תוצאת חיפוש

Choice of Infusion Site - Differences in the References of Nurses, Residents and Patients

Ido Weinberg, Ben Gross, Herbert Freund

Department of Surgery, Hadassah University Hospital Mount Scopus and Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem

Insertion of an intravenous (IV) line is a common and routine procedure in hospitalized patients. The literature recommends not to insert an IV line in a limb fold, but other than that there are no guidelines regarding optimal locations for the IV line. In this study we attempted to elucidate whether there are other possible preferences and guidelines for choosing the location of an IV line. We studied four groups: patients at the time of hospitalization, hospitalized patients, nurses and surgical interns on a surgical ward. We found that 91.8% of the patients request to take part in choosing the location of their IV line. Moreover, we found that most patients have a hand preference for the IV, whereas, the ward staff has little location preference. Despite these findings, we discovered that, in practice, most patients were not asked to participate in the decision making process regarding their IV line location. Analysis of the results showed that there is a need to include the patient's preference in choosing the location for the IV line, whenever possible. If the patient doesn't have a preference, the IV line should be inserted in the non-dominant hand or the hand in the bed which is more accessible to the medical & nursing staff.

Characteristics of Nasopharyngeal Carriage of Streptococcus Pneumoniae in Children During Acute Respiratory Disease

A. Aran¹, D. Fraser², R. Dagan¹

Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit¹, Epidemiology Department², Soroka University Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important cause of pediatric morbidity and its main reservoir is the nasopharynx, from which it can disseminate and cause invasive disease. From November 1997 through March 1998, nasopharyngeal carriage of S. pneumoniae was evaluated in 250 children under the age of 36 months: 123 Jews and 127 Bedouins with acute respiratory disease and in 980 healthy control children (852 Jews and 128 Bedouins).

Carriage rate was higher among sick children. Among Jewish children it was 57% and 35% of sick and healthy children respectively (p<0.01), and among Bedouin children it figured as 80% and 67% respectively (p=0.01). The difference in carriage rate was most prominent in infants under the age of 5 months: among Jewish children it was 60% and 27% of sick and healthy children respectively (p<0.001) and among Bedouins it was 82% and 65% respectively (p=0.05).

Higher carriage rate of penicillin resistant pneumococci (PRP) was also detected in sick children, with no relation to antibiotic treatment in the month prior to sampling. In Jewish children PRP was detected in 12%, 28% (p<0.001) and 36% (p<0.001) of healthy children, sick children with previous antibiotic treatment and sick children with no treatment, respectively.

The seroypes included in the newly developed 7-valent conjugate vaccine: 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, 23F, that are highly pathogenic and often antibiotic resistant contributed 74% of isolates in sick Jewish children who had previous antibiotic treatment and 39% of isolates in healthy children (p<0.001). In Bedouin children vaccine types carriers rate among the sick children was not higher than in healthy children.

Acute respiratory disease increases the risk of pneumococcal carriage in general and carriage of resistant pneumococci in particular. Previous antibiotic treatment increases the risk of carring one of the pathogenic serotypes included in the 7-valent vaccine. The impact of disease is most prominent in infants under 5 months, since they are usually less exposed to S. pneumoniae carriers than older children.

Since the increase in carriage rate during illness is mostly due to the serotypes included in the newly developed conjugate vaccine, future immunization programme may decrease not only morbidity rate but also nasopharyngeal carriage rate of pneumococci in general and of antibiotic-resistant pneumococci in particular.

Neurological Manifestations in West Nile Fever

R. Grossman, Y. Levi

Department of Medicine B and Research Unit of Autoimmune Diseases, Chaim Sheba Medical Center (Affiliated to Tel-Aviv University), Tel-Hashomer, Ramat-Gan

The West Nile fever is a viral disease transferred by a mosquito bite. It is well known in the world for the last 70 years. Recently, there was an outbreak of this disease in Israel. We will describe case reports of 2 patients who were afflicted by the disease. The first one was hospitalized with an unusual presentation including paralysis to the lower limbs, while the second one was admitted with meningitis. In both, the course was quite dramatic, and one of them expired. Reviewing the literature revealed that neurological manifestations are quite frequent among these patients (90%), while in elder people, they were fatal.

