The West Virginia medical journal
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To assess concerns and self-reported competencies in end-of-life (EOL) care, we surveyed a random sample of West Virginia physicians and received 255 responses (33%). Those responding identified three major barriers to good EOL care: patient and family demands for all possible treatments, lack of physician education and inadequate financing. ⋯ Most respondents rated the overall quality of EOL care in West Virginia as fair to poor. We conclude that physician respondents recognize the need to improve their knowledge and skills in EOL care to improve the care of the dying in West Virginia.
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Over the past decade, prostate brachytherapy has been increasingly utilized as definitive management for early stage carcinoma of the prostate gland. One risk of the procedure is pulmonary seed embolization. ⋯ Pulmonary embolization of radioactive seeds occurs in approximately 20% of patients undergoing prostate brachytherapy. To date, no acute or delayed detrimental effects have been reported which are attributable to the pulmonary embolization of the seeds; nevertheless, it is imperative that patients and health care providers be cognizant of this possible event.