תוצאת חיפוש

דורון נצר, אלדר ברקוביץ, שמואל רייס, טוביה וינברגר

המח' לרפואת המשפחה, קופת-חולים כללית, מחוז חיפה וגליל מערבי, הפקולטה לרפואה ברוך רפפורט, הטכניון, חיפה

מספר בדרש טיפולי - מנד"ט - הוא כלי גישור בין מושגים סטטיסטיים חישוביים הנגזרים מתוצאות הניסוי לבין היישום הקליני. המנד"ט הוא מספר משוערך של חולים הנדרשים לקבל טיפול כלשהו כדי שאחד מהם יפיק תועלת מהטיפול. מושג זה משקף את המאמץ הטיפולי הנדרש על-מנת להשיג את

התוצאה הטיפולית הטובה ביותר. לדוגמה, המנד"ט לטיפול אנטיביוטי בדלקת אוזן תיכונה (acute otitis media) בילדים הוא 8, דהיינו נדרש טיפול ב-8 ילדים החולים בדלקת אוזן תיכונה ורק אחד מהם יוכל להפיק תועלת מהטיפול. בעולם הרפואה, המבוסס על evidence based medicine  ומסתמך יותר על מחקרים אקראיים מבוקרים (randomized controlled trials) וסקירות שיטתיות, (systematic reviews) המנד"ט מהווה כלי נוסף, ולהערכתנו יעיל מאוד, בבחירה נבונה של שיטת טיפול זו או אחרת.

Costs and Benefits of Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair- Is there an Economic Justification?

Dan Greenberg¹, Jochanan G. Peiser²

¹Department of Health Systems Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion, ²Operatory Room Directorate and Division of Surgery, Medical Center, Soroka University, Israel

Background: With the recent accelerated development of laparoscopic surgery, it has been applied in all fields of surgery. The main issue today is not the technical ability of performing laparoscopic procedures but rather their justification while considering the disease and cost-benefit aspects.

Objectives: The present study surveys the experience accumulated in recent years concerning the economical aspects of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Issues like length of the surgical procedure, cost, typical complications and recuperation time are being addressed.

Methods: We reviewed controlled clinical trials that compare laparoscopic and open repair of inguinal hernia. Trials that included at least 100 patients and were published in peer-reviewed journals since 1996 were included. Various operative techniques were compared using clinical and economical parameters.

Results: Most studies examined the issues from an institutional or health care system viewpoint and not from a comprehensive societal perspective. Therefore, indirect costs were seldom included. Operative times were longer and direct costs were significantly higher in the laparoscopic approach as compared to conventional open surgery. However, recovery time and return to work were found to occur earlier in patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery.

Conclusions: A shorter recovery time and shorter off-work period after laparoscopic hernia repair could compensate for the increased hospital expenditures. However, this contribution has not yet been completely established and needs further validation by supplementary studies. Other aspects that will have to be evaluated include quality of life and patient satisfaction.

Stealing Madness - Kleptomania

Dana M. Polak, Pinhas N. Dannon

Psychiatry Department C, Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer, Israel

Kleptomania is one of the common less diagnosed impulse control disorders, which could be treated by the combination of psychological and pharmacological therapy. The most effective treatment regimens include cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy in the psychological field, and antidepressants and mood stabilizers as pharmacological treatment.

Most of the patients with kleptomania are initially treated only for a comorbid psychiatric disorder, since kleptomaniac symptoms had not been raised in the anamnesis.

The aim of our article is to inform the physicians about the possible diagnosis and treatment options for this disorder in order to prevent co-morbidity with other psychiatric disorders. Some specific cases are presented in order to explain symptomatology.

Severe Heat Stroke in an Intensive Care Unit

Amir Halkin, Dina Lev, Oded Szold, Philip Bidermann, Sarah Bulocnic, Pinchas Halpern, Patrick Sorkine

Depts. of Medicine and Surgery, and Intensive Care Unit, Tel Aviv Medical Center

During the August 1998 heat wave in Tel Aviv we admitted many patients for acute heat-related illness; 6 had severe heat stroke and were admitted in critical condition. We describe their clinical courses during the first 5 days of hospitalization, including response to treatment and implications for future management of this disorder.

The mean APACHE II score of the 6 was 30±3.5 and mean Glasgow Coma Scale rating 3.5±0.5; they were in hypovolemic shock and respiratory failure, necessitating mechanical ventilation. Despite early effective therapy (core temperature in all was reduced to less than 398C in less than 1 hour), there was 1 death (mortality 15%) and 4 required further intensive care for life-threatening multiple organ failure.

During severe heat waves a significant number of referrals for acute heat-related illness must be anticipated, possibly overwhelming admission capacity of regional intensive-care units. Severe heat stroke complicated by multi-organ failure is not necessarily related to prior physical activity. Although important in determining prognosis, early treatment does not prevent severe complications. Mechanisms regulating body heat may remain disturbed for days following early treatment and apparent stabilization, mandating continued hospitalization.