Missouri medicine
-
As dying patients adjust to the irreversible nature of their illness, their needs and focus of care changes. Spiritual issues may become a central concern for them, and addressing these issues can be key to relieving suffering. ⋯ In this article, we address the role of spirituality in end-of-life care, and discuss a format for spiritual assessment. We hope this will encourage more comprehensive patient-centered, end-of-life care.
-
Hospice provides multidisciplinary care to dying patients with and without cancer. Most adults would prefer to be cared for in their home or that of a family member. This guide provides answers to the questions most commonly asked of physicians. Its goal is to facilitate a better understanding of what hospice does, who is eligible, physician roles, and how physicians can use hospice to help their patients.
-
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a disease of unknown etiology, characterized by paresthesias and an irresistible desire to move the legs. Dopaminergic mechanisms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of this disorder. ⋯ This paper describes the use of ropinirole, a non-ergoline dopamine agonist, in the treatment of RLS. Polysomnograms after treatment, as well as patient assessment of their symptoms, showed clinical improvement.