Quality of life after subtotal colectomy for constipation: selection of the right patient, operation, and tools to measure outcome

2003 ◽  
Vol 46 (12) ◽  
pp. 1721
Author(s):  
Gregory P. Fitz Harris ◽  
Ann C. Lowry
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Jannika Dodge-Khatami ◽  
Ali Dodge-Khatami

Abstract Objectives: The mini right axillary thoracotomy is an alternative surgical approach to repair certain congenital heart defects. Quality-of-life metrics and clinical outcomes in children undergoing either the right axillary approach or median sternotomy were compared. Methods: Patients undergoing either approach for the same defects between 2018 and 2020 were included. Demographic details, operative data, and outcomes were compared between both groups. An abbreviated quality of life questionnaire based on the Infant/Toddler/Child Health Questionnaires focused on the patient’s global health, physical activity, and pain/discomfort was administered to all parents/guardians within two post-operative years. Results: Eighty-seven infants and children underwent surgical repair (right axillary thoracotomy, n = 54; sternotomy, n = 33) during the study period. There were no mortalities in either group. The right axillary thoracotomy group experienced significantly decreased red blood cell transfusion, intubation, intensive care, and hospital durations, and earlier chest tube removal. Up to 1 month, parents’ perception of their child’s degree and frequency of post-operative pain was significantly less after the right axillary thoracotomy approach. No difference was found in the patient’s global health or physical activity limitations beyond a month between the two groups. Conclusions: With the mini right axillary approach, surrogates of faster clinical recovery and hospital discharge were noted, with a significantly less perceived degree and frequency of post-operative pain initially, but without the quality of life differences at last follow-up. While providing obvious cosmetic advantages, the minimally invasive right axillary thoracotomy approach for the surgical repair of certain congenital heart lesions is a safe alternative to median sternotomy.


2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 80-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl A Stroetmann ◽  
Peter Gruetzmacher ◽  
Veli N Stroetmann

Home dialysis can improve the care and quality of life for patients with renal failure. We have explored the possibility of extending home care to more patients needing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) using telemedicine. We tested videoconferencing support for five CAPD patients using low-cost ISDN equipment (128 kbit/s). Initial results indicated that it was possible to integrate video-communication into the daily routine of the clinic and the response from patients was surprisingly positive. Selection of appropriate, affordable technology and the ISDN service support by the telecommunications provider proved to be considerably more difficult than anticipated. The first indications also suggest medical advantages for home teledialysis.


2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
BEATRICE MORING

The aim of this article is to explore the economic status and the quality of life of widows in the Nordic past, based on the evidence contained in retirement contracts. Analysis of these contracts also shows the ways in which, and when, land and the authority invested in the headship of the household were transferred between generations in the Nordic countryside. After the early eighteenth century, retirement contracts became more detailed but these should be viewed not as a sign of tension between the retirees and their successors but as a family insurance strategy designed to protect the interests of younger siblings of the heir and his or her old parents, particularly if there was a danger of the property being acquired by a non-relative. Both the retirement contracts made by couples and those made by a widow alone generally guaranteed them an adequate standard of living in retirement. Widows were assured of an adequately heated room of their own, more generous provision of food than was available to many families, clothing and the right to continue to work, for example at spinning and milking, but to be excused heavy labour. However, when the land was to be retained by the family, in many cases there was no intention of establishing a separate household.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. S731
Author(s):  
N. Afroz ◽  
J. Marvel ◽  
C. Naujoks ◽  
D. Ossa ◽  
F. Patalano

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 352-358
Author(s):  
Daniel Galban ◽  
Joshua J. Baiel

Ogilvie syndrome is defined as colonic pseudo-obstruction due to nonmechanical causes. Mortality of nearly 50% is associated with perforation of the distended, pseudo-obstructed colon. While conservative medical therapy has proven to be beneficial in a majority of cases, >3% of patients have significant distention or perforation of the colon that warrants surgical resection. The case of a 48-year-old male with progressive abdominal discomfort and distention 12 days following knee replacement surgery is presented. He was subsequently diagnosed with colonic pseudo-obstruction and definitively treated with subtotal colectomy and colostomy. We propose that a more conservative approach to treatment of colonic pseudo-obstruction may prevent the need for colostomy, significantly improving quality of life.


