scholarly journals “Funny Turns” in the Elderly

2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-26
Author(s):  
M T Bacon ◽  

‘Funny turns’ are a common cause of hospitalization, particularly of elderly patients. The term may be used to define a wide variety of conditions, and to provide a detailed description of all possible causes would be beyond the scope of a single review. Instead this article aims to provide the reader with an overview of the common presentations, suggest a working framework for the admitting physician and guide judicious use of the investigations available.

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (8) ◽  
pp. 1466-1472
Author(s):  
Grażyna Kobus ◽  
Jolanta Małyszko ◽  
Hanna Bachórzewska-Gajewska

Introduction: In the elderly, impairment of kidney function occurs. Renal diseases overlap with anatomic and functional changes related to age-related involutionary processes. Mortality among patients with acute renal injury is approximately 50%, despite advances in treatment and diagnosis of AKI. The aim: To assess the incidence of acute kidney injury in elderly patients and to analyze the causes of acute renal failure depending on age. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis included medical documentation of patients hospitalized in the Nephrology Clinic during the 6-month period. During this period 452 patients were hospitalized in the clinic. A group of 77 patients with acute renal failure as a reason for hospitalization was included in the study. Results: The prerenal form was the most common cause of AKI in both age groups. In both age groups, the most common cause was dehydration; in the group of patients up to 65 years of age, dehydration was 29.17%; in the group of people over 65 years - 43.39%. Renal replacement therapy in patients with AKI was used in 14.29% of patients. In the group of patients up to 65 years of age hemodialysis was 16.67% and above 65 years of age. -13.21% of patients. The average creatinine level in the group of younger patients at admission was 5.16 ± 3.71 mg / dl, in the group of older patients 3.14 ± 1.63 mg / dl. The size of glomerular filtration GFR in the group of younger patients at admission was 21.14 ± 19.54 ml / min, in the group of older patients 23.34 ± 13.33 ml / min. Conclusions: The main cause of acute kidney injury regardless of the age group was dehydration. Due to the high percentage of AKI in the elderly, this group requires more preventive action, not only in the hospital but also at home.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Isaac Grassi Evangelista ◽  
Matheus Antonio Traldi ◽  
Bianca de Oliveira Sousa ◽  
Emanuella Campaner Zanotti ◽  
Arthur Dal Fabbro Chocair ◽  
...  

Background: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) tends to occur more commonly in elderly patients, usually develops after mild head trauma and the common treatment is surgical. Objective: To evaluate the effect of treatment with atorvastatin compared to surgical intervention in elderly people with CSDH. Design and setting: we performed an integrative review of studies available in four databases from 2010 to 2020. Methods: Studies were considered eligible for this review if they were randomized controlled trials comparing the use of atorvastatin treatment to surgical treatment associated with drainage trepanation in elderly patients diagnosed with CSDH. Results: titles and abstracts were screened and 20 articles of those were selected to be fully read, of which 4 remained. To Sheng Qui et al (2017) and Chan et al (2016), the use of atorvastatin may be beneficial in the management of CSDH, so that the volume of the hematoma reduced from 48.70 ± 20.38 to 16.64 ± 14.28mL with a sample size of 22 in the first month of oral atorvastatin. Min Xu et al. (2016) and Wang et al. (2013), with a sample of 22, found improvements in 85.7% and 95.7% of patients with CSDH in terms of volume and neurological deficits presented. Conclusion: The treatment with atorvastatin appears to be safe and effective for CSDH compared to surgical intervention in the elderly. However, further studies are necessary to validate the results and, thus, to put the evidence into practice.


2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa C. Hutchison ◽  
Catherine E. O'Brien

The use of pharmacologic agents in elderly patients is one of the most difficult aspects of patient care. An understanding of the common physiologic changes expected with aging is helpful to anticipate changes expected in pharmacokinetic parameters. Distribution, metabolism, and excretion are significantly altered for many drugs. In addition, pharmacodynamic variations in elderly patients may increase or decrease sensitivity to a medication independent of pharmacokinetic changes. These alterations are particularly noteworthy with cardiovascular and central nervous system agents. Current controversies regarding the application of estimation of renal function to drug dosing and use of the Beers criteria of medications potentially inappropriate in the elderly are discussed.


