Elderly Patients' Preferences for Long-term Life Support

1998 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 484-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Murphy
Author(s):  
Soon-Ok Kim ◽  
JaeLan Shim

This study provides basic data for enhancing coping abilities in emergencies concerning direct long-term care (LTC) workers, which is necessary for providing safe care for elderly patients living in facilities and at home. A survey was conducted including 327 care workers who officially qualified as long-term providers for elderly patients through elderly care facilities and a domiciliary service center. The majority (91.4%) of the care workers surveyed experienced an emergency, but of them, only 36.4% performed first aid and 56.8% failed to perform first aid, for which the emergency was reported to nurses. The average score regarding first aid knowledge was 8.40 out of 21, and the mean scores for the subtopics of basic life support and general first aid were low (3.56 out of 7 and 5.84 out of 14, respectively). Nearly three-quarters (72.5%) responded that they were unaware of emergency coping methods, and the score for coping abilities in emergencies was also low (52.93 out of 100). The results indicate that factors affecting coping abilities in emergencies were related to the size of the workplace and first aid experience. We propose the development and implementation of an emergency coping training program focusing on case studies for direct LTC workers.


Diabetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 2306-PUB
Author(s):  
MAMI YOSHIDA ◽  
AI YOSHIDA ◽  
ERIKO OH ◽  
NAOMUNE YAMAMOTO ◽  
EUN SASAKI ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
K. Mukhida

How do parents cope when their child is ill or dying, when he or she experiences constant pain or suffering? What do parents think of the contributions that medical professionals make to the care of their chronically or terminally ill child? Is it possible for a parent to love a child so much that the child is wished dead? The purpose of this paper is to explore those questions and aspects of the care of chronically or terminally ill children using Mourning Dove’s portrayal of one family’s attempt to care for their ill daughter. A play written by Canadian playwright Emil Sher, Mourning Dove is based on the case of Saskatchewan wheat farmer Robert Latimer who killed his 12 year old daughter Tracy who suffered with cerebral palsy and lived in tremendous pain. Rather than focusing on the medical or legal aspects of the care of a chronically ill child, the play offers a glimpse into how a family copes with the care of such a child and the effects the child’s illness has on a family. Reading and examination of non-medical literature, such as Mourning Dove, therefore serve as a useful means for medical professionals to better understand how illness affects and is responded to by patients and their families. This understanding is a prerequisite for them to be able to provide complete care of children with chronic or terminal illnesses and their families. Nuutila L, Salanterä S. Children with long-term illness: parents’ experiences of care. J Pediatr Nurs 2006; 21(2):153-160. Sharman M, Meert KL, Sarnaik AP. What influences parents’ decisions to limit or withdraw life support? Pediatr Crit Care Med 2005; 6(5):513-518. Steele R. Strategies used by families to navigate uncharted territory when a child is dying. J Palliat Care 2005; 21(2):103-110.


Author(s):  
Julia Götte ◽  
Armin Zittermann ◽  
Kavous Hakim-Meibodi ◽  
Masatoshi Hata ◽  
Rene Schramm ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Long-term data on patients over 75 years undergoing mitral valve (MV) repair are scarce. At our high-volume institution, we, therefore, aimed to evaluate mortality, stroke risk, and reoperation rates in these patients. Methods We investigated clinical outcomes in 372 patients undergoing MV repair with (n = 115) or without (n = 257) tricuspid valve repair. The primary endpoint was the probability of survival up to a maximum follow-up of 9 years. Secondary clinical endpoints were stroke and reoperation of the MV during follow-up. Univariate and multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to assess independent predictors of mortality. Mortality was also compared with the age- and sex-adjusted general population. Results During a median follow-up period of 37 months (range: 0.1–108 months), 90 patients died. The following parameters were independently associated with mortality: double valve repair (hazard ratio, confidence interval [HR, 95% CI]: 2.15, 1.37–3.36), advanced age (HR: 1.07, CI: 1.01–1.14 per year), diabetes (HR: 1.97, CI: 1.13–3.43), preoperative New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class (HR: 1.41, CI: 1.01–1.97 per class), and operative creatininemax levels (HR: 1.32, CI: 1.13–1.55 per mg/dL). The risk of stroke in the isolated MV and double valve repair groups at postoperative year 5 was 5.0 and 4.1%, respectively (p = 0.65). The corresponding values for the risk of reoperation were 4.0 and 7.0%, respectively (p = 0.36). Nine-year survival was comparable with the general population (53.2 vs. 53.1%). Conclusion Various independent risk factors for mortality in elderly MV repair patients could be identified, but overall survival rates were similar to those of the general population. Consequently, our data indicates that repairing the MV in elderly patients represents a suitable and safe surgical approach.


1989 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.R. De Oliveira ◽  
P.A.S. Do Prado-Lima ◽  
B. Samuel-Lajeunesse

SummaryPart II of this paper contains some general considerations on tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) monitoring. Long-term assessment of TCA plasma levels is advised by the few existent studies, although each of these focusses on different aspects. Cardiovascular and central nervous system toxicity is reviewed as well as pharmacokinetics and the importance of protein binding. Some consideration is also given to their use in elderly patients. The authors conclude that although available data support its usefulness in many situations, routine measurement of TCA levels is not warranted.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document