2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 245-249
Author(s):  
Neil Hunt

Dementia is a progressive and eventually terminal condition, but with early intervention and the right support, people with dementia can continue to enjoy a good quality of life for many years. Living with dementia can be challenging both for those affected and their families as it can affect all aspects of daily life. It is vital that people with dementia and their carers are signposted to the support services that can help them take control of their condition and help them remain active and independent.


Author(s):  
Н.О. Артемьева ◽  
Е.В. Свечникова ◽  
Ю.В. Максимова ◽  
В.Н. Максимов

Атопический дерматит (АД) - это воспалительное заболевание кожи, мультифакториальной или моногенный природы, характеризующееся зудом, хроническим рецидивирующим течением и возрастными особенностями локализации и морфологии очагов поражения. Доля заболевания в структуре кожных болезней в настоящее время составляет от 10 до 30%. Когда процесс приобретает упорное течение с невыраженным эффектом от проводимой терапии и обострениями процесса до 3-4 в год с увеличением их длительности, то становится вялотекущим (торпидным). Торпидное течение АД приводит больного к снижению качества жизни за счёт физического дискомфорта и эмоциональной дезадаптации. Подходы к лечению в теории зависят от механизма развития заболевания. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inherited inflammatory disease of skin, multifactor or monogenic nature, characterized by itching, chronic recurrent current and age-specific features of localisation and morphology of lesion centers. The proportion of the disease in the structure of skin diseases is currently between 10 and 30%. When the process acquires a persistent course with an unparalleled effect from the performed therapy and exacerbations of the process up to 3-4 per year with increase of their duration, it becomes sluggish (torpedo) [1, 3]. The torpedo course of AD leads the patient to a decrease in the quality of life due to physical discomfort and emotional disadaptation. Approaches to treatment in theory depend on the mechanism of disease development.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-112
Author(s):  
V. N. Ostapenko ◽  
I. V. Lantukh ◽  
A. P. Lantukh

Annotation. The problem of suicide and euthanasia has been particularly updated with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a strong explosion of suicide, because medicine was not ready for it, and the man was too weak in front of its pressure. The article considers the issue of euthanasia and suicide based on philosophical messages from the position of a doctor, which today goes beyond medicine and medical ethics and becomes one of the important aspects of society. Medicine has achieved success in the continuation of human life, but it is unable to ensure the quality of life of those who are forced to continue it. In these circumstances, the admission of suicide or euthanasia pursues the refusal of the subject to achieve an adequate quality of life; an end to suffering for those who find their lives unacceptable. The reasoning that banned suicide: no one should harm or destroy the basic virtues of human nature; deliberate suicide is an attempt to harm a person or destroy human life; no one should kill himself. The criterion may be that suicide should not take place when it is committed at the request of the subject when he devalues his own life. According to supporters of euthanasia, in the conditions of the progress of modern science, many come to the erroneous opinion that medicine can have total control over human life and death. But people have the right to determine the end of their lives while using the achievements of medicine, as well as the right to demand an extension of life with the help of the same medicine. They believe that in the era of a civilized state, the right to die with medical help should be as natural as the right to receive medical care. At the same time, the patient cannot demand death as a solution to the problem, even if all means of relieving him from suffering have been exhausted. In defense of his claims, he turns to the principle of beneficence. The task of medicine is to alleviate the suffering of the patient. But if physician-assisted suicide and active euthanasia become part of health care, theoretical and practical medicine will be deprived of advances in palliative and supportive therapies. Lack of adequate palliative care is a medical, ethical, psychological, and social problem that needs to be addressed before resorting to such radical methods as legalizing euthanasia.


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