Hong Kong medical journal = Xianggang yi xue za zhi / Hong Kong Academy of Medicine
-
To review the concept, components, and characteristics of the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment technique. ⋯ A well-targeted Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment programme and the control of patients' adherence to recommendations are effective in improving the well-being of elderly patients.
-
The management of carbon monoxide poisoning requires an accurate assessment of the extent of blood oxygenation. Measuring the fractional oxyhaemoglobin content by using co-oximetry gives a true picture of the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood in the presence of carboxyhaemoglobin. The use of readings from pulse oximetry or a standard blood gas analyser is insufficient and can be misleading. We report on a case of carbon monoxide poisoning to illustrate this potential pitfall.
-
We report on a 12-year-old boy with herpes simplex encephalitis, in whom a severe localised skin reaction developed following the infusion of intravenous acyclovir. Oral valaciclovir was given as continuation therapy to complete the 3-week course of antiviral treatment and resulted in complete recovery without side effects. This report illustrates the advantage of using the polymerase chain reaction to diagnose herpes simplex encephalitis and the potential use of newer antiviral agents, such as valaciclovir, as continuation therapy in the management of the infection. The higher oral bioavailability of newer antiviral agents allows part of the extended treatment period of patients with herpes simplex encephalitis to be carried out as an ambulatory oral regimen.
-
An autopsy performed on a 53-year-old man who had unrelieved obstruction of the small bowel due to gallstone ileus revealed morphological features that were typical of acute Wernicke's encephalopathy. The likely sequence of disease in this patient was the development of thiamine deficiency owing to the unrelieved intestinal obstruction, which resulted in the development of acute Wernicke's encephalopathy. A high clinical awareness is required for the diagnosis of acute Wernicke's encephalopathy in patients with malnutrition from any cause.
-
We have performed a prospective, questionnaire-based survey on patients' knowledge of and attitudes towards anaesthetists in Hong Kong. Before their preoperative anaesthetic visit, 120 patients completed a three-section questionnaire. The first section consisted of questions designed to assess patients' knowledge about anaesthetists and their practice. ⋯ Seventy percent of patients recognised that anaesthetists are medical doctors and most realised that they provide anaesthesia for surgical procedures. However, there was scant knowledge of anaesthetists' perioperative role or their role in other aspects of patients care such as pain management, intensive care, resuscitation, research, and teaching. Patients felt it was important to be fully informed about the anaesthetic, and were keen to see their anaesthetist both preoperatively and postoperatively.