אילן גל, יגאל וולמן, יוסף הרטוב, גדעון פייט, יוסף לסינג, אריאל יפו

המכון לדימות על-שמע במיילדות ורפואת נשים, ביה"ח ליולדות ליס, המרכז הרפואי ת"א

חשיבות המערכת הוורידית והחזר הדם ללב האדם הבוגר ידועה זה שנים. למעשה, השליטה העיקרית בתפוקת הלב הבוגר נקבעת על פי שינויים בזרימה ובהחזר הוורידיים. מדידות לחצים וזרימות במערכת ההחזר הוורידי ללב, משמשים כלי ניטור יומיומי ביחידות לטיפול נמרץ וטיפולים תרופתיים רבים מיועדים לשיפור זרימה זו במצבי אי-ספיקת לב. עם זאת, הזרימה העוברית וההחזר הוורידי ללב העובר לא נחקרו עד לשנים האחרונות. הסיבה לכך כפולה. ראשית, דגם עובר הכבש לבדיקת זרימת הדם שפותח בשנות השישים ייצג בעיקר, את המערכת העורקית. שנית, זיהוי מדויק של מערכת הזרימה הוורידית קשה יותר טכנית ורק עם פיתוח שיטת דופלר בצבע, ניתן היה להדגים ולמדוד בוודאות את צורת גלי הזרימה של מרכיבי המערכת ולדגום אותם. התפתחות נוספת בשנים האחרונות נובעת מהדגמה מדויקת יותר של המערכת ומאפשרת מדידת זרימת הדם במונחי מ"ל/דקה.

עמירם כ"ץ, יאיר שפירא

המח' לשיקום ד', ביה"ח "לוינשטיין", רעננה, ביה"ח "אסותא", תל-אביב

לאדם, כמו ליונקים אחרים, מנגנון ויסות-טמפרטורה שנועד לשמר את טמפרטורת הגוף בטווח המאפשר פעילות פיזיולוגית תקינה. בגיל הזיקנה, משתבש מנגנון זה ואיננו יעיל כמו בגיל צעיר. לשיבוש זה סיבות אפשריות אחדות, וקיימים חילוקי דעות בין החוקרים על המשמעות של חלק מהן.

Pseudomembranous Colitis: Clinical, Endoscopic and Radiological Correlation - A 2 - Year Experience

Fabiana Benjaminov MD⁽¹⁾, Rivka Zissin MD⁽²⁾, Benjamin Novis MD⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾Gastroenterology Institute and ⁽²⁾CT Unit, Meir Hospital, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

Abstract: The incidence rates of pseudomembranous colitis are rising. Early diagnosis and treatment are required for management of this potentially life-threatening disease. This report outlines our 2-year experience (1997-1998) at the gastrointestinal institute with 43 patients diagnosed with pseudomembranous colitis and describes the clinical course and imaging studies.

The group consisted of 25 women and 18 men, aged 34-93 years (mean: 67). Thirty-nine patients were treated with antibiotics. Twelve patients were referred directly to an endoscopic examination with a presumed clinical diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis (diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain) that was confirmed by colonoscopy. Thirty-one were referred to colonoscopy following abdominal imaging performed to clarify cause of fever and abdominal pain. Twenty-nine patients had an abdominal CT, one had an US and one a barium follow-through. The CT finding suggesting pseudomembranous colitis included colonic mural thickening in 28 patients (71% diffuse versus 29% segmental colitis), with an average wall thickness of 16 mm. Sixteen patients (59%) had pericolonic fat changes and 15 patients (51%) had ascites. All of these patients, except one, had endoscopic findings consistent with pseudomembranous colitis.

Five patients (11.6 %) died due to the severe PMC.

To conclude, as an abdominal CT is often performed in the acutely ill patient, it may arouse the diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis in the proper clinical setting. Such a suspected diagnosis justifies endoscopic evaluation, which is the most reliable diagnostic examination.

