Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Jan 2022
Patient Care Standards for Primary Mitochondrial Disease in Australia. An Australian adaptation of the Mitochondrial Medicine Society recommendations.
This document provides consensus-based recommendations for general physicians and primary care physicians who diagnose and manage patients with mitochondrial diseases (MD). It builds on previous international guidelines, with particular emphasis on clinical management in the Australian setting. This statement was prepared by a working group of medical practitioners, nurses and allied health professionals with clinical expertise and experience in managing Australian patients with MD. As new treatments and management plans emerge, these consensus-based recommendations will continue to evolve, but current standards of care are summarised in this document.
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Internal medicine journal · Jan 2022
ReviewUpdate on echocardiography: do we still need a stethoscope?
The focus of this article is to review point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) of the chest as an adjunct to use of the stethoscope and physical examination. We consider selected evidence supporting POCUS for evaluation of acute dyspnoea and focussed cardiac assessment, explore current and the future directions in POCUS for the generalist physician and review some historical notes on auscultation of the chest and parallels to the evolution of POCUS.
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Internal medicine journal · Jan 2022
Intestinal Ultrasound as First-Line Investigation in Low Risk Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A New Model of Care.
Functional gut disorders (FGD) are common. Diagnosis is symptom based, although symptoms may be indistinguishable from inflammatory bowel disease. As a result of this, investigations are common, diagnostic yield is low. A streamlined novel model of care may reduce costly investigations. ⋯ This multidisciplinary approach to care of low-risk abdominal symptoms significantly reduced contact episodes, time in care and invasive investigations. It decreased costly gastroenterology consultation and increased allied health exposure. It demonstrates improved health service outcomes.