Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewnętrznej
-
Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Jan 2012
Practice Guideline[Polish guidelines for the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism. 2012 update].
The overall objective of the Polish guidelines for the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism is to increase patient benefit and safety by appropriate prevention and treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism as well as proper management of the complications associated with antithrombotic and thrombolytic therapy. These guidelines apply to adult trauma, cancer, surgical, and medical patients as well as those at increased risk of venous thromboembolism. Specific recommendations have been formulated for pregnant women, patients requiring surgery while receiving long-term oral anticoagulant treatment, and patients undergoing regional anesthesia and/or analgesia. ⋯ When necessary, we explicitly stated the rationale for modification of the previously published recommendations and judgements about the values and preferences we assumed. The information regarding reimbursement of drugs mentioned in the recommendations was added in chapters 6-9 and 13 and approved by the National Health Fund. The final version of the practice guidelines was officially approved by the scientific societies and institutions listed at the beginning of the document.
-
"Second victims" are health care providers who are involved with patient adverse events and who subsequently have difficulty coping with their emotions. Growing attention is being paid to making system improvements to create safer health care and to the appropriate handling of patients and families harmed during the provision of medical care. In contrast, there has been little attention to helping health care workers cope with adverse events. ⋯ When there is a serious patient adverse event, there are always second victims who are health care workers. The Johns Hopkins Hospital has established a "Second Victims" Work Group that will develop support strategies, particularly a peer-support program, for health care professionals within the system.
-
Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Dec 2010
ReviewManagement of cardiac electrical implantable devices in patients nearing the end of life or requesting withdrawal of therapy: review of the Heart Rhythm Society 2010 consensus statement.
Cardiac implantable electrical devices (CIEDs) are increasingly common interventions for a wide spectrum of cardiovascular diseases. Caring for patients with life-sustaining devices such as CIEDs at the end of life raises legal and ethical challenges. ⋯ This statement addressed a wide range of ethical and legal principles while providing guidance for communication, decision-making, and procedures in a variety of settings. In this article, we provide a summary of the HRS guidelines and highlight the most important features of CIED deactivation for the practicing clinician.
-
Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Nov 2010
ReviewEndobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration.
Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is an advance in bronchoscopy. It is a staging tool for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but also allows diagnosis of unexplained mediastinal lymphadenopathy due to malignant and benign disease. ⋯ EBUS-TBNA is expensive, which may limit its development in resource-rationed health care systems. Conventional (without ultrasound) transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) still has a useful role in lung cancer staging, especially where EBUS-TBNA is not available; it can help avoid unnecessary mediastinoscopies.
-
Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Oct 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialN-acetylcysteine fails to prevent renal dysfunction and oxidative stress after noniodine contrast media administration during percutaneous coronary interventions.
Oxidative stress is believed to have a role in contrast-induced nephropathy. Based on this assumption, several known antioxidants have been studied to assess their effect on nephropathy, especially N-acetylcysteine (NAC). However, its usefulness has yet to be confirmed. ⋯ In this first clinical study that determined TOC and TAC levels in both serum and urine after exposure to contrast media, NAC was not found to affect oxidant parameters or protect against contrast nephropathy, at least in patients without the risk factors for nephropathy, such as diabetes mellitus or baseline renal or cardiac dysfunction.