Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde
-
To obtain insight into the perspectives of patients, relatives and physicians towards potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) at the end of life. ⋯ Patients with a limited life expectancy and their relatives may be open to discontinue PIMs; however, in reality this happens rarely. When a physician is of the opinion that it would be of benefit to discontinue certain medications, then the advantages of cessation should be highlighted more in discussions with the patient.
-
- Uncomplicated diverticulitis does not routinely require antibiotic treatment and can even be managed in the outpatient setting.- As yet no medical therapies have proven themselves useful in the prevention of recurrence.- Complicated diverticulitis with an abscess smaller than 4 cm is treated with antibiotics, larger abscesses are treated by percutaneous drainage, and only if treatment fails surgery is required.- Laparoscopic lavage is no better than partial resection in purulent peritonitis.- Perforated diverticulitis with faecal peritonitis is treated by a Hartmann's procedure; in selected cases resection and primary anastomosis may be considered.- The decision whether a resection should be laparoscopic or open is based on the surgeon's experience.- The choice for elective resection for recurrent diverticulitis is still made on a patient-by-patient basis.- Only high-risk patients should have a follow-up colonoscopy to exclude malignancy. The remaining patients are referred back to the Dutch national colorectal cancer screening programme.
-
Electromagnetic-guided placement of nasoenteral feeding tubes by nurses is an alternative to endoscopic placement by gastroenterologists. During placement, the electromagnetic signal that is emitted by the tip of the guidewire enables visualisation of the position of the tube on a portable monitor. The procedure can be performed by a trained endoscopy nurse at the bedside of the patient. ⋯ Other possible advantages of the new technique are no preprocedural fasting and no need for sedation. If the tube coils in the stomach, it can be repositioned without the need for a repeat procedure. A randomised multicentre trial found electromagnetic nasoenteral placement of feeding tubes to be non-inferior on comparison with endoscopic placement by gastroenterologists, and it can be considered as the preferred technique.
-
Hearing voices (i.e. auditory verbal hallucinations) is mainly known as part of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. However, hearing voices is a symptom that can occur in many psychiatric, neurological and general medical conditions. We present three cases of non-psychotic patients with auditory verbal hallucinations caused by different disorders. ⋯ Improvement of coping with the voices can reduce their impact on a patient. Antipsychotic drugs are especially effective when hearing voices is accompanied by delusions or disorganization. When this is not the case, the efficacy of antipsychotic drugs will probably not outweigh the side-effects.
-
Historical Article
[Integral obstetrics impeded by history? Midwives and gynaecologists through the ages].
There is a long and complicated history concerning the interprofessional collaboration between midwives and gynaecologists, which is still evident in current practice. Yet, in the analysis of collaborative problems, history and its lessons are often overlooked. Consequently, less effective solutions to problems may be found, because the root cause of a problem is not addressed. ⋯ We also highlight how the independent midwives lost and regained authorisation, status and income. Finally, using a theoretical model for interprofessional collaboration, we reflect on where history impedes the development of integral obstetrics. The focus must be averted away from professional self-interest and power struggles, but this proves to be a complex exercise.