Revista médica de Chile
-
Revista médica de Chile · Jul 2023
[Post-Thyroidectomy Hypocalcemia: Incidence, Prediction, and Outpatient Management Strategies Based on PTH and Calcium Levels].
PTH measurement has been proposed to predict transient and permanent postoperative hypocalcemia. There is no standard cut-off point or time for sampling. ⋯ Protocols for measuring PTH as a hypocalcemia predictor vary. Each center must know and establish its management protocols. With this experience, we demonstrate the usefulness and safety of a management scheme based on calcium, PTH (normal, low, or undetectable), and symptoms with an indication of prophylactic treatment for all patients and a safe outpatient setting at a lower cost than prolonged hospitalization.
-
Revista médica de Chile · Jul 2023
[Health-Related Quality of Life in Heart Transplant Recipients: A Review].
Organ transplantation is a therapeutic alternative for patients with end-stage organ failure resulting from chronic or acute disease. In this context, health-related quality of life is an important multidimensional concept to evaluate the benefits of transplantation. ⋯ Heart transplantation represents a successful therapeutic alternative that not only prolongs life but also makes it possible to achieve an adequate health-related quality of life. Family and social support are crucial elements that impact adjustment and quality of life during the pre- and post-transplant process.
-
Revista médica de Chile · Jul 2023
[Phenomenology of moral distress: implications for the humanization of medical education and practice].
In the healthcare context, moral distress (MD) refers to the negative emotions that arise when a person knows the correct course of action in a given situation but is not able to follow it due to personal, hierarchical or institutional impediments. MD has been related to various professional problems, such as vocational disorientation, low work motivation, depersonalized treatment of patients, abandonment of duties, and changes of specialty or profession. ⋯ Accordingly, this article has the objectives, firstly, to promote the phenomenological study of MD in our country, considering the importance of preventing its potential adverse impact on the mental health of future professionals, and, secondly, to highlight the need to include narrative approaches in medical education, in order to develop a more holistic approach to understanding patients and their condition of vulnerability. Ultimately, it is expected that addressing the implications of MD in medical education and practice will contribute to its humanization, optimizing the quality of healthcare.