שרית אביאל-רונן, ברוריה שלמון ודבורה נס

העניין במחלת אלצהיימר (מ"א) חצה זה מכבר את גבולות האקדמיה והקליניקה. שכיחות המחלה העולה בכל עשור מעל העשור השישי ומגיעה לכ-50% מעל גיל 85, הופכת אותה לבעיה רפואית, חברתית וכלכלית בחברה מזדקנת. התסמינים, המתחילים בהפרעות קלות בתיפקודים שיכליים או בהפרעות באפקט, מתפתחים במהלך 5-10 שנים לחוסר התמצאות מתקדם, אובדן זיכרון ואימלות (אפזיה) ובשיאם מגיעים לשיטיון עמוק עם אובדן כושר הדיבור והניידות.

Tuberculous Meningitis in HIV

R. Elazary, Y. Kalish

Medical Dept., Hadassah University Hospital, Ein Karem, Jerusalem

The increase in prevalence of tuberculous meningitis during the past decade has been attributed in part to the increase of AIDS. Failure to diagnose HIV can cause irreversible damage and even death. We describe a man with AIDS admitted through the emergency room because of high fever and headaches for more than a month, He was cachectic and had nuchal rigidity without major neurological deficit. Brain imaging was normal and lumbar puncture showed neutrophils, lymphocytes, hypochloremia, elevated protein, and decreased glucose; cryptococcal antigen was negative but acid-fast staining was positive.

Anti-TB chemotherapy was started using 4 drugs and dexamethasone was also given. Considerable improvement in his general condition followed rapidly.

Use of corticosteroids in tuberculous meningitis has been a major issue. They are added to antimicrobial agents in order to decrease reactivity of inflammatory mediators and thus reduce central nervous system damage.

We review several controlled studies in which steroids were added to treat tuberculous meningitis. The conclusions of most were that they decrease morbidity and mortality, especially of those moderately to severely ill. Most considered as ungrounded the possibility of exacerbating latent tuberculous, or any other opportunistic infection outside the central nervous system. However, it is currently recommended to add prednisone, 1 mg/kg/d for 2-4 weeks when initiating antituberculous treatment.
 

Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Full-Term Neonates

S. Menascu, A. Levitas, A. Golan

Pediatrics B Dept., and Newborn and Preterm Dept., Soroka Medical Center and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

Intraventricular hemorrhage in full-term neonates is rare; it may develop without any clinical signs. Its cause is not fully understood although some risk factors have been identified. A higher index of suspicion would ensure earlier diagnosis and treatment, which might reduce the rate of severe complications. We describe 2 cases in full-term neonates.

ענבר צוקר¹, לאה סירוטה¹, נחמה לינדר¹

¹המח' לטיפול נמרץ פגים, מרכז שניידר לרפואת ילדים בישראל, פתח-תקווה

ילודים, ובמיוחד פגים במשקל לידה נמוך, נמנים עם קבוצות החולים הנזקקות בשכיחות גבוהה לערויי-דם ותוצריו. על פי הערכות, כ- 80% מהילודים השוקלים פחות מ- 1500 ג', יקבלו מספר ערויי-דם בשבועות הראשונים לחייהם. ערויים אלה ניתנים כדי לתקן אנמיה תסמינית, הנגרמת כתוצאה ממישלב של חסר ייצור מספיק של דם ע"י הילוד ובמיוחד הפג הגדל, ושל איבודי דם מישניים לבדיקות. לעיתים, ניתנים ערויים במסגרת פעולות טיפוליות מיוחדות, המצריכות מתן ערויי דם בכמות גדולה, כגון ניתוחי לב וערוי חלופין. הטיפול בערויי דם יכול לגרום לשורה של סיבוכים מיידיים ומאוחרים. חלקם יכולים לחול בכל קבוצת גיל וחלקם ייחודיים לילודים. המטרה בסקירה זו היא לדווח על הסיבוכים האפשריים של ממתן ערוי-דם בילודים, תוך התייחסות למאפיינים הייחודיים לתת-אוכלוסייה זו של חולים.
 

