תוצאת חיפוש

Attitude of Hospital Visitors Towards Cigarette Smoking inside Hospital Buildings; One More Step Towards a "Smoke Free Hospital" in Israel

S. Varsano*, S. Shachar⁺, O. Bacal⁺, N. Eldor⁺, G. Hevion**, M. Garenkin^#

Meir General Hospital, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar-Sava 44281 and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, Tel-Aviv, Israel ^*Asthma Care - Education Unit, Department of Pulmonary Medicine ⁺Meir School of Nursing **Hospital Management Office ^#Epidemiology and Medical Data Unit

In order to determine a policy within the hospital restricting smoking we previously surveyed the attitude of the hospital staff towards smoking inside the hospital buildings. In the present survey we examined the attitude of the hospital visitors on the same issue. One hundred and fifty-seven hospital visitors participated in the survey and answered a questionnaire; 93 visitors were smokers, 64 were non-smokers.

Eighty-eighth percent of the visitors smoked during their visit, 4 cigarettes on the average, during an average length of stay of 2.8 hours, until completing the questionnaire. Eighty-three percent of the smokers were aware of the law that prohibits smoking in public buildings, and 71% were aware of the signs and advertisements that prohibit smoking in the hospital. Two thirds of the smokers declared that they would have refrained from smoking in the hospital if others around them also refrained from smoking and justified the law that prohibits smoking in public buildings, including hospitals. Sixty-nine percent of the smokers declared that they were willing to cooperate with hospital management in restricting smoking to the hospital grounds outside the hospital buildings, and would accept directives regarding smoking restriction from any hospital personnel. In fact, only 11% of the smokers were requested to stop smoking during their visit.

These findings reinforce the results of our pervious survey conducted among the hospital staff and indicates the existence of a paradoxical vicious cycle of behavior among smokers and non-smokers, visitors and staff, in the hospital. On the one hand the smokers do not have the self-obedience necessary to stop smoking while visiting in the hospital, although they are aware of their misdeed. On the other hand the non-smokers lack the confidence that they will obtain the cooperation of the smokers, although the smokers are willing to cooperate. Both groups expect someone else to either actively restrict them from smoking or to encourage them to restrict the smokers.

Our findings suggest that this “someone else” is the hospital management (and the staff endorsed to implement this directive).

ג'וי פלד (אולספנגר), גיל זלצמן, אלן אפטר

המרכז לבריאות הנפש "גהה", מרכז רפואי רבין, קמפוס ביילינסון פ"ת, הפקולטה לרפואה סאקלר, אוניברסיטת ת"א

שיעור האלימות בחברה המערבית בכלל ובישראל בפרט נמצא בעלייה מתמדת, והפך להיות גורם משמעותי לתחלואה ותמותה. האלימות מהווה בעיה חברתית, חוקית וסוגיה בבריאות הציבור. בחודשים האחרונים, מדווח בעיתונות הכתובה והאלקטרונית על מעשי אלימות ורצח של חולי נפש. בחלקם היו החולים בקשר כלשהו עם שירותי בריאות הנפש בעברם. בנוסף, בחלק מהמצבים בהם ננקט פשע אלים, טוען הנאשם לאי-שפיות כהגנה משפטית. בסקירה זו, נדון בשאלה האם חולי נפש בכלל וחולי סכיזופרניה בפרט אלימים יותר משאר האוכלוסייה, והאם הפשע שמבצע חולה הנפש שונה באיפיוניו מפשעים המבוצעים על ידי עבריינים שאינם חולים.

אביטל פורטר, אלכסנדר בטלר, דוד חסדאי

המערך לקרדיולוגיה, מרכז רפואי רבין, קמפוס בילינסון, פתח תקוה

מחלת לב כלילית מהווה את הגורם העיקרי לתמותה בעולם המערבי בכלל ובאוכלוסיית הקשישים בפרט. באופן כללי, הטיפול הניתן לחולה הקשיש הלוקה בתיסמונת כלילית חדה, הן בשלב החד והן כטיפול ממושך, נרחב פחות ופולשני פחות מזה הניתן לחולה הצעיר ואינו תואם את ההנחיות המקובלות.

חריגויות אלה מבטאות כנראה את תחושת הרופאים, שסיכויי הצלחת הטיפול נמוכים בחולה הקשיש, נוכח מחלות רקע רבות, שכיחות גבוהה של מחלה כלילית רב-כלית, וזמן ממושך יותר, יחסית לצעירים, עד קבלת סיוע רפואי.

המטרות בסקירה זו הן: 1) לבחון את הידוע כיום בספרות אודות טיפול תרופתי ופולשני בחולה הקשיש הלוקה בתיסמונת כלילית חדה; 2) לנסות לענות על השאלה, האם גיל צריך להוות שיקול בגיבוש העמדה הטיפול בתיסמונות כליליות חדות.

Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery: Experience with 586 Patients

R. Galili, N. Nesher, R. Sharony, G. Uretzy, M. Saute

Dept. of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Carmel Medical Center and Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa

Recent advances in optics, video systems and endoscopic operating instruments have led to increasing application of thoracoscopic surgery, as it has become easier to perform and more accurate.

We performed 586 video-assisted thoracic surgical procedures for diagnosis and treatment (May 1992-Dec. 1998) 127 were for diagnostic thoracoscopy and 79 for pleurodesis. 380 cases of operative thoracoscopy included pulmonary wedge resection (for interstitial lung disease, benign and malignant pulmonary tumors and pulmonary metastases) bullectomy, management of empyema, pleural tumor biopsy, thoracic sympathectomy, pericardial window formation, thoracic spinal procedures and resection of posterior mediastinal cysts. Recently we have had good experience in evacuating blood and blood clots from the thorax which accumulated after cardiac and thoracic surgery.

Patients were placed in the lateral thoracotomy position and were ventilated with a double-lumen endotracheal tube, enabling collapse of the operated lung. The operating approach was through 1-3 thoracic ports. Mean operation time was 55 minutes, chest-tubes remained for 2.2 days (mean) and mean hospitalization was 3.3 days. There were no wound infections or significant postoperative complications. 5 patients had air leaks longer than 7 days; none required further surgical intervention.

There was intercostal neuralgia and Horner's syndrome after thoracic sympathectomy (1 each) In cases in which localizing the parenchymal lesion was difficult, the lung was palpated directly by inserting a finger through a small incision or a mini-thoracotomy. Conversion to thoracotomy was performed when primary malignancy of lung was diagnosed by frozen section. Only 2 patients had thoracotomy for uncontrolled bleeding. Thoracoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique with very low morbidity and high diagnostic accuracy. Postoperative recovery is brief and uneventful.
 

Tuberculous Meningitis in HIV

R. Elazary, Y. Kalish

Medical Dept., Hadassah University Hospital, Ein Karem, Jerusalem

The increase in prevalence of tuberculous meningitis during the past decade has been attributed in part to the increase of AIDS. Failure to diagnose HIV can cause irreversible damage and even death. We describe a man with AIDS admitted through the emergency room because of high fever and headaches for more than a month, He was cachectic and had nuchal rigidity without major neurological deficit. Brain imaging was normal and lumbar puncture showed neutrophils, lymphocytes, hypochloremia, elevated protein, and decreased glucose; cryptococcal antigen was negative but acid-fast staining was positive.

Anti-TB chemotherapy was started using 4 drugs and dexamethasone was also given. Considerable improvement in his general condition followed rapidly.

Use of corticosteroids in tuberculous meningitis has been a major issue. They are added to antimicrobial agents in order to decrease reactivity of inflammatory mediators and thus reduce central nervous system damage.

We review several controlled studies in which steroids were added to treat tuberculous meningitis. The conclusions of most were that they decrease morbidity and mortality, especially of those moderately to severely ill. Most considered as ungrounded the possibility of exacerbating latent tuberculous, or any other opportunistic infection outside the central nervous system. However, it is currently recommended to add prednisone, 1 mg/kg/d for 2-4 weeks when initiating antituberculous treatment.
 

Diagnosis and Therapy in Acute Stroke: A Rehabilitation Center Viewpoint

M. Motin, J. Streifler, A. Tsur, H. Ring

Neurological Rehabilitation Dept., Loewenstein Rehabilitation Center, Ra'anana; Neurological Unit, Rabin Medical Center, Golda Campus, Petah Tikva and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv

The extent of the diagnostic work-up of patients with acute stroke was evaluated in 101 patients admitted for rehabilitation during a 4-month period in 1997. This included specific blood tests and neuro- and cardiac imaging, and compared the extent of work-up in a community hospital versus a rehabilitation center. Comparisons were also made with similar investigations 10 and 20 years earlier.

Results demonstrated that the trend to admit younger stroke patients (<50 years) to neurological (as opposed to medical) departments observed between 1977-1987 persisted in 1997.

The use of CT scan increased dramatically from 1977 to 1987 (19% vs 78%), and in 1997 was actually 100% The use of carotid duplex and echocardiography increased steadily during the 3 decades reaching 26% and 28% respectively. Tests for thrombophilia were seldom done. However, in neurological departments it was done in about 50% of the younger stroke patients. In neurology departments carotid duplex was done 2 to 3 times more often than in medical departments.

During rehabilitation imaging tests were done once or more in almost half the patients. The results and those of additional blood tests, have led to modification of antithrombotic treatment in 14% of the younger group and 4% of the older group.

We have clearly shown that while stroke work-up has become more comprehensive in recent years, there is still much to do in this field. Stroke units or teams in our general hospitals will increase stroke awareness, improve work-up and hasten definitive treatment.
 

