Rhode Island medical journal (2013)
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Endoscopic discectomy is an ultra- minimally invasive outpatient surgical option for the treatment of lumbar herniated discs. The purpose of this study was to assess the benefit of tranforaminal versus interlaminar endoscopic discectomy in patients with single level Lumbar 5-Sacral 1(L5-S1) disc herniations and lumbar radiculopathy. ⋯ The 1-year follow-up data presented here for transforaminal and intralaminar approaches to L5-S1 disc herniations appears to indicate that either approach can be used as determined to best suit the pathology without sacrificing the probability of postoperative pain improvement.
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Compassion and compassion fatigue are discussed in the medical literature. However, few studies address physicians and none examine physicians' spiritual beliefs related to their provision of compassionate care. ⋯ Physicians value compassion, linking it to spiritual values and self-care, but identify challenges in daily practice. Further study is needed to explore how to support physicians' provision of compassionate care and prevent burnout.
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Despite the fact that up to half of all heart failure occurs in patients without evidence of systolic cardiac dysfunction, there are no universally accepted diagnostic markers and no approved therapies for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). HFpEF, otherwise known as diastolic heart failure, has nearly the same grim prognosis as systolic heart failure, and diastolic heart failure is increasing in incidence and prevalence. ⋯ Even criteria for diagnosis of HFpEF are still debated, and there is still no gold standard marker to detect diastolic dysfunction. Here, we will review some promising new insights into the pathogenesis of diastolic dysfunction that may lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic tools.