Surgery for Blepharoptosis in Muscular Dystrophy

Ori Mahler, Asher Milstein, Ayala Pollack, Daniel Hauben

Eye Dept., Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot; and Plastic Surgery Dept., Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva

In some muscular dystrophies there is ocular involvement characterized by blepharoptosis and ophthalmoplegia. These conditions occur in chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia, oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy, mitochondrial myopathy, myotonic dystrophy, and ocular myasthenia, among others. Although they differ in their systemic clinical manifestations and in genetic inheritance, ocular involvement is common to all of them. Manifestations include bilateral progressive blepharoptosis with or without extraocular muscle malfunction.

During surgical repair of the ptotic eyelid, consideration must be given to eyeball movements, in addition to maximal eyelid elevation, and to avoiding overcorrection and consequent corneal overexposure, leading to dryness and visual impairment. With these muscular dystrophic disorders, resection of the levator muscle or blepharoplasty alone does not suffice. Follow-up shows that most patients need a secondary repair after a short while. Operative correction uses a frontalis sling for eyelid elevation and support.

A series of 8 patients with these diseases, operated on by various surgical techniques during the past 7 years, is presented.

רונית חיימוב-קוכמן¹, ראובן ברומיקר², אריאל מילויצקי¹

¹מחלקת נשים ויולדות ²והמחלקה לטיפול נמרץ בילוד, בי"ח הדסה הר הצופים, הפקולטה לרפואה, האוניברסיטה העברית, ירושלים

Tuberculous Meningitis in Review

Mozes Toledo, Y. Skurnik, A. Razabek, Z. Stoeger

Medical Dept. B, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, (Affiliated with Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem)

Tuberculosis meningitis is one of the most dangerous forms of tuberculosis (TB). Due to large waves of immigration, the incidence of TB in Israel has increased in recent years, as has that of TB meningitis. Due to its high mortality, rapid diagnosis of TB meningitis is of paramount importance.

We present a patient admitted with a acute febrile disease which was subsequently diagnosed as TB meningitis.

Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Extracranial Complications of Sinusitis

E. Deutsch, I. Hevron

ENT Dept., Bikur Cholim Hospital, Jerusalem

Orbital subperiosteal abscess (SPA) and Pott's puffy tumor (PPT) are the major extracranial complications of acute sinusitis. These complications are aggravated by the close anatomic relationships between the nasal sinuses and the orbits and frontal bone. Furthermore, the rich diploic venous drainage of the region enhances the spread of the infection.

Between 1992 and 1997, 16 patients (mean age 12 years, range 2-15, 10 of them males), 11 of them with SPA and 4 with PPT were operated on by the senior author by means of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Indications for operation included: CT findings of abscess formation and lack of clinical improvement after 48 hours of IV antibiotic therapy. Clinical resolution of symptoms was achieved in all and there were no operative or postoperative complications.

We emphasize and explain the advantages of ESS over external approaches in surgery for extracranial complications of acute sinusitis by several facts: the technique treats the source of the disease, clinical success rate is high, morbidity is low, and facial distortion and poor cosmetic results completely avoided.

Sacrospinous Ligament Fixation for Vaginal Vault Prolapse

M. Neuman, B. Zuckerman, O. Lavie, U. Beller

Division of Gynecological Surgery and Oncology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem

Sacrospinous ligament fixation is a well-known method for correction of vaginal vault prolapse. The procedure is primarily indicated after hysterectomy and as a prophylactic measure for total uterine prolapse.

8 women with post-hysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse aged 48-72 years, were referred 1-25 years following primary surgery. Sacrospinous ligament fixation was elected to enable simultaneous correction of cystocele and rectocele, and to preserve sexual function. All operations were completed without significant complications.

In 6 of the 8 patients located for long-term interview, 1 reported mild bulging of the introitus, another mild urinary stress incontinence, urgency and frequency and 1 reported frequency only. Sexual function in 4 was without complaints. Defecation in all patients was normal.
We conclude that this operation is safe and effective. We encourage gynecologic surgeons to consult an experienced tutor prior to performing this procedure, as this type of surgery is quite dangerous and many gynecologists are not familiar enough with it.