Connecticut medicine
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Connecticut medicine · Oct 2000
Multicenter StudyPreferences for CPR among the elderly: the influence of attitudes and values.
While many older individuals wish to forgo cardiopulmonary resuscitation regardless of potential positive outcomes, others desire this intervention despite low chances of survival. This study examines the extent to which health, function, attitudes, and values influence preferences for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. ⋯ Attitudes toward life, perceived outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and family issues play a significant role in end-of-life treatment decision-making.
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Connecticut medicine · Aug 2000
Practice Guideline GuidelineObstructive sleep apnea, polysomnography, and split-night studies: consensus statement of the Connecticut Thoracic Society and the Connecticut Neurological Society.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a state-dependent syndrome. It is characterized by repeated collapse of the upper airway as the result of the loss of waking neuromuscular drive as the brain changes from wakefulness to sleep. This produces a state-dependent decrease in muscle tone, which, together with other predisposing factors such as obesity and anatomical narrowing of the upper airway, results in the spectrum of sleep disordered breathing. ⋯ The efficacy of each depends on the individual anatomy and the severity of the sleep-disordered breathing. CPAP is accepted as the most reliable treatment regardless of anatomy and severity. It is currently the only treatment modality which can be titrated during sleep and requires simultaneous polysomnography.
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Connecticut medicine · Jul 2000
Physician-assisted suicide in Connecticut: physicians' attitudes and experiences.
This study examined aspects of physician attitudes toward physician-assisted suicide (PAS) not fully examined to date: evaluation of risks related to PAS, particularly the presence of depression, and the influence of religious and professionally-based values. ⋯ Most respondents expressed concern regarding certain risks associated with PAS, including movement toward involuntary euthanasia and the influence of undetected depression. Findings raise practical issues to be addressed through statutory or professional safeguards if PAS were to be legalized.