic surgery.Join Dr Gavin Nimon ( Host and Orthopaedic Surgeon ) as he interviews Professor Richard Page and they pull back the curtain on these powerful databases that track surgical outcomes across entire populations.

As the former Deputy Director of the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry, Professor Page reveals how these systems have saved approximately $1.2 billion in healthcare costs while dramatically improving patient outcomes. The Australian registry, considered world-class, has tracked over 2.2 million joint replacements with extraordinary detail and accuracy exceeding 99%.

What began with passionate surgeons manually recording data has evolved into sophisticated systems that provide early warning signals when implants underperform. Professor Page shares the fascinating story of how shoulder replacements were integrated into the national registry—initially by surgeons who simply crossed out "knee" on data collection forms and wrote "shoulder" instead. This persistence paid off, with shoulder replacements growing from approximately 1,000 annually to nearly 12,000, making it the fastest-growing joint replacement procedure in Australia.

The registry has revealed crucial insights: total shoulder replacements outperform partial replacements for osteoarthritis, and reverse shoulder replacements have proven remarkably successful despite initial skepticism. These findings directly influence surgical decisions and have reduced revision rates by nearly 4%, sparing hundreds of patients from additional operations.

Looking forward, Professor Page describes an exciting future where registries integrate with AI, smartphone technology, and wearables to provide real-time monitoring of patient function. These powerful databases are evolving from quality assurance tools into platforms for innovative research, international collaboration, and personalized medicine.

Explore this fascinating conversation to understand how systematic data collection is quietly revolutionizing healthcare delivery and improving lives. What other medical advances might be hiding in plain sight within these vast repositories of patient data?

Aussie Med Ed is sponsored by -HealthShare is a digital health company, that provides solutions for patients, General Practitioners and Specialists across Australia.

Aussie Med Ed is sponsored by Avant Medical Indemnity: They state that they offer holistic support to help the doctor practice safely and believe they have extensive cover that's continually evolving to meet your needs in the ever changing regulatory environment.

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Description:
In this episode of Aussie Med Ed, Dr. Gavin Nimon ( Orthopaedic Surgeon ) interviews Dr. Thomas Altree, a respiratory physician, to provide a comprehensive overview of respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, and the effects of smoking, vaping, and air pollution.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Common respiratory diseases and their impact on lung function
• The classification of obstructive and restrictive lung diseases
• The risks associated with smoking, vaping, and environmental pollutants
• Diagnostic tools, including spirometry, CT scans, and lung function tests
• Current treatment approaches, including bronchodilators, BiPAP, and emerging monoclonal antibody therapies
• The role of lung transplants in end-stage respiratory disease
  
  

Who should watch?

• Medical students and general practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of respiratory medicine
• Patients and the general public interested in lung health
• Individuals experiencing breathing difficulties, chronic cough, or other respiratory concerns
• This episode provides essential insights into respiratory health and disease management.

If you find this content valuable, please subscribe for more discussions with medical specialists.

Aussie Med Ed – A podcast designed to simplify complex medical topics through expert interviews.

Aussie Med Ed is sponsored by -HealthShare is a digital health company, that provides solutions for patients, General Practitioners and Specialists across Australia.

Aussie Med Ed is sponsored by Avant Medical Indemnity: They state that they offer holistic support to help the doctor practice safely and believe they have extensive cover that's continually evolving to meet your needs in the ever changing regulatory environment.