Irish journal of medical science
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Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) is a common but under-recognized problem among older residents in nursing homes. If not detected and properly managed, it is a risk factor for failure to thrive and aspiration pneumonia. Discharge to nursing home from hospital may provide an opportunity for detection and subsequent management. ⋯ OPD is present at discharge in over one-third of patients newly discharged to nursing home following a hospital admission, and this may be an under-estimate. This is significant in terms of planning of future care of management in nursing homes. It is important that the syndrome is duly noted in transfer documentation and that appropriate multi-disciplinary support arranged for residents in nursing homes with OPD.
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The incidence of post-transplant diabetes (PTDM) is variable primarily due to a lack of standardised diagnostic criteria. ⋯ The cumulative incidence of post-transplant diabetes in our cohort was 19.4%. The majority of the patients were screened before and after transplant for glucose abnormality. The authors recommend that all patients should be managed in a multidisciplinary setting including transplant physicians, endocrinlogist, diabetes nurse specialists, transplant nurses and dietitians.
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Ureteric stents are frequently placed following endo-urological procedures. These stents cause significant morbidity for patients. Standard ureteric stents are removed by flexible cystoscopy. This procedure can be unpleasant for patients and requires additional resources. A newly designed magnetic stent allows removal in an outpatient setting. The aim of our study is to compare the magnetic stent and standard ureteric stents with regard to morbidity, pain on stent removal and cost-effectiveness. ⋯ Magnetic stents cause similar morbidity for patients compared with standard stents removed by flexible cystoscopy; they are associated with less pain at removal and are cost saving.
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To describe rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery in a Dublin tertiary referral centre over a 4-year period and to examine factors predictive of surgical and anatomical success. ⋯ This is the first study of its kind in Ireland and will help surgeons benchmark their results against international standards in the future. Accurate recording of logMAR acuity and intraoperative complications is imperative to assist with prospective studies.
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Increasing numbers of young adults with life-limiting conditions are living into adulthood and consequently making the transition from children's to adult services. A poorly planned transition is associated with adverse outcomes such as non-adherence to treatment and loss to follow-up, together with negative social and emotional outcomes. However, there is little descriptive data on how organisations are currently managing transition. ⋯ The findings demonstrate that caring for young adults with life-limiting conditions presents a considerable challenge to organisations and that transition from children's to adult services is an important part of this challenge.