Irish journal of medical science
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Ascertain whether a demographic analysis of the archives of an annual national meeting head and neck section could reflect contemporary issues in our specialty and compare the results with available analysis from other ORL-HNS meetings. ⋯ This review of presentations at a surgical meeting provides an insight into contemporary issues involving our specialty and lays down markers or challenges for organisers and presenters alike. Presentations on H&N Malignancy have become almost exclusively ORL-HNS, while Thyroid presentations are becoming more valorised to General Surgery and Facial Plastics with our colleagues in Plastic Surgery and Maxillofacial. Our publication rate of 27% is similar to other ORL-HNS meetings. Approximately 10% are published over 5 years after the meeting but presenters should endeavour to publish earlier as others may usurp publication in up to 40% of presentations.
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It is estimated that the Roma are the largest ethnic minority population in Europe (HSE in Roma Intercultural Guide, 2020). There is a dearth of information in the Irish medical literature on the Roma in Ireland. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the Roma in Ireland, to identify Roma-specific culture, family structure, paediatric illness, and health equality within the context of the Irish population. ⋯ Often overlooked, small indigenous groups or nomadic races have unmet medical needs (National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy in Justice.ie, 2017). Across Europe, they have a lower life expectancy and higher burden of illness due to lower socioeconomic status, discrimination, and poor access to health services (National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy in Justice.ie, 2017). Cultural competence is necessary to provide effective healthcare.
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Meta Analysis
A meta-analysis of laparoscopic versus ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block in laparoscopic colorectal surgery.
Enhanced recovery programmes in laparoscopic colorectal surgery (LCS) employ combined approaches to achieve postoperative analgesia. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a locoregional anaesthetic technique that may reduce postoperative pain. ⋯ LTB is associated with significantly less narcotic usage and pain at 24 h postoperatively but similar PONV, operative time and complication rates, compared to UTB. However, the data were inconsistent, and our findings require further investigation. LTB obviates the need for ultrasound devices whilst also decreasing procedure logistical complexity.
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In most high-income countries, emergency departments (ED) represent the principal point of access forcer by critically ill or injured patients. Unlike inpatient units, ED healthcare workers (ED HCWs) have demonstrated relative lack of adherence to hand hygiene (HH) guidelines, commonly citing frequency of intervention and high rates of admission, which reflect severity of cases encountered. ⋯ Multimodal approaches appear to have enhanced HHC moderately among ED HCWs. Elevated complexity associated with critically ill patients, and ED overcrowding, are contributing factors to relatively low compliance rates observed. Strategies to improve HHC rates may need to acknowledge, and cater for, the context of an unpredictable environment.
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In most high-income countries, emergency departments (ED) represent the principal point of access forcer by critically ill or injured patients. Unlike inpatient units, ED healthcare workers (ED HCWs) have demonstrated relative lack of adherence to hand hygiene (HH) guidelines, commonly citing frequency of intervention and high rates of admission, which reflect severity of cases encountered. ⋯ Multimodal approaches appear to have enhanced HHC moderately among ED HCWs. Elevated complexity associated with critically ill patients, and ED overcrowding, are contributing factors to relatively low compliance rates observed. Strategies to improve HHC rates may need to acknowledge, and cater for, the context of an unpredictable environment.