Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Jan 2016
Anaemia in elective orthopaedic surgery - Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia.
An anaemia clinic was established to improve the preoperative management of elective orthopaedic patients scheduled for arthroplasty. This paper is a report on the first 100 patients assessed. ⋯ Half of the anaemic patients in a joint replacement screening clinic were iron deficient, and treatment was effective in improving the pre-operative haemoglobin and reducing perioperative transfusion rates. This screening process should improve patient outcome. Another important finding in this group of patients is that ferritin levels cannot be reliably used as the sole indicator in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia in this group of patients undergoing elective arthroplasty.
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Compared with other health professionals and the general population, doctors and medical students reported higher rates of psychological distress, burnout, diagnosed mental illness, suicidal ideation and attempted suicide. Where possible, the problematic and unnecessarily stressful aspects of working as a doctor must be improved. Collectively, we must change the often toxic culture of medicine into a culture that promotes a nurturing and supportive approach to teaching and supervision. The goal should be to develop medical practices that facilitate well-being and quality of life, where sustainable medical careers can develop and better serve the community.
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Internal medicine journal · Jan 2016
Observational StudyAtrial fibrillation in older inpatients: are there any differences in clinical characteristics and pharmacological treatment between the frail and the non-frail?
Frailty is common in patients with atrial fibrillation and may impact on antithrombotic and anti-arrhythmic treatment. ⋯ Frailty status had little impact on antithrombotic prescription and no impact on anti-arrhythmic prescription.