Clin Med
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The Court of Appeal judgment that Janet Tracey's human rights had been breached when a 'do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation' (DNACPR) form was written about her without her knowledge has far-reaching implications for clinical practice. The 'duty to consult' extends to all patients apart from those in whom it is likely that discussion would cause 'physical or psychological harm'. ⋯ Problems with DNACPR decisions predate the Tracey case, and a coordinated alternative approach is needed: patients should be given information so that they can anticipate, initiate and participate in discussions; resuscitation decisions should be considered early in treatment, in a community setting or at predictable junctures; resuscitation should not be considered in isolation but within the context of other goals of care. Models addressing these issues have been developed.
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Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is an unusual form of acute cardiomyopathy showing left ventricular apical ballooning. TCM can masquerade as ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). ⋯ In patients with hypotension and moderate-to-severe left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction, inotropic agents should be avoided, because they can worsen the degree of obstruction. Instead, beta-blockers are preferred, because they are capable of resolving the obstruction and consequently improve the haemodynamics.
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We examined the effects of a programme to improve adherence to British Thoracic Society pleural procedure guidelines at our institution. Following a baseline audit, we performed an intervention to enhance adherence to these guidelines. We then performed a postintervention audit. ⋯ We concluded that guidelines promoted at a local level by one specialty have limited traction on members of another specialty. For pleural procedures, which cross specialty boundaries, we propose that future guidelines be developed jointly by all relevant specialties. This could facilitate unified guideline implementation at the clinical coalface.