Burch Laparoscopic Procedure for Repairing Proven Stress Incontinence

Moshe Bustan, Shabtai Romano, Raed Salim, Jacob Rosenman, Eliezer Shalev

Depts. of Obstetric and Gynecology and of Urology, HaEmek Medical Center, Afula

There are more than 200 procedures for repairing stress urinary incontinence. We evaluated the safety and efficiency of the Burch laparoscopic procedure in 32 women with urodynamically proven genuine stress incontinence.

Mean operating time was 40 minutes and mean hospitalization time after the procedure was 30 hours. The cure rate was 97%, similar to that rin other studies (80-95%). The major complications w2 cases (6.2%) of unintended bladder injury, diagnosed and repaired laparoscopically. Although follow-up has only been for 3-42 months, the high cure rate and safety and advantages of laparoscopy over laparotomy, make laparoscopic Burch colposuspension the procedure of choice for repairing stress incontinence.

Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma in Myasthenia Gravis - Auto-Immunity and Late Development of Malignancy

Yitzhak Rosen, Yair Levy, Yehuda Shoenfeld

Dept. of Internal Medicine B, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

We report a 75-year-old man with myasthenia gravis for many years, who was hospitalized because of cough, fever, and dyspnea. Chest x-ray revealed a bilateral pleural effusion. Adenocarcinomatous cells were found in the pleural fluid. Computerized tomography of the chest showed widespread pulmonary dissemination of the tumor.

The relationship between myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease involving the motor end-plate, and malignancy (thymoma) has been widely recognized. Current literature documents few reports of lung malignancies with concurrent development of myasthenia gravis. A tentative explanation, based on current research, is provided for the possible role of myasthenia gravis and the late development of lung cancer. Moreover, a model for the autoimmune phenomenon and the development of late malignancies will be provided with explicit explanations. It is important to search for occult, developing malignancies in newly diagnosed autoimmune diseases.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Adults Treated with German Multicenter Study Group Protocols

G. Goldstein, O. Shpilberg, P. Raanani, A. Chetrit, I. Ben-Bassat

Institutes of Hematology and of Clinical Epidemiology, Sheba Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignant disease whose incidence is relatively low among adults, unlike in children. Adults with ALL have a lower rate of long-term disease-free survival. During the last 20 years, a German multicenter group has shown that their protocol have achieved good results in adult ALL.

We reviewed the medical records of 35 ALL patients, aged 19-63 years, whome we treated with these protocol (1988-1997). The remission rate was 94%. At a median follow-up of 46 months the 2-year overall survival was 54% and the disease-free survival was 94%. Although 2 patients died of bone marrow transplant complications, no death was directly associated with drug toxicity. The main grade 3 or 4 side effects (WHO classification) were neutropenia (91%), thrombocytopenia (71%) and anemia (71%).

With there protocols we achieved high overall and disease-free survival rates, especially in comparison with other reports. Despite the high rate of severe treatment toxicity, there were no fatalities directly related to treatment. These results emphasize the need to concentrate treatment of adult ALL patients in large medical centers with expertise in the use of the complicated treatment protocols required.

Secondary Bone Grafting in Cleft Lip and Palate

M. Peled, D. Aisenbud, D. Goldstein, A. Rachmiel, D. Laufer

Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery Dept. and Cleft-Palate Clinic, Rambam Medical Center; and Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa

Results of reconstruction of residual alveolar bone defects in 52 patients operated between 1990-1998 were evaluated clinically and radiographically in a retrospective study.

Ages ranged between 9-37; 30 were males. The donor site of bone grafts in all was particulate cancellous marrow from the anterior iliac crest. 32 had unilateral clefts and 20 bilateral. Total cleft sites treated was 72.

Best results were achieved when bone grafting was carried out prior to the eruption of the canine tooth. The cleft space was closed and oro-nasal fistulas were eliminated in 42 (80%). Success rates in unilateral and bilateral cases were significantly different.

Marked Creatine-Phosphokinase Elevation in Myopathy after Treatment with Bezafibrate

G. Slobodin, D. Yeshurun

Medicine A Dept. and Hyperlipidemia Clinic, Bnai Zion Medical Center,Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Technion-Institute of Technology, Haifa

Bezafibrate is a fibric acid derivative which has been widely used in the past 15 years. Recent studies have elucidated much of its mechanism of action, which mainly results in reduction of VLDL and triglyceride levels and in elevation of HDL. The drug is relatively safe and its side-effects well known, mild, and reversible.

The most severe side-effect is myositis, varying from mild flu-like symptoms to rhabdomyolysis, which is extremely rare. The underlying situations most frequently associated with bezafibrate-induced myositis are renal insufficiency and concomitant treatment with certain other drugs.

