Annals of Saudi medicine
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Annals of Saudi medicine · Mar 2005
Comparative StudyProtocol-driven vs. physician-driven electrolyte replacement in adult critically ill patients.
The intensive care unit is a dynamic environment, where high numbers of patients cared for by health care workers of different experiences and backgrounds might result in great variability in patient care. Protocol-driven interventions may facilitate timely and uniform care of common problems, like electrolyte disturbances. We prospectively compared protocol-driven (PRD) vs. physician-driven (PHD) electrolyte replacement in adult critically ill patients. ⋯ This study shows that a protocol-driven replacement strategy for potassium, magnesium and phosphate is more efficient and as safe as a physician-driven replacement strategy.
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Annals of Saudi medicine · Mar 2005
Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes/serogroups causing invasive disease in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: extent of coverage by pneumococcal vaccines.
Serogroup distribution of sterile site pneumococcal isolates varies between developing and developed countries as well as between different geographical regions. The potential efficacy of any pneumococcal vaccine depends on the degree of representation of the prevalent serogroups in the vaccine. We conducted this study to determine the prevalent pneumococcal serogroups causing invasive infections in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and to estimate the coverage by the various pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. ⋯ The currently available 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine provides sub-optimal coverage to serogroups causing invasive diseases in our community. However, this vaccine would be a useful adjunct to penicillin prophylaxis in at-risk patients in the community. The effectiveness of the vaccine would be greater if serotype 15 could be included.
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Annals of Saudi medicine · Mar 2005
Observations on the management of acute pain crisis in adult sickle cell disease in eastern Saudi Arabia.
Sickle cell pain crisis continues to challenge patients and health professionals in places like Saudi Arabia, where the disease is common, and use of narcotic analgesics is strictly controlled. We sought to find the most effective and appropriate pain control regime for adult sickle cell pain crisis in Saudi Arabian patients. ⋯ Greater empathy and individualized treatment are required for sickle cell pain crisis patients because of their variable clinical presentation, response to medications, and the regularity of pain in their lives. The observed gender differences in pain response require further study.
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Annals of Saudi medicine · Mar 2005
The impact of a multi-disciplinary management approach on diabetic control in young Saudi patients.
The increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus worldwide makes traditional approaches to its management inadequate. The involvement of young people in this diabetic "epidemic" provides an opportunity to apply a multidisciplinary approach to its management, to help reduce the huge burden of the disease and its complications. In 1998, we established a diabetic clinic for young adults, located within a privately owned company health center, because they were not receiving adequate attention in the adult clinic. ⋯ Application of this model to a larger population group is needed. Further study may help determine whether to adopt this pattern of care more widely, with its obvious benefits in reduction of diabetic morbidity, mortality and health care cost. We also identified three groups that may require special attention: females, young adults who develop the disease as children, and adolescents who have no regular adult supervision.