Author(s):  
Vibhuti Jain

Background: Anemia is one of the common significant factors responsible for the morbidity and mortality in elderly patients of age 60 years and above. The present was done with the aim to assess the consequences of anemia, and potential etiologies that increase risk of adverse events in geriatric population.Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted at the department of pathology at Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and associated Dr. B. R. A. M. Hospital, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, during the period from December 2011 to December 2012. A total of 150 patients with hemoglobin <12 gm% in female and <13 gm% in male satisfying the WHO criteria of anemia (hemoglobin (Hb) were included in the study. Detailed laboratory investigation of haemoglobin and relevant diagnostic tests were done in all the patients to identify the etiology.Results: The prevalence rate of anemia was 68.67%. Proportion of anemia in males was 56.6% and in females it was 43.4%.Fatigue was the most common symptom found in 87.88 % of patients. Overall mean MCV values in the study population were 80.12±10.71 (fL). Most of the patients were mild anaemic (45.3%). Normocytic-normochromic type of anemia was the most common type constituting 64%.Conclusions: There are no specific clinical guidelines to manage geriatric anemia at present. It is clear that anemia in the elderly should be evaluated, and the underlying cause should be identified at the earliest and treated whenever possible.


2003 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
Claire Spice ◽  
◽  
Michael Bacon ◽  

Delirium (also referred to as acute confusional state or toxic confusional state) is common in elderly patients admitted to hospital, and is usually secondary to an acute physical problem rather than being a primary abnormality. Physicians caring for acutely ill patients will frequently encounter those with delirium and need to be aware of the likely precipitants as well as the optimum management. We discuss the common precipitants, the clinical features, the differential diagnosis and the management of delirium.


2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 206-208
Author(s):  
Gary Peter Misselbrook ◽  
◽  
Raj Shekhar ◽  

Delirium is a common cause for hospital admission among elderly patients. Although infection is the most common explanation, there is a large number of other potential causes. We present a case of acute delirium due to serotonin syndrome, precipitated by concomitant prescription of clarithromycin and fluoxetine. The symptoms improved following treatment with a benzodiazepine and discontinuation of the fluoxetine. The diagnosis and management of serotonin syndrome is discussed.


2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-26
Author(s):  
R VIDALPEREZ ◽  
E ABUASSI ◽  
M PARAMODEVEGA ◽  
P VELOSO ◽  
A VARELAROMAN ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Gabor Hofer-Szabo ◽  
Miklos Redei ◽  
Laszlo E. Szabo
Keyword(s):  

MedPharmRes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Truc Phan ◽  
Tram Huynh ◽  
Tuan Q. Tran ◽  
Dung Co ◽  
Khoi M. Tran

Introduction: Little information is available on the outcomes of R-CHOP (rituximab with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) and R-CVP (rituximab with cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone) in treatment of the elderly patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), especially in Vietnam. Material and methods: All patients were newly diagnosed with CD20-positive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) at Blood Transfusion and Hematology Hospital, Ho Chi Minh city (BTH) between 01/2013 and 01/2018 who were age 60 years or older at diagnosis. A retrospective analysis of these patients was perfomed. Results: Twenty-one Vietnamese patients (6 males and 15 females) were identified and the median age was 68.9 (range 60-80). Most of patients have comorbidities and intermediate-risk. The most common sign was lymphadenopathy (over 95%). The proportion of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) was highest (71%). The percentage of patients reaching complete response (CR) after six cycle of chemotherapy was 76.2%. The median follow-up was 26 months, event-free survival (EFS) was 60% and overall survival (OS) was 75%. Adverse effects of rituximab were unremarkable, treatment-related mortality accounted for less than 10%. There was no difference in drug toxicity between two regimens. Conclusions: R-CHOP, R-CVP yielded a good result and acceptable toxicity in treatment of elderly patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In patients with known cardiac history, omission of anthracyclines is reasonable and R-CVP provides a competitive complete response rate.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document