We describe 2 women who developed severe myositis with bezafibrate treatment. 1, aged 43, who had moderate diabetes but no renal insufficiency, was treated with metformin and warfarin, which can interact with bezafibrate and affect its metabolism. The other, aged 54, had renal insufficiency and was on home peritoneal dialysis. Her bezafibrate dose had been increased because of very high triglyceride levels.

The aim of the study is to call attention to this significant side-effect of benzafibrate and to ways of preventing it.

Breaking Bad News - A Structured Course for Primary Care Physicians 

Lea Ungar, Mordechai Alperin, Gilad Amiel, Zvi Behrier, Shmuel Reiss

Family Medicine Dept., Kupat Holim Klalit Health Services, Western Galilee District; Medical Education Unit, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion Institute of Technology; and Urology, Dept., Bnei-Zion Medical Center, Haifa

Physicians are frequently required to break bad news to their patients. Previous research has shown that inconvenience, incompetence, and difficulty in dealing with patients' feelings are the main complaints expressed by physicians after such an encounter. Current educational programs dealing with breaking bad news are usually short, given in lecture format, and are inadequate in addressing essential issues such as knowledge, personal beliefs and attitudes, and previous personal experiences of physicians in such situations.

In the past 8 years our Dept. of Family Medicine has implemented a course in breaking bad news that addresses these issues. A senior family practitioner and a medical social worker conduct 14 sessions of discussions and role-playing for small groups of residents and primary care physicians. The program is based on: theory dealing with methods of managing stress and crisis intervention, clarifying personal attitudes, discussions of previous personal encounters of the participants, various modalities of communication, methods of addressing patients' feelings and emotions, and coping with the emotions of the one breaking the bad news.

On a 1-5 Likert scale questionnaire the course received an overall score of 4.47 (SD 0.51). Participants noted that they gained relevant communication skills for future patient encounters. A reliable examination of practitioners' competence in breaking bad news is mandatory in order to assess the efficiency of such courses.

Hospitalization for Renal Colic: Epidemiological Features and Clinical Manifestations

Yahav Oron, Amir Shahar, Eran Dolev

Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer; Israel Defense Forces Medical Center; Meir General Hospital, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar Saba; and Dept. of Medicine H, Sourasky-Tel Aviv Medical Center

The medical records of all patients referred to the emergency department (ED) of Sheba Medical Center for renal colic during 1996 were analyzed. Patients discharged from the ED and those hospitalized were compared.

There was no significant difference between the 2 groups with regard to average age or sex distribution. Statistically significant differences were found with regard to frequency of chills and fever, history of renal colic, referral for renal colic during that year or hospitalization for renal colic or nephrolithiasis, previous positive imaging, stone removal by surgery or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, fever exceeding 37.5^o and administration of fluids, pethidine or pramin in the ED, prolonged stay in the ED and previous appendectomy.

A conditional regression model tested the predictive value of each of those factors. Inclusion of independent variables into the model led to an overall correct classification rate of 84.43%, with 44.83% sensitivity and 93.16% specificity. There were correlations between referrals for renal colic, overall renal colic rate and average monthly temperature, so there was no pure correlation between average monthly temperature and referrals to the ED for renal colic.

The major indications for hospitalization were actually the clinical ones, indicating either an active metabolic disease or suspected obstruction of the urinary tract. Treatment in the ED and duration of the visit indicated disease severity.

Physicians' Opinions about the Patient Rights Law - A Qualitative Study 

D. Steinmetz, H. Tabenkin

Dept. of Family Medicine, HaEmek Medical Center, Afula

A qualitative analysis of the question "what is your general opinion of the Patient Rights Law?" showed that most physicians think it a good law that contributes to improved relations with patients.

Physicians surveyed raised several issues relating to implementation of the law: conditions, time required to implement it and problems with language and comprehension. Fears were expressed about possible abuse of the law by patients and their lawyers, which could put medicine on the defensive.

Nevertheless, most physicians think the law positive, that it has not negatively affected their work, and contributes to improved relationships with patients. They recommend that working conditions be improved in order to fully implement the law.

Diphtheria in a Highly Immunized Population 

Rivka Sheffer, Esther Marva, Rachel Mimon, Paul Slater, Avital Cohen, Tamat Shohat

Tel Aviv District Health Office, Central Laboratory and Epidemiology Dept., Public Health Services, Jerusalem

Although diphtheria vaccination is routine world-wide, outbreaks of the disease continue to occur in supposedly vaccinated populations. The incidence of diphtheria in Israel is very low, with only 3 cases reported in the past 24 years (all in unvaccinated children). In 2 of the 3 an asymptomatic carrier was identified among the patients' close contacts, presumable the source of the infection.

We describe a recent case of diphtheria. It is important for physicians to be aware of the possibility of diphtheria occurrimg despite the high rate of vaccination in our population.