inai Hospital's pioneering history in the medical
use of lasers has lit the way to one of the most
rewarding applications of this technology.
The pulsed dye laser can actually erase disfigur-
ing birthmarks known as port wine stains and straw-
berry hemangiomas. And Sinai was the first in metro
Detroit to acquire it.
"Up to this point," explains dermatologist Earl J.
Rudner, M.D., "Lasers were not very effective; often
replacing the birth marks with scars. With this new
laser, we can shrink the superficial blood vessels and
not penetrate deeply enough to cause scarring."
"It's a very satisfactory treatment," he concludes.
Dr. Rudner cautions that it takes multiple treat-
ment sessions to complete the task. Each session takes
from 30 to 45 minutes at Sinai with two to three
months intervening. New topical anesthetics signifi-
cantly reduce the discomfort of the treatment.
"There's never been anything like this before," Dr.
Rudner says. "Patients are very grateful."
Sinai has been a pioneer in laser surgery for more than 25 years.
Breathing Easier:
Pulmonary Care at Sinai
ou are doing it
right now. And
the fact that you
are not thinking
about it, although
it is keeping you alive, is
Nature's plan. But for
some people — and for
most of us, on some occa-
sions — breathing can be
a terrifying struggle.
Emphysema, asthma
and bronchitis can narrow
the passageways to, and
clog, the lungs. Because
fear is a constant com-
panion, Sinai Hospital's
Pulmonary and Critical
Care section, under the
leadership of Bohdan M.
Pichurko, M.D., has es-
tablished the Respiratory
Health Program to edu-
cate patients about their
breathing problems with
y
.
an emphasis on preven-
tion.
"Asthma is unstable
and unpredictable," Dr.
Pichurko says. "Our goal
is to minimize the im-
pairment with the appro-
priate use of medications
so patients can lead rela-
tively carefree, active and
fulfilling lives.
"What distinguishes
the program we offer is
that we do not merely pre-
scribe medication and
then send patients on
their way. We teach them
how the respiratory sys-
tem works, how asthma
occurs, how to arrest an
attack, how to cope with
a crisis and how to prop-
erly use medication. We
also educate the families,
including a personal dis-
cussion of each family
member's needs, prob-
lems and fears."
Dr. Pichurko and his
pulmonologist colleagues
conduct research in the
field. "Consequently, we
help patients gain greater
insight into their disease,"
he explains.
"Our goal is to improve
the quality of life. We
want to free people who
previously denied them-
selves the pleasures of
travel and the company of
friends and family be-
cause of asthma," he says.
Ultimately, this trans-
laths into a reduced num-
ber of sick days."
At the other end of the
spectrum is emphysema,
a potentially crippling and
fatal disease. Whatever
lung destruction occurs is
irreparable, Dr. Pichurko
explains, so it is vital that
the patient be treated ear-
ly. "If it is discovered ear-
ly and the patient stops
smoking, we can retain up
to 80 percent of the lung
function," he says.
Sinai sponsors an inex-
pensive, accessible eight-
week smoking cessation
program called Freedom
from Smoking which is
conducted by the Ameri-
can Lung Association of
Michigan. Trained facili-
tators, many of whom are
former smokers, conduct
the sessions. For infor-
mation about meeting
times and enrollment, call
SinaiSource at 1-800-
248-3627.
)sinal
When the Body's
Enemy Is Itself
utoimmune dis-
ease is a field in
which the need for
cooperation
among sub-spe-
cialties is probably most
crucial. These conditions
affect 50 million Ameri-
cans — one-fifth of our pop-
ulation. The leading cause
of chronic illness in the
United States, they are
characteristically tricky to
diagnose. If left to
progress, they can involve
many organs, leading to
serious complications and
even death.
Some of the more well-
known autoimmune dis-
eases include diabetes,
multiple sclerosis, lupus
and arthritis. But there
are more than 70 disor-
ders in the collection, all
of which have one thing in
common. They convince
the body's immune sys-
tem that its own tissues
are foreign intruders,' ,
causing immune soldiers ‘,
to mobilize and attack
their host.
Incredibly, the average
patient consumes $50,000
in medical expenses be-
fore the possibility of au-
toimmunity is considered.
It is not uncommon for
years to pass, while the
patient consults up to two
dozen doctors, before an
accurate diagnosis is
made. Meanwhile, the
body is ravaged; its health
and stamina drained.
Because there is no sin-
gle medical specialty to
treat autoimmune dis-
eases, sufferers often
flounder in a dimly lit
maze.
Sinai Hospital's De-
partment of Medicine has
torn down the walls and
let in the light.
"The department is
committed to patient ed-
ucation and the education
of both practicing physi-
cians and trainees," says
Department Chairman
Dr. Steven Rabinowe. As
a result, Sinai Hospital,
along with the Detroit-
founded American Au-
toimmune Related
Diseases Association, re-
cently hosted the nation's
first free public seminar
on autoimmunity, fol-
lowed by a physician's
conference, also at Sinai.
And Dr. Rabinowe will
head a new clinic at Sinai
dedicated to accurate di-
agnosis and efficient treat-
ment of autoimmune
diseases.
Now, when an individ-
ual describes an unusual
mix of persistent and
vague symptoms, his or
her physician can seek
help at Sinai's new clin-
ic: At this clinic, patients
will have access to sub-
specialists, screening tests
and treatment plans for
early, sometimes life-sav-
ing intervention.
Sinai patients, who
avoid the traditional frag-
mented approach to their
puzzling problems, bene-
fit from the early control
of their symptoms as well
as a reduction in frustra-
tion, time, costs and fear.
flealthrlews
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Putting on a Happy Face